Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for controlling memory frequency. One method comprises a first memory client generating a compressed data buffer and compression statistics related to the compressed data buffer. The compressed data buffer and the compression statistics are stored in a memory device. Based on the stored compression statistics, a frequency or voltage setting of the memory device is adjusted for enabling a second memory client to read the compressed data buffer.

Abstract: One or more components of a video display device such as a television set can be powered down in response to a determination that a video input source has been paused. The video signal provided by the video input source can be analyzed to determine whether the video source is paused. When the video input source is no longer paused, the powered down components can be restored to fill power operation.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for controlling memory frequency. One method comprises a first memory client generating a compressed data buffer and compression statistics related to the compressed data buffer. The compressed data buffer and the compression statistics are stored in a memory device. Based on the stored compression statistics, a frequency or voltage setting of the memory device is adjusted for enabling a second memory client to read the compressed data buffer.

Abstract: To receive new services including audio or video content for presentation by a cable-compatible digital television or other digital audio/video receiver, a module may be connected to the HOST-POD interface of the digital television. The module has a receiver for receiving audio or video content in a first compression format, a transcoder for converting said audio or video content from the first compression format into a second, different compression format, and a controller for transmitting the audio or visual content in the second compression format to the digital television over a HOST-POD interface. By using such a module, front-end components of the digital television may be bypassed while back-end components may be utilized to decompress and present the content. The module may be a PC card or smart card for example.

Abstract: When a stream of packets (e.g. MPEG-2 transport stream) includes certain packets representing unscrambled digital television program content and certain other packets representing the content of a scrambled digital television program that is currently tuned by a receiver, interception of the unscrambled digital television program at an output of the receiver may be prevented by determining whether packets representing program content have an ascertained characteristic (e.g. have a packet ID matching one of a set of packet IDs) that uniquely identifies the packets as representing content of the scrambled program. For packets not having the characteristic, delivery to the output of the digital television receiver in an unscrambled state may be prevented, e.g., by discarding the packet or by overwriting its payload.

Abstract: A graphics processor receives a compressed encrypted video stream. The graphics processor decrypts the compressed encrypted video stream and stores a decrypted version (i.e., a decrypted compressed video stream) in a protected portion of an on-chip or off-chip video memory. The graphics processor then permits processors and other bus masters on the graphics processor to access the on-chip video memory, but conditionally limits access to other bus masters that are located off-chip, such as a central processing unit located off-chip and coupled to the graphics processor via a bus.

Abstract: One or more components of a video display device such as a television set can be powered down in response to a determination that a video input source has been paused. The video signal provided by the video input source can be analyzed to determine whether the video source is paused. When the video input source is no longer paused, the powered down components can be restored to fill power operation.

Abstract: To detect at least one of a copy protection indicator and a redistribution control indicator in an analog video signal, the video format of the analog video signal is determined, e.g., by detecting the horizontal frequency and vertical frequency of the signal. Based at least on the determined video format, a region of the analog video signal that may contain the indicator is identified. The region may for example be one or more video lines in a vertical blanking interval. The region is examined until the indicator is detected. The indicator is confirmed, e.g., by re-detecting one or more occurrences of the same indicator value(s) later in the video signal. Once confirmed, the indicated copy protection and/or redistribution control may be effected by limiting either or both of copying and redistribution of the analog video signal. The indicator may for example be Copy Generation Management System Analog plus Redistribution Control (CGMS-A+RC) information.

Abstract: To receive new services including audio or video content for presentation by a cable-compatible digital television or other digital audio/video receiver, a module may be connected to the HOST-POD interface of the digital television. The module has a receiver for receiving audio or video content in a first compression format, a transcoder for converting said audio or video content from the first compression format into a second, different compression format, and a controller for transmitting the audio or visual content in the second compression format to the digital television over a HOST-POD interface. By using such a module, front-end components of the digital television may be bypassed while back-end components may be utilized to decompress and present the content. The module may be a PC card or smart card for example.

Abstract: A copy protection (CP) key used by a sending source, such as a POD, to encrypt content such as audio and/or video information is derived by a first key generator associated with a first processor and is locally encrypted by the first processor using a locally generated bus encryption key to produce a bus encrypted CP key that is sent over a local unsecure bus to a second processor, such as a graphics processor. The second processor decrypts the bus encrypted copy key using a decryption engine to obtain the CP key. The second processor receives the encrypted content and in one embodiment, also uses the same decryption engine to decrypt the encrypted content. The first and second processors locally exchange public keys to each locally derive a bus encryption key used to encrypt the CP key before it is sent over the unsecure bus and decrypt the encrypted CP key after it is sent over the bus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provides automatic audio and video synchronization by calculating a video delay time period based on a signal processing routine to generate the video display signal and automatically setting an audio delay to approximate the video delay time period. In addition the method may include if desired, determining a master device from a plurality of master capable devices. The master device is a processing device including one or more processors capable of making configuration decisions and designating a data flow for rendering a video signal. The master-capable devices are any suitable processing devices which are capable of acting as a master device. The present invention may further include using the master device to determine a signal processing routine to generate a video display signal.

Abstract: When a stream of packets (e.g. MPEG-2 transport stream) includes certain packets representing unscrambled digital television program content and certain other packets representing the content of a scrambled digital television program that is currently tuned by a receiver, interception of the unscrambled digital television program at an output of the receiver may be prevented by determining whether packets representing program content have an ascertained characteristic (e.g. have a packet ID matching one of a set of packet IDs) that uniquely identifies the packets as representing content of the scrambled program. For packets not having the characteristic, delivery to the output of the digital television receiver in an unscrambled state may be prevented, e.g., by discarding the packet or by overwriting its payload.

Abstract: To detect at least one of a copy protection indicator and a redistribution control indicator in an analog video signal, the video format of the analog video signal is determined, e.g., by detecting the horizontal frequency and vertical frequency of the signal. Based at least on the determined video format, a region of the analog video signal that may contain the indicator is identified. The region may for example be one or more video lines in a vertical blanking interval. The region is examined until the indicator is detected. The indicator is confirmed, e.g., by re-detecting one or more occurrences of the same indicator value(s) later in the video signal. Once confirmed, the indicated copy protection and/or redistribution control may be effected by limiting either or both of copying and redistribution of the analog video signal. The indicator may for example be Copy Generation Management System Analog plus Redistribution Control (CGMS-A+RC) information.

Abstract: A graphics processor receives a compressed encrypted video stream. The graphics processor decrypts the compressed encrypted video stream and stores a decrypted version (i.e., a decrypted compressed video stream) in a protected portion of an on-chip or off-chip video memory. The graphics processor then permits processors and other bus masters on the graphics processor to access the on-chip video memory, but conditionally limits access to other bus masters that are located off-chip, such as a central processing unit located off-chip and coupled to the graphics processor via a bus.

Abstract: A graphics processor receives a compressed encrypted video stream. The graphics processor decrypts the compressed encrypted video stream and stores a decrypted version (i.e., a decrypted compressed video stream) in a protected portion of an on-chip or off-chip video memory. The graphics processor then permits processors and other bus masters on the graphics processor to access the on-chip video memory, but conditionally limits access to other bus masters that are located off-chip, such as a central processing unit located off-chip and coupled to the graphics processor via a bus.

Abstract: A copy protection (CP) key used by a sending source, such as a POD, to encrypt content such as audio and/or video information is derived by a first key generator associated with a first processor and is locally encrypted by the first processor using a locally generated bus encryption key to produce a bus encrypted CP key that is sent over a local unsecure bus to a second processor, such as a graphics processor. The second processor decrypts the bus encrypted copy key using a decryption engine to obtain the CP key. The second processor receives the encrypted content and in one embodiment, also uses the same decryption engine to decrypt the encrypted content. The first and second processors locally exchange public keys to each locally derive a bus encryption key used to encrypt the CP key before it is sent over the unsecure bus and decrypt the encrypted CP key after it is sent over the bus.

Abstract: A copy protection (CP) key used by a sending source, such as a POD, to encrypt content such as audio and/or video information is derived by a first key generator associated with a first processor and is locally encrypted by the first processor using a locally generated bus encryption key to produce a bus encrypted CP key that is sent over a local unsecure bus to a second processor, such as a graphics processor. The second processor decrypts the bus encrypted copy key using a decryption engine to obtain the CP key. The second processor receives the encrypted content and in one embodiment, also uses the same decryption engine to decrypt the encrypted content. The first and second processors locally exchange public keys to each locally derive a bus encryption key used to encrypt the CP key before it is sent over the unsecure bus and decrypt the encrypted CP key after it is sent over the bus.

Abstract: A system and methods are shown for improved processing of motion compensated video. A software driver handles image data related to motion compensated video. The image data includes IDCT coefficients and motion compensation vector data. A unique identifier is attached to the image data, preserving the relationship between the IDCT coefficients and motion compensated vector data related to an image block. The software driver sends the IDCT coefficients to an IDCT component. The IDCT coefficients are processed and an interrupt is sent to the software driver including the unique identifier of the processed IDCT coefficients. The software driver sends the motion compensation vector data related to the unique identifier in the interrupt. A 3D pipe receives the motion compensation vector data and reads the corresponding processed IDCT data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decompressing compressed data, which includes video data that has been compressed in accordance with the MPEG 2 standard, wherein the processing begins by retrieving components from a non-local memory at a rate that is independent of the rate in which the components were written into the non-local memory. The components include motion vectors and run/level data. As the components are retrieved from memory, the run/level data is used to produce representations of the uncompressed data. As the representations of the uncompressed data are generated, they are processed based on the motion vector data to recapture the uncompressed data. The uncompressed data is then stored in a frame buffer for subsequent display.

Abstract: A system and methods are shown for protecting registers among data processors. Sets of protected registers on data processors are used for enabling security features related to the protection of multimedia content. The security features relate to techniques used to prevent the multimedia content from being successfully copied. The data processors also include general registers used for general processor features and settings. Commands to control the general and security features are placed on a non-secure data bus. The commands related to the general settings are passed directly to the data processors' registers, allowing direct access and control. The commands related to the security settings are addressed to a secure processor. The secure processor processes the commands to determine whether the source application that generated the commands is authorized to make such changes.