A method for decoding auxiliary data from media signals in multimedia content decodes watermarks from different media signals and uses the watermarks to control processing of the multimedia content. A copy control method decodes a watermark from one of the media signals in multimedia content, and uses the watermark to control processing of the multimedia content. Another method uses a watermark decoded from a first media signal to decode a second media signal. Yet another method uses a watermark decoded from a media signal to decode metadata associated with the media signal. Finally, another method forms a key for decoding data from at least first and second watermarks extracted from first and second media signals.

Integrating digital watermarks in multimedia content

Circuitry and processed carried out thereby are disclosed for transmitting video­-on-demand and interactive service data (10) and other service data (19) on an MPEG multiplex and sending management and control data including conditional access EMM key data in-band in said MPEG multiplex (24) in MPEG packets having the DOCSIS PID (20). Processes to send conditional access data by sending ECM messages containing control words encrypted with session keys in said MPEG multiplex and sending EMM messages containing session keys encrypted with private set top box users keys are disclosed. The EMM messages are sent in-band in MPEG packets having the DOCSIS PID to only the set top boxes that request them via the upstream DOCSIS (33) which have ordered encrypted service. A head end with routing/switching capability to route MPEG transport streams encapsulated in IP packets is also disclosed.

Thin docsis in-band management for interactive hfc service delivery

The present invention discloses a novel universal remote control system. Specifically, the remote control system according to the present invention provides the following features: bidirectional communications between the remote control and at least one of the audio/video devices; dual communication mode; automatic communication mode selection; loading and processing electronic program guide in the remote control; soft graphical user interface in the remote control; expanding the television set functions by the remote control; calibration handshake between the remote control and the audio/video device; passive updating the remote control; lost beacon signal in the remote control; handwriting recognition mechanism, and voice recognition mechanism in the remote control.

Method and apparatus for an intuitive universal remote control system

A distribution network has an architecture that distributes data of any format over a wide serving area. An access subnetwork receives broadband data from a plurality of information providers, preferably at least some of which are received as compressed, digital signals using asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) transport. The access subnetwork combines the broadband data from different information providers, identifies the format of the data and outputs a consolidated MPEG encoded signal to a network interface module of an end user. The network interface module receives the consolidated MPEG encoded signal and converts the consolidated MPEG encoded signal into data packets in accordance with PID values identifying the format of the data. The network interface module performs MPEG and other processing on received packet data streams, and outputs information to a corresponding digital entertainment on the basis of corresponding PID values, resulting in efficient transport of data of any format.

Network providing signals of different formats to a user by multplexing compressed broadband data with data of a different format into MPEG encoded data stream

Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) or other network information identifiers are transmitted with television signals in order to permit web content to be displayed in synchronization with television programming. In an illustrative embodiment, URLs are embedded in a closed caption portion of a transmitted television signal, and delimited from the closed caption text using predetermined delimiting characters. A decoder extracts the URLs from the television signal, and supplies the URLs to a retrieval device which automatically retrieves corresponding web pages or other similar information over a network. The retrieved web pages are then displayed to a viewer in synchronization with related programming in the television signal. The retrieval device may be a set-top box associated with a television set that displays both a retrieved web page and the corresponding television picture portion of the television signal. Alternatively, the retrieval device may be a computer which retrieves and displays a web page, while the corresponding television picture is displayed on a television set.

Synchronized presentation of television programming and internet content

A method and apparatus are disclosed for interpolating pixels to obtain subpels for use by a video decompression processor. A prediction area is defined from which subpels are necessary to decompress a portion of a video image. Instead of reading all of the pixels from the prediction area and then processing them together to perform the necessary interpolation, portions of the pixel data are read and simultaneously averaged using in-place computation in order to reduce hardware requirements. Rounding of subpixel results is achieved using the carry input of conventional adders to add a binary "1" to the averaged pixels, which are subsequently truncated to provide the interpolated subpels.

Pixel interpolation filters for video decompression processor

A video decompression processor is provided which acquires video data for a desired service from a packetized data stream. The data stream includes transport packets carrying different components of the desired service. Each component is identified by a unique packet identifier (PID). One of the components includes a program clock reference (PCR) providing timing information for the desired service. The PIDs of the transport packets are monitored to recover video packets. Header information from the recovered packets is processed to recover packetized elementary stream (PES) packets having a PES header and picture information. Time stamp information obtained from the PES header is appended to the picture information for storage in a video memory. Picture information can subsequently be read from the memory and decoded using the appended time stamp information without having to reaccess the PES header. Various schemes for detecting, masking and recovering from transmission errors are disclosed.

Acquisition of desired data from a packetized data stream and synchronization thereto

A video syntax parser is provided for a video decompression processor. A compressed bitstream is examined until a start code is located. The start code is decoded to enable a particular parser state corresponding thereto to be initiated. The parser state is communicated to a plurality of subsystems of the video decompression processor. Each subsystem monitors the parser state to determine which parsed data following the start code, if any, is intended for that subsystem. The subsystem then retrieves the parsed data it requires via a data bus which receives the parsed data from the parser.

Syntax parser for a video decompression processor

A method and apparatus are provided for communicating VBI user information for digital television. A syntax is provided which allows the transport of closed captions, non-realtime video, sampled video and AMOL. Non-realtime video can be used to transport various types of data, such as a vertical interval test signal (VITS) through the system at full resolution. The provision in the syntax of a count for each type of VBI user information enables the adjustment of a digital television data stream to accommodate variable amounts and types of such information without space being reserved in advance. The provision of a priority number in the syntax enables decoders to discard VBI user information priorities which are not supported by the particular decoder.

Bandwidth efficient communication of user data in digital television data stream

Pixel data is stored and subsequently read from a random access memory of a video decompression processor in a manner that reduces the number of times different rows of the RAM must be addressed in order to retrieve portions of the pixel data therefrom. Pixel data from a video frame is stored in the RAM as a plurality of pages. Each page substantially fills a different row of the RAM and corresponds to a different section of the video frame. A motion vector is decoded to determine the location of a prediction area within the video frame. In the event that the prediction area encompasses more than one of the pages of the video frame, the pixel data is retrieved one page at a time, minimizing the number of row changes required when addressing the RAM to retrieve the data.

Chris Hoogenboom

Papers

Pixel interpolation filters for video decompression processor

Acquisition of desired data from a packetized data stream and synchronization thereto

Syntax parser for a video decompression processor

Bandwidth efficient communication of user data in digital television data stream

Method and apparatus for efficient addressing of DRAM in a video decompression processor