Receiver device for star pattern partial encryption

• US 7,639,804 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Candelore, Brant L., Derovanessian, Henry, Pedlow, JR., Leo M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moazzami, Nasser G
• Assistant Examiner(s): YALEW, FIKREMARIAM A
• Application Number:
  US11/713,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20070269046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 380/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/14 using a plurality of keys or algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23897 by partially encrypting, e.g. encrypting only the ending portion of a movie
• 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

Abstract

A television signal receiver device consistent with certain embodiments has a receiver that receives a digital television signal including a plurality of unencrypted packets, and a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type. The at least one selected packet type has packets occurring in a star pattern approximately situated at an upper center of an image. A decrypter decrypts the encrypted packets. A decoder decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.

Claims

1. A television set-top box, comprising:

a television receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets; and

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image where the star pattern has rays extending horizontally or vertically across a full width of the image;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.

2. The television set-top box according to claim 1, wherein the specified packet type further comprises packets containing an intra-coded macroblock within the star pattern.

3. The television set-top box according to claim 1, wherein the star pattern is centered above a true center of the image.

4. The television set-top box according to claim 1, wherein the star pattern has rays extending horizontally across a full width of the image.

5. The television set-top box according to claim 1, wherein the star pattern has rays extending vertically across a full height of the image.

6. The television set-top box according to claim 1, wherein the star pattern has a rectangular central region centered approximately one slice above a center of the image.

7. A television signal receiver device, comprising:

a television receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets; and

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image where the star pattern has rays extending horizontally or vertically across a full width of the image;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.

8. The television signal receiver device according to claim 7, wherein the specified packet type further comprises packets containing an intra-coded macroblock within the star pattern.

9. The television signal receiver device according to claim 7, wherein the star pattern is centered above a true center of the image.

10. The television signal receiver device according to claim 7, wherein the star pattern has rays extending horizontally across a full width of the image.

11. The television signal receiver device according to claim 7, wherein the star pattern has rays extending vertically across a full height of the image.

12. The television signal receiver device according to claim 7, wherein the star pattern has a rectangular central region centered approximately one slice above a center of the image.

13. A television signal receiver device, comprising:

A television receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets; and

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image, wherein the star pattern has a rectangular central region centered approximately one slice above a center of the image centered above a true center of the image and wherein the star pattern has rays extending horizontally across a full width of the image, and wherein the star pattern has rays extending vertically across a full height of the image;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.

14. The television signal receiver device according to claim 13, wherein the specified packet type further comprises packets containing an intra-coded macroblock within the star pattern.

15. A television set-top box, comprising:

a receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets;

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image;

wherein a video frame comprises 30 slices each having 33 macroblocks, and wherein the star pattern is defined by;

macroblocks 14-21 in slices 1-6 and 22-30, macroblocks 11-23 of slices 7-12 and 19-21 and macroblocks 1-33 of slices 13-18;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.

16. A television set-top box, comprising:

a receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets;

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image;

wherein a video frame comprises 45 slices each having 80 macroblocks, and wherein the star pattern is defined by;

macroblocks 34-51 in slices 1-9 and 32-45, macroblocks 26-56 of slices 10-18 and 28-31 and macroblocks 1-80 of slices 19-27;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.

17. A television set-top box, comprising:

a receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets;

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image;

wherein a video frame comprises 68 slices each having 120 macroblocks, and wherein the star pattern is defined by;

macroblocks 50-77 in slices 1-12 and 49-60, macroblocks 40-84 of slices 13-27 and 42-48 and macroblocks 1-120 of slices 28-41;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.

18. A television signal receiver device, comprising:

a television receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets; and

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image;

wherein a video frame comprises 30 slices each having 33 macroblocks, and wherein the star pattern is defined by;

macroblocks 14-21 in slices 1-6 and 22-30, macroblocks 11-23 of slices 7-12 and 19-21 and macroblocks 1-33 of slices 13-18;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.

19. A television signal receiver device, comprising:

a television receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets; and

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image;

wherein a video frame comprises 45 slices each having 80 macroblocks, and wherein the star pattern is defined by;

macroblocks 34-51 in slices 1-9 and 39-45 macroblocks 26-56 of slices 10-18 and 28-31 and macroblocks 1-80 of slices 19-27;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.

20. A television signal receiver device, comprising:

a television receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets; and

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image;

wherein a video frame comprises 68 slices each having 120 macroblocks, and wherein the star pattern is defined by;

macroblocks 50-77 in slices 1-12 and 49-60, macroblocks 40-84 of slices 13-27 and 42-48 and macroblocks 1-120 of slices 28-41;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.

21. A television signal receiver device, comprising:

A television receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets; and

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image, wherein the star pattern has a rectangular central region centered approximately one slice above a center of the image centered above a true center of the image and wherein the star pattern has rays extending horizontally across a full width of the image, and wherein the star pattern has rays extending vertically across a full height of the image;

wherein a video frame comprises 30 slices each having 33 macroblocks, and wherein the star pattern is defined by;

macroblocks 14-21 in slices 1-6 and 22-30, macroblocks 11-23 of slices 7-12 and 19-21 and macroblocks 1-33 of slices 13-18;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.

22. A television signal receiver device, comprising:

A television receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets; and

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image, wherein the star pattern has a rectangular central region centered approximately one slice above a center of the image centered above a true center of the image and wherein the star pattern has rays extending horizontally across a full width of the image, and wherein the star pattern has rays extending vertically across a full height of the image;

wherein a video frame comprises 45 slices each having 80 macroblocks, and wherein the star pattern is defined by;

macroblocks 34-51 in slices 1-9 and 32-45, macroblocks 26-56 of slices 10-18 and 28-31 and macroblocks 1-80 of slices 19-27;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.

23. A television signal receiver device, comprising:

A television receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising;

a plurality of unencrypted packets; and

a plurality of encrypted packets, wherein the encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type comprises packets occurring in a star pattern situated at an upper center of an image, wherein the star pattern has a rectangular central region centered approximately one slice above a center of the image centered above a true center of the image and wherein the star pattern has rays extending horizontally across a full width of the image, and wherein the star pattern has rays extending vertically across a full height of the image;

wherein a video frame comprises 68 slices each having 120 macroblocks, and wherein the star pattern is defined by;

macroblocks 50-77 in slices 1-12 and 49-60, macroblocks 40-84 of slices 13-27 and 42-48 and macroblocks 1-120 of slices 28-41;

a decrypter that decrypts the encrypted packets; and

a decoder that decodes the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets to produce a signal suitable for play on a television set.