Macrovision Corporation

Other

Rovi Solutions Corporation

Kordian Jacek Kurowski

John O Ryan

Ronald Quan

James R Holzgrafe

Patrice J Capitant

Johan Cornelis Talstra

Antonius Adrianus Cornelis Maria Kalker

David C Collier

Mark A Hollar

Clayton L Davidson

Carmen Laura Basile

Jonny Boyd Reckless

William J Wrobleski

Derek T Nelson

Lee Avery

Glenn Allen Siebert

Andrew Mellows

Tony Forrest Rodriquez

Generally the more effective is the copy protection provided on an optical disc, such as a DVD, the greater is the likelihood that the copy protection will adversely interfere with legitimate uses of the optical disc. It is therefore proposed to include at least one region of subversive data within the content in the data area of an optical disc, and then to prevent access to each such region of subversive data during normal playback of the disc. For a DVD, the subversive data may be incorporated within video objects and/or may be in gaps between files in the DVD_Video zone. It is arranged that there are no navigable paths to the regions of subversive data.

Relating to the copy protection of optical discs

Method and apparatus for providing generational copy control of a video signal. A digital video signal contains content information, first supplemental information and second supplemental information. The first supplemental information is represented by a watermark pattern, the second by a control pattern. Copying of the content information is only permitted if a predetermined combination of the first and second supplemental information is present. Pseudo-sync pulses are added to a blanking interval of an analog video signal converted from a digital video signal, the pulses representing the second supplemental information.

Generational copy control of a video signal

Methods, devices and systems for embedding and detecting a watermark in a data stream, such as a video stream. A texture criterion is evaluated for each block of the data stream. The texture criterion measures a variation of selected characteristics associated with each element of the data stream, such as luminance and chrominance. Only those blocks that are determined to have at least a predetermined degree of variation in the selected characteristic are selected for embedding of a watermark. By providing the watermark detector with a block selector that evaluates the same texture criterion as was employed in the watermark embedder, the detector attempts detection of the watermark only in those blocks having been determined to have the predetermined degree of variation of the selected characteristic, or greater. By attempting detection only in such blocks, the number of detection computations is decreased and the watermark signal to data stream noise ratio is increased, thereby facilitating detection of even weak watermarks.

Method and apparatus for selective block processing

A VGA (or other component video signal) output, e.g. from a computer or DVD player, is protected so it is viewable on a VGA monitor. However, if the component video signal is converted to composite video (e.g. television) the resulting television picture is of substantially degraded quality, thereby inhibiting viewing and/or copying. This protects for instance copyrighted material in the VGA format from unauthorized use. The protection involves modifying the horizontal or vertical synchronization signals in the VGA video in such a way that there is no adverse affect on a typical VGA monitor. However, most or all VGA to television converters and/or television sets and VCR's suffer from loss of synchronization, resulting in an unviewable picture. Also, methods and circuits for defeating the copy protection are provided.

Protection of a component video signal

Method and apparatus for &ldquo;copy-once&rdquo; of a digital video signal uses a watermark in the video signal. The embedded watermark has two versions: one indicates copy-never and a second indicates copy-once, the difference being a single watermark bit. The watermark carries additional bits representing a digitized attribute (image characteristic) of a particular video frame of the video signal, for instance an average value of the amplitude of a video field. The frame whose attribute is carried in the watermark has a field (or frame) marker, which is a special signal located in the overscan portion of the frame. A compliant video recorder verifies the watermark and the copy-once bit, extracts the associated attribute from the watermark, and compares it to the measured attribute of the marked video frame. Only if the extracted attribute value and the measured attribute value match is recording enabled. During the recording process, the frame markers are stripped, preventing second generation copies of the recorded video signal, and the copy-once bit is set to copy-never.

Method and apparatus for copy-once watermark for video recording

A VGA (or other component video signal) output, e.g. from a computer or DVD player, is subject to protection so it is viewable on a VGA monitor. If the component video signal is converted to composite video (e.g. television) the resulting television picture is of substantially degraded quality, thereby inhibiting viewing and/or copying. This protects for instance copyrighted material in the VGA format from unauthorized use. The protection modifies the horizontal or vertical synchronization signals in the VGA video in such a way that there is no adverse affect on a typical VGA monitor. Most or all VGA to television converters and/or television sets and VCR's suffer from loss of synchronization, resulting in an unviewable picture. Methods and apparatuses for defeating this copy protection are provided herein.

Method and apparatus to defeat composite video signal protection

A technique for improving the scrambling concealment of a video signal and the like when displayed on a television set or monitor, includes the pulse width and/or pulse position modulation of a horizontal sync pulse in a horizontal blanking interval by time shifting the leading edge of the sync pulse while maintaining the trailing edge thereof stationary, by shifting the leading and/or trailing edge of the pulse, or by position modulating a sync pulse of specialized width. In modifications to the pulse width and pulse position modulation overlay techniques, the negative edge of the end of video lines may be modulated in the same way that the leading edge of the sync pulse is modulated, with the two edges locked together or modulated independently. Thus, the amount of position modulation of the horizontal sync pulse or its edge(s) is maximized so that the pertinent circuits of all television sets will always detect, and thus lock onto, the modulated or wobbling pulse width or pulse position modulated sync pulse. The embodiment in which the negative edges of the ends of video lines are modulated along with the sync pulses, insures that all television sets will lock onto a wobbling edge. This insures the concealment of the video signal, or equivalent signal, in all possible situations and for all types of television sets or monitors. An associated technique also is disclosed for descrambling the scrambled video signal when authorized.

Method and apparatus for optimizing scrambling concealment of a video

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Kordian Jacek Kurowski