Technicolor Videocassette, Inc.

Michael A Sterling

James W Hussey

William J Buynak

Wyman G Dunford

Miguel A Abaunza

Curtis Caloia

Alexander L Meszaros

Ion Vizireanu

Anti-copying protection for video material is provided wherein at least one high-amplitude pulse is inserted into various lines of the video signal, in and immediately preceding the vertical interval associated with each field, during the process of preparing a master recording for use in the high-speed duplication of legitimate recordings of the video material. A preferred embodiment of the present system and method is directed to videotape-to-videotape anti-copying protection. A high-amplitude pulse is inserted in the back porch region of horizontal sync pulses, and immediately following certain equalizing and vertical sync pulses, at an intermediate stage in the mastering process, whereby the pulse is inserted into a separated luminance component of the video signal, which is later recombined with the chromenance signal. Such method allows for the insertion of an higher amplitude pulse than would otherwise be possible, and yields a pulse of the desired final width, without the occurrence of such undesirable effects as loss of color lock or darkening of the picture with respect to legitimate recordings. The resulting modified video material may be viewed properly on a TV receiver or other display, but when coping from the legitimate source is attempted, the copy will yield a video signal which is too distorted for proper viewing. A further modification of the value of negative-going horizontal sync pulses provides additional synchronization error in recorded copies of legitimately recorded video material so as to further render such materials effectively non-copiable.

Videotape anti-copying encryption scheme

A method and related system are disclosed which allow for a series of individualized audio segments to be recorded for subsequent, simultaneous insertion into the audio track(s) of a plurality of videotapes loaded into multiple videotape recorders (VTR's), respectively. In one embodiment, each audio segment recorded is uniquely associated with, and inserted into, an audio track of a respective prerecorded videotape such that each of the plurality of videotapes is personalized with its own unique message. A voice recording and data entry station is provided wherein each audio segment to be inserted is independently recorded, digitized, and stored on a data tape with related identifying information associated therewith. Audio segments from the digital data tape are then downloaded in groups into a production control center computer, incorporating software and interface circuitry to control the operation of the VTR's, in order to effect the insertion of each audio message segment into respective videotapes. The production control center may further cause labels to be printed which may subsequently be affixed to particular videotapes. Such labels may identify the ultimate recipient of a particular personalized videotape and the respective videotape within the plurality of VTR's into which that recipients individualized audio segment has been inserted.

Method and system for inserting individualized audio segments into

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Woodland Hills, CA, United States of America

Michael A Sterling