# US 2008/0186400 A1 · Apparatus and method for converting multimedia content, and multimedia content distribution system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0186400 A1 - Document ID: US20080186400A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/773,717 - Filed: 2007-07-05 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-06 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Su-hyun Kim; Hyok-sung Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080186400A1 ## CPC - H04N 21/2347: involving video stream encryption - H04N 7/01: Conversion of standards {, e.g. involving analogue television standards or digital television standards processed at pixel level} - H04N 7/163: {by receiver means only} - H04N 21/235: Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors - H04N 21/4122: {additional display device, e.g. video projector (digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423)} - H04N 21/4147: PVR [Personal Video Recorder] (H04N5/76 takes precedence {; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40}) - H04N 21/4181: {for conditional access} - H04N 21/440218: {by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 (conversion of standards in analogue television systems H04N7/01)} - H04N 21/4405: involving video stream decryption - H04N 21/441: Acquiring end-user identification {, e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A multimedia content conversion apparatus and method, and a multimedia content distribution system are provided. The apparatus includes a storage unit storing original data received from a multimedia content provider, an authentication unit determining whether a viewer is authorized with respect to the original data stored in the storage unit, a decryptor decrypting the original data if it is determined by the authentication unit that the viewer is authorized, and a data combiner combining the original data and the data decrypted by the decryptor. Accordingly, even if several TVs are installed in a home, a viewer can view desired multimedia content through all of the TVs with only one content conversion apparatus. Even when the viewer watches a TV in which the content conversion apparatus is not included, the viewer can view desired multimedia content by changing a channel of a TV which includes the content conversion apparatus. Since the content conversion apparatus provides content of various image standards, the viewer can view desired content regardless of a type of TV being used. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for converting multimedia content, the apparatus comprising: an authentication unit which determines whether a viewer is authorized with respect to original data received from a multimedia content provider; a decryptor which decrypts the original data if it is determined by the authentication unit that the viewer is authorized; and a data combiner which combines a total or portion of the original data and the data decrypted by the decryptor. ### Claim 2 An apparatus for converting multimedia content, the apparatus comprising: a storage unit which stores original data received from a multimedia content provider; an authentication unit which determines whether a viewer is authorized with respect to the original data stored in the storage unit; a decryptor which decrypts the original data if it is determined by the authentication unit that the viewer is authorized; and a data combiner which combines the original data and the data decrypted by the decryptor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data combiner further comprises a selected-channel remover which removes data of a channel selected by the viewer from the original data, wherein the data combiner combines a portion of the original data output from the selected-channel remover and the decrypted data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a channel selector which separates data of a channel selected by the viewer from the original data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transcoder which transcodes the data decrypted by the decryptor to data of an image standard different from an image standard of the original data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the image standard of the original data is a High Definition (HD)-class, and the different image standard is a Standard Definition (SD)-class. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data combiner comprises a data separator which separates the received original data according to image standards of the original data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data combiner comprises a multiplexer which frequency-multiplexes the original data and the data decrypted by the decryptor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an image decoder which decodes the content decrypted by the decryptor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a switching unit which selectively stores content received from the multimedia content provider in the storage unit. ### Claim 11 A method of converting multimedia content, the method comprising: receiving original multimedia content data from a multimedia content provider; decrypting the original multimedia content data; and combining a total or portion of the original multimedia content data and the decrypted data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising transcoding the decrypted content data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the combining comprises multiplexing the decrypted content data and the transcoded data with the original multimedia content data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising separating only content data desired by a viewer from the original multimedia content data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether the viewer is authorized to view desired content. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising removing data of a channel selected by the viewer from the original multimedia content data before the combining begins. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the data combined in the combining step to other display devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising determining, using a smart card or a Point of Deployment (POD) card, whether the viewer is authorized to view the multimedia content. ### Claim 19 A system for distributing multimedia content, the system comprising: a provider which provides encrypted multimedia content data; two or more display devices; a content conversion apparatus directly connected to one of the two or more display devices; a decryptor which decrypts the encrypted multimedia content data received from the provider, and a combinor which combines the decrypted data and a total or portion of the encrypted multimedia content data, and transmits the combined data to the other display devices. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein a display device directly connected to the content conversion apparatus receives decrypted content data from the content conversion apparatus and reproduces the decrypted content data. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, further comprising a remote control which controls the display device directly connected to the content conversion apparatus. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the remote control is a Radio Frequency (RF) remote control of more than 2.4 GHz or a Bluetooth remote control.