Method and apparatus for selectively recording a broadcast

• US 4,305,101 A
• Filed: 04/16/1979
• Issued: 12/08/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Codart Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Codart Incorporated
• Inventors: Yarbrough, Charles J., Strachan, Alan F., Weisman, Jo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tupper, Robert S.
• Application Number:
  US06/030,436
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 360/69, 360/60, 360/15, 360/35, 358/122, 358/123
• US Class Current: 360/69
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/00 Driving, starting, stopping record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function ; Driving both disc and head
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00188 involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised devices recording or reproducing contents to/from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00514 wherein the entire content is encrypted with the same key, e.g. disc key or master key
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00702 said measures preventing that data are recorded on the recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 involving a purchase action
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0084 wherein the usage restriction can be expressed as a specific time or date
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91321 the copy protection signal being a copy protection control signal, e.g. a record inhibit signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/908 Pause control, i.e. "commercial killers"

Abstract

A selective receiving and/or recording technique for broadcast audio and/or video programs where the broadcast signal has a tone code preceding each program segment to which a monitoring-receiving-recording device is responsive, either matching the tone code with a prestored list of orders for receiving and/or recording that broadcast segment or responding to a particular code so as to disable its associated recorder to thus protect copyrighted information.

Claims

1. A method of selectively recording a broadcast of an audio and/or video program comprising the following steps:

dividing each of a plurality of programs to be broadcast into segments, no one segment comprising a complete portion of any one program;

placing a coded signal on each of the segments, the coded signal identifying the segment;

intermixing the segments from different programs to prevent any two consecutive segments from comprising a complete portion of any one program;

broadcasting the intermixed segments;

receiving the broadcast segments at a desired location;

electronically decoded the coded signal on each segment;

electronically comparing the decoded signals with at least one pre-stored code at the location where the broadcast signals are received;

automatically recording those segments having decoded signals corresponding to the at least one pre-stored code and automatically not recording those segments having decoded signals not corresponding to the at least one pre-stored code.

2. Apparatus for selectively recording a broadcast of an audio and/or video program wherein the broadcast comprises a plurality of segments, each segment having a coded signal identifying the segment, no one segment comprising a complete portion of any one program, and the segments being intermixed from different programs to prevent any two consecutive segments from comprising a complete portion of any one program, wherein the apparatus comprises:

receiving means for receiving the broadcast;

electronic decoding means connected to the receiving means for decoding the coded signals;

electronic comparison means connected to the decoding means for comparing the decoded signals with a pre-stored code;

recording means for recording the broadcast signals connected to the means for decoding; and

automatic activating means connected to the comparison means and to the recording means for controlling the recording means to permit recording the segment when the prestored code and the decoded signal correspond, and to prevent recording the segment when the pre-stored code and the decoded signal do not correspond.