QuickTime 4 Reference

Support for Access Keys

Certain compression formats, such as the Intel Indeo format for video compression, allow data to be encrypted when it is compressed. For software to gain access to the encrypted data, the access key for the data must be registered with QuickTime. For example, a CD-ROM title would register one or more access keys for encrypted video data it presents. Once the access keys are registered, the keys are available to the decompressor component that will be used to decompress the data. The CD-ROM title can then use the encrypted data in the same way it uses unencrypted data.

QuickTime 3 includes functions that allow software to register, unregister, and get access keys. In addition, the QuickTime settings control panel lets users enter, delete, and modify access keys.

Although most access keys are character strings, an access key can be of any data type.

Scope of Access Keys

Access Key Types