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:
Feb. 19, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2000
Craig A. Finseth, St. Paul, MN (US);
Jeffrey A. Brown, Roseville, MN (US);
Philip E. Hsiao, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Craig A. Finseth, St. Paul, MN (US);
Jeffrey A. Brown, Roseville, MN (US);
Philip E. Hsiao, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
The DIRECTV Group, Inc., El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for inserting receiver identification codes into video images received from a television broadcasting station are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a receiver with a tuner for receiving a plurality of television channels and outputting a first television channel. A buffer is coupled to the tuner for storing a first image frame from the first television channel. The first image frame includes a multiplicity of pixel data. A memory stores identification data that provides a unique identification of the receiver. A controller is coupled to the buffer and the memory. The controller retrieves identification data from the memory and changes values of the pixel data to values of the identification data, thereby embedding the identification data into the first image frame. A display generator generates a display of the first television channel including the first image frame.