Abstract: An authentication system, including a pattern module to provide a pattern, a function module to provide a one-way function having a plurality of input and output values, a function processor to find one of the input values for the one-way function such that a corresponding one of the output values has the pattern, a password module to provide the one input value as a password for use in password authentication against the one output value, the one output value being a check value having a length, a compression module to determine a storage value such that: the check value can be reconstructed from the storage value and the pattern, and the storage value has a length which is shorter than the length of the check value, and a storage module to store the storage value in a storage medium for later retrieval. Related apparatus and methods are also included.

Abstract: A system for protecting a chip with an integrated circuit disposed on a first surface, the system including, disposed on the first surface, a first antenna, signal analyzer, chip controller and a signal generator which is operative to supply an outbound signal for transmission by the first antenna, a circuit arrangement, disposed on a second surface of the chip, including a shielding arrangement and a second antenna to receive the outbound signal, the circuit arrangement being operative to transmit a return signal from the second antenna to the first antenna, such that a breach in the shielding arrangement results in a change in, or cessation of, the return signal for detection by the signal analyzer, and a chip controller disposed on the first surface being operative to perform an action on the integrated circuit in response to the detection of the breach. Related apparatus and methods also included.

Abstract: An interactive television method is disclosed. The method includes receiving, via a broadcast carousel, a photo feed comprising a plurality of still video pictures, sequentially displaying the plurality of still video pictures on a display, enabling a first user to select at least one still video picture from the photo feed, producing a wallet of pictures by storing the at least one selected still video picture, selected by the first user, in a memory, and forwarding the wallet of pictures to a second user. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for managing dynamic program changes in a digital video broadcasting (DVB) system, the method including detecting a dynamic program change in a DVB transmission received at a set-top box (STB), and changing a digital video recorder (DVR) recording instruction associated with the program to record the program in accordance with a parameter of the change.

Abstract: A method for producing an auxiliary video stream arranged for reverse trick mode playback from a video stream including a plurality of uni-directional predicted frames, the method including producing the auxiliary video stream by performing the following steps copying each uni-directional predicted frame included in the video stream into a memory, thereby producing a plurality of copied frames in the memory, replacing each one of the plurality of copied frames with one corresponding supplemental frame, thereby producing a plurality of corresponding supplemental frames, and producing a copy of the video stream arranged in reverse processing order, the producing a copy including replacing each frame which corresponds to one of the plurality of copied frames with the one corresponding supplemental frame from among the plurality of corresponding supplemental frames. Related methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A method for determining that all of a scrambled message has been successfully received, the scrambled message being scrambled in accordance with a scrambling key and being capable of being descrambled in accordance with a descrambling key, descrambling key generating information for generating the descrambling key being included within a control message (ECM) associated with the scrambled message.

Abstract: A method of digital television recording including receiving a content item at a first Personal Video Recorder (PVR), determining whether to transfer the content item based, at least in part, on at least one of the following currentness of the content item, a user preference, and a user profile, and transferring the content item from the first PVR to a mobile PVR only upon a positive result of the determining. Related methods and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for preparing a digital video stream for zooming by a content consumer system, including a video frame processor to prepare a plurality of video frames of the digital video stream, a zoom location processor to prepare a plurality of zoom location indicators in the digital video stream, each of the zoom location indicators including an element indicative of a least one horizontal position and at least one vertical position in the video frames, and a stream processor to temporally synchronize the zoom location indicators and the video frames in the digital video stream, such that the video frames are available to be zoomed by the content consumer system based on the zoom location indicators during playback of the digital video steam. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method for producing an output from an input encoding the output, the method including choosing functions G, F, and H, providing an input x, choosing a random number r, computing x?=G(x, r), sending x? to a computation unit, computing, in the computation unit, y?=F(x?), receiving y? from the computation unit, and computing the output w=H(y?, r), wherein G, F, and H are chosen such that w is not dependent on the choice or r. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method is described for trick mode playback, the method including selecting a key-frame in a recording substantially in the vicinity of a trick mode playback starting position, preparing a decryption key associated with a key period including the selected key-frame, sending the prepared decryption key to a descrambler, thereby enabling decryption of video beginning at the selected key-frame, sending a first number P seconds of decrypted video frames, starting at the selected key-frame, at a predetermined speed for a predetermined number of seconds, to a video decoder, in parallel to the sending P seconds of video frames, choosing at least a second video section to stream to the video decoder, sending a decryption key associated with the chosen second video section to the descrambler, and repeating the steps of selecting, preparing, sending the prepared decryption key, and sending a first number P seconds of decrypted video frames. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A digital television recording method comprising: broadcasting a television program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program; operating an agent for determining whether to record the program and for associating with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program; storing the program together with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters to generate an addressable program; retrieving at least a portion of the addressable program; displaying the at least a portion of the addressable program to a user; receiving from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program; editing the addressable program to include the user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program thereby generating an edited

Abstract: A set-top box system for blocking signaled applications from being run on a set-top box, the system comprising an audio/video service receiving module to receive at least one audio/video service, an application receiving module to receive an application, an application signaling module to manage a first table including signaling information indicating that the application is a signaled application authorized for being run on the set-top box, and an application blocking module to receive a second table including blocking information to block running of the signaled application on the set-top box, the second table being received from a broadcasting Headend, and block running of the signaled application on the set-top box in response to receiving the second table. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A system including a pseudo-random number generator having a register to store an extended state having a reduced state and a dynamic constant, an initialization module to initialize a part of the extended state based on a Key and/or an Initial Value, a state update module to update the reduced state, an output word module to generate output words, the state update module and the output word module being adapted to operate through cyclical rounds, each round including updating the reduced state and then generating one of the output words, and an update dynamic constant module to update the dynamic constant, wherein in a majority of the rounds, updating of the reduced state and/or generation of the output word is based on the dynamic constant, and the dynamic constant is only updated in a minority of the rounds. Related apparatus and method are also described.

Abstract: A method for generating a plurality of control words, each control word controlling access to an object. The method includes providing a control word packet (CWP), generating a first control word (CW) from the CWP, providing a second CW generation input and producing a second CW based, at least in part, on both of the following the first CW and the second CW generation input. Control word generating apparatus for generating a plurality of control words is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring electronic content. The method and apparatus include providing electronic content to a first user, providing the first user with a key packet, the key packet including a decryption key and content rights information, transferring the electronic content and the key packet from the first user to a second user and rendering rights of the first user to the electronic content unusable upon transfer of the electronic content and the key packet from the first user to the second user.

Abstract: A system for scrambling/descrambling packets of a stream of content, each packet having a must stay clear (MSC) section, the system including an input handler including a receiving module to receive the stream, a characteristic analyzer to analyze the stream in order to determine a data independent characteristic of each packet, and a scrambling /descrambling device operationally associated with the input handler, the scrambling/descrambling device including a receiving module to receive the data independent characteristic for each packet from the input handler, and an Initial Value module to determine an Initial Value for each packet as a function of the data independent characteristic of one of the packets being processed, wherein the scrambling/descrambling device is adapted to scramble and/or descramble the packets based on the Initial Value and a Control Word. Related apparatus and methods are included.

Abstract: This invention discloses a secure recording medium having at least one of audio, video and software content, comprising a plurality of media recording disks (DVD's) with a disk security chip embedded in each the DVD, each the disk chip comprising a security key, wherein at least two of the DVD's have different disk security keys. A method for protecting access to content recorded on a media recording disk (DVD) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and a method for secure transmission of protected content to a subscriber, without requiring a smart card or other renewable security element to be in physical proximity of the recipient module of the subscriber, such as a set-top box for example. Therefore, the renewable security element may optionally be protected and controlled by the transmitter of the protected content, such as by the broadcaster for example.

Abstract: A method for granting a grace period entitlement, the method comprising receiving a grace period entitlement message, establishing whether a grace period flag indicates that a grace period may be granted, granting a grace period to an expired entitlement based, at least in part, on the grace period entitlement message, only if the grace period flag is “off”, and setting the grace period flag to indicate that the grace period has been granted. Related methods and apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A method for adding an additional layer to an integrated circuit, the method including providing an integrated circuit having an interconnect layer, depositing, over substantially all of an exposed surface of the integrated circuit, an additional layer of material whose conductivity can be altered, and selectively altering the conductivity of a first portion of the additional layer by selective annealing, to produce a sub-circuit in the additional layer, the sub-circuit being in operative electrical communication with the integrated circuit. Related apparatus and methods are also described.