A rights management arrangement for storage media such as optical digital video disks (DVDs, also called digital versatile disks) provides adequate copy protection in a limited, inexpensive mass-produceable, low-capability platform such as a dedicated home consumer disk player and also provides enhanced, more flexible security techniques and methods when the same media are used with platforms having higher security capabilities. A control object (or set) defines plural rights management rules for instance, price for performance or rules governing redistribution. Low capability platforms may enable only a subset of the control rules such as controls on copying or marking of played material. Higher capability platforms may enable all (or different subsets) of the rules. Cryptographically strong security is provided by encrypting at least some of the information carried by the media and enabling decryption based on the control set and/or other limitations. A secure “software container” can be used to protectively encapsulate (e.g., by cryptographic techniques) various digital property content (e.g., audio, video, game, etc.) and control object (i.e., set of rules) information. A standardized container format is provided for general use on/with various mediums and platforms. In addition, a special purpose container may be provided for DVD medium and appliances (e.g., recorders, players, etc.) that contains DVD program content (digital property) and DVD medium specific rules. The techniques, systems and methods disclosed herein are capable of achieving compatibility with other protection standards, such as for example, CGMA and Matsushita data protection standards adopted for DVDs. Cooperative rights management may also be provided, where plural networked rights management arrangements collectively control a rights management event on one or more of such arrangements.

Cryptographic methods, apparatus and systems for storage media electronic rights management in closed and connected appliances

A hybrid digital/analog video recorder prevents both analog and digital copying. The recorder (including a digital tape deck) inputs and outputs both analog and digital video signals. At the analog input, a detector detects conventional copy protection in the analog input video, and in response disables recording thereof. At the digital input, a first detector detects anti-copy bits present in the input material and in response prevents recording. A second bit detector detects serial copy prevention scheme bits, and in response adds an anti-copy bit to the input digital stream, preventing later copying of such material. When another bit detector detects anti-copy bits present in the playback digital data stream prior to conversion to analog, an analog copy protection signal modifies the output analog signal, inhibiting copying of the output signal. In another version, a specially adapted video recorder or playback device copy protects video source material which for technical reasons is not copy protectable. A copy protect 'flag' is provided in a predetermined location in the video signal to be protected. The video recorder or playback device, upon detection of the flag at playback, modifies the output standard (NTSC) video signal with a conventional copy protection process.

Copy protection for hybrid digital video tape recording and unprotected source material

A method and system of providing copy protection of video analog and digital signals and the like, wherein the signals are transmitted via a digital delivery network, and may comprise, for example, pay-per-view (PPV) program materials protected by copyrights of respective program rights holders. The right holders authorize video service providers (3) to apply copy protection to the program material. The copy protection process is supplied to the rights holders or the service providers (3) by a copy protection process licensor. The video service providers (3) supply suitable copy protection control software via respective control and billing (tracking) centers to generate commands which activate, control and reconfigure the copy protection process being applied to the programs being transmitted. A set-top box (10) is provided to each consumer and contains a copy protection circuit which is adapted to apply selected anticopy waveforms to the video signal corresponding to the program material in response to the commands from the service providers (3). Usage data pertinent to each consumer is returned by the set-top box (10) to the service providers (3), which then report the copy protection usage to the respective rights holders and process licensor.

A method for controlling copy protection in digital video networks

In a digital video tape recorder (VTR) which reproduces digital video and audio signals from a magnetic tape, a copy protect bit in the reproduced digital video signal is detected, and on the basis of the copy protect bit, a code is generated and inserted into the vertical blanking interval of the reproduced video signal. When a video signal (which may be in analog or digital form) having the code in the vertical blanking interval is received in a digital VTR, the code is detected and recording of the video signal and an associated audio signal is inhibited if the code indicates that the received video signal is copy protected.

Apparatus and method for preventing unauthorized copying of video signals

An integrated receiver with channel selection and image rejection substantially implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. A receiver front end provides programable attenuation and a programable gain low noise amplifier. Frequency conversion circuitry advantageously uses LC filters integrated onto the substrate in conjunction with image reject mixers to provide sufficient image frequency rejection. Filter tuning and inductor Q compensation over temperature are performed on chip. The filters utilize multi track spiral inductors. The filters are tuned using local oscillators to tune a substitute filter, and frequency scaling during filter component values to those of the filter being tuned. In conjunction with filtering, frequency planning provides additional image rejection. The advantageous choice of local oscillator signal generation methods on chip is by PLL out of band local oscillation and by direct synthesis for in band local oscillator. The VCOs in the PLLs are centered using a control circuit to center the tuning capacitance range. A differential crystal oscillator is advantageously used as a frequency reference. Differential signal transmission is advantageously used throughout the receiver.

System and method for providing a low power receiver design

A video signal is modified so that a television receiver will still provide a normal color picture from the modified video signal while a videotape recording of the modified video signal produces generally unacceptable pictures. This invention relies on the fact that typical videocassette recorder automatic gain control systems cannot distinguish between the normal sync pulses (including equalizing or broad pulses) of a conventional video signal and added pseudo-sync pulses. Pseudo-sync pulses are defined here as any other pulses which extend down to a normal sync tip level and which have a duration of at least 0.5 microseconds. A plurality of such pseudo-sync pulses is added to the conventional video signal during the vertical blanking interval, and each of such pseudo-sync pulses is followed by a positive pulse of suitable amplitude and duration. As a result, the automatic gain control system in a videotape recorder will make a false measurement of video level which causes an improper recording of the video signal. The result is unacceptable picture quality during playback. This approach utilizes positive-going pulses which occur at a time not ordinarily used for black-level restoration in typical television receivers, and therefore does not give rise to black level depression in such typical television sets.

Ryan John O

Papers

Method and apparatus for processing a video signal so as to prohibit the making of acceptable video tape recordings thereof

Video signal processor for prohibiting vtr recording