Abstract: A dual use block/stream cipher is provided with a first key section and a data section. The first key section is to be initialized with a first cipher key, and to successively transform the first cipher key or a modified version of the first cipher key. The data section, coupled to the first key section, is to be initialized with either a block of plain text or a random number, and to successively and dependently, on the first key section, transform the plain text/random number. The cipher is further provided with a second key section and a mapping function. The second key section, coupled to the first key section, is selectively enableable to modify the first cipher key. The mapping section, coupled to the first key section, is to generate a pseudo random bit sequence when the second key section is selectably enabled to modify the stored first cipher key.

Abstract: A video source device generates a session key for each transmission session wherein a multi-frame video content is to be transmitted to a video sink device. The video source device uses the session key to generate a successive number of frame keys. The frame keys in turn are used to generate corresponding pseudo random bit sequences for ciphering the corresponding frames to protect the video content from unauthorized copying during transmission. The video sink device practices a complementary approach to decipher the received video content. In one embodiment, both devices are each provided with an integrated block/stream cipher to practice the transmission protection method.

Abstract: A video source device and a video repeater device cooperatively authenticates said video repeater apparatus to said video source device. In one embodiment, the authentication is performed using an identical authentication process a video sink device would authenticate itself to the video source device. The video repeater device augment the identical process identifying itself as a repeater device. The video repeater device also in cooperation with at least one video sink device authenticates the at least one video sink device. The video repeater device in turn, in cooperation with the video source device, authenticates the at least one video sink device to the video source device. In one embodiment, the video repeater device also in cooperation with another video repeater device, authenticates yet another at least one video sink device to the video repeater device.

Abstract: A stream cipher is provided with one or more data bit generators to generate a first, second and third set of data bits. The stream cipher is further provided with a combiner function having a network of shuffle units to combine the third set of data bits, using the first and second sets of data bits as first input data bits and control signals respectively of the network of shuffle units. In one embodiment, the shuffle units are binary shuffle units and they are serially coupled to one another.

Abstract: A video source device includes a cipher unit. The cipher unit includes a block cipher and a stream cipher. The video source device uses the block cipher to generate at least one cipher key for use by the stream cipher to generate cipher bits for ciphering video to be transmitted to a video recording device. The video source device further provides n bits of copy control information to the video recording device. The video source device incorporates the n-bit copy control information as part of an initialization value, and initializes a register of a round function of the block cipher with the initialization value. The video recording device also includes a cipher unit of like kind, and operates the block and stream ciphers in like manner to decipher the ciphered video received from the video source device.

Abstract: A video source device includes a cipher unit. The video source device uses the cipher unit to generate cipher bits for ciphering video to be transmitted to protect the video from unauthorized copying. The video source device authenticates video receiving devices using a symmetric ciphering/deciphering process that requires the video source device to generate and provide the video receiving device with a pseudo random number as the seed/basis number for the symmetric ciphering/deciphering process. The video source device is further provided with a state machine that controls the cipher unit to generate the required pseudo random number for the video source devices, thereby eliminating the need of having to provide separate circuitry to generate the required pseudo random numbers.

Abstract: The write disturb that occurs in polymer memories may be reduced by writing back data after a read in a fashion which offsets any effect on the polarity of bits in bit lines associated with the addressed bit. For example, each time the data is written back, its polarity may be alternately changed. In another embodiment, the polarity may be randomly changed.

Abstract: A video source application in a video source device requests from a video hardware interface of the video source device status with respect to a link linking the video source device to an external video sink device, and supplements the status request with a first basis value to a symmetric ciphering/deciphering process. The video source application, upon receiving from the video hardware interface the requested status and a verification key, generated using said symmetric ciphering/deciphering process and employing the first basis value, verifies the correctness of the verification key to determine whether to trust said provided status. In like manner, the video source application requests from the video hardware interface a secret the video hardware interface uses to cipher video to be transmitted by the video hardware interface to the external video sink device. The secret request is supplemented with a second basis value to the symmetric ciphering/deciphering process.

Abstract: A video source device generates a session key for each transmission session wherein a multi-frame video content is to be transmitted to a video sink device. The video source device uses the session key to generate a successive number of frame keys. The frame keys in turn are used to generate corresponding pseudo random bit sequences for ciphering the corresponding frames to protect the video content from unauthorized copying during transmission. The video sink device practices a complementary approach to decipher the received video content. In one embodiment, both devices are each provided with an integrated block/stream cipher to practice the transmission protection method.

Abstract: A method includes applying a power control signal from a computer system to a display device, and maintaining the display device in a first reduced power consumption state while the power control signal is applied.

Abstract: A video source device includes a cipher unit. The video source device uses the cipher unit to generate cipher bits for ciphering video to be transmitted to protect the video from unauthorized copying. The video source device authenticates video receiving devices using a symmetric ciphering/deciphering process that requires the video source device to generate and provide the video receiving device with a pseudo random number as the seed/basis number for the symmetric ciphering/deciphering process. The video source device is further provided with a state machine that controls the cipher unit to generate the required pseudo random number for the video source devices, thereby eliminating the need of having to provide separate circuitry to generate the required pseudo random numbers.

Abstract: A video source device generates a session key for each transmission session wherein a multi-frame video content is to be transmitted to a video sink device. The video source device uses the session key to generate a successive number of frame keys. The frame keys in turn are used to generate corresponding pseudo random bit sequences for ciphering the corresponding frames to protect the video content from unauthorized copying during transmission. The video sink device practices a complementary approach to decipher the received video content. In one embodiment, both devices are each provided with an integrated block/stream cipher to practice the transmission protection method.

Abstract: The write disturb that occurs in polymer memories may be reduced by writing back data after a read in a fashion which offsets any effect on the polarity of bits in bit lines associated with the addressed bit. For example, each time the data is written back, its polarity may be alternately changed. In another embodiment, the polarity may be randomly changed.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a novel scheme to preserve the failure state of a memory location. According to one embodiment, the data is read from a memory location in a read-destructive memory device. If the data is found to be valid (uncorrupted) it is written back to the memory location from where it was read in order to preserve it. If the data is found to be invalid (corrupted) then a failure codeword is written in the memory location to indicate a failure of the memory location. The failure codeword may be preselected or dynamically calculated so that it has a mathematical distance greater than all correctable data patterns.

Abstract: A video source device provides a basis value to a symmetric ciphering/deciphering process to a video sink device, to which the video source device is to provide a video content. The video source device ciphers the video content for transmission to the video sink device, including generation of a first cipher key through functional transformation of the basis value. The video source device further verifies periodically that the transmitted video content is indeed being symmetrically deciphered by the video sink device. The video sink device practices symmetric deciphering, including generation of a first decipher key through functional transformation of the basis value. The video sink device also provides verification values to the video source device to facilitate confirmation of symmetric deciphering. In one embodiment, the video source and sink devices further authenticate each other, including generation of an authentication key, which is used in the generation of the first cipher/decipher key.