Abstract: Reduction in the blockiness of a simulated film grain block can be achieved either by the use of adaptive downscaling or adaptive deblocking filtering to adjust the intensity of the pixels at the block edge in accordance with at least one film grain block parameter, such as film grain size, intensity and texture. Performing such adaptive downscaling or adaptive deblocking filtering achieves improved performance at lower computational cost by avoiding modification of film grain block pixels in lesser affected areas.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present principles, simulation of a block of film grain for addition to a block of an image occurs by first establishing at least one image parameter in accordance with at least one attribute of the block. Thereafter, a block of film grain is established in accordance with the image parameter. Deblocking filtering can be applied to the film grain block.

Abstract: The addition of comfort noise to an image serves to hide compression artifacts. To facilitate comfort noise addition, supplemental information accompanying a video image contains at least one parameter that specifies an attribute regarding comfort noise. Typically, the supplemental information includes parameters that function to turn the comfort noise on and off, as well as to indicate the level of noise to add, based on the expected level of compression artifacts.

Abstract: A method for enabling an access device to securely access content from at least a content provider and prevent a cloned access device from accessing such content. During registration of the access device with the content provider, the access device requests from a designated certificate authority a certificate having a public key of the content provider therein. Upon authentication of the certificate, the access device generates a key and uses the public key to exchange the key with the content provider. The key is then used for subsequent secure communications between the access device and the content provider. In this manner, a cloned device does not have access to the key and is unable to download content from the content provider.

Abstract: A method for enabling access to digital rights managed (DRM) content from a server to a portable playback device using a device that functions as a proxy for enabling communication between the server and the portable playback device. The method provides for establishing a connection with a device capable of operating as a gateway device for passing data between the portable playback device and the server, requesting that the device establish a connection with the server and operate as a proxy for enabling data exchange between the portable playback device and the server, sending to the server, upon establishing the connection with the server via the device operating as a proxy, data indicating DRM solutions supported by the portable playback device, and a list comprising requested DRM content to be downloaded to the portable playback device, and receiving from the server, via the device operating as a proxy, the requested DRM content and DRM rules associated with the received content.

Abstract: There are provided methods and apparatus for film grain SEI message insertion for bit-accurate simulation in a video system. A method for simulating film grain in an ordered sequence includes the steps of providing film grain supplemental information corresponding to a plurality of intra coded pictures, and providing additional film grain supplemental information corresponding to inter coded pictures between consecutive intra coded pictures, in decode order. The inter coded pictures are selected based upon display order.

Abstract: The simulation of film grain in a video image occurs by first creating a block (i.e., a matrix array) of transformed coefficients for a set of cut frequencies fHL, fVL, fHH and fVH associated with a desired grain pattern. (The cut frequencies fHL, fVL, fHH and fVH represent cut-off frequencies, in two dimensions, of a filter that characterizes the desired film grain pattern). The block of transformed coefficients undergoes an inverse transform to yield a bit-accurate film grain sample and the bit accurate sample undergoes scaling to enable blending with a video signal to simulate film grain in the signal.

Abstract: A data storage element comprising a substrate and a data track disposed on the substrate, the data track comprising a plurality of data sectors, each of the data sectors being formatted in accordance with a first digital data standard and comprised of a control data portion and a payload data portion, each of the payload portions including a plurality of data packets formatted in accordance with a digital television standard. In particular, the data packs correspond to program stream packs specified in the DVD standard and the data packets correspond to transport packets specified in the ATSC standard. The present storage element enables the data stored thereon to be read by a conventional DVD front end and provided to an ATSC receiver without processing the contents of the transport packets. Therefore, the present invention allows ATSC data to be stored on a DVD disc and to be provided in a manner that can fully realize the display capabilities of the ATSC receiver.

Abstract: In a digital broadcast communications system, a higher priority component and a lower priority component are broadcast from a transmitter to a receiver. Each of these components generates a main and a supplemental signal, and each supplemental signal is advanced in time with respect to the corresponding main signal. The main and supplemental signals for both the higher and lower priority components are combined into a single signal, which is broadcast to a receiver. In the receiver, the time advanced supplemental signals are stored in a buffer to time align them with their corresponding main signals. Both main signals are processed in the normal manner in the receiver, and are also monitored to detect a fading event. When a fading event is detected, the corresponding buffered supplemental signals are substituted for the faded main signals and normal processing continues.

Abstract: A system and method for a television program recording and playback system such as a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) or Digital Video Recorder (DVR) wherein the individual users and, optionally, categories of users, are established, an individual user logs in and selects a television program to be recorded. Later, after the program has been recorded, when a user logs in, a menu listing only those programs for which that user has selected for recording may be displayed in the graphical user interface (GUI). A user may also designate other users for a selected program and after that program is recorded and a designated user logs in, the list of programs includes those for which the logged in user has been designated.

Abstract: The ATSC standard for digital television broadcast specifies a data Channel in addition to the normal audio and video channels. A methodology is provided for using the ATSC data Channel to broadcast MPEG-4 video streams, for which a new video service is created. The MPEG-4 streams can be encapsulated into MPEG-2 PES (Packetized Elementary Streams) packets or directly into MPEG-2 transport packets. These mechanisms enable the synchronous broadcast of MPEG-4 streams for an ATSC digital TV system without a change to the ATSC standard when data casting.

Abstract: A method for providing information to a plurality of wireless mobile communication devices. The method includes dedicating at least one channel (3061) of a plurality of spread spectrum data channels (306) as a broadcast channel. The frequency and phase of a carrier signal and of a chip rate clock (206) of the at least one channel are synchronized for each of a plurality of cell transmitters (204) of a respective plurality of base stations (134). The Information is then broadcast over the at least one dedicated channel from each base station.

Abstract: In a digital broadcast communications system, a higher priority component and a lower priority component are broadcast from a transmitter to a receiver. Each of these components generates a main and a supplemental signal, and each supplemental signal is advanced in time with respect to the corresponding main signal. The main and supplemental signals for both the higher and lower priority components are combined into a single signal, which is broadcast to a receiver. In the receiver, the time advanced supplemental signals are stored in a buffer to time align them with their corresponding main signals. Both main signals are processed in the normal manner in the receiver, and are also monitored to detect a fading event. When a fading event is detected, the corresponding buffered supplemental signals are substituted for the faded main signals and normal processing continues.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and data structure are described which enables complete datagram reception by a plurality of clients using a UDP multicast transport mechanism, wherein missing packets are retransmitted from a server using either a multicast transport mechanism or a unicast connection, in response to receipt by the server of client request to retransmit. Data structure of packets includes a new sequence identifier field in the header for identification of proper packet position within a data stream.

Abstract: A variable length codeword decoder is responsive to a clock signal having multiple cycles and includes a source of sequential variable length codewords, each representing a run-length encoded codeword. A barrel shifter circuit is coupled to the codeword source and provides the next undecoded variable length codeword in lesser significant bits of its output terminal. A codeword decoding circuit is coupled to the output terminal of the barrel shifter and operates to decode two sequential variable length codewords, representing respective zero run run-length codewords, in a single clock cycle; or two sequential variable length codewords, a first representing a zero run run-length codeword and a second representing a one run run-length codeword, in a single clock cycle; and all other variable length codewords in a single clock cycle.