Thomson Consumer Electronics Inc.

Thomson Licensing

Thomson Licensing S.a.

Kevin Elliott Bridgewater

Michael Scott Deiss

Thomas Edward Horlander

Harold Blatter

John William Chaney

James Edwin Hailey

Raymond Scott Horton

Michael Wayne Johnson

Billy W Beyers, Jr

David J Duffield

Billy Wesley Beyers

Eric Douglas Romesburg

Juri Tults

Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer

Mike Arthur Derrenberger

Terry Wayne Lockridge

Gregory George Tamer

Kenneth Wayne Maze

Timothy Forrest Settle

Bill Wesley Beyers, Jr

Ligang Lu

Bill W Beyers, Jr

Douglas Edward Lankford

Russell W Perkins

A server apparatus receives packetized data and transmits the packetized data over a network. The apparatus includes an input for receiving the packetized data from a signal source. An AC clock counter receives an AC power signal and generates a count value in dependence upon a frequency of the AC power signal. An output is coupled to the network and transmits the packetized data and the count value to a client device. A clock associated with the client device is controlled in dependence upon the count value.

Jitter prevention in a digital communication network

A method of processing a packetized datastream that includes program information and ancillary information used to acquire desired program information packets. The method includes the steps of identifying a first data unit that includes channel information and identifying a plurality of second data units included with the first data unit. The plurality of second data units are of a fixed length, and thus, separated in the packetized datastream by a multiple of a fixed offset. The method further includes the step of acquiring desired second data units using the fixed offset and subsequently determining the available services associated with a program and acquiring the desired program packets from the datastream.

Apparatus and method for processing a program guide in a digital video system

A Conversion system merges and converts data in a plurality of different data formats from a plurality of different sources, to a selected output data format for transmission on a selected transmission channel. A method for digital data format conversion involves de-packetizing an input packetized datastream. A timing recovery parameter is formed in response to a desired output data format. The depacketized data is re-packetized in response to the desired output data format and the timing recovery parameter is incorporated in the re-packetized data. The re-packetized data is multiplexed in response to the selected format and provided to an output channel.

System for digital data format conversion and bit stream generation

Apparatus and method for acquiring a program from a packetized signal in response to ancillary information included in the packetized signal. The packetized signal includes a plurality of program signals and ancillary information associated with the plurality of program signals. The apparatus includes means for identifying the ancillary information from the packetized signal, the ancillary information including master guide information for use in identifying and acquiring special guide information, and special guide information for use in acquiring program information associated with the plurality of program signals. The program signals may be acquired using identifier information that may be derived from the ancillary information. The apparatus includes means responsive to the ancillary information for acquiring a selected program from the packetized signal.

Program guide in a digital video system

A decoder conditional access system incorporates different encryption systems for providing access to programs derived from different sources. A conditional access processor for processing encrypted program data and an associated encryption code includes a first algorithm means for decrypting the encryption code to provide an encryption key. The conditional access processor also includes a second algorithm means for encrypting the encryption key and the second encryption algorithm is different to the first encryption algorithm. A datastream representing the program is generated from encrypted program data and an associated encryption code. The encryption code is decrypted to provide an encryption key using a first algorithm. The encryption key is encrypted using a second algorithm different to the first encryption algorithm and the program datastream is formed from the encrypted program data and the encrypted encryption key. The program datastream is decrypted by selecting between a first and a second decryption algorithm and by decrypting the encryption code to provide an encryption key. The encryption key is used to decrypt the encrypted program. A storage medium data format for recording encrypted program data is also disclosed.

Decoding system and data format for processing and storing encrypted

An adaptive decoder generates a program representative datastream, in selectable, encrypted or decrypted form. A method for adaptively processing input encrypted program data with an associated encryption code provides either an encrypted or a decrypted program output. In an encrypted mode, encrypted program data and an associated encryption code is exported to an output port. In a decrypted mode, input encrypted program data is decrypted using an encryption key derived from the encryption code to provide decrypted program data. The decrypted program data is exported to the output port. Non-encrypted program data is exported to an output port in a selectable non-encrypted mode.

Adaptive decoding system for processing encrypted and non-encrypted

A decoder excludes an encryption code or key from decrypted or non-decrypted program output data. Decrypted program representative data is generated from an input datastream containing encrypted program data and an associated encryption code. The encrypted program data is decrypted using the encryption to provide decrypted program data. An output datastream is formed containing the decrypted program data but excluding the encryption code. The encryption code may be excluded by submitting non-encryption code data for the encryption code. The output datastream may also contain ancillary date formed to support decoding of the decrypted program data.

Decoding system for processing encrypted broadcast, cable or satellite

A digital video system receives a digital bitstream representing video and audio information and containing a plurality of packetized data programs in a data format and includes data units related to the selection of individual programs and individual packetized datastreams associated with a program. The system includes a first processor responsive to the bitstream for capturing program guide information and a second processor responsive to the bitstream for capturing selected program data. The program guide data includes a base data unit for selecting a first program and a second data unit of predetermined offset to the base data unit for selecting a second program. The second processor captures program data by capturing data with identifiers matching an identifier determined from the data units.

A decoding method minimizes the use of incorrect program specific information (PSI) parameters across program boundaries and provides default video and audio outputs for reproduction during error conditions. Program representative packetized datastreams incorporating PSI suitable for use in recovering data content of the program are decoded. PSI packets in the datastream are identified and a parameter within the identified PSI data is used to determine whether the identified PSI data is to be used for decoding the program content, irrespective of previous PSI content. Current PSI is updated with the identified PSI data in response to the parameter. Program content packets are identified using the current PSI. The program content packets are assembled into a decoded datastream using the current PSI. The current PSI may also updated with the identified PSI data irrespective of the content of the identified PSI data, provided that there is an absence of a PSI content error indication. Also packets representing default program content are assembled into the output datastream, in response to a PSI validity indication provided by a control parameter in the packetized datastream.

Decoding of digital data including program specific information

Program specific information (PSI) is formed suitable for use in recovering data content of a program in the form of a packetized datastream. Packet identifiers (PIDs) that identify individual packetized datastreams constituting the program are renumbered and corresponding packetized datastreams that constitute different programs are given the same PID. A program map table (PMT) is created that associates the renumbered PIDs with the individual packetized datastreams constituting the program. A program association table (PAT) is also created for associating the program with PIDs that identify packets comprising the PMT. A parameter may be employed within the PSI to indicate that the PSI is to be applied in subsequent processing of the program irrespective of a substantive difference between the PSI and previous PSI content. In addition, the PSI may incorporate a version number that is varied between successive occurrences of the PSI irrespective of substantive change in PSI content. One or more private data elements may also be included in the PMT to describe the program.

Program specific information formation for digital data processing

A storage medium format for a storage medium containing packetized data programs includes packet identifiers (PIDs) that identify individual packetized datastreams constituting a program. The data format facilitates the association and assembly of the packetized datastreams of the program by a decoder, independent of PID de-mapping data. The PIDs include a base PID for identifying one datastream and a second PID of predetermined offset value to the base PID for identifying a second datastream. Corresponding packetized datastreams that constitute different programs are given the same PID. The storage medium format may also include program specific information (PSI) suitable for use in recovering data content of a program. The PSI includes an MPEG-like program map table (PMT) and an MPEG-like program association table (PAT) and incorporates a parameter suitable for commanding a decoder to apply the PSI in decoding the program irrespective of previous PSI content. In addition, the PSI may incorporate a version number that is varied between successive occurrences of the PSI irrespective of substantive change in PSI content. One or more private data elements may also be included in the PMT to describe the program.

Packetized data formats for digital data storage media

A program representative packetized datastream is generated from an input packetized datastream representing a plurality of programs. Program content packets comprising a desired program selected from the plurality of programs are identified. Condensed program specific information (CPSI) suitable for use in identifying and assembling the identified packets is formed. The resulting CPSI and the identified packets are formed into a datastream. Program specific information packets and program content packets are also extracted from a packetized datastream and stored on a storage medium.

Processing and storage of digital data and program specific information

A color interpolation circuit allows information uniquely identifying one of six colors to be stored by using only two binary bits of memory storage, and allows information uniquely identifying one of 120 colors to be stored by using only four binary bits of memory storage. This is accomplished by storing only the foreground, edge, and background colors (i.e., herein referred to as 'independent' colors), and an 'interpolate operator' code, and by providing circuitry to properly interpret and process the interpolate operator code to generate 'intermediate colors'. This permits a 33% reduction of memory size and reduces the 'fetch speed' requirements of associated on-screen display (OSD) scan converter circuitry.

Color coding method for expanding palette by including colors derived by

A television system for receiving a plurality of digitally-encoded television programs includes circuitry for selecting a particular digital data transmission channel from a plurality of digital data transmission channels containing a desired digitally-encoded television program in response to a control signal, at least one of the data transmission channels also including television program schedule data. The system also includes user-operable data entry circuitry for entering data, and a controller for generating the above-noted control signal in response to user-entered data. The controller selects a virtual channel from a plurality of virtual channels in response to user-entered data, each virtual channel being subject to reassignment to a different one of said a plurality of digital data transmission channels, the television program schedule data defining the relationship of each of the television programs to respective ones of the plurality of digital data transmission channels.

Consumer interface for a digital television system

In an inverse transport processor, program component packet payloads of respective program components are multiplexed to a memory data input port and directed to mutually exclusive areas of random access memory (RAM). The processor includes multiple direct memory access circuitry for writing the payloads of component data to the mutually exclusive blocks of the memory. Memory access for read and write functions are arbitrated so that no incoming program data can be lost, and all component processors are serviced.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Kevin Elliott Bridgewater