IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,950,520
Granted Patent B1
US 6,950,520 · App. 09/490,836 · Granted Sep 27, 2005

Method and apparatus for carrying data in a video signal so that the data is not recorded

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,950,520
App. No.
09/490,836
Granted
Sep 27, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method and apparatus for modifying a video signal to allow it to carry encoded data which is detectable at a suitably compliant receiver but is not recorded by a conventional video recorder. One application is to carry a descrambling key to prevent useful recording (but not viewing) of a scrambled television signal since the key will not be recorded. This encoded “hidden” data is not recorded by the conventional video recorders because, for instance, it is located in the vertical or horizontal blanking intervals of the video signal, or is carried by a high frequency carrier signal, or is expressed by phase modulation of the video signal's synchronization pulses.

Claims (42)

1. A method of transmitting data in a baseband video signal, comprising the acts of:

providing the data;

encoding the data;

modifying a predetermined part of the baseband video signal by inserting therein the encoded data; and

transmitting the modified signal;

wherein the predetermined part of the modified video signal is not recorded by particular video recorders, and is in a blanking interval of the video signal.

2. A method of transmitting data in a baseband video signal, comprising the acts of:

providing the data;

encoding the data;

modifying a predetermined part of the baseband video signal by inserting therein the encoded data; and

transmitting the modified signal;

wherein the predetermined part of the modified video signal is not recorded by particular video recorders, and wherein the predetermined part is also below a selected voltage level.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined part is above a predetermined frequency.

4. A method of receiving data encoded in a modified baseband video signal wherein the data in a predetermined part of the video signal is not recorded by particular video recorders and is in a blanking interval of the video signal or is below a selected voltage level, comprising the acts of:

receiving the modified baseband video signal;

transmitting the video portion of the modified signal;

extracting the encoded data from the modified video signal; and

decoding the extracted data.

5. An encoder for transmitting data encoded in a baseband video signal, comprising:

an input video terminal for receiving a baseband video signal;

an input data terminal for receiving the data;

a sync separator coupled to the input video terminal;

encoding circuitry coupled to the data input terminal and the sync separator, thereby to encode the data; and

a summer coupled to the encoding circuitry and the input video terminal, and outputting the video signal having a predetermined part thereof modified by the encoded data;

wherein the predetermined part of the modified video signal is not recorded by particular video recorders, and is in a blanking interval of the video signal.

6. An encoder for transmitting data encoded in a baseband video signal, comprising:

an input video terminal for receiving a baseband video signal;

an input data terminal for receiving the data;

a sync separator coupled to the input video terminal;

encoding circuitry coupled to the data input terminal and the sync separator, thereby to encode the data; and

a summer coupled to the encoding circuitry and the input video terminal, and outputting the video signal having a predetermined part thereof modified by the encoded data;

wherein the predetermined part of the modified video signal is not recorded by particular video recorders, and wherein the predetermined part is also below a selected voltage level.

7. The encoder of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined part is above a predetermined frequency.

8. A decoder for receiving data in a modified baseband video signal wherein the data is encoded into a predetermined portion of the video signal not recorded by particular video recorders and is in a blanking interval of the video signal or is below a selected voltage level, comprising:

a video input terminal for receiving the modified baseband video signal;

a video output terminal coupled to the input terminal;

extraction circuitry having an input terminal coupled to the video input terminal and which extracts the data from the predetermined portion of the modified video signal; and

a data output terminal coupled to the extraction circuitry to output the extracted data.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data is a key for descrambling or decrypting the video signal.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the data is a key for descrambling or decrypting the video signal.

11. The encoder of claim 5 , wherein the data is a key for descrambling or decrypting the video signal.

12. The decoder of claim 8 , wherein the data is a key for descrambling or decrypting the video signal.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053458/0749 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053481/0790 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051110/0006 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTIV DIGITAL INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0090 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051143/0468 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033407/0035 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 033396/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2011
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC, A BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS COMPANY; ROVI CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027039/0168 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2010
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; ROVI DATA SOLUTIONS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TV GUIDE DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.); ROVI GUIDES, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.); ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION CORPORATION); ROVI SOLUTIONS LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION EUROPE LIMITED); ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025222/0731 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2008
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; INDEX SYSTEMS INC; MACROVISION CORPORATION; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 020986/0074 →