IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,907,727
Granted Patent B2
US 7,907,727 · App. 11/228,757 · Granted Mar 15, 2011

System and method for allowing copying or distribution of a copy protected signal

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,907,727
App. No.
11/228,757
Granted
Mar 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A copy protection system and method for allowing copying or distribution of a copy protected signal is disclosed. One embodiment includes an apparatus and method for receiving a media signal in which a copy protection signal is embedded, receiving a control signal, generating a modified media signal by modifying or blanking at least a portion of the copy protection signal, if the control signal is configured to enable modification or blanking of the copy protection signal, and outputting the modified media signal.

Claims (78)

1. A media system, comprising:

an apparatus for playing media embodying a media signal, the apparatus including a first input for receiving a copy-disabled media signal in which a content control signal is included, wherein the copy-disabled media signal inhibits recording;

a second input for receiving a control signal;

a blanking component to generate a copy-enabled media signal by removing at least a portion of the content control signal included in the copy-disabled media signal, if the control signal is configured to enable removal of the content control signal; and

an output for providing the copy-enabled media signal, wherein the copy-enabled media signal is recordable.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the media signal is a video signal.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the media signal is a data signal.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the content control signal is an ACP waveform.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control signal corresponds to one or more blanking bits encoded into the media signal.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control signal corresponds to a control input received from an external source.

7. A media system, comprising:

an apparatus for playing media embodying a media signal, the apparatus including a first input for receiving the media signal;

a second input for receiving a content control signal;

a third input for receiving a control signal;

a modifier component to combine the media signal with the content control signal to produce a copy-disabled media signal, wherein the copy-disabled media signal inhibits recording;

a blanking component coupled to the modifier component to generate a copy-enabled media signal by removing at least a portion of the content control signal of the copy-disabled media signal, if the control signal is configured to enable removal of the content control signal; and

an output for providing the copy-enabled media signal, wherein the copy-enabled media signal is recordable.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the media signal is a video signal.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the media signal is a data signal.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the content control signal is an ACP waveform.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control signal corresponds to one or more blanking or modification bits encoded into the media signal.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control signal corresponds to a control input received from an external source.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving a copy-disabled media signal in which a content control signal is included, wherein the copy-disabled media signal inhibits recording, the copy-disabled media signal being received by an apparatus for playing media embodying a media signal;

receiving a control signal;

generating a copy-enabled media signal by removing at least a portion of the content control signal included in the copy-disabled media signal, if the control signal is configured to enable removal of the content control signal; and

outputting the copy-enabled media signal, wherein the copy-enabled media signal is recordable.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the media signal is a video signal.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the media signal is a data signal.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the content control signal is an ACP waveform.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the control signal corresponds to one or more blanking bits encoded into the media signal.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the control signal corresponds to a control input received from an external source.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving a media signal, the media signal being received by an apparatus for playing media embodying the media signal;

receiving a content control signal;

receiving a control signal;

combining the media signal with the content control signal to produce a copy-disabled media signal, wherein the copy-disabled media signal inhibits recording;

generating a copy-enabled media signal by removing at least a portion of the content control signal of the copy-disabled media signal, if the control signal is configured to enable removal of the content control signal; and

outputting the copy-enabled media signal, wherein the copy-enabled media signal is recordable.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the media signal is a video signal.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the media signal is a data signal.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the content control signal is an ACP waveform.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the control signal corresponds to one or more blanking bits encoded into the media signal.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the control signal corresponds to a control input received from an external source.

25. The system of claim 1 , wherein the blanking component is included in a the apparatus.

26. The system of claim 1 , wherein blanking component is included in the apparatus.

27. The system of claim 7 , wherein the blanking component is included in the apparatus.

28. The system of claim 7 , wherein the blanking component is included in the apparatus.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a player for playing media embodying a digital video signal;

a first circuit for receiving the digital video signal;

a second circuit to synthesize one or more copy protection signals;

a digital to analog converter including an output terminal; and

a third circuit to selectively pass the one or more copy protection signals to the output terminal of the digital to analog converter or to remove the one or more copy protection signals at the output terminal of the digital to analog converter, wherein upon removal of the one or more copy protection signals, a corresponding analog video signal is recordable.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the one or more copy protection signals including copy protection signals from the group: AGC waveform, pseudo sync pulses, and color burst modifications.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the media is a WiFi connection.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the media is a USB connection.

33. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the media is a DVD.

34. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the media is a hard disk drive.

35. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the media is an Internet connection.

36. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the media is a solid state memory storage device.

37. An apparatus comprising:

a solid state memory device for storing video or data received from an external source;

a player for playing video from the solid state memory device;

a first circuit for reading the video or data from the solid state memory device;

a second circuit to synthesize one or more copy protection signals;

a digital to analog converter including an output terminal; and

a third circuit to selectively pass the one or more copy protection signals to the output terminal of the digital to analog converter or to remove the one or more copy protection signals at the output terminal of the digital to analog converter, wherein upon removal of the one or more copy protection signals, a corresponding analog video signal is recordable.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the one or more copy protection signals including copy protection signals from the group: AGC waveform, pseudo sync pulses, and color burst modifications.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the external source is a USB connection.

40. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the external source is a DVD player.

41. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the external source is a hard disk drive.

42. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the external source is an Internet connection.

43. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the external source is a WiFi connection.

44. The system of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is one of the group: a set-top box, a DVD player, and a memory device.

45. The system of claim 1 , wherein the content control signal includes a CGMS data signal.

46. The system of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is one of the group: a set-top box, a DVD player, and a memory device.

47. The system of claim 7 , wherein the content control signal includes a CGMS data signal.

Assignments (11)
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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.; VEVEO, INC.; INVENSAS CORPORATION; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053468/0001 →
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 →
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 →
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 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 →
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 →
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 →