Content management for a video signal
First Claim
1. A method of modifying a video signal to control use of the video signal, comprising the acts of:
- receiving a video signal generally conforming to a digital television standard; and
modifying a portion of the video signal associated with at least one tri-level synchronization pulse in a horizontal blanking interval in selected scan lines of the video signal by adding at least one positive going pulse to a front or back porch of the horizontal blanking interval, whereby the modified video signal is readily displayed and viewed on a display device without being further processed, and the number of positive going pulses per set of scan lines defines content control information controlling subsequent use of the video signal and indicating a selected one of a set of at least three commands.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A high definition television video content management and/or copy protection method and apparatus are achieved by modifying portions of one or more channels of an HDTV (high definition television) signal. These modifications are generally in the blanking intervals but can extend into the overscanned portions. In one version, the signal modification defines tags or trigger bits for a content control system. This modification may follow the HDTV tri-level sync (synchronization) pulses for example, and it may occur in at least one of the HDTV video channels. In another version, portions of the tri-level sync pulse are modified to cause a reference sensing circuit such an AGC system (in a receiving device such as a video recorder) to produce an erroneous output. Optionally, a signal may be added or inserted following the modified tri-level sync pulses. In another version, tri-level pseudo sync pulses are added in blanking or overscanned intervals. These tri-level pseudo sync pulses may be asymmetrical and may be followed by a signal. Further, any of the above modifications or signals or sync signals may be modulated (e.g., amplitude, position, pulse-width). Also these modifications may be provided to a generic television system.
64 Citations
53 Claims
-
1. A method of modifying a video signal to control use of the video signal, comprising the acts of:
-
receiving a video signal generally conforming to a digital television standard; and modifying a portion of the video signal associated with at least one tri-level synchronization pulse in a horizontal blanking interval in selected scan lines of the video signal by adding at least one positive going pulse to a front or back porch of the horizontal blanking interval, whereby the modified video signal is readily displayed and viewed on a display device without being further processed, and the number of positive going pulses per set of scan lines defines content control information controlling subsequent use of the video signal and indicating a selected one of a set of at least three commands. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method to control use of a video signal comprising the acts of:
-
receiving a video signal generally conforming to a digital television standard and having tri-level synchronization pulses associated with horizontal blanking intervals of scan lines of the video signal and being readily displayed and viewed on a display device without being further processed, a portion of the video signal associated with at least one tri-level synchronization pulse being modified by having at least one positive going pulse added to a front or back porch of the horizontal blanking interval; wherein the number of added positive going pulses per set of scan lines at least in part defines a predetermined command selected from one of a set of at least three predetermined commands; and controlling subsequent use of the video signal in accordance with the command. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
39. Apparatus for modifying a video signal, comprising:
-
an input port adapted for receiving a video signal generally conforming to a digital television standard; a processor coupled to the input port and modifying a portion of the video signal associated with at least one tri-level synchronization pulse in a horizontal blanking interval in selected scan lines of the video signal by adding at least one positive going pulse to a front or back porch of the horizontal blanking interval, whereby the modified video signal is readily displayed and viewed on a display device without being further processed, and the number of positive going pulses per set of scan lines defines content control information controlling subsequent use thereof and indicating a selected one of a set of at least three predetermined commands; and an output port adapted to output the modified video signal.
-
-
40. Apparatus to provide a copy protected video signal, comprising:
-
a reader having an input port adapted to receive an analog video signal including at least one positive going pulse in a back porch region of a plurality of horizontal blanking intervals and which reads the number of positive going pulses per set of scan lines as indicating a selected one of a set of at least three predetermined commands; and a compliant device coupled to an output port of the reader and which, responsive to the indication of the command from the reader, outputs an analog video signal including an extra signal or a signal modification providing copy control or copy protection, and wherein the output analog video signal is viewable without being further processed. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A method of modifying a video signal to control use of the video signal, comprising the acts of:
-
receiving a video signal generally conforming to a digital television standard; and modifying a portion of the video signal associated with at least one tri-level synchronization pulse in a horizontal blanking interval in selected scan lines of the video signal by adding at least one positive going pulse to a front or back porch of the horizontal blanking interval, whereby the modified video signal is readily displayed and viewed on a display device without being further processed, and a pattern of the added positive going pulses per set of scan lines defines content control information controlling subsequent use of the video signal and indicating a selected one of a set of at least three commands.
-
-
46. A method to control use of a video signal comprising the acts of:
-
receiving a video signal generally conforming to a digital television standard and having tri-level synchronization pulses associated with horizontal blanking intervals of scan lines of the video signal and being readily displayed and viewed on a display device without being further processed, a portion of the video signal associated with at least one tri-level synchronization pulse being modified by having at least one positive going pulse added to a front or back porch of the horizontal blanking interval; wherein a pattern of the added positive going pulses per set of lines at least in part defines a predetermined command selected from one of a set of at least three predetermined commands; and controlling subsequent use of the video signal in accordance with the command.
-
-
47. Apparatus for modifying a video signal, comprising:
-
an input port adapted for receiving a video signal generally conforming to a digital television standard; a processor coupled to the input port and modifying a portion of the video signal associated with at least one tri-level synchronization pulse in a horizontal blanking interval in selected scan lines of the video signal by adding at least one positive going pulse to a front or back porch of the horizontal blanking interval, whereby the modified video signal is readily displayed and viewed on a display device without being further processed, and a pattern of the added positive going pulses per set of scan lines defines content control information controlling subsequent use thereof and indicating a selected one of a set of at least three predetermined commands; and an output port adapted to output the modified video signal.
-
-
48. Apparatus to provide a copy protected video signal, comprising:
-
a reader having an input port adapted to receive an analog video signal including at least one positive going pulse in a back porch region of a plurality of horizontal blanking intervals and which reads a pattern of the positive going pulses per set of scan lines as indicating a selected one of a set of at least three predetermined commands; and a compliant device coupled to an output port of the reader and which, responsive to the indication of the command from the reader, outputs an analog video signal including an extra signal or a signal modification providing copy control or copy protection, and wherein the output analog video signal is viewable without being further processed.
-
-
49. A method of modifying a video signal to control use of the video signal, comprising the acts of:
-
receiving a video signal generally conforming to a digital television standard; and modifying a portion of the video signal associated with at least one synchronization pulse in a horizontal blanking interval in selected scan lines of the video signal by adding at least one positive going pulse to a front or back porch of the horizontal blanking interval, whereby the modified video signal is readily displayed and viewed on a display device without being further processed, and a pattern and a number of the added positive going pulses per set of scan lines defines content control information controlling subsequent use of the video signal and indicating a selected one of a set of at least three commands.
-
-
50. A method to control use of a video signal comprising the acts of:
-
receiving a video signal generally conforming to a digital television standard and having synchronization pulses associated with horizontal blanking intervals of scan lines of the video signal and being readily displayed and viewed on a display device without being further processed, a portion of the video signal associated with at least one synchronization pulse being modified by having at least one positive going pulse added to a front or back porch of the horizontal blanking interval; wherein a pattern and a number of the added positive going pulses per set of scan lines at least in part defines a predetermined command selected from one of a set of at least three predetermined commands; and controlling subsequent use of the video signal in accordance with the command.
-
-
51. Apparatus for modifying a video signal, comprising:
-
an input port adapted for receiving a video signal generally conforming to a digital television standard; a processor coupled to the input port and modifying a portion of the video signal associated with at least one synchronization pulse in a horizontal blanking interval in selected scan lines of the video signal by adding at least one positive going pulse to a front or back porch of the horizontal blanking interval, whereby the modified video signal is readily displayed and viewed on a display device without being further processed, and a pattern and a number of the added positive going pulses per set of scan lines defines content control information controlling subsequent use thereof and indicating a selected one of a set of at least three predetermined commands; and an output port adapted to output the modified video signal.
-
-
52. Apparatus to provide a copy protected video signal, comprising:
-
a reader having an input port adapted to receive an analog video signal including at least one positive going pulse in a back porch region of a plurality of horizontal blanking intervals and which reads a pattern and a number of the positive going pulses per set of scan lines as indicating a selected one of a set of at least three predetermined commands; and a compliant device coupled to an output port of the reader and which, responsive to the indication of the command from the reader, outputs an analog video signal including an extra signal or a signal modification providing copy control or copy protection, and wherein the output analog video signal is viewable without being further processed. - View Dependent Claims (53)
-
Specification