Method and apparatus for restricting a video output of a computing system based on copy protection information

• US 6,678,465 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ATI International SRL (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Swan, Philip Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US09/336,491
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.576, H04/N.5781, H04/N.979, 386/1, 386/94, 360/60, 380/201, 380/205, 380/203
• US Class Current: 386/257
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4318 by altering the content in the rendering process, e.g. blanking, blurring or masking an image region image enhancement or restoration in general G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

A method and apparatus includes processing for restricting at least one video output of a computing system based on copy protection information. Such processing begins by receiving a video signal and associated copy protection information (e.g., Macrovision). The processing continues by interpreting the copy protection information. When the copy protection information indicates copy restriction, the processing continues by altering at least one video output. The video output may be altered by disabling a monitor output, adjusting a refresh rate to be incompatible with a television refresh rate, altering an image of the video signal, and/or inserting a message in a non-current interlaced field of the video signal.

Claims

1. A method for restricting at least one video output of a computing system based on copy protection information, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a video signal and associated copy protection information;

b) using a graphics engine to interpret the copy protection information; and

c) when the copy protection information indicates copy restriction, altering the at least one video output by at least one of;

disabling a monitor output;

adjusting a refresh rate of the at least one video output to be less compatible with a television refresh rate;

a television refresh rate;

altering an image of the video signal; and

inserting a message in a non-current interlaced field of the video signal.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, when inserting the message, alpha blending the message with the video signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message is at least one of:

an advertisement and a copy restriction notice.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising changing an interlace field pattern when a scene change occurs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises:

interpreting system operation regarding processing of the video signal; and

when the system operation indicates a copy to a memory without display, storing the video signal and the copy protection information.

6. A method for restricting at least one video output of a computing system based on copy protection information, the method comprising the steps of:

a) using a graphics engine to detect an output video signal on the at least one video output; and

b) when the output video signal is detected, altering the at least one video output by at least one of;

disabling a monitor output;

adjusting a refresh rate of the at least one video output to be less compatible with a television refresh rate;

altering an image of the video signal; and

inserting a message in a non-current interlaced field of the video signal.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising, when inserting the message, alpha blending the message with the video signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the message is at least one of:

an advertisement and a copy restriction notice.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising changing an interlace field pattern when a scene change occurs.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprises:

interpreting system operation regarding processing of the video signal; and

when the system operation indicates a copy to a memory without display, storing the video signal and the copy protection information.

11. A computing system comprising:

a graphics engine;

wherein the graphics engine further comprises;

a processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory includes operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

(a) receive a video signal and associated copy protection information;

(b) interpret the copy protection information; and

(c) when the copy protection information indicates copy restriction, alter the at least one video output by at least one of;

disabling a monitor output;

adjusting a refresh rate of the at least one video output to be less compatible with a television refresh rate;

altering an image of the video signal; and

inserting a message in a non-current interlaced field of the video signal.

12. The video graphics engine of claim 11, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to, when inserting the message, alpha blend the message with the video signal.

13. The video graphics engine of claim 12, wherein the message is at least one of:

an advertisement and a copy restriction notice.

14. The video graphics engine of claim 12, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to change an interlace field pattern when a scene change occurs.

15. The video graphics engine of claim 11, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to interpret the copy protection information by:

interpreting system operation regarding processing of the video signal; and

when the system operation indicates a copy to a memory without display, storing the video signal and the copy protection information.

16. A computing system comprising:

a graphics engine;

wherein the graphics engine further comprises;

a processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory includes operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

(a) detect an output video signal on the at least one video output; and

(b) when the output video signal is detected, alter the at least one video output by at least one of;

disabling a monitor, output;

adjusting a refresh rate of the at least one video output to be less compatible with a television refresh rate;

altering an image of the video signal; and

inserting a message in a non-current interlaced field of the video signal.

17. The video graphics engine of claim 16, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to, when inserting the message, alpha blend the message with the video signal.

18. The video graphics engine of claim 17, wherein the message is at least one of:

an advertisement and a copy restriction notice.

19. The video graphics engine of claim 17, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to change an interlace field pattern when a scene change occurs.

20. The video graphics engine of claim 16, wherein the memory further comprise operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

interpret system operation regarding processing of the video signal; and

when the system operation indicates a copy to a memory without display, store the video signal and the copy protection information.