APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ENCODING AND STORAGE OF DIGITAL IMAGE AND AUDIO SIGNALS

• US 20030206635A1
• Filed: 05/03/2000
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Morley, Steven A., Ratzel, John, Faus, Juan
• Granted Patent: US 6,985,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/269
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/122 Selection of transform size, e.g. 8x8 or 2x4x8 DCT; Selection of sub-band transforms of varying structure or type
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/146 Data rate or code amount at the encoder output
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/176 the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/60 using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/96 Tree coding, e.g. quad-tree coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 the video signal being scrambled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals

Abstract

Abstract of Disclosure

An apparatus and method for the encoding and storage of signals representing at least image information onto a storage medium is claimed. A source generator is configured to convert the signals into digitized image information. A compressor is configured to receive the digitized image information from the source generator and compress the digitized image. An encryptor is configured to receive the compressed digitized image information from the compressor and encrypt the compressed digitized image information. A storage device is configured to then store the encrypted compressed digitized image information onto the storage medium.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the encoding and storage of signals representing at least image information onto a storage medium, the apparatus comprising:

a source generator configured to convert the signals into digitized image information;

a compressor configured to receive the digitized image information from the source generator and to compress the digitized image information;

an encryptor configured to receive the compressed digitized image information from the compressor and to encrypt the compressed digitized image information; and

a storage device configured to receive the encrypted compressed digitized image information from the compressor and store the encrypted compressed digitized image information onto the storage medium.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the apparatus further encodes and stores signals representing audio information, and

wherein the source generator is configured to convert the audio information into digitized audio information,

wherein the compressor is configured to receive the digitized audio information from the source generator and compress the digitized audio information;

wherein the encryptor is configured to receive the compressed digitized audio information from the compressor and encrypt the compressed digitized audio information; and

wherein the storage device is configured to receive the encrypted compressed digitized audio information from the compressor and store the encrypted compressed digitized audio information onto the storage medium.

3. The apparatus of Claim 2,wherein the compressed image and audio information are each stored in a non-contiguous manner independent of each other.

4. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the compressor uses an adaptive block sized discrete cosine transform compression technique.

5. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the compressor is configured to compress the digitized audio information at a variable rate.

6. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the encrypted compressed digitized image information forms at least one image program, wherein the encrypted compressed digitized audio information forms at least one audio program, and further comprising an identifier, wherein the compressor is configured to link the identifier to one or more audio programs with at least one image program.

7. The apparatus of Claim 6, wherein the source generator further includes a program packetizer, wherein the program packetizer is configured to organize image information or audio information into identifiable groups for storage onto the storage medium.

8. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the source generator further comprises a telecine device.

9. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the source generator further comprises a computer based workstation.

10. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the encryptor further comprises a cryptographic key, the cryptographic key being stored on a key storage medium, and the cryptographic key being necessary for decryption of the image and audio information.

11. The apparatus of Claim 10, wherein the key storage medium is a smart card.

12. The apparatus of Claim 10, wherein the key storage medium is a magnetic disk.

13. The apparatus of Claim 10, wherein the cryptographic key is transmitted.

14. The apparatus of Claim 10, further comprising means for indicating a time interval over which the cryptographic key information is valid and for assuring that the cryptographic key information is only used during that interval.

15. The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein the cryptographic key is configured to be over-written from the key storage medium after the time interval expires.

16. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the encryptor further comprises at least one watermark, wherein the watermark is perceptually unnoticeable during presentation of decompressed image or audio information at a predefined normal rate of transfer, but is detectable when said image or audio information is presented at a rate substantially different from said normal rate.

17. The apparatus of Claim 16, wherein the watermark identifies presentation time and location information associated with the image or audio information.

18. The apparatus of Claim 2, further comprising a network manager, wherein the network manager is configured to send control information to and receives status information from the source generator, the compressor, the encryptor and the storage device.

19. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to establish a link, wherein the link is configured to send and receive information external from the apparatus.

20. The apparatus of Claim 19, wherein the information comprises control and status information.

21. The apparatus of Claim 19, wherein the information comprises updates to the image and audio information.

22. The apparatus of Claim 19, wherein the link comprises a dedicated telephone data link.

23. The apparatus of Claim 19, wherein the link comprises a dialup telephone data link.

24. The apparatus of Claim 19, wherein the link comprises a packet type data link.

25. The apparatus of Claim 19, wherein the link comprises an Internet based link.

26. The apparatus of Claim 19, wherein the link comprises a wireless data link.

27. The apparatus of Claim 19, wherein said the link comprises a satellite based data link.

28. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the storage medium comprises at least one optical storage medium.

29. The apparatus of Claim 28, wherein the storage medium comprises multiple optical storage media, and wherein image and audio information are stored non-sequentially on the multiple optical storage media.

30. The apparatus of Claim 28, wherein the audio information is stored on a separate optical storage medium than the image information.

31. The apparatus of Claim 28, further comprising encoded signals representing promotional information, and wherein the encoded signals representing promotional information is stored on a separate optical storage medium than the image information and the audio information.

32. The apparatus of Claim 28, wherein the storage medium comprises at least one DVD disk.

33. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the storage medium comprises at least one magnetic storage medium.

34. The apparatus of Claim 33, wherein the storage medium is multiple magnetic storage media, and wherein image and audio information are stored non-sequentially on the multiple magnetic storage media.

35. The apparatus of Claim 33, wherein the audio information is stored on a separate magnetic storage medium than the image information.

36. The apparatus of Claim 33, further comprising encoded signals representing promotional information, and wherein the encoded signals representing promotional information is stored on a separate magnetic storage medium than the image information and the audio information.

37. The apparatus of Claim 33, wherein the storage medium comprises at least removable hard drive.

38. The apparatus of Claim 33, wherein the storage medium comprises at least one JBOD module, wherein the JBOD module comprises at least one storage component.

39. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the storage device comprises means for using identifier information to link different preselected portions of image or audio information to different ones of the storage mediums during storage.

40. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the theater storage device further comprises means for providing parallel striping information such that stored image and audio information may be accessed at a desired data transfer rate and to provide error protection redundancy.

41. The apparatus of Claim 2 further comprising at least one local area network interface, wherein at least the source generator, the compressor, the encryptor and the storage device are interconnected by the at least one local area network interface.

42. The apparatus of Claim 41, wherein the network interface comprises an ethernet network.

43. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the image information is provided in the form of image programs, wherein the image programs are in the form of either a single still frame or series of frames shown as motion pictures of varying length.

44. The apparatus of Claim 2, further comprising means for archiving the storage of image and audio information.

45. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the source generator further comprises a cue track, wherein the cue track is configured to indicate a specific portion of a program where information may be linked.

66. The method of Claim 2, further comprising the step of providing a network manager, wherein the network manager sends and receives control information regarding the steps of generating, compressing, encrypting and storing.

46. An apparatus for the encoding and storage of signals representing image information and audio information onto at least one storage medium, the apparatus comprising:

a source generator configured to convert the signals into digitized image information and digitized audio information;

a compressor configured to receive the digitized image information and digitized audio information from the source generator and to compress the digitized image information and the digitized audio information, the compressor using an adaptive block sized discrete cosine transform compression technique;

an encryptor configured to receive the compressed digitized image information and the compressed digitized audio information from the compressor and to encrypt the compressed digitized image information and the compressed digitized audio information; and

a storage device configured to receive the encrypted compressed digitized image information and the encrypted compressed digitized audio information from the compressor, and store the encrypted compressed digitized image information as an image program onto the storage medium and store the encrypted compressed digitized audio information as an audio program onto another storage medium.

47. The apparatus of Claim 46, wherein the storage medium is at least one JBOD module, each JBOD module having at least one storage component, and wherein the image and audio information is stored non-sequentially on the storage components of each JBOD module.

48. The apparatus of Claim 46, further comprising encoded signals representing promotional information, and wherein the encoded signals representing promotional information is stored on a separate storage component than the image information and the audio information.

49. An apparatus for the encoding and storage of signals representing at least image information onto a storage medium, the apparatus comprising:

a source generator configured to convert the signals into digitized image information;

a compressor configured to receive the digitized image information from the source generator and to compress the digitized image information, wherein the compressor uses an adaptive block sized discrete cosine transform compression technique;

an encryptor configured to receive the compressed digitized image information from the compressor and to encrypt the compressed digitized image information; and

a storage device configured to receive the encrypted compressed digitized image information from the compressor and store the encrypted compressed digitized image information onto the storage medium.

50. A method for encoding and storing signals representing at least image information onto a storage medium, the method comprising the steps of:

converting the signals into digitized image information;

compressing the digitized image information;

encrypting the compressed digitized image information; and

storing the encrypted compressed digitized image information onto the storage medium.

51. The method of Claim 50, wherein the signals represent image information and audio information, and further comprising the steps of:

converting the signals into digitized audio information;

compressing the digitized audio information;

encrypting the compressed digitized audio information; and

storing the encrypted compressed digitized image information onto the storage medium.

52. The method of Claim 51, wherein the compressed image and audio information are each stored in a non-contiguous manner independent of each other.

53. The method of Claim 50, wherein the step of compressing uses an adaptive block sized discrete cosine transform compression technique.

54. The method of Claim 51, wherein the step of compressing the digitized audio information occurs at a variable rate.

55. The method of Claim 51, further comprising the steps of:

grouping the encrypted compressed digitized image information into at least one image program;

grouping the encrypted compressed digitized audio information forms into at least one audio program; and

linking one or more audio programs with at least one image program.

56. The method of Claim 50, wherein the step of converting uses a telecine device.

57. The method of Claim 50, wherein the step of converting uses a computer based workstation.

58. The method of Claim 51, further comprising the step of generating a cryptographic key, wherein the cryptographic key is stored on a key storage medium, and the cryptographic key is necessary for decryption of the image and audio information.

59. The method of Claim 58, wherein the key storage medium is a smart card.

60. The method of Claim 58, wherein the key storage medium is a magnetic disk.

61. The method of Claim 58, wherein the cryptographic key is transmitted.

62. The method of Claim 58, further comprising the step of indicating a time interval over which the cryptographic key information is valid and for assuring that the cryptographic key information is only used during that interval.

63. The method of Claim 62, further comprising the step of overwriting the cryptographic key from the key storage medium after the time interval expires.

64. The method of Claim 51, further comprising the step of generating at least one watermark, wherein the watermark is perceptually unnoticeable during presentation of decompressed image or audio information at a predefined normal rate of transfer, but is detectable when said image or audio information is presented at a rate substantially different from said normal rate.

65. The method of Claim 64, wherein the watermark identifies presentation time and location information associated with the image or audio information.

67. The method of Claim 50, further comprising the step of establishing a link to send and receive information.

68. The method of Claim 67, wherein the information comprises status and control information.

69. The method of Claim 67, wherein the information comprises updates to the encoded image signals and audio programs.

70. The method of Claim 67, wherein the link is a dedicated telephone data link.

71. The method of Claim 67, wherein the link is a dialup telephone data link.

72. The method of Claim 67, wherein the link is a packet type data link.

73. The method of Claim 67, wherein the link is an Internet based link.

74. The method of Claim 67, wherein the link is a wireless data link.

75. The method of Claim 67, wherein said the link is a satellite based data link.

76. The method of Claim 51, wherein the storage medium comprises at least one optical storage medium.

77. The method of Claim 76, wherein the storage medium is multiple optical storage media, and wherein image and audio information are stored non-sequentially on the multiple optical storage media.

78. The method of Claim 76, wherein the audio information is stored on a separate optical storage medium than the image information.

79. The method of Claim 76, further comprising the step of storing promotional information, wherein the promotional information is stored on a separate optical storage medium than the image information or the audio information.

80. The method of Claim 76, wherein the storage medium is at least one DVD disk.

81. The method of Claim 51, wherein the storage medium is at least one magnetic storage medium.

82. The method of Claim 81, wherein the storage medium is multiple magnetic storage media, and wherein image and audio information are stored non-sequentially on the multiple magnetic storage media.

83. The method of Claim 81, wherein the audio information is stored on a separate magnetic storage medium than the image information.

84. The method of Claim 81, further comprising the step of storing promotional information, wherein the promotional information is stored on a separate magnetic storage medium than the image information and the audio information.

85. The method of Claim 81, wherein the storage medium is at least one removable hard drive.

86. The method of Claim 81, wherein the storage medium is at least one JBOD module, wherein the JBOD module comprises at least one storage component.

87. The method of Claim 51, further comprising the step of using identifier information to link different preselected portions of image or audio information to different ones of the at least one storage medium during the step of storing.

88. The method of Claim 51, further comprising the step of providing parallel striping information such that stored image and audio information may be accessed at a desired data transfer rate and to provide error protection redundancy.

89. The method of Claim 51, further comprising the step of providing at least one local area network interface.

90. The method of Claim 89, wherein the network interface is an ethernet network.

91. The method of Claim 51, wherein the image information is provided in the form of image programs, wherein the image programs are in the form of either a single still frame or series of frames shown as motion pictures of varying length.

92. The method of Claim 51, further comprising the step of archiving the storage of image and audio information.

93. The method of Claim 51, further comprising the step of a cueing a specific portion of a program where information may be linked.