Digital Video Express, L.p.

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation

Jack Ehrhardt

Robert W Schumann

Michael A Bergeron

Guillaume Mercier

Siu-Leong Iu

David W Kravitz

David Moshe Goldschlag

Richard Vitkus

Richard Whittemore

Kobad Bugwadia

Shiva Ramadoss

Jo Janet Mikula

Mark O Harrison, Sr

A content distribution system and method which prevents unauthorized access to secured content such as movies and music. The system includes a source, a receiver, an authorized security device such as a conditional access module (CAM) for decrypting authorized content and an output device for outputting content. The system can also include a backend for managing accounts and system operations. One aspect of this invention is that the content data is derived from the Internet. The system allows for the verification of authorization to play secured content, the addition of watermarks to the secured content, the conversion of the secured content to a displayable form and the means for preventing output of the secured content.

Digital content distribution system and method

A content distribution system and method which prevents unauthorized access to secured content such as movies and music. The apparatus includes a source, a receiver, an authorized security device such as a conditional access module (CAM) for decrypting authorized content, an output device for outputting content and a backend for managing accounts and system operations. One aspect of this invention provides a mechanism for providing secured content on a medium such as a DVD optical disc. These devices may verify that there is authorization to play the secured content, add watermarks to the secured content, convert the secured content to a displayable form and provide a means for preventing output of the secured content.

To enable the source of an unauthorized copy of an information-bearing medium, such as a video DVD, to be traced, a compressed digital signal stream to be stored on the medium is altered to include &ldquo;running marks,&rdquo; that comprise pixel blocks changing in position frame by frame and encoded with information designating where and when the copy was made. The medium under test is played back synchronously with a reference medium containing the locations of the running marks together with original video. The source of copying message is advantageously encrypted and scrambled to avoid detection or alteration by a copyist. The message preferably is spread, for example into a spread spectrum carrier, to enhance discrimination among a large number of sources and enable demodulation in the presence of noise.

System and methodology for tracing to a source of unauthorized copying of prerecorded proprietary material, such as movies

Graphics in the same compressed digital format as that of a target video image are combined, on the fly, by an application. Combination is performed by frame modification or overlay techniques. In the preferred embodiment, the compressed video image format conforms to an MPEG-2 compression standard. A base image is produced by an I-frame, and MPEG-2 graphics elements formed either by modifying the I-frame or overlaying the I-frame with one or more P-frames.

Compressed video graphics system and methodology

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Richmond, VA, United States of America

Jack Ehrhardt