Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,992,169 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1981
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Personalized Media Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: Personalized Media Communications, LLC
• Inventors: Harvey, John Christopher, Cuddihy, James William
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MINH DIEU T
• Application Number:
  US08/474,145
• Time in Patent Office: 5,900 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.32, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/3.3, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 348/1, 348/2, 348/3, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/9, 348/10, 348/11, 348/12, 348/13, 725/38, 725 27- 29, 725/31, 725 34- 37, 380210-212, 380/218, 726/26
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/071 containing electro-optic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/21 Billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/41 for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/20 Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 : Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21815 : comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 : Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2351 : involving encryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 : Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• 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 21/2407 : Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25 : Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; 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 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 : Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 : for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 : home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 : external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• 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 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 : providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 : Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 : of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 : Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 : Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4353 : involving decryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 : Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 : Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4385 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 : Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 : Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/45 : Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 : Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4888 : for displaying teletext characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63 : Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/633 : Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client management of faults, events, alarms in data networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/818 : OS software
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 : for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• 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: H04N 7/084 : with signal insertion during the horizontal blanking interval only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 : Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/24 : Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation H04N21/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.

Claims

1. A method of inhibiting piracy of information at a subscriber station, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at said subscriber station an information transmission from a remote station;

detecting instruct-to-sample instructions including selected comparison information in the information transmission;

processing, under control of said instruct-to-sample instructions, a datum at said subscriber station resulting in selection of a selected sample of preprogrammed operating information;

comparing, under control of said instruct-to-sample instructions, said selected comparison information of said instruct-to-sample instructions to said selected sample of preprogrammed operating information at said subscriber station, whereby a successful match indicates that said subscriber station is properly programmed and a failed match suggests that said preprogrammed operating information at said subscriber station has been tampered with; and

performing, under control of said instruct-to-sample instructions, at said subscriber station at least one of the steps of;

(1) disabling functionality of some portion of said subscriber station (i) when said step of comparing results in a determination that said subscriber station has been tampered with or (ii) when an instruction is executed based on said step of comparing and said subscriber station fails to respond in a predetermined fashion or within a predetermined period of time;

(2) communicating appearance-of-tampering information to said remote station when said step of comparing results in a determination that said subscriber station has been tampered with; and

(3) enabling at least some of a programming presentation when said step of comparing results in a determination that said subscriber station is properly programmed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing step is performed under control of a selected subroutine of said instruct-to-sample instructions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said subscriber station selects said selected subroutine based on said step of processing.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said datum comprises a station specific identifier.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said subscriber station selects said station specific identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of performing includes said step of disabling and wherein said step of disabling includes erasing information from memory.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a read only memory is disabled.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of performing includes said step of disabling and wherein said step of disabling includes disabling a decryptor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of performing includes said step of communicating and wherein said step of communicating includes establishing telephone communications.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of performing includes said step of communicating and wherein said step of communicating includes transmitting an identifier of said subscriber station to said remote station.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining results in a determination that said subscriber station may have been tampered with and said subscriber station performs both of said steps of disabling and communicating.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of performing includes said step of enabling and wherein said step of enabling includes controlling a decryptor.

13. A method of inhibiting piracy of information at a subscriber station, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an information transmission to said subscriber station; and

transmitting instruct-to-sample instructions including selected comparison information to said subscriber station, said instruct-to-sample instruction causing said subscriber station to process a datum at said subscriber station resulting in selection of a selected sample of preprogrammed operating information, to compare said selected comparison information of said instruct-to-sample instructions to said selected sample of preprogrammed operating information at said subscriber station, whereby a successful match indicates that said subscriber station is properly programmed and a failed match suggests that said preprogrammed operating information at said subscriber station has been tampered with, and to perform at least one of;

(1) disabling functionality of some portion of said subscriber station (i) when said comparing results in a determination that said subscriber station has been tampered with or (ii) when an instruction is executed based on said comparing and said subscriber station fails to respond in a predetermined fashion or within a predetermined period of time;

(2) communicating appearance-of-tampering information to a remote station when said comparing results in a determination that said subscriber station has been tampered with; and

(3) enabling at least some of a programming presentation when said comparing results in a determination that said subscriber station is properly programmed.

14. The method of claim 13, further including transmitting an instruction which controls a decryptor.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said method enables said at least some of a programming presentation, said method further comprising the step of transmitting at least some programming to be presented in said programming presentation.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said selected comparison information and said selected sample of preprogrammed operating information are selected by selecting a subroutine of said instruct-to-sample instructions whereby said comparing of said selected comparison information and said selected sample of preprogrammed operating information is under control of said selected subroutine.

17. A method of decrypting digital television programming at a receiver station in a network including a plurality of receiver stations, said method comprising the steps of:

preprogramming said receiver station with authorization information including a first decryption key at a particular location that varies from station to station in said plurality of receiver stations in accordance with receiver station specific information;

receiving an information transmission including encrypted programming;

detecting presence of an instruct-to-enable signal;

passing said instruct-to-enable signal to a processor;

determining a fashion in which said receiver station locates said first decryption key by processing said instruct-to-enable signal;

locating said first decryption key in said fashion at said particular location based on said step of determining;

decrypting said encrypted programming using said first decryption key; and

outputting to a user at said receiver station said programming based on said step of decrypting.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of computing a second decryption key, and wherein said step of decrypting comprises decrypting said encrypted programming using said first and second decryption keys.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said first and second decryption keys are used to decrypt a video portion of said programming.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a third decryption key is used to decrypt an audio portion of said programming, and said first decryption key is located based on decrypting said audio portion using said third decryption key.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of storing information evidencing said step of decrypting.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of determining if said receiver station is decrypting said encrypted programming correctly, and if not, communicating appearance-of-tampering information to a remote station.

23. A method of decrypting digital television programming at a receiver station, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an information transmission including encrypted programming;

decrypting an audio portion of said encrypted programming using a first decryption key;

detecting presence in said information transmission of a first instruct-to-enable signal including first processor instructions;

executing said first processor instructions of said first instruct-to-enable signal to provide a location of a second decryption key based on decrypting said audio portion using said first decryption key;

detecting presence in said information transmission of a second instruct-to-enable signal including second processor instructions;

executing said second processor instructions to provide a third decryption key;

decrypting a video portion of said encrypted programming using said second and third decryption keys; and

outputting to a user at said receiver station said programming based on said steps of decrypting.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of storing information evidencing said step of decrypting said video portion.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of determining if said receiver station is decrypting said encrypted information correctly, and if not, communicating appearance-of-tampering information to a remote station.

26. A method of decrypting digital television programming at a receiver station, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving instructions including an instruct-to-enable signal from a remote transmitter station;

detecting presence of said instruct-to-enable signal in said received instructions;

passing said instruct-to-enable signal to a processor;

automatically, under control of said processor, tuning a tuner at said receiver station to a particular channel designated by said instruct-to-enable signal;

receiving an information transmission including encrypted programming from said remote transmitter station;

receiving enabling information on said particular channel designated by said instruct-to-enable signal;

decrypting said encrypted programming by processing said enabling information; and

outputting said programming to a user at said receiver station based on said step of decrypting.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of storing information evidencing said step of decrypting.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of determining if said receiver station is decrypting said encrypted information correctly, and if not communicating appearance-of-tampering to a remote station.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said enabling information is received in an audio portion of said programming.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said step of decrypting comprises decrypting a video portion of said programming.