Abstract: An enforceable property right and a system for controlling the manner of use of an item in accordance with usage rights. The enforceable property right includes an item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein and specifying an item for which the item ticket can be redeemed and a license associated with the item ticket. The license includes usage rights specifying a manner of use for redeeming the item ticket and a mechanism for unlocking said security mechanism.

Abstract: To overcome a watermark security system that is based on a limited set of possible watermark values, a collection of authentic watermarked material is created, and a substitution system provides material from this collection in lieu of the content material that the watermark verification system is intended to verify. In security systems that are designed to verify the existence of authentic watermarked material, without regard to the actual content of the material, this substitution scheme will be successful. In security systems that are designed to verify the existence of an entirety of a data set in order to authorize the presentation of select material from the data set, the substitution of authentic watermarked material for the non-selected material will also be successful. A dictionary of expected watermarks for the data set is provided.

Abstract: A digital work recorded on a computer readable media for use within a system having at least one repository for enforcing use of digital content in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital content. The digital work includes digital content electronically recorded on a first media portion and being capable of being rendered by a rendering engine, and usage rights electronically recorded on a second media portion and being associated with the digital content. The usage rights specify a manner of use by which a repository will permit use of the digital content. The usage rights can be constructed of a grammar including symbols selected from a set of predetermined symbols which define a valid sequence of symbols that are interpreted by the repository to indicate the manner of use.

Abstract: A system for associating usage rights with digital content. Usage rights are created from a grammar. The usage rights specify a manner of use indicating one or more stated purposes for which the digital content can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized party. The usage rights are associated with the digital content. Information is exchanged with a first repository for storing the digital content and the associated usage rights and for processing a usage transaction specifying the usage rights to determine if access to the digital content can be granted. Information is exchanged with a second repository for generating the usage transaction specifying the usage rights for requesting access to the digital content.

Abstract: In each digital content utilize session, a memory card generates conversion key information for specifying a data conversion, while a player generates inverse conversion key information for specifying an inverse data conversion. The memory card then performs the data conversion specified by the conversion key information on management information stored therein, and sends the converted management information and digital content stored therein to the player. The player performs the inverse data conversion specified by the inverse conversion key information on the converted management information to restore the management information, and utilizes the digital content in accordance with restrictions set in the restored management information to limit the use of the digital content.

Abstract: A repository for storing digital works and controlling the use of digital works in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital works and including a manner of use for the digital work. The repository receives requests for digital works and determines whether a request for a digital work should be granted based on usage rights associated with the digital work. The repository can include a device for storing digital works. The device can be a removable storage device. Alternatively, the entire repository can be removable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for defeating copy protection signals in a video signal, and also for providing copy protection signals for a video signal, is disclosed. The defeat technique generally utilizes a particular pulse position shifting, modulation, etc., of AGC, normal sync and/or pseudo sync pulses to increase the separation between the pulses. Various embodiments are disclosed including selective shifting of the relative positions of either the sync/pseudo sync or AGC pulses, trimming portions of the sync/pseudo sync and/or the AGC pulses and narrowing of either the sync/pseudo sync and/or the AGC pulses, all to provide the selective position separation between the sync/pseudo sync and AGC pulses.

Abstract: A system, which includes a video-signal output apparatus and a video-signal input apparatus, has a construction in which scrambling or descrambling is performed with a scramble key generated using copy-control information. If the copy-control information has been falsified, a scramble key for a scrambling mode will not coincide with a scramble key for a descrambling mode, whereby appropriate descrambling is not performed. By performing no scrambling in a vertical blanking interval, the copy-control information can be easily detected from a scrambled video signal.

Abstract: Accordingly, an improved method for recording data on an optical medium is disclosed which includes receiving and encoding a first set of data frames by a CIRC encoder to generate a second set of data frames. A control byte is then added to each of the second set of data frames to generate a third set of data frames. The third plurality of frames of data are received and encoded at an EFM encoder to generate a section comprising a plurality of Channel frames. The control byte of a sequentially first one of the third set of data frames is replaced with a SYNC 0′ byte selected from the limited group of previously unassigned fourteen-bit combinations. The control byte of a sequentially second one of the third set of data frames is also replaced with a SYNC 1′ byte selected from the same group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting copy protection included in an input video signal is described. Two types of copy protection are particularly addressed, including techniques that imbed copy protection pulses and copy protection phase flips in the video signal. A method for preserving copy protection is also presented, where the input video signal is first examined to determine if copy protection has been included in the input video signal. The input video signal then converted to component video data, which removes any copy protection present. An output video signal is then generated from the component video data, and when it was determined that the input video signal includes copy protection, the copy protection is recreated in the output video signal.

Abstract: A key delivery method for use in an encoded communications system in which at least one encoded item including a first item encoded with a first item control word is sent in a communication stream from a sender to a receiver, the method including transmitting an item entitlement control message (IECM) including item control information, transmitting a stream entitlement control message (SECM) including stream control information, and combining at least part of the item control information and at least part of the stream control information to produce the first item control word. Related methods and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A reprogrammable subscriber terminal of a subscription television service which can have the control program code of its control processor modified by downloading new program code from the headend. The control processor stores a boot program in an internal read only memory. Upon start up and resets, the boot program determines whether the control program should be changed from a command sent from the headend. The command, termed a parameters transactions, includes the number of expected download program code transactions required to complete the control code modification, the memory space areas where the code is to be loaded, and the channel over which the download program code transactions are to be transmitted. The channel is tuned and when the boot program receives all the download program code transactions accurately and stores them, the boot program will cause the control program to be restarted at a selected address of the new or modified control program code which has been downloaded.

Abstract: At recording of a video signal, with electronic watermark information being embedded therein, on a recording medium, a reference signal which is formed differently from the watermark information is inserted to the video signal. At reproduction of the video signal, the luminance of the watermark information is modified based on the reference signal.

Abstract: A method for providing privately viewable data in a publically viewable display comprises the steps of: generating a sequencing pattern; generating a data signal having interspersed frames of private data among frames of masking data according to the sequencing pattern; providing the data signal to the publically viewable display; and, opening and closing shutters in a set of active glasses in accordance with the sequencing pattern. In one embodiment, the sequencing pattern can correspond to alternating displays of the private data and the masking data. In an alternative embodiment, the sequencing pattern can correspond to combined left eye/right eye images of the private data. In the preferred embodiment, the masking data can be a fill pattern, for example, random data or a screen saver image. However, in another embodiment, the masking data can be a derivation of the private data.

Abstract: In the known color stripe process for preventing recording of video signals, the color burst present on each line of active video is modified so that any subsequent video tape recording of the video signal shows variations in the color fidelity that appear as undesirable bands or stripes of color error. This color stripe process is improved by a combination of modifying the phase of the color burst on only part of the color burst. Additional improvements were obtained by incorporating techniques of widening the normal color burst envelope towards the trailing edge of horizontal sync and towards the beginning of active video. These techniques are useful in improving the performance of the color stripe process in both the NTSC and PAL color systems. However, additional improvements are described in the PAL system whereby the phase modifications are controlled so as to avoid disturbing the so-called PAL ID pulse.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for modifying or reducing effects of signals added to a video signal to permit more unhampered copying and/or viewing thereof. In one version the method and apparatus replace or level shift portions of a video signal to overcome effects caused by these pulses. Typically these pulses are added for copy protection purposes. Modification of the video signal allows for more unhampered viewing and/or copying of the video signal.

Abstract: An improved television scrambling signal is achieved by adding erroneous clamp pulses into a television signal after the signal may have been previously scrambled, for example, by prior art position modulated horizontal sync pulses. Prior art scrambling systems such as those using position modulated sync pulses cause tearing in an unauthorized displayed television picture. The addition of the erroneous clamp pulses of the present invention causes both tearing and darkening of the picture. This darkening can completely shut off the display on some TV sets, thus yielding complete concealment of the television signal. In an alternative embodiment, an erroneous color “rainbow” effect is provided by modifying a portion of a color burst signal, to cause the color subcarrier system in a TV set to unlock.

Abstract: An additional information produced by an additional information signal producing curcuit is spectrum-spread by a spectrum spreading code generated on the basis of the timing of the synchronous signal of digital video signal and is then added to the digital video signal by means of a signal adder. The digital video signal to which the spectrum spread additional information signal is added is then written into a recording medium by a signal writing device. Thereby, the additional information signal can be added to the video signal under the condition that the reproducing quality of the video signal is never deteriorated and alteration and deletion are impossible and moreover the additional information signal can be detected for use as required from the video signal.

Abstract: In a known copy protection process for preventing recording of video signals, pseudo sync and AGC pulses are present on predetermined lines within the blanking intervals of the video signal so that any subsequent video tape recording of the video signal shows a picture of very low entertainment quality. This copy protection process is defeated first by determining the location of the video lines containing the copy protection using the color burst signal or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval to determine on-line detection. Then some or all of the lines including copy protection signals are modified so as to render the overall video signal recordable. The modification is accomplished in a number of ways, including gain shifting portions of the video signal, level shifting portions of the video signal, bandwidth limiting certain portions of the video signal or replacing certain portions of the video signal with other video elements.

Abstract: A VGA (or other component video signal) output, e.g. from a computer or DVD player, is protected so it is viewable on a VGA monitor. However, if the component video signal is converted to composite video (e.g. television) the resulting television picture is of substantially degraded quality, thereby inhibiting viewing and/or copying. This protects for instance copyrighted material in the VGA format from unauthorized use. The protection involves modifying the horizontal or vertical synchronization signals in the VGA video in such a way that there is no adverse affect on a typical VGA monitor. However, most or all VGA to television converters and/or television sets and VCR's suffer from loss of synchronization, resulting in an unviewable picture. Also, methods and circuits for defeating the copy protection are provided.

Abstract: A terminal device, a memory module, a method and a system for exchanging electronic content. A wireless connection is used for transferring electronic content between wireless terminals according to predetermined tailoring information. The tailoring information defines what electronic content it is possible to exchange between the wireless terminals. The memory module stores the tailoring parameters and is separate from and releasably attachable to one terminal device. That terminal device is adapted to read the tailoring information from the memory module and to transmit the tailoring information to another terminal device over the wireless connection.

Abstract: Copy protection is provided for the now-unprotected computer monitor port of a computer 100 in two ways: (i) delaying synchronizing signals by a time variable amount and (ii) generating pulses during non-active video. Delay of the synchronizing signal is performed by selecting a fixed offset 203 and selecting either the fixed offset of the pseudorandom delay to be sent to a variable delay generator 260, which delays the horizontal synchronizing signal 201 by the selected amount. This new delayed horizontal synchronizing signal 202 is encoded by the CRT Controller 244 and is then sent to the computer monitor 164, which uses the delayed synchronizing signal 202 as encoded to produce its display in conjunction with a data signal. Thus, if these signals 202, 268 are intercepted by a VGA to TV converter 122, the converter 122 (or any downstream device) is unable to lock onto the correct frequency in order to reproduce the image properly.

Abstract: Copy protection for composite video signals is well known. Copy protection, while it does not prohibit making a copy per se, does render any copy (recording) of the video signal relatively unviewable so that the viewer's enjoyment of the picture is severely reduced or none. Methods for reducing the effects and/or defeating copy protection are also known. The present method and apparatus reduce effects of added copy protection pulses by further adding other pulses that counteract the gain reduction caused by the copy protection pulses of the type known as automatic gain control (AGC) or pseudo-sync pulses.

Abstract: When digital image signals fed in through an input terminal to be recorded on a disc, medium-related information, such as a serial number in a table of contents of the disc, is spectrum-spread in a spectrum spreading additional information generating section and the digital image signals on which the spectrum-spread medium-related information has been superimposed in an spectrum spreading additional information superimposing section are recorded on the disc. When the signals are to be reproduced, the reproduction can be performed 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: RGB signals and sync signals H and V are inputted from a personal computer or the like. Additional information is superimposed to a vertical blanking period of the R signal. A timing generating unit generates a sampling pulse on the basis of the sync signals. A data extracting unit extracts the additional information by using the pulse. Processes such as discrimination of a category of the additional information and a parity check are executed by an information decoding unit. A converter converts the RGB signals into an NTSC signal. VBI data and a copy prevention signal are formed in response to a decoded result of the information decoding unit. The VBI data and copy prevention signal are superimposed to the NTSC signal in adders.

Abstract: A copy flag detecting circuit in a device detects the copy generation management information. This copy generation management information is inserted in the CIP header of the IEEE 1394 packet for transmission. The copy flag detector of the 1394 interface in the device detects the copy generation management information in the CIP header. According to the detection result, the copy generation managing circuit records new copy generation management information and the recording controlling circuit permits or prohibits recording. Thus, there is no need for a decoding circuit at a receiving device.

Abstract: A video signal copy guard system in which a special color burst signal (or “copy prohibition signal”) is inserted into the video signal to be copy protected so that the protected signal includes both a special color burst signal and a normal color burst signal. The special color burst signal is placed adjacent to the normal color burst signal, and its phase, frequency, and/or amplitude is varied with respect to the normal color burst signal. The special color burst signal interferes with the normal color burst signal when an analog VCR attempts to process the protected signal. Thereby, preventing unauthorized dubbing of the protected signal.

Abstract: A video signal is modified so that a television/receiver still produces a normal picture from the modified signal, whereas videotape recording of this signal produces generally unacceptable pictures. Videotape recorders have an automatic gain control circuit (FIG. 2) which measures the sync pulse level in a video signal and develops a gain control correction signal for keeping the video applied to an FM modulator in the videotape recording system at a fixed predetermined level. A portion of the back porch intervals following the trailing edges of a substantial number of sync pulses are significantly raised and lowered to improve the playability of the original signal without reducing the effectiveness of the copy protection of the copied signal.

Abstract: In a known copy protection process for preventing recording of video signals, pseudo sync and AGC pulses are present on predetermined lines within the blanking intervals of the video signal so that any subsequent video tape recording of the video signal shows a picture of very low entertainment quality. This copy protection process is defeated first by determining the location of the video lines containing the copy protection using the color burst signal or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval to determine on-line detection. Then some or all of the lines including copy protection signals are modified so as to render the overall video signal recordable. The modification is accomplished in a number of ways, including gain shifting portions of the video signal, level shifting portions of the video signal, bandwidth limiting certain portions of the video signal or replacing certain portions of the video signal with other video elements.

Abstract: A copy flag detecting circuit in a device detects the copy generation management information. This copy generation management information is inserted in the CIP header of the IEEE 1394 packet for transmission. The copy flag detector of the 1394 interface in the device detects the copy generation management information in the CIP header. According to the detection result, the copy generation managing circuit records new copy generation management information and the recording controlling circuit permits or prohibits recording. Thus, there is no need for a decoding circuit at a receiving device.