Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for controlling recording of video programs. In one embodiment an apparatus for controlling the recording of video programs includes a device for retrieving a recorder identifier and recorder programming data from a television signal received from a television signal source, a device for determining whether the retrieved recorder identifier matches a first identifier for the apparatus, a device for storing the recorder programming data, if the retrieved recorder identifier matches the first identifier for the apparatus, and a device for using the stored recorder programming data to control recording. The device for retrieving a recorder identifier and recorder programming data from a television signal includes a vertical blanking interval decoder.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for encrypting and decrypting information having a header portion and a body portion. The decrypting method includes the steps of reading a current month from a clock, extracting an odd/even month indication from the header portion, generating a first key based on the current month if the odd/even indication is odd and the current month is odd or if the odd/even indication is even and the current month is even, otherwise generating the first key based on a month previous to the current month read from the clock if the odd/even indication is odd and the current month is even or if the odd/even indication is even and the current month is odd, and using the first key for decrypting the encrypted body portion to generate a decrypted body portion.

Abstract: A television for controlling a video cassette recorder to access programs on a video cassette tape, the television comprising a circuit for retrieving a directory of programs from a television signal received from the video cassette recorder, a circuit for retrieving a program identifier from the television signal received from the video cassette recorder, a circuit means for displaying the directory of programs to allow a user to select a program from the directory, a circuit for determining from the retrieved program identifier and the selected program the amount to either advance or rewind the video cassette tape to position the video cassette tape in the video cassette recorder at the beginning of the selected program, and a circuit for commanding the video cassette recorder to position the video cassette tape at the beginning of the selected program.