Abstract: A method consistent with certain embodiments, of processing a received encrypted frame signal, wherein the received encrypted frame signal is indicative that a specific video frame is encrypted, involves receiving a video signal including the received encrypted frame signal; wherein the received video signal comprises a received bit stream; synthesizing the received encrypted frame signal to produce a synthesized encrypted frame signal that is in synchronization with the received encrypted frame signal; determining if a sink wireless receiver is locked to the received bit stream, and if so, passing the received encrypted frame signal to the sink device; and if the sink wireless receiver is not locked to the received bit stream, passing the synthesized encrypted frame signal to the sink device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An electronic storage device facilitates transmission or reception of multiple partial encrypted digital video has a segment of digital video content recorded on the electronic storage device as a data structure with a first set of data packets encrypted under a first encryption process so that the first set of data packets can be decrypted by a first decryption process; a second set of data packets encrypted under a second encryption process so that the second set of data packets can be decrypted under a second decryption process. The first set of video data packets and the second set of video data packets, when unencrypted, represent duplicate copies of the same video information. A third set of data packets contains unencrypted video data that is contextually contiguous to the first set of data packets and the second set of data packets.

Abstract: A transmit digital processing system for wireless transmission of HDMI and/or DVI data using an FPGA. The FPGA converts the data into two data streams and includes a front end component multiplexing video data with control data. A complementary receive FPGA is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of encrypting a digital television signal carried out in any operative order involves duplicating packets in the digital television signal so as to create first and second duplicate packets; encrypting the first duplicate packets according to a first encryption method to create first encrypted packets; encrypting the second duplicate packets according to a second encryption method to create second encrypted packets; identifying packets in the digital television signal that are of a packet type, while other packets are not of the packet type; replacing the identified packets in the digital television signal with corresponding first and second encrypted packets to produce a multiple partially encrypted digital television signal comprising the other packets that are unencrypted and the first and second encrypted packets; and distributing the multiple partially encrypted digital television signal.

Abstract: A transmit digital processing system for wireless transmission of HDMI and/or DVI data using an FPGA. The FPGA converts the data into two data streams and includes a front end component multiplexing video data with control data. A complementary receive FPGA is also disclosed.

Abstract: A value representing a clock, such as a video clock, that is independent of the clock of a communication system, is encoded using the communication system clock and then sent with the video for subsequent recovery by a receiver. In particular, during an interval defined by the communication system clock, the number of video clock cycles is counted and sent to the receiver. The receiver recovers the video clock using the number of video clock cycles and the communication system clock.

Abstract: A personal video recorder (PVR) includes a “bookmark” feature with which a user can specify and capture segments of an audiovisual program, for example, a television broadcast, that contain information or content that the user wishes to record for later access. A dedicated button on the PVR or a remote control sends a “bookmark” command to the PVR which causes it to record a predetermined number of proceeding and following seconds of the program content. The preceding video signal is taken from a buffer in the PVR, with succeeding video being recorded as it is passed through the PVR to a connected television set. Each captured clip is indexed and labeled for subsequent retrieval.

Abstract: A digital video recorder can be used to allow users to fast forward through segments of a recorded video signal, such as commercial breaks, while still allowing the advertiser a limited opportunity to present an advertising message. Frames from the commercial recorded with the video signal are electronically tagged. When the processor of the digital video recorder finds a tagged frame or frames during a fast forward operation, the processor may display the tagged frame as a static image during the fast forward operation or may play the series of tagged frames at normal speed as a condensed video clip during the fast forward operation. Thus, through a static image or a condensed video clip, an advertiser can present an advertising message, while the user may still skip the full-length commercials as quickly as before.

Abstract: A power brick device has a power brick housing. A male electrical plug electrically couples AC power to an interior portion of the power brick housing. A female electrical socket is coupled to the power brick housing and is electrically coupled to and receives AC power from the male electrical plug. An AC to DC converter is electrically coupled to the male electrical plug to receive AC power therefrom and produce a DC output therefrom. A current sensor senses current drawn by one of the AC to DC converter and the female electrical socket. A switch, responsive to the current sensor, selectively removes power from the other one of the female electrical socket and the AC to DC converter when a drop in current is sensed by the current sensor. AC versions without DC conversion are also contemplated. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A disk bears a multimedia program and a player plays the program. The player is responsive to an image restraint token (IRT) to play the multimedia program only in a low resolution format and not in a high resolution format prior to an IRT expiration date. The player is then responsive to a key that is publicly available only on or after the expiration date and entered into the player to play the multimedia program in the high resolution format.

Abstract: An encryption arrangement for multiple encryption of television programs. A system according to embodiments of the present invention multiple encrypts only a portion of the data required for full presentation of a television program to permit coexistence of multiple conditional access encryption systems associated with multiple manufacturer's set-top boxes within a single system. In one embodiment, only critical packets such as those carrying a payload incorporating packetized elementary stream header information is encrypted. By only encrypting a portion of the program, dramatically less bandwidth is consumed than the alternative of multiple encryption of all program data, thus permitting a larger number of programs to be carried over the same bandwidth while permitting coexistence of multiple conditional access systems in a single cable television system.

Abstract: The present apparatus and method control the flow of communication between a host and a data storage device. A plurality of data transport streams are maintained as active while a first burst of data for a first transport stream is initiated. The first burst is interrupted prior to the complete communication of the burst. The first transport stream is maintained as active and a first burst of data for a second transport stream is initiated. The first burst of the second transport stream is interrupted, the second transport stream is maintained as active and the method and apparatus return to continue the communication of the first burst of the first transport stream. Typically, a first stream ID is asserted prior to initiating the first burst of the first transport stream and a second stream ID is initiated prior to initiating the first burst of the second transport stream.

Abstract: A method of selecting data for multiple carriage partial encryption consistent with certain embodiments involves examining unencrypted packets of data in a digital audio/video data stream to identify a packet type; and selecting packets of the identified packet type for multiple partial encryption, wherein the amount of data to be encrypted is sufficient to render a portion of an entire frame unviewable. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method consistent with certain embodiments carried out at a television provider headend involves receiving a feed of scrambled television content in the form of a stream of packets; descrambling the scrambled television content to produce a stream of clear packets; selecting a packet for multiple encryption; duplicating the packet to provide first and second packets; re-mapping the first and second packets to first and second packet identifiers; encrypting the first packet under a first encryption algorithm to produce a first encrypted packet; encrypting the second packet under a second encryption algorithm to produce a second encrypted packet; and re-mapping clear packets to the first packet identifier. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A server stores video streams and is connected to thin clients through a network connection. Each thin client includes an addressable input to receive the video streams from the server, a decoder to properly decode the stream, and an output to deliver content to a connected video display product in the desired format. The video server also stores configuration settings, including the information that allows the plurality of thin clients to be addressed, as well as information about the connected television, such as make and brand, as well as specification information. User interfaces allow input of this information and controlling client display (e.g., selecting content). The user interface for controlling client display is preferably accessible through a telephone connection.

Abstract: A method of encoding a packetized digital television signal consistent with certain embodiments involves encrypting a portion of the packets containing the digital television signal according to a first encryption algorithm; encrypting the portion of the packets containing the digital television signal according to a second encryption algorithm; leaving a portion of the packets containing the digital television signal unencrypted; assigning a primary packet identifier to the unencrypted packets; assigning a primary packet identifier to the packets encrypted under the first encryption algorithm; and assigning a secondary packet identifier to the packets encrypted under the second encryption algorithm. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A transmit digital processing system for wireless transmission of HDMI and/or DVI data using an FPGA. The FPGA converts the data into two data streams and includes a front end component multiplexing video data with control data. A complementary receive FPGA is also disclosed.

Abstract: An encryption arrangement for multiple encryption of television programs. A system according to embodiments of the present invention multiple encrypts only a portion of the data required for full presentation of a television program to permit coexistence of multiple conditional access encryption systems associated with multiple manufacturer's set-top boxes within a single system. PID mapping techniques are used to distinguish between multiple encryptions. By only encrypting a portion of the program, dramatically less bandwidth is consumed than the alternative of multiple encryption of all program data, thus permitting a larger number of programs to be carried over the same bandwidth while permitting coexistence of multiple conditional access systems in a single cable television system.

Abstract: An encryption arrangement for multiple encryption of television programs. A system according to embodiments of the present invention multiple encrypts only a portion of the data required for full presentation of a television program to permit coexistence of multiple conditional access encryption systems associated with multiple manufacturer's set-top boxes within a single system. In one embodiment, a time slicing technique is used to encrypt portions of a program on a time allocated basis. By only encrypting a portion of the program, dramatically less bandwidth is consumed than the alternative of multiple encryption of all program data, thus permitting a larger number of programs to be carried over the same bandwidth while permitting coexistence of multiple conditional access systems in a single cable television system.

Abstract: An encryption arrangement for multiple encryption of television programs. A system according to embodiments of the present invention multiple encrypts only a portion of the data required for full presentation of a television program to permit coexistence of multiple conditional access encryption systems associated with multiple manufacturer's set-top boxes within a single system. By only encrypting a portion of the program, dramatically less bandwidth is consumed than the alternative of multiple encryption of all program data, thus permitting a larger number of programs to be carried over the same bandwidth while permitting coexistence of multiple conditional access systems in a single cable television system.