Macrovision Corporation

Rovi Solutions Corporation

Mark A Hollar

John O Ryan

James R Holzgrafe

Johan Cornelis Talstra

Antonius Adrianus Cornelis Maria Kalker

David C Collier

Patrice J Capitant

Kordian Jacek Kurowski

William J Wrobleski

Derek T Nelson

Adrian Aylward

Peter Wonfor

Apparatus and a method are described to enable reading apparatus to access content data of an optical disc such as a DVD where the content data carried by the DVD is encrypted by an encryption technique that requires a decryption key or keys. Reproduced content data corresponding to the encrypted content data is provided and this reproduced content data, at least some of which may be encrypted using a different technique, is made available for access by a reading apparatus. The reproduced content data may be stored on the same optical disc as the encrypted content data or at a different location, for example on a storage medium which may be coupled to the reading apparatus or at a location on a network that can be accessed by the reading apparatus.

Apparatus for and a method of providing content data

Method and apparatus for controlling subsequent permitted use, such as storage, of video on a digital storage device such as a personal video recorder (PVR). An analog video signal is provided with at least one modification to its video characteristics, for instance in the horizontal blanking interval and vertical blanking intervals, which is of the type having the capacity to inhibit making an acceptable analog video recording of the analog video signal. Examples of these modifications are the well known pseudo-sync (automatic gain control), color stripe (color burst modifications), and added back porch pulses. The pattern of presence or absence or nature of the modifications also serves as a code to carry information as to the subsequent permitted use in the digital realm, such as whether the accompanying content of the video signal is allowed to be digitally recorded in digital form in a compatible PVR personal video recorder, and if it is allowed to be recorded, the length of time that the recording is allowed to persist, for instance one day, one week, one month. Hence the modifications to the analog video signal have a dual use in both inhibiting recording in the analog realm and carrying information across the analog video interface so as to control storage (copying) or other use of the video in the digital realm.

Method and apparatus for conveying rights across an analog video interface

Method and apparatus for inhibiting unauthorized copying of data content of DVDs or CDs or other types of optical discs. DSV (digital sum value) data patterns are inserted into selected sectors of the data to be recorded on the optical disc. These selected data sectors are also those to which is applied the conventional CSS (content scrambling system) encryption conventionally used to copy protect DVD content. Only those sectors (e.g., one out of four) subject to the CSS encryption have the DSV data patterns inserted therein. This advantageously results in the CSS encryption effectively hiding these inserted DSV data patterns from the mastering DVD encoder used in producing DVDs. Effectively thereby the DSV data patterns 'tunnel through' the mastering DVD encoder. The hidden DSV data patterns are only revealed when the CSS sectors are decrypted prior to the action of the writer used to copy the DVD/CD content. This results in those DSV data patterns being left in the clear at the writer so they are effective to result in an error-filled DVD data file which is not suitable for play back when recorded by the writer on another optical disc.

Method and apparatus for DVD copy protection with selective data pattern insertion

Method and apparatus for scrambling a high definition television signal to discourage unauthorized recording of same. While recording per se is not prevented, the resulting recorded signal is rendered unusable due to an induced 'wobble' between the active video and the associated sync pulses. The scrambled television signal is readily viewable on a compliant high definition television set which descrambles the HDTV signal using an encoded indication of the amount of wobble accompanying the HDTV signal. Also provided is a special interface to prevent unauthorized persons from using the indication of the amount of wobble so as to defeat the scrambling. Also provided are method and apparatus for defeating the scrambling method and hence allowing recording of the scrambled video signal.

Scrambling and descrambling a high definition TV signal

A distribution server distributes A/V content to a recipient according to terms determined from information stored in a database of prior unauthorized copying attributed to that recipient. The copy distributed to the recipient includes identifications of the content and recipient embedded in it by an ID embedder employing a steganographic or watermarking technique. A detection server detects embedded ID's in A/V content sampled from various distribution channels, and provides the ID information to the distribution server to update the database of prior unauthorized copying.

Method and apparatus for determining digital A/V content distribution terms based on detected piracy levels

A method and apparatus for modifying a video signal to allow it to carry encoded data which is detectable at a suitably compliant receiver but is not recorded by a conventional video recorder. One application is to carry a descrambling key to prevent useful recording (but not viewing) of a scrambled television signal since the key will not be recorded. This encoded 'hidden' data is not recorded by the conventional video recorders because, for instance, it is located in the vertical or horizontal blanking intervals of the video signal, or is carried by a high frequency carrier signal, or is expressed by phase modulation of the video signal's synchronization pulses.

Method and apparatus for carrying data in a video signal so that the data is not recorded

A method and apparatus for distributing proprietary material employs multiple watermarks embedded in the proprietary material for enhanced copy protection. A first watermark is to be processed by programmable and non-programmable devices configured to process the first watermark for copy protection of the proprietary material. If a programmable device eliminates the first watermark so that unauthorized copies of the proprietary material can be made, then non-programmable devices configured to process a second watermark as well as the first watermark look for and process the second watermark for copy protection of the proprietary material upon their failure to detect the first watermark.

Enhanced copy protection of proprietary material employing multiple watermarks

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

Method and apparatus for scrambling a high definition television signal to discourage unauthorized recording of same. While recording per se is not prevented, the resulting recorded signal is rendered unusable due to an induced &ldquo;wobble&rdquo; between the active video and the associated sync pulses. The scrambled television signal is readily viewable on a compliant high definition television set which descrambles the HDTV signal using an encoded indication of the amount of wobble accompanying the HDTV signal. Also provided is a special interface to prevent unauthorized persons from using the indication of the amount of wobble so as to defeat the scrambling. Also provided are method and apparatus for defeating the scrambling method and hence allowing recording of the scrambled video signal.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Mark A Hollar