Method and apparatus for providing copy protection using a transmittal mode command

A method of providing programmable copy protection of a video signal, wherein a plurality of copy protection signals are available for application to the video signal, comprising:

• providing programmable copy protection configurations indicative of respective copy protection signals;
• providing one or more mode control bit patterns for selecting respective configurations of the programmable copy protection configurations corresponding to one or more of the copy protection signal;
• applying one or more of the programmable copy protection configuration to the video signal to produce a copy protected video signal in response to a selection of the one or more corresponding mode control bit pattern;
• and
• wherein the copy protected video signal is watchable while a recording of the copy protected video signal is not watchable.

An apparatus for providing programmable copy protection to a video signal wherein a plurality of copy protection signals are available for application to the video signal, comprising:

• a circuit for providing programmable copy protection configurations indicative of respective copy protection signals;
• a circuit for providing one or more mode control bit pattern for selecting respective configurations of the programmable copy protection configurations corresponding to one or more of the copy protection signal;
• a circuit for applying one or more of the programmable copy protection configuration to the video signal to produce a copy protected video signal in response to a selection of the one or more corresponding mode control bit pattern;
• and
• wherein the copy protected video signal is viewable while a recording of the copy protected video signal is not successfully viewable.

A method of programming one or more copy protection waveforms for use in a video signal derived via a digital delivery network that includes a transmission link, wherein the transmission link includes one or more of the following;

• a microwave system, satellite system, optical system, phone system, the method comprising:
• providing one or more control bits from the transmission link to at least one remote device, wherein the remote device includes an encoder circuit that provides programmable configuration bit patterns indicative of the one or more copy protection signal to be applied to the video signal in response to the one or more control bits;
• and
• applying the programmable copy protection signal to the video signal in response to the programmable configuration bit patterns selected by the one or more control bits to produce a copy protected video signal, wherein the copy protected video signal is to be viewable but not recordable.

An apparatus for programming one or more copy protection waveforms into a video signal of a remote device, wherein the video signal is derived from a digital signal provided by a digital delivery network that includes a transmission link, wherein the transmission link includes one or more of the following;

• a microwave system, satellite system, optical system, phone system, the apparatus comprising:
• a circuit for providing one or more control bits from the transmission link in at least one remote device, wherein the remote device includes an encoder circuit that provides programmable configuration bit patterns indicative of the one or more copy protection signals to be applied to the video signal in response to the one or more control bits;
• and
• a circuit for applying the one or more copy protection signal to the video signal in response to the programmable configuration bit patterns selected by the one or more control bits to provide a copy protected video signal, wherein the copy protected video signal is viewable but is not recordable.

An apparatus for processing a satellite, microwave, fiberoptic, or cable signal, comprising:

• a digital signal decompression circuit;
• a circuit including an electronic programming guide for providing a display on a television set or monitor;
• an NTSC/PAL encoder circuit for providing an output for a video signal or an RF modulator circuit for providing an output for an RF signal;
• copy protection control registers or one or more programmable copy protection signal generator for providing mode control bits, for generating back porch AGC pulses, and for receiving one or more programmable copy protection configuration bits;
• and
• wherein the video signal or RF signal is provided with a copy protection signal corresponding to the programmable copy protection configuration bits selected by the mode control bits to produce a copy protected signal including back porch AGC pulses, wherein the copy protected signal is viewable on a television monitor but is not recordable.

An apparatus comprising a receiver of a digital signal that includes the capability of programming at least part of a video copy protection signal and or of sending data signals to a service provider, comprising:

• circuitry for providing one or more mode control bits and one or more programmable configuration bits indicative of one or more programmable copy protection signals;
• said circuitry enabling the one or more mode bits to enable programming of one or more programmable copy protection signal onto a digital signal derived from the received digital signal;
• and
• wherein the one or more programmable copy protection signal is added or inserted onto the derived digital signal to provide a copy protected digital signal;
• wherein the copy protected digital signal is converted to a copy protected analog video signal which includes at least one back porch pulse;
• and
• wherein the copy protected analog video signal is successfully watchable but is not recordable.

An apparatus for receiving digital images from a service provider, comprising:

• a device for reception of information derived via one or more of the following;
• an RF signal, a phone line, a coaxial cable, an optical signal, a microwave signal, a satellite signal;
• a digital decompressor system or circuit;
• a memory and or flash memory circuit;
• a programmable copy protection signal generator for providing programmable copy protection bit configurations indicative of corresponding copy protection signals and for generating a back porch pulse signal;
• a circuit for providing mode control bits for selecting one or more programmable copy protection bit configurations and thus the one or more copy protection signal applied to the digital images to provide copy protected digital images;
• a digital to analog converter circuit;
• and
• wherein the apparatus includes an electronic program guide for display of the copy protected digital images on a television set or monitor and wherein the output of the digital to analog converter circuit includes an analog image signal and back porch pulses.

An apparatus for providing at least one copy protection signal from a plurality of programmable copy protection signals and including sync pulses, comprising:

• a configuration circuit responsive to one or more control bits for providing at least one back porch pulse in a portion of a video signal, or for providing at least one back porch pulse and one or more of the following programmable copy protection signals;
• a color stripe signal, a reduced horizontal or vertical sync signal, an amplitude cycling of automatic gain control (AGC) pulses, static AGC pulses, vertical blanking interval pulses, a reserved bit, to produce a corresponding copy protected video signal;
• and
• a mode circuit for providing mode control bits to the configuration circuit for enabling inserting or adding one or more of the programmable copy protection signal to the video signal;
• wherein the copy protected video signal is an analog video signal or a digital video signal converted to an analog video signal;
• and
• wherein the analog copy protected video signal is viewable but not recordable.