Abstract: A system for identification of video content in a video signal is provided via the use of closed caption or other data in a video signal or transport stream such as MPEG-x. Sampling of the received video signal or transport stream allows capture of dialog from a movie or video program. The captured dialog is compared to a reference library or database for identification purposes. Other attributes of the video signal or transport stream may be combined with closed caption data or closed caption text for identification purposes. Example attributes include time code information, histograms, and or rendered video or pictures.

Abstract: A gain control amplifier provides amplitude variation of an input signal that is coupled to the amplifier, by adding or combining a higher frequency signal that overdrives or distorts the amplifier to one or more degree(s), to provide the gain variation of the input signal. A predistortion circuit may be included to further reduce distortion of the input signal at the output of the amplifier.

Abstract: An integrated circuit or system receives a bit pattern from a metadata, IPG, and or EPG signal. This bit pattern is then coupled to a circuit to provide a content control command to a recorder or to a processing circuit to generate a content control signal. In particular the bit pattern may be utilized in a manner to program, enable, or disable the generated control signal. Furthermore this content control signal provides resistance to a circumvention device. For example, the circumvention device is unable to remove sufficiently the content control signal, and content control is maintained.

Abstract: A receiving device provides a “new” copy protection signal which causes resistance to certain circumvention devices and includes improved playability. The new copy protection signal causes the certain circumvention devices to pass substantially the copy protection effects to a video recorder, or causes content control effectiveness on a compliant device. That is, the new copy protection signal from the receiver causes the circumvention device to add or enhance copy protection effectiveness, which is contrary to the circumvention device's original intent of removing or reducing copy protection effectiveness. The new copy protection signal is provided by inserting or adding one or more pseudo sync pulses or one or more pseudo sync/AGC pulse pairs immediately after, one line after, or less than two and a half lines after, a vertical sync signal in at least one television line. Thus, the receiver utilizes the new copy protection signal to thwart various intended functions of the circumvention device.

Abstract: A copy protection system and method for allowing copying or distribution of a copy protected signal is disclosed. One embodiment includes an apparatus and method for receiving a content signal via a WiFi communications channel, the content signal including a control signal; and using a modifying circuit coupled with the WiFi communications channel to generate an analog copy protection signal based on the control signal, the control signal causing the modifying circuit to add or delete the analog copy protection signal to or from the content signal.

Abstract: A more efficient method of recording programs simultaneously is provided in one embodiment by translating certain bands of the RF spectrum and translating and or reordering the channel allocation into a (analog) spectrum of one or more lower intermediate frequency band(s). A recorder records the analog RF spectrum, which then is available for playback from the recorder. Programs contained in the played back RF spectrum are selectively extracted by means of a tuner and or demodulator for subsequent viewing, listening, or distribution. Alternatively, an RF signal is supplied to a recorder for recording or storage without translation. The recorder then plays back the RF signal to a tuner and or demodulator for display and or distribution.

Abstract: The “color stripe” process is well known in the video field for preventing copying of video by analog video tape recorders, and operates by altering the phase of a portion of the video signal color burst. Here, a weakened version of the color stripe process is installed in a video signal by a digital media player which plays or stores conventional digital media, such as an optical disc (e.g., DVD or CD) player, a hard disc drive, a digital tape drive, or solid state memory. Thereby in an analog video signal output by such a digital media player the color burst phase alterations are reduced or attenuated so there is no copy prevention effect on a conventional downstream (receiving) analog video tape recorder.

Abstract: In certain flat screen TV sets, such as LCD monitors, geometric errors can be induced in a video signal by positive going pulses. That is, a shift in a display is provided when one or more positive going pulse is added to the video signal following one or more sync pulse. To illustrate, AGC pulses, generally used for content control and or copy protection in the last lines of an active video field, cause a shift (horizontal displacement) in the picture for these last lines in the active field. Alternatively, turning off or attenuating such positive going pulses in the last lines of the active field, eliminates or reduces the picture shift.

Abstract: A copy protection system and method for allowing copying or distribution of a copy protected signal is disclosed. One embodiment includes an apparatus and method for receiving a media signal in which a copy protection signal is embedded, receiving a control signal, generating a modified media signal by modifying or blanking at least a portion of the copy protection signal, if the control signal is configured to enable modification or blanking of the copy protection signal, and outputting the modified media signal.

Abstract: A testing method or apparatus utilizes multiple frequencies applied to a device under test for measuring newly discovered frequency modulation effects. An embodiment may include a lower frequency signal with a smaller amplitude higher frequency signal to test a dynamic change in frequency response, gain, and or phase. This dynamic test can reveal frequency modulation effects. Another embodiment may include the use of a multiple frequency signal or a modulated signal such as an amplitude modulated to dynamically induce a time varying phase or frequency distortion for the device that has differential phase distortion.

Abstract: A copy protection color stripe process is defeated first by determining the location of the video lines including the color stripe process. Then some or all of the lines including the modified color bursts are modified so as to render the overall video signal recordable. The modification is accomplished in a number of ways, including phase shifting the color stripe burst into the correct phase, replacing, attenuating and or eliminating some of the color stripe bursts or at least a portion of particular color burst envelopes so that they are no longer effective, mixing the color stripe burst with color stripe signals of the correct phase so as to eliminate most or all of the phase error present or modifying the horizontal sync pulse signals immediately preceding the modified color bursts so that the modified color bursts are not detected by a VCR and hence have no effect.

Abstract: Chroma copy protection signals are provided or synthesized for component or composite video signals by modifying one or more luminance copy protection signal. The system takes advantage of the characteristics of component video signals, wherein the luminance signal (channel) generally is subject to automatic gain control while the chrominance signal (channel) is decoupled from the luminance signal in automatic gain control (AGC) systems of a video recorder. Accordingly, when a copy protection signal is applied to the luminance signal but does not affect the chrominance signal, a video recorder will output a signal with an attenuated luminance signal and a full amplitude chrominance signal. This causes erroneous color saturation effects. An alternative embodiment provides method and apparatus for reducing or defeating chroma copy protection effects such as disclosed herein.

Abstract: In record or content control management systems, various selected reference, record control, copy protection or control information signals, or other signifiers, are used to identify control signals, for example, bits, to provide control of subsequent use of data, audio and video signals in the analog and digital domain. Method and apparatus are disclosed for modifying the effects of a content control system as well as for modifying an effect of a copy protection signal. To this end, the reference, record control, copy protection signals, or other control information signals, e.g., content control signals, may be modified to cause an erroneous or unintended reading subsequently of the reference or control signals which in turn correspondingly afters the control command of the record or content control system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ensuring the security of configuration or programming data supplied to an electronic device, such as a video consumer electronic device. This is achieved by storing within an integrated circuit video processor in the device both logic and data for checking the security of input configuration and/or programming data for the video processor to detect and prevent tampering with same. Not only is it determined if the input data is correct versus unacceptable, also if it is determined unacceptable, the logic then determines if the input data is the result of an innocent error or tampering by a hacker and takes appropriate protective steps accordingly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides a modified color stripe video copy protection signal. Normally, prior color stripe video copy protection signals include a color burst signal in which all cycles of subcarrier have an incorrect (i.e., non-normal) phase, thereby to provide copy protection effects on a video recorder. To improve playability, the present application provides a modified color stripe video copy protection signal which has no effect on a TV set. This modified color stripe signal comprises a color burst envelope that has cycles of normal phase as well as cycles of non-normal phase. On selected video lines, the modified color stripe signal incorporates a color burst signal consisting of two or more segments, with each segment having a predetermined phase. In another embodiment, the modified color stripe signal includes an expanded duration color burst envelope.

Abstract: In record or content control management systems, various selected reference, record control, copy protection or control information signals, or other signifiers, are used to identify control signals, for example, bits, to provide control of subsequent use of data, audio and video signals in the analog and digital domain. Method and apparatus are disclosed for modifying the effects of a content control system as well as for modifying an effect of a copy protection signal. To this end, the reference, record control, copy protection signals, or other control information signals, e.g., content control signals, may be modified to cause an erroneous or unintended reading subsequently of the reference or control signals which in turn correspondingly alters the control command of the record or content control system.

Abstract: A copy protection system and method enabling storage of copy protection information separately from protected content is disclosed. One embodiment includes a mechanism for playing a recording medium, the recording medium having stored thereon a digital content file and a copy protection information file, the mechanism producing a digital content signal from the digital content file and a copy protection signal from the copy protection file; a digital to analog converter operatively connected to the mechanism for converting the digital content signal to an analog signal; a copy protection detector connected to the mechanism for detecting a copy protection trigger present in the digital content signal; and a signal modifier connected to the copy protection detector for modifying the analog signal to include the copy protection signal in response to detection of the copy protection trigger.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides a copy protected analog video signal in response to control bits, wherein a programmable waveform is generated which provides horizontal sync pulses of predetermined position and or width and programmable pseudo sync and or AGC pulses. The method may provide a programmable duration, phase and or position of a color burst signal. The copy protected analog video signal is outputted from a digital to analog converter, wherein a parameter of the pseudo sync, AGC, horizontal sync pulses, or of the color burst, forming the copy protection signals, is determined by the control bits.

Abstract: The “color stripe” process is well known in the video field for preventing copying by analog video tape recorders of video content, and operates by altering the phase of a portion of the video signal color burst. Here, a weakened version of the color stripe process is employed in a video signal whereby the color burst phase alterations are reduced or attenuated so there is no copy prevention effect on a typical video tape recorder. However the weakened color stripe process is still sufficient to be detectable by a suitable detector located in a compliant device, so the detected presence of the color stripe serves as an encoded indication of copy control or other content control for the video signal by the compliant device.

Abstract: A testing method or apparatus utilizes multiple frequencies applied to a device under test for measuring newly discovered frequency modulation effects. An embodiment may include a lower frequency signal with a smaller amplitude higher frequency signal to test a dynamic change in frequency response, gain, and or phase. This dynamic test can reveal frequency modulation effects. Another embodiment may include the use of a multiple frequency signal to dynamically induce a time varying phase or frequency distortion for the device that has differential phase distortion. The device's output is then measured with an FM detector or spectrum analysis system to measure a shift in one of the frequencies used in the test signal or to measure frequency modulation effects of any signals, including distortion products, from the device.