Abstract: An encryption arrangement for multiple encryption of television programs. A system according to embodiments of the present invention multiple encrypts only a portion of the data required for full presentation of a television program to permit coexistence of multiple conditional access encryption systems associated with multiple manufacturer's set-top boxes within a single system. In one embodiment, only audio data are encrypted leaving video in the clear. By only encrypting a portion of the program, dramatically less bandwidth is consumed than the alternative of multiple encryption of all program data, thus permitting a larger number of programs to be carried over the same bandwidth while permitting coexistence of multiple conditional access systems in a single cable television system.

Abstract: A set-top unit for processing a cable signal from a cable television system for use on a television, where the set-top unit includes one or more programming tuners in addition to a control tuner, can reduce the time required to locate the cable system's control channel by having all available tuners, the control tuner and programming tuner(s), search the band of possible frequencies of the control channel simultaneously. The band of frequencies is divided among the available tuners in the set-top unit, with each tuner searching an assigned portion of the band for a control channel. With multiple tuners searching for the control channel(s), the time required to acquire the control channel is minimized.

Abstract: A copy protection apparatus is disclosed for processing a video signal to produce normal quality video for display on a display device and so as to inhibit the making of high quality reproductions therefrom while allowing lower quality reproductions to be made. The apparatus includes a first signal modification element that alters a normal quality video signal to produce a first modified signal such that, if reproduced, an unusable video copy is produced, and wherein the first modified video signal, when output to a display device is viewable as normal quality video on the display device. The apparatus further includes a second signal modification element that degrades the video signal to produce a second video signal of reduced quality. This reduced quality signal can be output to a reproduction device for copying.

Abstract: A PVR is selectively granted access to a hard disk drive. The HDD generates a random number, encrypts it with a key known to the PVR, and sends it to the PVR, which decrypts the number and increments it by one to render a new number. The new number is encrypted with the key and sent back to the HDD, which decrypts the new number, decrements it by one, and compares the result to the original number, granting the PVR access only when a match occurs.

Abstract: An encrypted content transport stream is received by a viewer's device and recorded for subsequent playback. During recording, keys in headers of packets of the stream are stripped and placed in sequence in a table. Also, the table indicates changes in key indicating bits. When it is desired to play the content, start-of-frame indicator bits such as PUSI and/or RAI bits are used to access the table of keys to retrieve the keys necessary to decrypt the transport stream packets sought to be played.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for use in for use in dynamically adjusting an encoder bit rate according to a determined available bandwidth for wirelessly communicating source data. A method detects a first available bandwidth, determines a first encoder bit rate according to the available bandwidth, encodes a signal at the first encoder bit rate, detects a change in the available bandwidth such that there is a second available bandwidth, determines a second encoder bit rate according to the second available bandwidth, and encodes the signal at the second encoder bit rate. Encoding the signal at the second encoder bit rate can include encoding a subsequent frame of the signal. The method can further wirelessly communicate the signal encoded at the first encoder bit rate in real-time and wirelessly communicate the signal encoded at the second encoder bit rate in real-time.

Abstract: A personal video recorder (PVR) includes a “bookmark” feature with which a user can specify and capture segments of an audiovisual program, for example, a television broadcast, that contain information or content that the user wishes to record for later access. A dedicated button on the PVR or a remote control sends a “bookmark” command to the PVR which causes it to record a predetermined number of proceeding and following seconds of the program content. The preceding video signal is taken from a buffer in the PVR, with succeeding video being recorded as it is passed through the PVR to a connected television set. Each captured clip is indexed and labeled for subsequent retrieval.

Abstract: To reduce peak bandwidth requirements for a channel carrying several multiplexed MPEG-type programs, the generation of large intraframes is coordinated among the programs to avoid two program encoders simultaneously encoding an intraframe.

Abstract: A digital video recorder can be used to allow users to fast forward through segments of a recorded video signal, such as commercial breaks, while still allowing the advertiser a limited opportunity to present an advertising message. Frames from the commercial recorded with the video signal are electronically tagged. When the processor of the digital video recorder finds a tagged frame or frames during a fast forward operation, the processor may display the tagged frame as a static image during the fast forward operation or may play the series of tagged frames at normal speed as a condensed video clip during the fast forward operation. Thus, through a static image or a condensed video clip, an advertiser can present an advertising message, while the user may still skip the full-length commercials as quickly as before.

Abstract: To reduce peak bandwidth requirements for a channel carrying several multiplexed MPEG-type programs, the generation of large intraframes is coordinated among the programs to avoid two program encoders simultaneously encoding an intraframe.

Abstract: To reduce peak bandwidth requirements for a channel carrying several multiplexed MPEG-type programs, the generation of large intraframes is coordinated among the programs to avoid two program encoders simultaneously encoding an intraframe.

Abstract: A bookmark button on a remote control device can be depressed to store a bookmark in a DVD player's memory without interrupting play. The bookmark includes a play counter value and a timestamp. When a viewer subsequently wishes to start play from the bookmark, the DVD player is stopped or paused, the bookmark button manipulated, and a menu listing bookmarks pertaining to the disk being played is displayed. The user may navigate through the list and select a bookmark, and the DVD player automatically resumes play at the selected bookmarked point.

Abstract: To reduce peak bandwidth requirements for a channel carrying several multiplexed MPEG-type programs, the generation of large intraframes is coordinated among the programs to avoid two program encoders simultaneously encoding an intraframe.

Abstract: A PVR is selectively granted access to a hard disk drive. The HDD generates a random number, encrypts it with a key known to the PVR, and sends it to the PVR, which decrypts the number and increments it by one to render a new number. The new number is encrypted with the key and sent back to the HDD, which decrypts the new number, decrements it by one, and compares the result to the original number, granting the PVR access only when a match occurs.

Abstract: An encrypted content transport stream is received by a viewer's device and recorded for subsequent playback. During recording, keys in headers of packets of the stream are stripped and placed in sequence in a table. Also, the table indicates changes in key indicating bits. When it is desired to play the content, start-of-frame indicator bits such as PUSI and/or RAI bits are used to access the table of keys to retrieve the keys necessary to decrypt the transport stream packets sought to be played.

Abstract: The present apparatus and method control the flow of communication between a host and a data storage device. A plurality of data transport streams are maintained as active while a first burst of data for a first transport stream is initiated. The first burst is interrupted prior to the complete communication of the burst. The first transport stream is maintained as active and a first burst of data for a second transport stream is initiated. The first burst of the second transport stream is interrupted, the second transport stream is maintained as active and the method and apparatus return to continue the communication of the first burst of the first transport stream. Typically, a first stream ID is asserted prior to initiating the first burst of the first transport stream and a second stream ID is initiated prior to initiating the first burst of the second transport stream.

Abstract: An encryption arrangement for multiple encryption of television programs. A system according to embodiments of the present invention multiple encrypts only a portion of the data required for full presentation of a television program to permit coexistence of multiple conditional access encryption systems associated with multiple manufacturer's set-top boxes within a single system. In one embodiment, a time slicing technique is used to encrypt portions of a program on a time allocated basis. By only encrypting a portion of the program, dramatically less bandwidth is consumed than the alternative of multiple encryption of all program data, thus permitting a larger number of programs to be carried over the same bandwidth while permitting coexistence of multiple conditional access systems in a single cable television system.

Abstract: An encryption arrangement for multiple encryption of television programs. A system according to embodiments of the present invention multiple encrypts only a portion of the data required for full presentation of a television program to permit coexistence of multiple conditional access encryption systems associated with multiple manufacturer's set-top boxes within a single system. In one embodiment, only critical packets such as those carrying a payload incorporating packetized elementary stream header information is encrypted. By only encrypting a portion of the program, dramatically less bandwidth is consumed than the alternative of multiple encryption of all program data, thus permitting a larger number of programs to be carried over the same bandwidth while permitting coexistence of multiple conditional access systems in a single cable television system.

Abstract: An encryption arrangement for multiple encryption of television programs. A system according to embodiments of the present invention multiple encrypts only a portion of the data required for full presentation of a television program to permit coexistence of multiple conditional access encryption systems associated with multiple manufacturer's set-top boxes within a single system. PID mapping techniques are used to distinguish between multiple encryptions. By only encrypting a portion of the program, dramatically less bandwidth is consumed than the alternative of multiple encryption of all program data, thus permitting a larger number of programs to be carried over the same bandwidth while permitting coexistence of multiple conditional access systems in a single cable television system.

Abstract: A copy protection apparatus is disclosed for processing a video signal to produce normal quality video for display on a display device and so as to inhibit the making of high quality reproductions therefrom while allowing lower quality reproductions to be made. The apparatus includes a first signal modification element that alters a normal quality video signal to produce a first modified signal such that, if reproduced, an unusable video copy is produced, and wherein the first modified video signal, when output to a display device is viewable as normal quality video on the display device. The apparatus further includes a second signal modification element that degrades the video signal to produce a second video signal of reduced quality. This reduced quality signal can be output to a reproduction device for copying.