Abstract: A method and apparatus for defeating copy protection signals in a video signal, and also for providing copy protection signals for a video signal, is disclosed. The defeat technique generally utilizes a particular pulse position shifting, modulation, etc., of AGC, normal sync and/or pseudo sync pulses to increase the separation between the pulses. Various embodiments are disclosed including selective shifting of the relative positions of either the sync/pseudo sync or AGC pulses, trimming portions of the sync/pseudo sync and/or the AGC pulses and narrowing of either the sync/pseudo sync and/or the AGC pulses, all to provide the selective position separation between the sync/pseudo sync and AGC pulses.

Abstract: Copy protection normally included in a video signal to prevent unauthorized copying is dynamically modified, by changing an attribute of the copy protection to be added to or present in the video signal. The copy protection can include any signal that affects playability of an attenuated video signal, for example, by triggering an early or late horizontal or vertical retrace (such as caused by sync narrowing or the checker signals described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,936). The attribute change is related to scene content carried by the video signal, so that bright and dark scenes carry different copy protection. The attribute being changed can be, for example a checker's low level that is reduced to below the blanking level when the scene content is darker than normal, and increased to above the blanking level when the scene content is brighter than normal. Alternatively, the attribute being changed can be the width of a synchronization pulse normally present in the video signal.

Abstract: A system and method for managing the use and access of digital data objects. According to the invention, control rights associated with a digital data object activate an external control object and an intercept application to intercept and monitor communications between a hosting application and a document server application associated with the creation of the digital data object. These intercepting and monitoring functions are performed without affecting or changing the hosting application or the document server application. The external control object activates an intercept application which mimics the functions of the document server application and performs user actions on the digital data object as authorized by the external control object according to the control rights associated with the digital object. By intercepting and monitoring user actions on a digital data object, the invention can control access and use of the digital data object.

Abstract: System and method for verifying the authenticity of executable images. The system includes a validator that determines a reference digital signature for an executable image using the contents of the executable image excluding those portions of the executable that are fixed-up by a program loader. The validator then subsequent to the loading of the executable image determines an authenticity digital signature to verify that the executable image has not been improperly modified. In addition, the validator ensures that each of the pointers in the executable image have not been improperly redirected.

Abstract: Accordingly, an improved method for recording data on an optical medium is disclosed which includes receiving and encoding a first set of data frames by a CIRC encoder to generate a second set of data frames. A control byte is then added to each of the second set of data frames to generate a third set of data frames. The third plurality of frames of data are received and encoded at an EFM encoder to generate a section comprising a plurality of Channel frames. The control byte of a sequentially first one of the third set of data frames is replaced with a SYNC 0′ byte selected from the limited group of previously unassigned fourteen-bit combinations. The control byte of a sequentially second one of the third set of data frames is also replaced with a SYNC 1′ byte selected from the same group.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for identifying, to manufacturing test equipment, copy protection information contained on a compact disc (CD). The method includes adding data in standardized industry formats to unused sectors of a CD and providing the capability to test equipment to read the data. The added data is unreadable and ignored by conventional compact disc readers and compact disc drives. The added data is defined by manufacturers and users of copy protection techniques. Additional copy protection verification can be accomplished by using specialized verification tools.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing generational copy control of a video signal. A digital video signal contains content information, first supplemental information and second supplemental information. The first supplemental information is represented by a watermark pattern, the second by a control pattern. Copying of the content information is only permitted if a predetermined combination of the first and second supplemental information is present. Pseudo-sync pulses are added to a blanking interval of an analog video signal converted from a digital video signal, the pulses representing the second supplemental information.

Abstract: A video signal is modified so that a television receiver will provide a normal color picture but a video tape recorder will detect the modification and prohibit the video signal from being recorded. The color burst phase of the video signal is modified so as to make inferior quality pictures in the event that the resulting modified video signal is recorded. A disabling circuit (22) associated with the recorder (20) detects the presence of the modified video signal. This detection is done by determining the presence of modified color burst phase signals in even a single television line of the video signal. A control signal (26) is produced when the modified color burst phase signal is detected, which disables the recorder (20). If no modified color burst phase signal is detected, the recorder (20) is enabled to allow an acceptable recording of the video signal.

Abstract: In typical prior art generational copy protection processes, a video tag signal is added to a watermarked and/or copy protected video signal to prevent the production of unauthorized second generation copies and the playback of illicit second generation copies. This application discloses a means for defeating the tag signal/watermark copy protection process. To this end, various embodiments are disclosed by which the tag signal is recovered, converted to a selected tag representation and is carried or stored in some manner, concurrently with the recording of a first generation copy of the video signal, which may or may not be tagless. The first generation copy is played back and the tag representation is converted to a regenerated tag signal which is selectively re-inserted in the reproduction of the first generation copy prior to recording a second generation copy, which now is playable.

Abstract: Scrambling and descrambling techniques are described which, unlike many typical scrambling systems, are compatible with all conceivable forms of signal compression systems. The scrambling technique is based on the principle of applying local spatial distortion to the pixels in a video image, and the like, to locally displace the pixels from their normal locations. Most compression systems rely on the condition that good correlation exists in the image and that any small portion, i.e., pixel, in an image is very similar to the portions, or pixels, nearby. Since the present technique provides local spatial distortion which does not de-correlate the image and does not re-arrange the pixels in the image, the pixels near other pixels prior to application of the scrambling technique, have the same positional relationship after scrambling. The complementary descrambling technique restores the locally displaced pixels to their normal locations to restore the video image to its original unscrambled state.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for embedding and detecting a watermark in a data stream, such as a video stream. A texture criterion is evaluated for each block of the data stream. The texture criterion measures a variation of selected characteristics associated with each element of the data stream, such as luminance and chrominance. Only those blocks that are determined to have at least a predetermined degree of variation in the selected characteristic are selected for embedding of a watermark. By providing the watermark detector with a block selector that evaluates the same texture criterion as was employed in the watermark embedder, the detector attempts detection of the watermark only in those blocks having been determined to have the predetermined degree of variation of the selected characteristic, or greater.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for scrambling a high definition television signal to discourage unauthorized recording of same. While recording per se is not prevented, the resulting recorded signal is rendered unusable due to an induced “wobble” between the active video and the associated sync pulses. The scrambled television signal is readily viewable on a compliant high definition television set which descrambles the HDTV signal using an encoded indication of the amount of wobble accompanying the HDTV signal. Also provided is a special interface to prevent unauthorized persons from using the indication of the amount of wobble so as to defeat the scrambling. Also provided are method and apparatus for defeating the scrambling method and hence allowing recording of the scrambled video signal.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the usage of data objects in component object systems. According to the invention, each data object includes a peer list that defines one or more peer data objects that are required by the data object. Upon receipt of a data object, the system verifies the integrity of the data object. Further, the system identifies the integrity of the peer data objects. If the system cannot find the peer data objects, or the system cannot authenticate the peer data objects, the system may optionally retrieve a peer data object that can be authenticated from a data object depository. In addition to validating the integrity of the data object, the system verifies that the data object is authorized to communicate with each of the peer data objects. Further, the system verifies that the peer data objects are authorized to communicate with the data object.

Abstract: A computer network having a requesting node and a providing node permits data transfer therebetween when permitted by an authorizing node. Reports generated in response to authorizations and reports generated in response to data transfers are reconciled at a reconciliation node to improve the accuracy of payments collected and paid for use of the data. Such payments include copyright royalties for audio, video, and other works recorded in digital format.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for modifying or reducing effects of signals added to a video signal to permit more unhampered copying and/or viewing thereof. In one version the method and apparatus replace or level shift portions of a video signal to overcome effects caused by these pulses. Typically these pulses are added for copy protection purposes. Modification of the video signal allows for more unhampered viewing and/or copying of the video signal.

Abstract: An improved television scrambling signal is achieved by adding erroneous clamp pulses into a television signal after the signal may have been previously scrambled, for example, by prior art position modulated horizontal sync pulses. Prior art scrambling systems such as those using position modulated sync pulses cause tearing in an unauthorized displayed television picture. The addition of the erroneous clamp pulses of the present invention causes both tearing and darkening of the picture. This darkening can completely shut off the display on some TV sets, thus yielding complete concealment of the television signal. In an alternative embodiment, an erroneous color “rainbow” effect is provided by modifying a portion of a color burst signal, to cause the color subcarrier system in a TV set to unlock.

Abstract: In a known copy protection process for preventing recording of video signals, pseudo sync and AGC pulses are present on predetermined lines within the blanking intervals of the video signal so that any subsequent video tape recording of the video signal shows a picture of very low entertainment quality. This copy protection process is defeated first by determining the location of the video lines containing the copy protection using the color burst signal or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval to determine on-line detection. Then some or all of the lines including copy protection signals are modified so as to render the overall video signal recordable. The modification is accomplished in a number of ways, including gain shifting portions of the video signal, level shifting portions of the video signal, bandwidth limiting certain portions of the video signal or replacing certain portions of the video signal with other video elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively controlling the presence of copy protection signals in a video signal depends upon the scene content of the video signal during an upper portion of a display of the video signal. Thus, in the upper portion of the scenes, wherein picture information would be noticeably altered by a hooking process the copy protection process is deactivated or effectively reduced to eliminate or reduce the hooking or tearing effects. The adaptive control of the copy protection improves the playability performance of copy protected video signals on a very small minority of television receivers which display a small hooking or tearing characteristic in the upper portion of the display of the copy protected video signal.

Abstract: A VGA (or other component video signal) output, e.g. from a computer or DVD player, is protected so it is viewable on a VGA monitor. However, if the component video signal is converted to composite video (e.g. television) the resulting television picture is of substantially degraded quality, thereby inhibiting viewing and/or copying. This protects for instance copyrighted material in the VGA format from unauthorized use. The protection involves modifying the horizontal or vertical synchronization signals in the VGA video in such a way that there is no adverse affect on a typical VGA monitor. However, most or all VGA to television converters and/or television sets and VCR's suffer from loss of synchronization, resulting in an unviewable picture. Also, methods and circuits for defeating the copy protection are provided.

Abstract: In certain video scrambling systems, composite video is imperfectly separated into luminance and chrominance and scrambled in such a way that an unstable residual chroma color subcarrier remains in the luminance channel. When this unstable residual subcarrier subsequently is summed with stabilized chroma, the resultant composite color signal has small but visible amounts of color subcarrier instability that causes a noisy color signal when descrambled or when displayed on a television display device. A coring circuit is disclosed which provides means for substantially removing the unstable residual chroma subcarrier from the luminance channel, thereby substantially reducing color subcarrier instabilities. An improved coring technique also is disclosed using adaptive chroma coring, which is achieved by adjusting the amount of coring applied in accordance with the amplitude of the chrominance signal.