Abstract: Video face detection apparatus in which a test image from a video sequence is compared with an image property model derived from image properties of a region detected to contain a face in a preceding image in the video sequence comprises: selecting a predetermined proportion of pixels in the region detected to contain a face in the preceding image which most closely match the image property model derived in respect of that region, thereby deriving a pixel mask; and comparing pixels in the test image defined by the pixel mask with the image property model, the mask being applied at more than one image position within the test image; a face being detected in the test image at a mask position corresponding to a lowest average difference between the image property model and pixels defined by the mask at that position.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus configured to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source, the audio and/or video generation apparatus comprising a recording unit configured to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, wherein the audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged to receive metadata associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording unit configured to record the metadata on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The data processor may be arranged to receive signals representative of the time codes of the recorded audio/video signals, and the metadata may include time code data representative of the in and out points of a take of the audio/video signals generated by the data processor. The metadata may also include unique identification code for identifying the audio/video signals. The unique identification code may be a UMID or the like.

Abstract: A method of comparing a test image with a set of reference images. The method: divides the test image into one or more test regions; for each test region, compares the test region with one or more reference regions in one or more reference images and identifies the reference region that most closely corresponds to the test region; and generates a comparison value from the comparisons of the test regions with their correspondingly identified reference regions.

Abstract: A receiver-decoder apparatus has a video interface to which is connected a module which has a network interface capable of receiving a video signal from a network and which supplies that video signal through the video interface. The receiver-decoder apparatus selectively supplies to a decoder circuit either a broadcast television signal received from a receiver circuit or a video signal received from a video interface. The receiver-decoder apparatus extracts signalling data broadcast with the broadcast television signal and generates an electronic program guide including a list of the services available for reception by the receiver circuit and events in respect of those services. The electronic program guide includes at least one extra entry as a notional service in said list of services in respect of the video signal supplied from the video interface.

Abstract: A watermarking system comprises an encoding data processor operable to generate at least one marked version of an original item of material by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. The encoding processor comprises a code word generator operable to form the code word by generating a plurality of code word coefficients, and an encoder operable to combine the code word coefficients with the material item, and an adaptation processor. The adaptation processor is operable to adapt the strength of the code word coefficients or the material item samples in accordance with a relative sensitivity of the material item samples to carry the code word coefficients. The strength of the watermark is therefore adapted in accordance with the sensitivity of the material item to carry watermark code word coefficients. As a result there is a reduced likelihood of an attacker identifying parts of the material item to which the watermark code word has been added.

Abstract: Apparatus uniquely identifies material recorded on an example of a recording medium. The medium has distinguishing data, a tape ID, distinguishing that example from other examples thereof recorded thereon. A generator generates data, e.g. IN and OUT time codes, identifying the or each piece of material recorded on the medium. A recorder (460) records the said distinguishing data on the medium. A reproducer (460) reproduces, from the recording medium, the distinguishing data. A processor, a PDA (469) associates the reproduced distinguishing data and the said identifying data with a unique identifier, a UMID, for the or each piece of material. A database (464) associates the unique identifier with metadata relating to the material.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus which is arranged in operation to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source, the audio and/or video generation apparatus comprising a recording means which is arranged in operation to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, wherein the audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged to receive metadata associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording means being arranged in operation to record the metadata on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The data processor may be arranged to receive signals representative of the time codes of the recorded audio/video signals, and the metadata may include time code data representative of the in and out points of a take of the audio/video signals generated by the data processor. The metadata may also include unique identification code for identifying the audio/video signals.

Abstract: A watermarking system includes an encoding data processor operable to generate at least one marked version of an original item of material by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. The apparatus has a code word generator operable to provide the code word having a plurality of code word coefficients, and an encoding processor operable to combine the code word coefficients with the material. Each of the plurality of code words of the set is uniquely associated with a data word having first and second fields. Each of a set of values of the first field is represented as a first part of the code word having a first plurality of coefficients, and the second field is represented as a second part of the code word having a second plurality of coefficients.

Abstract: Digital image processing apparatus for applying pixel-based colour correction to a hue-saturation-based polar representation of pixels of an input image to generate an output image comprises colour correction logic arranged to provide a colour mapping operation defined by a hue alteration amount and a key value associated with each pixel; the colour correction logic comprising: hue modifying logic for adding a proportion of the hue alteration amount to the hue of each pixel of the input image, the proportion depending on the key value associated with that pixel; and saturation modifying logic for modifying the saturation of each pixel in dependence on the hue alteration amount and the key value for that pixel, such that for a key value indicating that only a fraction of the hue alteration amount should be applied to a current pixel, the saturation of that pixel is also modified so that, when expressed with respect to a rectangular chrominance-based colour space, the pixel is moved to a position in that colour

Abstract: An encoding data processing apparatus generates at least one water marked version of an original item of material formed by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. The apparatus has a bandwidth adaptation processor configured to adapt a bandwidth of the code word to at least part of a bandwidth of the original material item, and an encoder configured to combine the bandwidth adapted code word with a copy of the original material item. The probability of correctly detecting a code word is improved by combining the code word with a part of the bandwidth of the material item. As a result, if the material is transformed in some way the code word may still be detected.

Abstract: An audio/video generation apparatus comprises an audio and/or video generation device operable to generate audio and/or video material, and a metadata generation processor. The metadata generation processor is operable to generate metadata describing the content and/or attributes of the audio/video material. The metadata generation processor is operable to generate a reference value providing a quasi-unique reference to the audio/video material with a reduced amount of data with respect to the audio/video material itself, the reference value being generated from data values representing the audio/video material in accordance with a predetermined relationship. The quasi-unique reference may be stored in association with the metadata describing the audio/video material from which the quasi-unique reference was generated. Generating a quasi-unique reference from the information material provides a facility for identifying the audio/video material. In one embodiment the quasi-unique reference is a hash value.

Abstract: A detecting data processing apparatus configured to identify at least one of a plurality of code words present in a marked version of a material item. The detecting apparatus including a registration processor operable to compare the samples of the marked material item with a copy of the original material item samples. If a sample of the marked material item and the original material item differ by a comparison threshold, the registration processor replaces the compared sample of the marked material item with the corresponding sample from the original material item.

Abstract: Apparatus uniquely identifies material recorded on an example of a recording medium. The medium has distinguishing data, a tape ID, distinguishing that example from other examples thereof recorded thereon. A generator generates data, e.g. IN and OUT time codes, identifying the or each piece of material recorded on the medium. A recorder (460) records the said distinguishing data on the medium. A reproducer (460) reproduces, from the recording medium, the distinguishing data. A processor, a PDA (469) associates the reproduced distinguishing data and the said identifying data with a unique identifier, a UMID, for the or each piece of material. A database (464) associates the unique identifier with metadata relating to the material.

Abstract: A station for a network apparatus, which includes interconnected by a communication link, includes a network connection; a self assessment module operable to determine a current status of the station including a measure of the stations available resources; a trust list that includes a station identifier for each other station which is designated as trusted to perform tasks for the station; and a broadcast unit operable to transmit service requests to the network. The service requests are directed to each other station in the trust list and request each other station to perform a task. The station also includes an answer unit operable to receive service requests from the network and transmit an acceptance or refusal message in response to the service request. The acceptance or refusal is decided based on the current status of the station as determined by the self assessment module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying a compression encoded video sequence representing a video image are described. The compression encoded video sequence includes a group of pictures comprising an intra-encoded picture and at least one inter-encoded picture, the inter-encoded picture comprising a plurality of image blocks. At least one of the image blocks has a motion vector representing a displacement of the image block with respect to a reference image block in another picture in the group of pictures, and a difference signal representing a difference between the image block and the reference image block.

Abstract: An encoding data processing apparatus operable to execute a cryptographic method to form an encrypted ciphertext sequence of data symbols from an input plaintext sequence of data symbols, said cryptographic method comprising a plurality of functional stages, said encoding data processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of data processing units arranged to form a pipeline, each of said data processing units being operable to process, in accordance with a respective functional stage of said cryptographic method, an input data quantity to produce a corresponding processed data quantity, said processed data quantity being fed to a subsequent data processing unit in said pipeline; and a combination element operable to form said encrypted ciphertext sequence of data symbols based on a combination of said processed data quantities output from a final one of said data processing units of said pipeline and said input plaintext sequence of data symbols; wherein said data processing apparatus is operable, during an in

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus comprises a recording processor which is operable to record audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor which is operable to generate meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals, and a communications processor which arranged to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium. Furthermore, the meta data generation processor may be operable to generate at least one sample image which is representative of a video image from the recorded video signals, and to associate the sample image with an address on the recording medium at which the video image is recorded. The video and/or audio generation apparatus provides an advantage in generating and utilising meta data to facilitate the generation of audio/video productions.

Abstract: A networked Conditional Access Module provided on an IEEE 1394 network, by defining a Conditional Access Module as a Conditional Access Subunit of the IEEE 1394 network, providing AV/C Conditional Access Commands to allow communication between the Conditional Access Subunit and other Subunits on the network, the Conditional Access Subunit including means to receive AV/C Conditional Access Commands over the IEEE 1394 network from another subunit, and means to transmit AV/C responses over the IEEE 1394 network in response to the received AV/C Conditional Access Commands.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus comprises a recording processor which is operable to record audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor which is operable to generate meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals, and a communications processor which arranged to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium. Furthermore, the meta data generation processor may be operable to generate at least one sample image which is representative of a video image from the recorded video signals, and to associate the sample image with an address on the recording medium at which the video image is recorded. The video and/or audio generation apparatus provides an advantage in generating and utilising meta data to facilitate the generation of audio/video productions.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus operable to encode video data representing successive images, each image including a plurality of pixels. The apparatus includes a differential encoder arranged to encode each image as one or more predetermined image regions. Each image is being encoded as a reference value and at least one differential pixel value. The differential pixel value(s) are derived in dependence on the reference value and/or other differential pixel value(s) in accordance with an order of encoding dependency; in which, for each image region, the differential encoder is operable in a first encoding mode for a first subset of the images to encode the image region using a first order of encoding dependency and in a second encoding mode for a second, different, subset of the images to encode the image region using a second, different, order of encoding dependency.