Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying a video signal to allow it to carry encoded data which is detectable at a suitably compliant receiver but is not recorded by a conventional video recorder. One application is to carry a descrambling key to prevent useful recording (but not viewing) of a scrambled television signal since the key will not be recorded. This encoded “hidden” data is not recorded by the conventional video recorders because, for instance, it is located in the vertical or horizontal blanking intervals of the video signal, or is carried by a high frequency carrier signal, or is expressed by phase modulation of the video signal's synchronization pulses.

Abstract: It is proposed to copy protect data files for transmission by incorporating DSV data patterns, that is, data patterns which are difficult to encode without causing DSV problems, in the data files. The data in five audio streams and two video streams is placed, by way of encoders (10) and a multiplexer (12) into a stream of blocks of encoded data in the MPEG file format (14). In this format, blocks of video data V are arranged alternately with blocks of audio data A and padding stream blocks P. DSV data patterns (16) are incorporated into the MPEG file (14) by way of an encoder (18) to produce the copy protected data file (15). The DSV data patterns (16) are incorporated into locations within the MPEG file which have no data content such as padding stream blocks P and/or into unused audio data blocks A.

Abstract: Generally the more effective is the copy protection provided on an optical disc, such as a DVD, the greater is the likelihood that the copy protection will adversely interfere with legitimate uses of the optical disc. It is therefore proposed to include at least one region of subversive data within the content in the data area of an optical disc, and then to prevent access to each such region of subversive data during normal playback of the disc. For a DVD, the subversive data may be incorporated within video objects and/or may be in gaps between files in the DVD_Video zone. It is arranged that there are no navigable paths to the regions of subversive data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing proprietary material employs multiple watermarks embedded in the proprietary material for enhanced copy protection. A first watermark is to be processed by programmable and non-programmable devices configured to process the first watermark for copy protection of the proprietary material. If a programmable device eliminates the first watermark so that unauthorized copies of the proprietary material can be made, then non-programmable devices configured to process a second watermark as well as the first watermark look for and process the second watermark for copy protection of the proprietary material upon their failure to detect the first watermark.

Abstract: Various techniques and associated embodiments are disclosed for providing defensive measures against “black boxes,” wherein the techniques utilize unconventional schemes for detecting the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of a video signal containing a copy protection signal. The unconventional schemes would be of particular interest to the black boxes, which must locate the VBI to generate a vertical rate signal in order to perform the task of illegally removing the copy protection signal. The unconventional schemes utilize the particular characteristics or peculiarities of the video signals in the VBI to detect the VBI and generate therefrom a reliable vertical or frame rate signal. The characteristics include various pulse spacings and/or pulse widths which may occur in specific lines in the VBI, and which may be detected to allow deriving the reliable vertical or frame rate signal.

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: The present invention relates to an application file to be carried on an optical disc and to a method of copy protecting an application, where the application is provided by an application file to be carried on an optical disc. The invention also extends to a copy protected optical disc carrying an application and to a storage device for use in a process of mastering optical discs.

Abstract: A multi-level and/or demand based method and apparatus for interdicting unauthorized copying in a decentralized network are described. In their preferred embodiments, the method and apparatus start out by performing search result manipulation to interdict unauthorized copying of protected files. If a trigger event is detected in network communications, however, such as a threshold number of requests being exceeded for a protected file by a network node, then the method floods that node with decoys of the protected file to enhance interdiction efforts.

Abstract: An instrumentation system estimates characteristics of a decentralized network, such as: the size, growth rate, and growth acceleration of the network; the number of instances, the rate of propagation, and the acceleration of propagation of a file in the network; and the search and download activities, in the aggregate and for particular files, in the network. A data center in the instrumentation system performs a set of interrelated methods for inferring these and other characteristics of the network. For estimating some characteristics, it identifies and uses a subset of the network, and uses information from the subset to infer or obtain information of the entire network. For estimating other characteristics, it deploys software agents to masquerade as nodes in the network.

Abstract: A copy protected optical disc has a first audio session and a second data session. The second data session has the conventional structure of a Lead-In, a program area, and a Lead-Out, and the information in the Lead-In area of the second session is altered to provide copy protection for the audio content on the disc. For example, the TOC of the second session has had the content at frames N+12, N+13 and N+14 indicated as an audio track by the setting of CONTROL to 0. This is equivalent to providing a pointer which is said to address an audio track but which points to an area of the program area at which there is no audio track. When reading data from an optical disc a user will use an application player to access the optical disc by an appropriate driver. Where the information on the disc is interpreted by a CD file system program CDFS.

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: A system and methods for communicating over the Internet with devices of a decentralized network using transparent asymmetric return paths are described. Remote capture centers are geographically distributed so as to communicate with devices of a decentralized network that reside in diverse geographical locations. A centralized data center communicates with the remote capture centers so as to generate processed information in the form of reply packets from information received at the remote capture centers from the devices, and transmit the processed information back to the devices in a manner so that the processed information appears to have been transmitted from the remote capture centers.

Abstract: An interdiction system includes software agents masquerading as nodes in a decentralized network, a query matcher that receives search results captured by the software agents and reports matches with protected files back to the software agents, and a central coordinating authority that coordinates activities of the software agents by sending instructions to the software agents specifying actions to be taken. Possible activities and related interdicting methods include manipulating search results before forwarding them on in the network, quarantining selected nodes in the network, performing file impersonations such as transferring synthesized decoys, performing file transfer attenuation, and hash spoofing.

Abstract: A codeword for use in error correction of digital optical media, the codeword having a plurality of data symbols and a plurality of parity symbols, and includes an augmented channel word which can be read as either a first value or a second alternate value. The augmented channel word is one of the plurality of data and parity symbols, wherein the augmented channel word retains its value irrespective of any error correction performed.

Abstract: A method for recoding data on an optical medium such as DVD. The method includes receiving main data from a data source, determining a plurality of data frame values in response to the main data, inverting at least one selected bit in at least one of the data frame values to generate a plurality of encoded data frames, scrambling the encoded data frames by a feedback shift register to generate scrambled data frames, generating ECC values in response to the scrambled data frames, adding the ECC values to the scrambled data frames to generate an ECC block, rearranging the ECC block to generate a plurality of recording frames, encoding the recording frame by an eight-to-sixteen modulation (ESM) encoder to generate code words, adding sync values to the code words to generate a plurality of physical sectors, and recording the physical sectors on the optical medium. There is a complementary method for reading and decoding data from an optical medium.

Abstract: The ability of a data reader, such as a CD-ROM drive, to access, extract, or otherwise read the data on a digital audio compact disc provides a problem for the music industry. A user can use his CD-ROM drive to read the data from an audio disc into a computer file, and then that data can be copied. To provide copy protection, errors are deliberately introduced into the data on a CD, but these errors are of a type which are generally transparent to an audio player but which will interfere with the reading of the audio data by a data reader. According to the standards, the data on a CD is encoded into frames by EFM (eight to fourteen modulation). Each frame has sync data, sub-code bits providing control and display symbols, data bits and parity bits, and includes 24 bytes of data, which is audio data for a CD-DA. The standard requires that 98 such frames are grouped into a sector. To provide copy protection, each is provided with a non-standard number of frames, for example, has 99 rather than 98 frames.

Abstract: Illegal cable decoders, i.e., black boxes, are defeated by adding, inserting and/or superimposing an added signal onto an already scrambled video signal, which added signal is capable of disrupting the operation of the illegal cable decoder. As a result of the added signal, the illegal cable decoder outputs an unstable or unviewable picture or signal and concealment is maintained. In another embodiment of an added signal, a modulated signal with a range from about blanking level to about peak white level is added, inserted and/or superimposed on the unstable scrambled video signal in the vertical blanking interval and/or its vicinity. As a result, the illegal cable decoder is caused to generate some horizontal instabilities at its output.

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 codeword and a method for generating a codeword is provided. The codeword may be used in error correction of digital optical media and DVDs, the codeword having a plurality of data symbols and a plurality of parity symbols, and includes an augmented channel word which can be read as either a first value or a second alternate value. The augmented channel word is one of the plurality of data and parity symbols, the augmented channel word retaining its value irrespective of any error correction performed.