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 method of purchasing a soundtrack associated with A/V content. When A/V content is purchased by download or otherwise, the user is provided with an option to purchase or store the soundtrack. In one embodiment, the purchase of the motion picture secures usage rights to the soundtrack while another embodiment requires separate purchase of the soundtrack. In either case, the user is enabled to store the soundtrack as a separate file after having purchased rights to do so. The soundtrack is then stored, in some embodiments with digital rights management or copy protection to limit the number of copies that can be made of the soundtrack. The motion picture has a Table of Contents (TOC) indexing the soundtrack portions of the audio content of the motion picture to enable extraction of those portions of the motion picture forming the soundtrack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for content substitution, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention involves receiving data representing content, the data having at least first and second packet identifiers (PIDs) associated with first and second portions of content. The content having the first PID is placed into a data stream. An initiation flag is received indicating initiation of a PID mapping operation. The content having the second PID is then mapped to the first PID and the mapped content is placed into the data stream. A termination flag is received indicating termination of the PID mapping operation at which point the process returns to placing content having the first PID into the data stream. The content substitution process can be used to replace advertisements, provide multiple plots, multiple endings, multiple views as well as other applications.

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 method of processing digital content consistent with certain embodiments involves receiving a signal containing the digital content, wherein the digital content has a first encrypted sample of the digital content, the sample being encrypted under a first encryption method, a second encrypted sample of the digital content, the sample being encrypted under a second encryption method, and an unencrypted portion; and decrypting the first encrypted sample to produce a decrypted sample. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A selective encryption encoder consistent with certain embodiments of the invention has vertical and/or horizontal stripes encrypted. In one embodiment, packets are examined in the digital video signal to identify a specified packet type, the specified packet type being both packets carrying intra-coded data representing a pattern of horizontal stripes across an image and packets carrying intra-coded data representing a pattern of vertical stripes across an image. The packets identified as being of the specified packet type are encrypted using a first encryption method to produce first encrypted packets. These first encrypted packets are then used to replace the unencrypted packets in the digital video signal to produce a partially encrypted video signal. The packets of the specified type can also be multiple encrypted and replaced in the data stream to produce a multiple encrypted video data stream.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method of partially dual encrypting a digital video signal involves examining unencrypted packets of data in the digital video signal to identify a specified packet type. The specified packet type includes packets occurring in a star pattern approximately situated at approximately a center of an image; encrypting packets identified as being of the specified packet type using a first encryption method to produce first encrypted packets; encrypting the packets identified as being of the specified packet type using a second encryption method to produce second encrypted packets; and replacing the unencrypted packets of the specified packet type with the first encrypted packets and the second encrypted packets in the digital video signal to produce a partially dual encrypted video signal. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.

Abstract: A multiple partial encryption device consistent with certain embodiments has an input for receiving a unencrypted video signal. An encryption arrangement produces a partially multiple encrypted video signal from the unencrypted video signal. An output provides the partially multiple encrypted video signal. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a client device into a network consistent with certain embodiments involves at a server device, generating a multi-digit random secret number; displaying the random secret number on a server display coupled to the server device; positioning the client device in close enough physical proximity to the server device to permit observation of the displayed random secret number; at the client device, sequentially entering each digit of the random secret number by actuation of a switch coupled to the client device a number of times equivalent to each digit of the random secret number; and upon correct entry of the random secret number at the client device, completing an authentication and key exchange process using the random secret number in an encryption and decryption process carried out at the server device and the client device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An example trick mode play process for digital video stores a plurality of most recent reference frames in a corresponding plurality of frame buffers; displaying a current frame during a current frame time interval; determining a next frame for display; inspecting the plurality of frame buffers to determine if the next frame is present in a frame buffers. If the next frame is present, designating the frame for display in the next frame time interval. If the next frame is not present: checking if the frame buffers contain any reference frames needed to decode the next frame; and decoding a next frame using all reference frames needed to decode the next frame which can be found in the frame. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method for bandwidth sharing between first and second satellite television networks involves receiving a shared video data stream shared between the satellite television networks; receiving advertisement metadata forming a part of the shared video data stream, the advertisement meta-data containing identifying information that identifies the advertisement as being associated with one of the satellite television networks; determining which of the satellite television networks the advertisement is associated with by reading the identifying information; if the first satellite television network is identified as associated with the advertisement, then outputting the advertisement as a video signal; and if the second satellite television network is identified as associated with the advertisement, then identifying an advertisement that is possibly stored in an advertisement cache, retrieving the advertisement from the advertisement cache and outputting the stored advertisement as a video signal.

Abstract: A wireless home entertainment system consistent with certain embodiments has at least one server having at least one manipulable authentication element thereon, wherein the manipulable authentication element is not a general purpose data entry element. At least one component is in wireless communication with the server. A User Interface is used for selecting an authenticated component to be de-authenticated. A person can cause the server to regard an authenticated component as being de-authenticated by manipulating the authentication element while a component to be de-authenticated is selected using the user interface. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for generating fees using a receiving device, involves distributing censored video from a distributor video to a receiving device; and uncensoring the censored video using the receiving device upon payment of a fee. The receiving device uses overlay data received from the distributor to uncensor the censored video by overlaying the overlay data over the censored video using a video overlay frame to overlay a video frame containing the censored video data in accordance with boundaries determined by an alpha plane within the receiving device. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.

Abstract: A communication device for use in adapting an appliance to a computer network consistent with certain embodiments has a data transmitter that receives data to be transmitted and generates output signals at a plurality of frequencies. A user configurable notch filter, receives the output signals from the data transmitter, for reducing the amplitude of a user selected range of frequencies, and producing a filtered output. A network communication medium interface receives the filtered output and transmitting the filtered output over a network communication medium. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of carrying out a search using a search engine consistent with certain embodiments involves extracting selected text from a video frame containing text by optical character recognition (OCR) processing of the selected text from the video frame; loading the text extracted from the OCR processing as a search string into a search engine; executing the search using the search engine operating on the search string; receiving search results from the search engine; and displaying the search results for viewing on a display. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method of detecting a scene change in a digital video signal involves examining a slice of the digital video signal; determining if the slice contains a greater amount of data than a threshold amount of data; and if the slice contains a greater amount of data than the threshold, determining that the slice forms a part of a scene change. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, methods and apparatus are presented for testing a medium to determine whether it was non-commercially created involve determining if a drive comprises a recordable drive; if the drive comprises a recordable drive: determining whether a medium comprises a closed medium. If the medium does not comprise a closed medium, the medium comprises non-commercial medium. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract without departing from certain embodiments.

Abstract: An external module for use with a host television device consistent with certain embodiments wherein the host television device receives at least one content service has a connector for attaching to the module. Java™ code is received from the content service being received by the host television device over the connector. An application execution engine residing on the external module carries out execution of the Java™ code. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of auditing operation of a cable television appliance consistent with certain embodiments involves detecting an event that triggers an audit; generating a fingerprint value, wherein the fingerprint value is function of the cable television network characteristics at an authorized installation location; comparing the fingerprint value with a stored reference value; if the fingerprint value is within specified limits of the stored reference value, permitting the cable television appliance to carry out a normal operational function; and if the fingerprint value is outside of specified limits of the stored reference value, inhibiting the cable television appliance from carrying out a normal operational function. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A television signal receiver device consistent with certain embodiments has a receiver that receives a digital television signal including a plurality of unencrypted packets, and a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type. The at least one selected packet type has packets occurring in a star pattern approximately situated at an upper center of an image. A decrypter decrypts the encrypted packets. A decoder decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.