Abstract: The system includes a command set defining a plurality of navigation commands for an audiovisual reproduction apparatus and a human-oriented scripting program for automatically authoring a navigation structure for use in a stand alone audiovisual product playable in the audiovisual reproduction apparatus. The scripting program includes an iterative loop with a variable adjusted according to the iterations of the loop. The scripting program is operable to automatically, for each iteration of the loop; select from the plurality of navigation commands a navigation command defined according to the variable as adjusted for each iteration of the loop; and add the navigation command to an intermediate representation of the navigation structure. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a data processing system and method for automatically testing a digital content player to ensure compliance with a video image data specification.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a data processing system and method for automatically testing, for example, a DVD to ensure compliance with an intended mode of operation. Tags or unique identifiers are embedded within the MPEG elementary video streams. These tags are detected and correlated against a test plan to determine whether or not the authored DVD is as intended.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a remote controller for controlling audiovisual apparatus to playback protected audiovisual content. In the embodiment, the controller comprises means for receiving access information associated with the protected audiovisual content, generator means for generating playback data, using received access information, and transmitter means for transmitting a playback signal, embodying the playback data, for controlling the audiovisual apparatus to playback the protected audiovisual content.

Abstract: Aspects and embodiments of the present invention relate to an authoring system for authoring an audiovisual production, for example for storage on a DVD-Video disc. The audiovisual production typically comprises audiovisual context and accompanying captions and the authoring system typically comprises: a first data store for storing audiovisual assets; a second data store for storing raw caption data; means for generating caption assets, using the raw caption data, and storing the caption assets in a third data store; and, means for generating the audiovisual production, using at least the audiovisual assets and the caption assets, and storing the audiovisual production in a fourth data store. Certain embodiments of the present invention find particular application in the field of DVD authoring including subtitle authoring and subtitle localisation.

Abstract: Aspects and embodiments of the present invention relate to copy protection of media products. Exemplary media products are DVD products and the like. According to some embodiments, such media products (745) may carry, in a data area (740), presentation data (325), navigation data (330) and read barriers (AV3), the navigation data (330) providing a plurality of selectable playback paths and providing selection logic (SLn) for selecting a playback path during playback of the product. At least one selectable playback path (MP2) of the product encounters a read barrier (AV3) and at least one other selectable playback path (MP1) does not encounter a read barrier.

Abstract: A copy deterrent is provided for an audiovisual product (400) such as a DVD-video format optical disk. User identities are allocated to each of a plurality of users. The audiovisual product (400) is then recorded including, for each allocated user identity, a section of playback content (421) unique to that allocated user identity, e.g. a video object (VOB) which prominently displays personal data of the user (such as their name) or which contains a discrete digital watermark. The user enters a user identity code (80) upon playback and the recorded audiovisual product (400) is reproduced including selecting a corresponding section of the unique playback content according to the received user identity. A single version of the disk is recorded and sent to all users, but playback is personalised to each of the users individually. This is a strong deterrent against copying of the audio and video playback e.g. with a VCR or other recording device.

Abstract: An audiovisual product (400) is recorded with a set of watermark characters (421, 701) as video or audio objects. A sequence of the watermark characters (421, 701) is selected and reproduced upon playback to uniquely identify a particular playback instance. Ideally, a user identity code is received upon playback amongst a predetermined set of user identity codes, and the sequence of watermark characters (421, 701) is selected and replayed according to the received user identity code. The sequence of watermark characters (421, 701) allows the user identity code to be traced should the audio and/or visual output of the audiovisual product (400) be recorded such as with a video cassette recorder (VCR).

Abstract: A method for use in reproducing an audiovisual product. The audiovisual product has plurality of cells of audiovisual data whose playback is controlled by a plurality of sequence instructions that each has a predetermined structure location within the audiovisual product. A playback code comprising a first set of digits is provided. A randomly-selected subset of the digits of the playback code is specified and received as an access code. A destination structure location within the audiovisual product is calculated by applying a destination function to the access code. A sequence instruction corresponding to that location is selected by jumping to the calculated destination structure location.

Abstract: A method of authoring audiovisual content for an audiovisual product finds application in the field of authoring optical disc products, such as DVD-Video, HD-DVD and Blu-ray products. The method includes: providing a plurality of content objects; determining a priority associated with a predicted use of at least one of the content objects in a playback of the audiovisual content; and storing the plurality of content objects and the priority.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a data processing system and method for automatically testing a digital content player to ensure compliance with a video image data specification.

Abstract: A method and system for creating an audiovisual product. The method has three main stages. The first stage defines components implicitly representing functional sections of audiovisual content and transitions that represent movements between components. The second stage expands the components and transitions to provide a set of explicitly realised AV assets and an expanded intermediate data structure of nodes and links. Each node is associated with one of the AV assets and the links represent movement from one node to another. The third stage creates the audiovisual product in a predetermined output format, using the AV assets and the expanded intermediate data structure of the nodes and the links, wherein the audiovisual product comprises data representing a menu.