Abstract: An additional information transmission method for transmitting an information signal and additional information in the form of an electronic watermark. The electronic watermark information is generated and superimposed on the information signal for transmission so as to form a superimposition/non-superimposition pattern corresponding to first additional information and transmitting second additional information on the information signal such that one value of one-bit information is expressed by a period in which electronic watermark information is superimposed on the information signal and other values of one-bit information are expressed by a period in which the electronic watermark information is not superimposed.

Abstract: When digital image signals fed in through an input terminal are to be recorded on a disc, medium-related information, such as a serial number recorded in a table of contents of the disc, is read from the disc and is spectrum-spread in a spectrum spreading additional information generating section and then the digital image signals on which the spectrum-spread medium-related information has been superimposed in a spectrum spreading additional information superimposing section are recorded on the disc. When the signals are to be reproduced, the reproduction can be performed only if the medium-related information superimposed on the image signals recorded on the disc is consistent with the medium-related information of the disc on which the image signals are recorded. Thus, copying of the information signals can be limited to copying for private use.

Abstract: A spectrum spread signal spread by a spread code synchronized with a synchronous signal accompanying to an information signal is superimposed on the information signal and is then transmitted and the spectrum spread signal is then detected using the spread code for detection synchronized with the synchronous signal from the information signal on which the spectrum spread signal is superimposed. A value of the information signal on which the spectrum spread signal is superimposed is added or subtracted depending on the chip value of the relevant spread code for detection in each chip of the spread code for detection. The spectrum spread signal is detected by determining whether the added/subtracted value has exceeded the predetermined threshold value or not.

Abstract: It is the object of this invention to extract spectrally spread additional information superimposed on the video signal rapidly and correctly. The output device 10 generates the PN code string every second vertical interval with reference to the video sync signal, and spectrally spreads the additional information using this PN code string. The spectrally spread additional information is superimposed on the video signal every second vertical interval and outputted. Upon receiving the video signal, in the recording device for recording the video signal on a recording medium, the video signal component is canceled each other between the video signal component in the vertical interval on which the additional information is superimposed and the video signal component in the vertical interval on which the additional information is not superimposed because of the field correlation of the video signal, and only the additional information is extracted.

Abstract: Visual influence on the reproduced image by the spectrum spread additional information signal can be controlled on the reproduced image by sequentially changing the level of the spectrum spread additional information signal with the predetermined pattern in each chip section on the occasion of superimposing, on the video signal, the spectrum spread additional information signal in which the additional information such as duplication preventing control information and copy right information, etc. is spectrum spread.

Abstract: Video signals are converted into one or more blocks for each predetermined unit amount of data, and a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) process is performed in the blocks a convert the video signal from a time-base area signal to a DCT coefficient in a frequency area for data compression. One chip of a spread spectrum signal is allocated to each block of the video signal or to each of a plurality of blocks, and additional information is superimposed on the video signal at a constant level corresponding to the chip value for transmission. A video signal on which the additional information consisting of the spread spectrum signal transmitted has been superimposed is received, and from this received signal, a DC component of the DCT coefficient is extracted. Inverse spread spectrum processing is performed for the DC component of the DCT coefficient extracted to detect the additional information.

Abstract: A spread code string containing a plurality of chips per interval in one horizontal interval or containing a plurality of chips per interval in one vertical interval is generated synchronously with the vertical sync signal at the generation star timing having a period of one vertical period or having a period of a plurality of vertical periods. The generated spread code string repeats over a plurality of horizontal intervals or a plurality of vertical intervals so that the chips having the same data are arranged in spatial direction of the vertical-direction or the time axis direction in picture unit. The additional information is spectrally spread so that the chips having the same data are arranged at least in the interval in each 1 horizontal interval or in each 1 vertical interval of the above-mentioned repetition interval, and the generated spectral spread signal is superimposed on the video signal.

Abstract: When digital image signals inputted through an inputting terminal are recorded on a disc, a medium-related information (a serial number in an TOC) of the disc, read from the disc, with a medium-related information reading section is spectrum-spread in an SS additional information generating section and then digital image signals S2 on which the spectrum-spread medium-related information is superimposed in an SS additional information superimposing section are recorded on the disc. When the signals attempt to be reproduced, the reproduction can be performed in the case wherein the medium-related information superimposed on the image signals recorded on the disc is consistent with the medium-related information of the disc on which the image signals are recorded. Thus, copying of the information signals can be limited to the copying for private use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for superimposing additional information, such as duplication control information, on an image signal made up of first pictures encoded without using a predictive encoding and second picture encoded using a motion compensating prediction. Codes are generated with a timing based on an appearance of the first picture and then the additional information is superimposed on the image signal using the generated codes. The additional information already superimposed on such an image signal can be extracted in a similar fashion by generating codes based on the appearance of the first picture.

Abstract: An anti-duplication control signal detection section detects an anti-duplication control signal added on a video signal S1 and supplies it to a system controller as a duplication prevention control information S2. A write control section of the system controller stops the duplication of the video signal in a disk if the anti-duplication control information is an information which indicates duplication inhibition. In this case, the video signal recorded in the disk is erased under the control from the erasing control section by the time the duplication prevention control corresponding to the anti-duplication control signal becomes active.

Abstract: In an SS additional information detecting unit, detection of a correlation between an image signal Si superimposed with a copying preventive control signal which is spectrum-spread and a PN code series is carried out at every vertical section. In the case where a correlation value between the copying preventive control signal which is superimposed on the image signal Si and is spectrum-spread and a PN code for inverse spreading does not exceed a predetermined threshold value, the correlation value calculated at every vertical section is added. The copying preventive control signal which is spectrum-spread and is superimposed on the image signal is detected by changing the threshold value of whether the correlation between the copying preventive control signal which is superimposed on the image signal Si and is spectrum-spread and the PN code for inverse spreading is established in accordance with a number of vertical sections constituting an object of detecting the correlation.

Abstract: When a spectrally spread additional information signal, obtained by spectrum spreading additional information such as an anti-duplication control signal or copyright information, is superimposed on a video signal, the level of the spectrally spread additional information signal is controlled according to the scatter of pixel values in each block comprising plural pixels. The sensitivity of detecting additional information from the spectrally spread additional information signal is therefore improved, and the visual effect of the spectrally spread additional information signal on a reproduced image is suppressed.

Abstract: An additional information is spectrally spread and superimposed on a video signal over a plurality of fields, and the superimposed additional information is detected easily. A time code information is spectrally spread using the first spectrally spreading code string synchronous to the video signal, and the spectral spread signal of the time code information is superimposed on the video signal. An additional information is spectrally spread using the second spectrally spreading code string generated synchronously to the sync signal of the video signal and having a different period or different content corresponding to the time code information, and the spectral spread signal of the additional information is superimposed on the video signal.

Abstract: When digital image signals inputted through an inputting terminal are recorded on a disc, a medium-related information (a serial number in an TOC) of the disc, read from the disc, with a medium-related information reading section is spectrum-spread in an SS additional information generating section and then digital image signals S2 on which the spectrum-spread medium-related information is superimposed in an SS additional information superimposing section are recorded on the disc. When the signals attempt to be reproduced, the reproduction can be performed in the case wherein the medium-related information superimposed on the image signals recorded on the disc is consistent with the medium-related information of the disc on which the image signals are recorded. Thus, copying of the information signals can be limited to the copying for private use.

Abstract: A output device generates a PN code string every second chip interval with reference to the video sync signal, and spectrally spreads additional information using this PN code string. The spectrally spread additional information is superimposed on the video signal every second chip interval and output. Upon receiving the video signal, in the recording device for recording the video signal on a recording medium, the video signal components cancel each other between the video signal component in the chip interval on which the additional information is superimposed and the video signal component in the chip interval on which the additional information is not superimposed because of the correlation of the video signal in the horizontal direction, and only the additional information is extracted.

Abstract: The output device generates the PN code string every second chip interval with reference to the video sync signal, and spectrally spreads the additional information using this PN code string. The spectrally spread additional information is superimposed on the video signal every second chip interval and outputted. Upon receiving the video signal, in the recording device for recording the video signal on a recording medium, the video signal component is canceled each other between the video signal component in the chip interval on which the additional information is superimposed and the video signal component in the chip interval on which the additional information is not superimposed because of the correlation of the video signal in the horizontal direction, and only the additional information is extracted.

Abstract: On the occasion of superimposing a spectrum spread additional information signal obtained by spectrum spreading the additional information such as a duplication preventing control information and a copy right information, etc. to a video signal, the edge portion of an image of the video signal is detected to set the level of a part of the spectrum spread additional information signal higher than the other part in the part corresponding to the edge portion for the purpose of superimposing such additional signal to the video signal. Thereby, the additional information signal can easily be detected, without deteriorating the reproduced image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an additional information superposition method and a video signal outputting apparatus, wherein the additional information superposition method for superposing additional information spectrum spread with spread codes synchronized with a vertical synchronizing signal on a second video signal for forming an image of an aspect ratio of N:n which is to be converted into and outputted as a first video signal for forming an image of another aspect ratio of M:m, comprising the steps of setting a size of a unit block before conversion in the second video signal based on a size of a unit block after conversion to which one chip of spread codes for despreading determined in advance is allocated and contents of a conversion process into the first video signal, and superposing the additional information spectrum spread with the spread codes of one chip allocated for each unit block before conversion having the set size in such a manner as to allow the additional information to be extracted from the f

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting spectrum spread signals by reducing the correlation between the main information signal and the spread signal as much as possible, whereby the detection of a spectrum spread signal is made easier. From an input signal, in which a spectrum spread signal obtained by spectrum spreading an additional information signal has been superimposed on a main information signal, the spectrum spread signal is detected. Using a level adjusting circuit, the gain of the input signal, mainly the main information signal is controlled to reduce the change in the main information signal, or the input signal is sliced at a predetermined level by a slicing circuit to fetch a signal at a predetermined level or lower.

Abstract: An additional information signal is superimposed on a video signal at a very low level so that it does not stand out on the reproduced image. Spectral spreading code sequences are generated corresponding to different predetermined parts of the video signal. Bit information signals of the additional information signal made up of plural bits are spectrally spread by the spreading codes to generate spectrally spread bit information signals corresponding to the plural bits. The spectrally spread bit information signals are superimposed on corresponding different predetermined parts of the video signal. Because high priority bit information signals of the spectrally spread additional information signal are superimposed on high priority parts of the video signal, high priority information in the additional information can be protected even if the video signal is modified.