| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080199007 | Identification of a compromised content player - A system and method for identifying the player that leaked content encryption keys by loading a set of player keys into individual content players and determining the number of encryptions and the number of encryption keys to use in multiple encrypting critical content. The method produces copies of critical data content packets, each copy of which is separately encrypted using any one of a set of encryption keys that are related to one another through a mathematical algorithm. The related set of encryption keys and data describing key relationship and content player identity are transmitted to a previously determined license management agency. The transmitted encrypted content is written to a receiving device or file, or streamed to an individual player for non-synchronous playback. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080199150 | Transfer of metadata using video frames - An automated method of attaching metadata to a segment of content using a programmed processor consistent with certain embodiments involves retrieving metadata relating to the segment of content; rendering the metadata as visually perceptible text in one or more frames of video; appending the one or more frames of video to the video as the first one or more frames of the video to produce metadata enhanced video; and storing or transmitting the metadata enhanced video. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080244637 | Obtaining metadata program information during channel changes - One embodiment provides a method and apparatus for obtaining metadata program information during channel changes. The method includes the capture of an on-screen display that is rendered by a rendering device such as, for example, a digital television system. The on-screen display may be generated by an access device such as a set-top box in response to a program selection event. Once captured, the on-screen display may be decoded to determine metadata for a program selected by the program selection event. In one embodiment, decoding may be provided using pattern matching, optical code recognition (OCR) or other like decoding technique for decoding a video frame to determine metadata for a program selected by the program selection event. In one embodiment, a copy of the program in conjunction with the captured metadata are stored within the persistent memory of a digital television device. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080279375 | Service card adapter - An interface adapter device consistent with certain embodiments has a first electrical connector adapted to connect to a conditional access service card to receive encrypted television signals therefrom. A second electrical connector is adapted to connect to a television receiver device in order to provide the encrypted television signals to the television receiver device. An interface circuit receives the encrypted television signals from the first electrical connector and adapts the signals for transmission to a television receiver device over the second electrical connector. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080279453 | OCR enabled hand-held device - A method of processing image data consistent with certain embodiments involves defining a segment of a visual field using a laser pointer; capturing an image of the segment of the visual field; and processing the captured segment to produce associated text associated with the selected segment. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080310630 | Selective encryption to enable trick play with enhanced security - Certain embodiments consistent with the present invention involve a method of selectively encrypting digital video content that involves receiving a plurality of packets containing the digital video content; identifying packets containing start of frame (SOF) headers; inserting padding into the packets containing SOF headers to move the content of the packets containing the SOF headers to a previous or subsequent packet and create padded packets containing the SOF headers; selecting certain of the packets for encryption according to a selection criterion, wherein the selected packets exclude the padded packets containing SOF headers; encrypting the selected packets; and retaining the padded packets containing the SOF headers unencrypted to form selectively encrypted digital video content. Corresponding decoding method as well as encoding and decoding apparatus are also taught. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090097659 | Method for Detection of a Hacked Decoder - A method of identifying a receiver device from which pirated video decryption keys have been obtained consistent with certain embodiments involves organizing a population of receiver devices into a plurality of N groups; associating the N groups with a plurality of N decryption keys, where each of the N groups is associated with one of the N decryption keys, where the N decryption keys are used for either decryption of content or decryption of other decryption keys; causing the plurality of N decryption keys to be obtained by their associated N groups of receiver devices by direct delivery or by derivation at the receiver devices; and identifying a pirated key as being associated with one of the N groups so as to identify the receiver device from which the pirated video decryption keys have been obtained as belonging to one of the N groups. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090103470 | Revocation management - A method of carrying out wireless video communication involves at a wireless receiver (WR) device, providing a digital certificate, the digital certificate containing a High-Bandwidth Digital Copy Protection (HDCP) Key Source Vector (KSV), a device identifier for the WR device, and a digital signature cryptographically binding the identifiers; at the WR, responsive to an initiation of a wireless communication session from a wireless transmitter (WT) device, sending the digital certificate to the WT device; the WT receiving the digital certificate and having the identities in the digital certificate checked against a revocation list; and if one of the WR device's identities has been revoked, halting the wireless communication session. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090103471 | Wireless video communication - A method of managing revocation when an alternate transmission method, using an alternate transmitter identity and an alternate receiver identity, is juxtaposed into an original transmission system, the original transmission system having its own original transmitter and receiver identities that communicate via an original transmission method involves at an alternate transmission receiver (ATR), providing a digital certificate, the digital certificate cryptographically binding the ATR identity to an original transmission (OT) re-transmitter identity; at the ATR, responsive to an initiation of a communication session from an alternate transmission transmitter (ATT), sending the digital certificate to the ATT using the alternate transmission method; at the ATT, extracting the original transmission identity from the certificate and sending it to the original transmission transmitter (OTT) using the original transmission method for checking in a revocation list; and if the OT identity is found to be in the revocation list, preventing copy protected content from being sent from the OTT. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090112592 | Remote controller with speech recognition - A receiver remote controller has a storage device storing electronic program guide (EPG) data that relates content to television channels containing said content. The remote controller is contained in a remote controller housing with the housing containing: a data interface that receives the EPG data provided by an EPG data source for storage in the storage device; a speech interface that receives speech input from a user and produces speech signals therefrom; a natural language speech processor engine that receives the speech signals and translating the speech signals to a query of the EPG database; and a processor that receives results of the query from the natural language speech processor, and either conveys the results of the query to a user utilizing a user interface or sends navigation commands to the receiver. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090113497 | Wireless control channel and back-channel for receiver - A method and apparatus for integrating a bi-directional control channel into an entertainment display device to deliver content and exchange control information. The system collects request and response information from the entertainment display device. The system also provides format translation of received and collected content to and from a plurality of formats such as N-PCS technology formats and video display formats in such a manner that the integrated system is independent of broadcasters, satellite, IPTV and cable operators. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090168996 | DESCRAMBLER - According to one embodiment of the invention, the descrambler IC comprises a local memory to store a unique key and a plurality of process blocks. A first process block performs cryptographic operations on a first mating key generator using the unique key in order to produce a first key. A second process block uses the first key to perform cryptographic operations on a second mating key generator in order to produce a second key. Using the first key and the second key, a third process block decrypts a first encrypted descrambling key in order to recover a first descrambling key and a fourth process block decrypts a second encrypted descrambling key to recover a second descrambling key. The descrambler IC includes a descrambler to descramble the scrambled digital content using both the first descrambling key and the second descrambling key in order to produce digital content in a clear format. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090208006 | Encryption system for satellite delivered television - A television content delivery system consistent with certain embodiments has a receiver system that receives television content from a plurality of content suppliers. A selective multiple encrypter selectively multiple encrypts the television content, wherein the resultant selectively multiple encrypted content stream is encrypted under at least one conditional access system (CAS) and at least one digital rights management system (DRMS). A transmitter transmits the selectively multiple encrypted television content stream to multiple receivers, so that the selectively multiple encrypted television content stream can be decrypted under either a system using at least one CAS or at least one DRMS. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090316892 | Crypto micro-module using IEEE 1394 for stream descrambling - In certain embodiments, a television receiver circuit has a tuner circuit and a demodulator circuit that cooperatively produce a digital transport stream for a tuned channel as an output therefrom. A transport processor in an SOC receives the digital transport stream and switches the digital transport stream to an IEEE1394 bus if it is conditional access encrypted, or else if the content is unencrypted, the content is sent to a decoder residing in the SOC. A connector is permanently affixed to the circuit board that is in communication with the IEEE1394 bus. A removable crypto micro-module is installed in the connector, having an IEEE1394 compliant bus providing interconnections to the connector, receiving the digital transport stream for the tuned channel and managing conditional access keys for descrambling the tuned channel and for descrambling the tuned channel, and copy protecting the clear channel for delivery across the IEEE 1394 bus back to the transport processor in the SOC. A copy protection decrypter forms a part of the transport processor in the SOC that decrypts the copy protected stream and sends it to the decoder in the SOC. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100037264 | User managed internet links from TV - A method of obtaining metadata associated with an element of television programming involves instructing an access device to generate and communicate a signal to a control device suitable for driving a display, wherein the signal contains metadata suitable for rendering on a display device in a visual representation; receiving the signal and storing a representation of the video frame; processing the video frame using OCR to extract enough information to identify an element of television programming content from the video frame; processing the video frame to extract sufficient information to identify an element of television programming content from the video frame; and retrieving metadata associated with the identified element of television programming content from a television programming content source of metadata. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100053462 | Remote control security - A television receiver device consistent with certain embodiment is controlled by a remote controller has an infrared receiver that receives control signals from the remote controller. An infrared transmitter transmits signals from the television to the remote controller. A processor, upon receipt of a control signal from the remote controller sends a challenge signal to the remote controller in order to obtain a reply from the remote controller. Upon receipt of a reply to the challenge, the processor determines if the reply is correct and if so, executes the command associated with the control signal, wherein if the reply is incorrect, the command is not executed. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100061709 | Ad Menu for skipped advertisements - A method of operation of a personal video recorder (PVR) involves receiving and storing a plurality of commercial advertisements forming a part of a stream of program content at the PVR; receiving and storing metadata associated with the plurality of commercial advertisements at the PVR; storing an index to the one or more commercial advertisements at the PVR; ascertaining that the end of the stream of program content has been reached; as a result of the ascertaining, using the stored index to retrieve metadata associated with the one or more commercial advertisements; building a menu of commercial advertisements from the retrieved metadata for the advertisements; generating a signal that displays the menu to the user and provides the user with an option of viewing the commercials; if the user chooses not to view the commercials, ceasing to generate the signal that displays the menu; if the user chooses to view a commercial, then receiving a selection of a commercial advertisement that the user wishes to view; and retrieving the commercial advertisement for viewing by the user. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100067703 | Simulcrypt key sharing with hashed keys - A method of sharing keys among a plurality of conditional access (CA) vendors having differing CA systems used at a distribution headend involves receiving a CA Value contribution from each of the plurality of CA vendors at the headend; hashing the CA Values from each of the plurality of CA vendors together using a hashing function to produce an output control word; and at an encrypter at the headend, using the output control word as a content key, wherein the content key is used as an encryption key to encrypt content provided to a plurality of receivers that decrypt the content using any of the conditional access systems. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100088717 | Multi-coded content substitution - Multiple segment identifiers associated with a single item of content and substitute content associated therewith can be utilized as a mechanism to provide content substitution using multiple content formats by utilizing a segment routing state machine. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100183149 | METHOD FOR SIMULCRYPTING SCRAMBLED DATA TO A PLURALITY OF CONDITIONAL ACCESS DEVICES - One embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus comprising an input, a descrambler unit and a re-scrambler unit. The input is adapted to receive scrambled content. The descrambler unit is coupled to the input. The descrambler unit descrambles the scrambled content in order to recover unscrambled content and concurrently routes both the unscrambled content over a first communication link for display on a display device and the unscrambled content over a second communication link. The re-scrambler unit is coupled to the second communication link. The re-scrambler unit is adapted to scramble the unscrambled content to produce re-scrambled content for transmission. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100192178 | Capture of stylized TV table data via OCR - In certain implementations consistent with the present invention, a method of detecting text in a television video display table involves saving a frame of video to a memory device; determining that the frame of video contains a table having cells containing text; storing a working copy of the frame of video to a memory; isolating text in the table by: removing any table boundaries from the image; removing any cell boundaries from the image; determining if the image has three dimensional or shadow attributes and removing any three dimensional or shadow attributes identified; thereby producing text isolated against a contrasting color background; and processing the isolated text using an optical character recognition (OCR) engine to extract the text as data. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100235624 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING THE TRANSFER OF DATA - According to one embodiment, a conditional access (CA) control system comprises circuitry that is adapted to: (i) transmit information including a unique identifier assigned to a digital device and mating key generator values to the remote source, (ii) receive a mating key from the remote source, the mating key being based on the transmitted unique identifier and mating key generator values, the mating key being used to encrypt data used for scrambling either additional key information or program data prior to transmission to the digital device, and (iii) transmit the mating key generator values and the encrypted data to the digital device, the mating key generator values are used to regenerate the mating key in the digital device. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100246819 | Method to upgrade content encryption - Generation of secret keys is carried out in a smartcard for use by a receiver device's main processor, or alternatively, decryption processing for selectively encrypted content is carried out in the smartcard itself in order to thwart hacking and pirating of protected video content. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110001651 | Zero standby power laser controlled device - In certain embodiments, a remotely controllable television has an energy converter that receives light energy from a laser in a remote controller and converts the light energy to electrical energy. A remote control code interpreter that is receives a turn-on code from the remote controller. The electrical energy from the energy converter is used to supply power to the remote control code interpreter. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110001887 | Zero standby power RF controlled device - A remotely controllable electronic appliance has a radio frequency energy converter that receives a radio frequency energy from a remote controller and converts the radio frequency energy to electrical energy, where the electrical energy from the energy converter is used to supply power to receive a turn-on code. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110055577 | Location authentication - In one implementation a method of authenticating the installation of a television receiver involves generating a fingerprint value as function of the television network characteristics at an authorized installation location, where the fingerprint is a function of at least one of a gain value of a variable gain amplifier and an equalizer coefficient of an adaptive equalizer of the television appliance; receiving a code that is a function of both a decryption key and the fingerprint value from a broadcast source; ascertaining a value of the decryption key by applying an inverse function to the code that produces the decryption key as an output; and carrying out a decryption process at the television receiver appliance using the decryption key. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110093882 | Parental control through the HDMI interface - An HDMI parental control device consistent with certain embodiments has an HDMI receiver that receives an HDMI audio/video stream and produces editable audio/video output data and a logic processor that receives closed caption data and compares descriptors in the closed caption data with a list of descriptors to be censored. When the logic processor detects a descriptor to be censored it causes the audio/video data corresponding to the descriptor to be censored to be altered from the audio/video output data to produce censored audio/video output data and uncensored audio/video output data and then output via an HDMI transmitter. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110096924 | ANTIPIRACY KEY SEGMENTATION FOR HFC MULTICAST DISTRIBUTION FROM MASTER HEADEND TO CABLE HUBS - A method of segregating a hybrid fiber cable network involves assigning a packet identifier (PID) to each of a plurality of hubs on the hybrid fiber cable network; assigning a distinct decryption method to each of the plurality of hubs, so that each of the plurality of hubs is identifiable by its associated decryption method and PID; generating selectively multiple encrypted content for transmission to the hubs, where content encrypted for use by each hub is identified by the hub's assigned PID; and transmitting the selectively multiple encrypted content over the hybrid fiber cable network to the plurality of hubs. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110113443 | IP TV With DRM - A method of decrypting DRM encoded content in a DTV receiver involves receiving an encrypted license from a license server at the DTV receiver; providing a unique identifier for an integrated DTV SoC forming a part of the DTV television receiver; storing a secret key in an electronic fuse memory forming a part of the SoC, where the secret key is generated using an algorithm that utilizes the unique identifier for the SoC; where the received encrypted license is encrypted using the same secret key as is stored in the electronic fuse memory; decrypting the secret key using the key stored in the electronic fuse memory to produce a clear secret key; decrypting the encrypted license using the clear secret key to determine a content key; storing the license; and decrypting the DRM encoded content using the content key. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110149159 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVELY MANAGING PLAYBACK OF DEMO CONTENT BY DISPLAY DEVICE - An embodiment of the invention involves a display device and method for actively managing playback of demo content within a partially-assisted or non-assisted commercial environment. The playback of demo content is activated through detection of an audio triggering event in which playback of the streaming advertising content is temporarily halted. According to this embodiment, after the demo content is displayed, playback of the streaming advertising content resumes and cannot be interrupted for a selected period of time that is normally greater and will not be less than the playback time for the demo content. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110149160 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVELY MANAGING PLAY BACK OF DEMO CONTENT BY A DISPLAY DEVICE BASED ON CUSTOMER ACTIONS - An embodiment of the invention involves an apparatus, such as a television, that comprises a memory, an optical sensor and a processor. The optical sensor is configured to capture at least one image present in front of the apparatus. The processor is coupled to the optical sensor. The processor is configured to (i) analyze the at least one image and determine if the at least one image depicts a specific action, (ii) render a first type of content for a first time period in lieu of rendering a second type of content that is rendered by the processor at times when the specified action is not detected, and (iii) render the second type of content for a second period of time after the first period of time for rendering the first type of content has elapsed, potentially even if another the specified action is detected during the second period of time. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110150425 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVELY MANAGING PLAY BACK OF DEMO CONTENT BY A DISPLAY DEVICE BASED ON SIGNALING FROM A PRESENCE SENSOR - An embodiment of the invention involves an apparatus and method for controlling periodic play back of demo content by a display device. The method comprises monitoring for a triggering event by a presence sensor within the display device. The triggering event involves a detection of a non-moving or slow-moving object remaining in front of the display device for a predetermined period of time. In response to detecting the triggering event, the demo content is automatically played for a first period of time. Thereafter, play back of the demo content is halted after the first period of time has elapsed and play back the streaming advertising content is continued by the display device for a second period of time, and as an option, even if another triggering event is detected during the second period of time. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110150426 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVELY MANAGING PLAY BACK OF DEMO CONTENT BY A DISPLAY DEVICE BASED ON DETECTED RADIO FREQUENCY SIGNALING - An embodiment of the invention involves an apparatus, method and software for automatically controlling periodic play back of demo content. The apparatus comprises a memory, a radio detection logic and a processor. The radio detection logic is configured to detect a first radio frequency signal within a prescribed frequency range and to generate a control signal in response to detection of the first radio frequency signal. Coupled to the radio detection logic, the processor is configured to permit play back of a first type of content for a first time period upon receipt of the control signal where the first type of content is played back in lieu of playing back a second type of content that is normally processed for play back by the processor, to permit play back of the second type of content for a second time period after the first time period has elapsed. According to one embodiment, this play back occurs regardless if a second radio frequency signal within the prescribed frequency range is detected by the radio detection logic during the second time period, and the processor plays back the first type of content after the second time period has elapsed and the second radio frequency signal is detected. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110164143 | TV demonstration - A television demonstration method involves providing a television display and a camera; at a computer processor, receiving a video image from the camera, the computer processor capturing the video image from the camera to determine if the viewer makes a predetermined gesture; and retrieving and playing a specified video segment on the display associated with the gesture in response to determining that the viewer has made the predetermined gesture. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 07-07-2011 |
