Methods and apparatus for protecting copyrighted information, e.g., video
signals, from unauthorized coping. Analog red (R), green (G) and blue (B) video
signals are transmitted from a source device, e.g., a display adapter, to a display
device, e.g., a monitor, over corresponding analog signal lines after the identify
of the destination device is confirmed by receipt of a certificate assigned to
the destination device. A session key, used for encrypting the analog signals,
is generated and exchanged between the source and destination devices after the
identification of the destination device is confirmed. The source and destination
devices each includes a pseudo-random number generator driven by the session key.
The lines that carry the R, G and S video signals are changed, e.g., swapped, on
a periodic basis as a function of the output of the pseudo-random number generator
in the source device. The destination device, which has an input to its pseudo-random
number generator synchronized with the random number generator of the source device,
decrypts the received video signals in a complimentary fashion to the encryption.
Encrypted digital information subject to copying constraint may be supplied to
a display adapter via an IEEE 1399 compliant bus.