Recent advances in digital communications and storage technologies have brought major changes for consumers. High-capacity hard disks and DVDs can store large amounts of audiovisual data. In addition, faster Internet connection speeds and the emerging high bitrate DSL connections provide sufficient bandwidth for entertainment networks.

These improvements in computers and communication networks are radically changing the economics of intellectual property reproduction and distribution. Intellectual property owners must exploit new ways of reproducing, distributing, and marketing their intellectual property. However, a major problem with current digital distribution and storage technologies is the great threat of piracy.

This book is carefully edited — authors are worldwide experts in the field of multimedia encryption and authentication. Our goal is to cover all current and future trends in designing modern systems for multimedia encryption and authentication.

The technical level of the book is between an intermediate and high level. The book is primarily intended for researchers and practitioners in the field. However, some chapters are less technical than others and can be beneficial to those readers who need a broad understanding of multimedia security. The key points of the book can be summarized as follows:

 The book describes and evaluates the current state-of-the-art in multimedia encryption and authentication techniques and related technologies, architectures, standards, and applications.

 The book also presents future trends and developments in this area.

 Advanced topics, such as chaotic video encryption techniques and streaming media encryption, are also covered.
Contributors to the book are the leading researchers from academia and practitioners from industry.