Abstract: A method and apparatus for content substitution, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention involves receiving data representing content, the data having at least first and second packet identifiers (PIDs) associated with first and second portions of content. The content having the first PID is placed into a data stream. An initiation flag is received indicating initiation of a PID mapping operation. The content having the second PID is then mapped to the first PID and the mapped content is placed into the data stream. A termination flag is received indicating termination of the PID mapping operation at which point the process returns to placing content having the first PID into the data stream. The content substitution process can be used to replace advertisements, provide multiple plots, multiple endings, multiple views as well as other applications. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An external module for use with a host television device consistent with certain embodiments wherein the host television device receives at least one content service has a connector for attaching to the module. Java™ code is received from the content service being received by the host television device over the connector. An application execution engine residing on the external module carries out execution of the Java™ code. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of auditing operation of a cable television appliance consistent with certain embodiments involves detecting an event that triggers an audit; generating a fingerprint value, wherein the fingerprint value is function of the cable television network characteristics at an authorized installation location; comparing the fingerprint value with a stored reference value; if the fingerprint value is within specified limits of the stored reference value, permitting the cable television appliance to carry out a normal operational function; and if the fingerprint value is outside of specified limits of the stored reference value, inhibiting the cable television appliance from carrying out a normal operational function. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A television signal receiver device consistent with certain embodiments has a receiver that receives a digital television signal including a plurality of unencrypted packets, and a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type. The at least one selected packet type has packets occurring in a star pattern approximately situated at an upper center of an image. A decrypter decrypts the encrypted packets. A decoder decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.

Abstract: A method of auditing operation of a television appliance consistent with certain embodiments involves detecting an event that triggers an audit; generating a fingerprint value, wherein the fingerprint value is function of the television network characteristics at an authorized installation location; comparing the fingerprint value with a stored reference value; if the fingerprint value is within specified limits of the stored reference value, permitting the television appliance to carry out a normal operational function; and if the fingerprint value is outside of specified limits of the stored reference value, inhibiting the television appliance from carrying out a normal operational function. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An apparatus for default encryption of content for distribution, consistent with certain embodiments, has a conditional access system. A conditional access management system communicates with and manages the conditional access system. A memory stores default encryption information for use by transmission equipment containing content encryption capability to encrypt certain content upon a communication failure between the content encryption system and the conditional access management system controlling it. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract without departing from certain embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: A method of processing content in a video on demand (VOD) system consistent with certain embodiments of the invention, wherein the content is identified by a first set of packet identifiers (PIDs), involves receiving content, the content having marked packets designating packets that are to be encrypted by a first encryption system by setting an encryption flag for all packets designated to be encrypted. Packets are selected in the content according to a selective encryption selection criterion to produce selected packets. The selected packets are duplicated to produce duplicate copies of the selected packets and these duplicate copies are identified using a second set of PIDs. The duplicate copies identified by the second set of PIDs are inserted into the content. All encryption flags in the content are cleared except for the selected packets having the first set of PIDs, so the encryption to follow is selective.

Abstract: A method of selecting data for multiple carriage partial encryption consistent with certain embodiments involves examining unencrypted packets of data in a digital audio/video data stream to identify a packet type; and selecting packets of the identified packet type for multiple partial encryption, wherein the amount of data to be encrypted is sufficient to render a portion of an entire frame unviewable. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating use of OCAP (OpenCable™ Applications Platform) standard in a host cable television device, the host cable television device having a connector consistent with certain embodiments has a removable module. An OCAP engine resides on the removable module suitable for execution of Java™ code as specified by the OCAP specification. A module side connector is affixed to the removable module, the connector being suitable for mating with the connector of the host device. The module side connector has connections suitable for carrying graphics video data from the OCAP engine to the host device suitable presentation to a video display. The module side connector further has connections suitable for carrying Java™ code instructions to the OCAP engine for execution. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An electronic storage device facilitates transmission or reception of multiple partial encrypted digital video has a segment of digital video content recorded on the electronic storage device as a data structure with a first set of data packets encrypted under a first encryption process so that the first set of data packets can be decrypted by a first decryption process; a second set of data packets encrypted under a second encryption process so that the second set of data packets can be decrypted under a second decryption process. The first set of video data packets and the second set of video data packets, when unencrypted, represent duplicate copies of the same video information. A third set of data packets contains unencrypted video data that is contextually contiguous to the first set of data packets and the second set of data packets.

Abstract: A method of content substitution involves receiving an ordered stream of packets containing content marked by a first packet identifier (PID) and one or more substitute content portions marked by one or more secondary PIDs, where the number and placement of packets marked by secondary PIDs ahead of packets marked by the first PID in the stream is retained during transmission of the ordered stream of packets; initiating processing for display or storage of content contained in packets having the first PID; initiating processing for display or storage of content contained in packets having a selected secondary PID that meets a substitution criterion; and either deleting or processing the content having the first PID depending upon a number of received intervening packets having secondary PIDs that reside between the packets having the first PID and the packets having the selected secondary PID that meets the substitution criterion.

Abstract: An interface adapter device consistent with certain embodiments has a first electrical connector adapted to connect to a conditional access service card to receive encrypted television signals therefrom. A second electrical connector is adapted to connect to a television receiver device in order to provide the encrypted television signals to the television receiver device. An interface circuit receives the encrypted television signals from the first electrical connector and adapts the signals for transmission to a television receiver device over the second electrical connector. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A selective encryption encoder and method of dual selective encryption. The selective encryption encoder has a packet identifier that identifies packets of at least one specified packet type, the at least one specified packet type being any of a plurality of packet types including packets containing a video slice headers or packets carrying data appearing in an active area of the image. A packet duplicator duplicates the identified packets to produce first and second sets of the identified packets. The packets are sent to and from a primary encryption encoder to encrypt the first set of identified packets under a first encryption method. A secondary encrypter encrypts the second set of identified packets under a second encryption method.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments consistent with the present invention, a method of processing digital video content, wherein the digital video content comprises intra-coded frames and inter-coded frames, involves selecting a plurality of the intra-coded frames for encryption to produce selected frames; encrypting the selected frames under a first encryption algorithm to produce first encrypted frames; storing the inter-coded frames in a first file; and storing the intra-coded frames, whether encrypted under the first encryption algorithm or unencrypted, in a second file. For a multiple encryption embodiment consistent with the present invention, the method further involves duplicating the intra-coded frames; encrypting duplicates of the selected frames under a second encryption algorithm to produce second encrypted frames; storing the intra-coded frames, whether encrypted under the second encryption algorithm or unencrypted, in a third file.

Abstract: A Video On Demand (VOD) method consistent with certain embodiments involves processing content by selecting first portions of the content for encryption under a selective encryption system and selecting second portions of the content to remain unencrypted. The first and second portions are stored on the VOD server. If a request is received from the a device having decryption capabilities associated with a first decryption method only the first portions are routed to the encryption device and the second portions are routed around it. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of selecting data for multiple carriage partial encryption consistent with certain embodiments involves examining unencrypted packets of data in a digital audio/video data stream to identify a packet type; and selecting packets of the identified packet type for multiple partial encryption, wherein the amount of data to be encrypted is sufficient to render a portion of an entire frame unviewable. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method consistent with certain embodiments carried out at a television provider headend involves receiving a feed of scrambled television content in the form of a stream of packets; descrambling the scrambled television content to produce a stream of clear packets; selecting a packet for multiple encryption; duplicating the packet to provide first and second packets; re-mapping the first and second packets to first and second packet identifiers; encrypting the first packet under a first encryption algorithm to produce a first encrypted packet; encrypting the second packet under a second encryption algorithm to produce a second encrypted packet; and re-mapping clear packets to the first packet identifier. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A selective encryption encoder consistent with certain embodiments of the invention has a packet identifier that identifies packets of a specified packet type, the specified packet type being defined by packets occurring in a star pattern approximately situated at an upper center of an image which contain intra-coded macroblocks. A packet duplicator duplicates the identified packets to produce first and second sets of the identified packets. The packets are sent to and from a primary encryption encoder to encrypt the first set of identified packets under a first encryption method. A secondary encrypter encrypts the second set of identified packets under a second encryption method.

Abstract: A selective encryption encoder consistent with certain embodiments of the invention has vertical and/or horizontal stripes encrypted. In one embodiment, packets are examined in the digital video signal to identify a specified packet type, the specified packet type being packets carrying data representing a video slice wherein the video slice contains a larger amount of data than a threshold (or a subsequent slice). The packets identified as being of the specified packet type are encrypted using a first encryption method to produce first encrypted packets. These first encrypted packets are then used to replace the unencrypted packets in the digital video signal to produce a partially encrypted video signal. The packets of the specified type can also be multiple encrypted and replaced in the data stream to produce a multiple encrypted video data stream.

Abstract: A selective encryption encoder and method of dual selective encryption and detection of intra-coded slices in video content. The selective encryption encoder has a packet identifier that identifies packets of at least one specified packet type, the at least one specified packet type being packets in a set of N consecutive slices in a frame wherein the a second byte after a slice start code is identical in all N consecutive slices. A packet duplicator duplicates the identified packets to produce first and second sets of the identified packets. The packets are sent to and from a primary encryption encoder to encrypt the first set of identified packets under a first encryption method. A secondary encrypter encrypts the second set of identified packets under a second encryption method.