APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING/DETECTING AN AUXILIARY SIGNAL WITHIN A CATV TRAFFIC STREAM

• US 20080127287A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Alkan, Erdogan, Olcen, Ahmet Burak
• Application Number:
  US11/563,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20080127287A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/107
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

An apparatus for embedding/detecting an auxiliary signal within a cable television (CATV) traffic stream is configured for inclusion within a legacy CATV system configured for sending one or more CATV signals in respective one or more frequency bands. The apparatus includes a controller configured for receiving an input signal and an auxiliary signal, and watermarking the input signal with the auxiliary signal to thereby form a watermarked signal. The input signal comprises one of the CATV signals of the CATV system, the watermarked signal being sent to the detector in the same frequency band as the respective CATV signal. The controller is also configured for sending the watermarked signal to a detector for detecting and removing the auxiliary signal from the watermarked signal to thereby recover the input signal and the auxiliary signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a controller configured for receiving an input signal and an auxiliary signal, and watermarking the input signal with the auxiliary signal to thereby form a watermarked signal,

wherein the controller is configured for sending the watermarked signal to a detector for detecting and removing the auxiliary signal from the watermarked signal to thereby recover the input signal and the auxiliary signal,

wherein the apparatus is configured for inclusion within a legacy cable television (CATV) system configured for sending one or more CATV signals in respective one or more frequency bands, wherein the input signal comprises one of the CATV signals of the CATV system, the watermarked signal being sent to the detector in the same frequency band as the respective CATV signal.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector forms a portion of another apparatus, wherein the controller is configured for sending the watermarked signal to the detector such that the other apparatus forwards the recovered input signal to a head-end facility or consumer electronics device of the CATV system.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary signal with which the controller watermarks the input signal comprises measurements of one or more conditions of the apparatus or proximate the apparatus, the measurements being received by one or more sensors in communication with the controller.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector forms a portion of another apparatus, and wherein the auxiliary signal with which the controller watermarks the input signal comprises control information for directing operation of the other apparatus.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control information includes one or more commands for directing the other apparatus to acquire measurements of one or more conditions of the other apparatus or proximate the other apparatus.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input signal, auxiliary signal and watermarked signal comprise a first watermarked signal, a first auxiliary signal and a first watermarked signal respectively,

wherein the controller is further configured for receiving a second watermarked signal from an embedder, the embedder having formed the second watermarked signal by watermarking a second input signal with a second auxiliary signal, and

wherein the controller is configured for detecting and removing the second auxiliary signal from the second watermarked signal to thereby recover the second input signal and the second auxiliary signal,

wherein the second input signal comprises one of the CATV signals of the CATV system, the second watermarked signal being received by the controller in the same frequency band as the respective CATV signal.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured for forwarding the recovered second input signal to a head-end facility or consumer electronics device of the CATV system.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the embedder forms a portion of another apparatus, wherein the second auxiliary signal comprises measurements of one or more conditions of the other apparatus or proximate the other apparatus, the measurements being received by one or more sensors in communication with the other apparatus.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second auxiliary signal comprises control information for directing operation of the apparatus.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control information includes one or more commands for directing the apparatus to acquire measurements of one or more conditions of the apparatus or proximate the apparatus, the controller being configured to acquire the measurements in response to the commands.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a controller configured for receiving a watermarked signal from an embedder, the embedder having formed the watermarked signal by watermarking an input signal with an auxiliary signal, and

wherein the controller is configured for detecting and removing the auxiliary signal from the watermarked signal to thereby recover the input signal and the auxiliary signal,

wherein the apparatus is configured for inclusion within a legacy cable television (CATV) system configured for sending one or more CATV signals in respective one or more frequency bands, wherein the input signal comprises one of the CATV signals of the CATV system, the watermarked signal being received from the embedder in the same frequency band as the respective CATV signal.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured for forwarding the recovered second input signal to a head-end facility or consumer electronics device of the CATV system.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the embedder forms a portion of another apparatus, wherein the auxiliary signal comprises measurements of one or more conditions of the other apparatus or proximate the other apparatus, the measurements being received by one or more sensors in communication with the other apparatus.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the auxiliary signal comprises control information for directing operation of the apparatus.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the control information includes one or more commands for directing the apparatus to acquire measurements of one or more conditions of the apparatus or proximate the apparatus, the controller being configured to acquire the measurements in response to the commands.

16. A method comprising:

providing an apparatus within a legacy cable television (CATV) system configured for sending one or more CATV signals in respective one or more frequency bands;

receiving an input signal and an auxiliary signal at the apparatus, and watermarking the input signal with the auxiliary signal to thereby form a watermarked signal, wherein the input signal comprises one of the CATV signals of the CATV system; and

sending the watermarked signal from the apparatus to a detector for detecting and removing the auxiliary signal from the watermarked signal to thereby recover the input signal and the auxiliary signal, the watermarked signal being sent to the detector in the same frequency band as the respective CATV signal.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the detector forms a portion of another apparatus, wherein sending the watermarked signal comprises sending the watermarked signal to the detector such that the other apparatus forwards the recovered input signal to a head-end facility or consumer electronics device of the CATV system.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein receiving an auxiliary signal comprises receiving an auxiliary signal comprising measurements of one or more conditions of the apparatus or proximate the apparatus, the measurements being received by one or more sensors in communication with the apparatus.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein the detector forms a portion of another apparatus, and wherein receiving an auxiliary signal comprises receiving an auxiliary signal comprising control information for directing operation of the other apparatus.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein receiving an auxiliary signal comprises receiving an auxiliary signal comprising the control information including one or more commands for directing the other apparatus to acquire measurements of one or more conditions of the other apparatus or proximate the other apparatus.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein the input signal, auxiliary signal and watermarked signal comprise a first watermarked signal, a first auxiliary signal and a first watermarked signal respectively, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second watermarked signal at the apparatus from an embedder, the embedder having formed the second watermarked signal by watermarking a second input signal with a second auxiliary signal, wherein the second input signal comprises one of the CATV signals of the CATV system, the second watermarked signal being received by the apparatus in the same frequency band as the respective CATV signal; and

detecting and removing the second auxiliary signal from the second watermarked signal at the apparatus to thereby recover the second input signal and the second auxiliary signal.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising:

forwarding the recovered second input signal from the apparatus to a head-end facility or consumer electronics device of the CATV system.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the embedder forms a portion of another apparatus, and wherein the second auxiliary signal comprises measurements of one or more conditions of the other apparatus or proximate the other apparatus, the measurements being received by one or more sensors in communication with the other apparatus.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the second auxiliary signal comprises control information for directing operation of the apparatus.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the control information includes one or more commands for directing the apparatus to acquire measurements of one or more conditions of the apparatus or proximate the apparatus, and wherein the method further comprises:

acquiring the measurements in response to the commands.

26. A method comprising:

providing an apparatus within a legacy cable television (CATV) system configured for sending one or more CATV signals in respective one or more frequency bands;

receiving a watermarked signal at the apparatus from an embedder, the embedder having formed the watermarked signal by watermarking an input signal with an auxiliary signal, wherein the input signal comprises one of the CATV signals of the CATV system, the watermarked signal being received from the embedder in the same frequency band as the respective CATV signal; and

detecting and removing the auxiliary signal from the watermarked signal at the apparatus to thereby recover the input signal and the auxiliary signal.

27. A method according to claim 26 further comprising:

forwarding the recovered second input signal to a head-end facility or consumer electronics device of the CATV system.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the embedder forms a portion of another apparatus, wherein the auxiliary signal comprises measurements of one or more conditions of the other apparatus or proximate the other apparatus, the measurements being received by one or more sensors in communication with the other apparatus.

29. A method according to claim 26, wherein the auxiliary signal comprises control information for directing operation of the apparatus.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the control information includes one or more commands for directing the apparatus to acquire measurements of one or more conditions of the apparatus or proximate the apparatus, and wherein the method further comprises:

acquiring the measurements in response to the commands.