The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 05, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 25, 1997
Robert L Warren, Cardiff, CA (US);
Chong U Lee, San Diego, CA (US);
Kamran Moallemi, Del Mar, CA (US);
Solana Technology Development Corporation, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
Reproduction of a multi-media data signal which is stored on a source media or distributed via a communication network is controlled by inserting master tag data and control tag data into the data signal. A player/recorder inserts an additional generation of control tag information each time a copy of the media is made. If the number of generations of the control tag information is above a threshold value, reproduction of the data signal may be inhibited. For example, if the data signal comprises video data, the player/recorder may only allow playing of the video signal on a display but will not allow recording. The playing and recording of associated signals, such as an audio signal which accompanies a video signal, may also be controlled. The master tag data and control tag data may be provided as spread spectrum signals which are spectrally shaped and power-adjusted according to the data signal to render them imperceptible in the data signal. With encrypted frames of multi-media data, encryption keys may be carried in a key layer with the encrypted data signal or another data signal for use in decryption on a frame by frame basis.