Anti-copy system utilizing audible and inaudible protection signals
OwnerLeonard R. Kahninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for preventing the unauthorized copying of audio or video recording by (1) processing the recorded material so as to identify the protected material in a manner that does not audibly distort the program material, and (2) processing the recorded material by a second method that produces audible artifacts. Equipment capable of removing the audible artifacts while retaining the inaudible identification signal would be installed in audio digital tape recorders or video recorders so as to allow the equipment to be used for playback purposes while at the same time discouraging the unauthorized copying of audio, video or motion picture protected material.
Claims33
Apparatus for protecting pre-recorded material from unauthorized copying, comprising:
- (a) a source of program material,
- (b) means for causing audible artifacts to appear along with the desired program material,
- (c) means for causing an inaudible protected material identification signal to also appear along with the program material,
- (d) means for recording and making copies of a wave representing the source material, the audible artifacts and the inaudible identification signal.
The method of protecting pre-recorded material from unauthorized copying, comprising:
- (a) generating a wave representing the program material,
- (b) causing audible artifacts to appear along with the desired program material wave,
- (c) causing an inaudible protected material identification signal to also appear along with the program material wave, and,
- (d) recording and making copies of the combination of the program material wave, the audible artifacts and the inaudible identification signal.
Apparatus for playing back recordings containing purposely introduced audible artifacts, an inaudible identification signal and desired program material, comprising:
- (a) means for playing back recordings that contain said audible artifacts and the inaudible identification signal,
- (b) means for at least substantially attenuating the audible artifacts without substantially attenuating the inaudible identification signal, and,
- (c) means for processing and amplifying the wave freed from audible artifacts so as to interface with one or more electro-acoustic transducers.
A playback unit compatible with both pre-recorded protected and unprotected recordings, combined with a recording device compatible with only unprotected program material, comprising:
- (a) means for playing back the recordings so as to produce an audio wave,
- (b) means for removing purposely introduced audible artifacts from the audio wave representing protected pre-recorded material,
- (c) means for sensing the presence of an inaudible protection identification signal, and
- (d) means controlled by (c) means for interfering with the recording function of the equipment for at least a significant portion of the protected program material.
Apparatus for protecting pre-recorded program material, comprising:
- (a) a source of program material,
- (b) means for processing the program material so as to make it suitable for storage on a recording medium,
- (c) means for generating audible artifacts,
- (d) means for generating an inaudible identification signal, and
- (e) means for making recordings of a wave containing the source material, said audible artifacts and said inaudible identification signal.
A method for protecting copyrighted recorded program material from unauthorized use, comprising:
- (a) locating at least one pause in the program material,
- (b) generating a pulsed sine wave during said pause, said sine wave having a frequency outside the frequency range of the material to be protected,
- (c) generating clicks at a predetermined time in relation to the start of the pulsed sine wave of Step (b), said clicks having components that fall within the frequency range of the material to be protected,
- (d) combining the pulsed sine wave of Step (b) and the clicks of Step (c) with the program material to be protected prior to duplicating the recorded material;
- and in compatible playback equipment the steps of:
- (e) tone detecting the pulse sine wave generated in Step (b), and,
- (f) blanking out the clicks of Step (c), said blanking being controlled by the tone detecting Step (e).
Apparatus for removing audible artifacts that were purposely combined with the program material from program material protected by the addition of clicks to the program wave during quiet moments in the program wave, and which is combined with a pulsed sine wave that is present during the active period of the dc clicks, comprising:
- (a) means for detecting the presence of a pulsed sine wave;
- and
- (b) means for attenuating the program wave with the added clicks, said means being controlled by (a) means.
Playback and recording apparatus for use in playing back pre-recorded protected program material and unprotected program material and in recording unprotected program material, comprising:
- (a) means for playing back recorded program material so as to produce an audio wave,
- (b) means for removing audible artifacts which were purposely introduced in protected records when playing back pre-recorded material without removing the inaudible protected material identification signal,
- (c) means for sensing the presence of the inaudible identification signal, and
- (d) means for interfering with the recording function whenever said inaudible identification signal is sensed by (c) means.
Digital recordings that are protected against unauthorized copying by incorporating two types of inaudible protected recording identification signals:
- (a) a protection signal in the digital stream of the recording that does not survive the digital to analog conversion means in associated playback equipment, and
- (b) an inaudible protection signal that survives the digital to analog conversion means in the associated playback equipment.
A combination digital playback and recording device comprising means for interfering with copying of copyrighted material controlled by means for detecting digital protection signals and means for detecting analog protection signals.
A system for providing protection against unauthorized copying of recorded material comprising;
- (a) means for introducing inaudible phase modulation of substantially all frequency components of the material to be recorded at least during certain periods of the recording,
- (b) means, installed in consumer type recorders, for sensing the presence of the inaudible phase modulation of at least some of the audio components of the recorded material, and
- (c) means for interfering with the operation of consumer type recorders when the sensing means senses the presence of the inaudible modulation.
Circuitry for processing recorded music and/or voice signals so as to protect these recordings from unauthorized copying, comprising:
- (a) means for sensing periods when medium and high frequency components of said voice and/or music waves are greater than low frequency components,
- (b) means for keying on an identifying signal only when
- (a) means senses said periods, and
- (c) modulation means for modulating said signals with the desired identifying signal.
Equipment for imparting an inaudible identifying characteristic on recorded material comprising;
- means for introducing inaudible phase modulation of substantially all of the frequency components of the speech and music at certain intervals of the recording, and
- means for automatically controlling the presence of said inaudible phase modulation.
Digital recordings of visual signals comprising:
- (a) a protection signal in the digital stream of the recording that does not survive the digital to analog conversion means in associated playback equipment, and
- (b) an invisible protection signal that survives the digital to analog conversion means in the associated playback equipment.
Playback and recording apparatus for use in playing back pre-recorded protected program material and unprotected program material and in recording unprotected program material, comprising:
- (a) means for playing back recorded program material so as to produce an audio wave,
- (b) means for removing audible artifacts which were purposely introduced in protected records when playing back pre-recorded material without removing the inaudible protected material identification signal,
- (c) means for sensing the presence of the inaudible identification signal,
- (d) means for interfering with the recording function whenever said inaudible identification signal is sensed by (c) means, and
- (e) where the (c) senses the presence of an inaudible phase modulation of at least some of the audio components of the recorded material, and
- (f) the (d) means for interfering with the operation of consumer type recorders is the (e) means that senses the inaudible phase modulation.
Apparatus for protecting pre-recorded material from unauthorized copying, comprising:
- (a) a source of program material,
- (b) means for causing audible artifacts to appear along with the desired program material,
- (c) means for causing an inaudible protected material identification signal to also appear along with the program material,
- (d) means for recording and making copies of a wave representing the source material, the audible artifacts and the inaudible identification signal,
- (e) and wherein the (c) means introduces inaudible phase modulation of substantially all frequency components of the material to be recorded at least during certain periods of the recording,
- (f) means, installed in consumer type recorders, for sensing the presence of the inaudible phase modulation of at least some of the audio components of the recorded material, and,
- (g) means for interfering with the operation of consumer type recorders when the sensing means senses the presence of the inaudible modulation.
A recorder for recording speech and music signals incorporating circuitry for interfering with the unauthorized copying of recordings that have been processed so as to impart an inaudible identifying characteristic, comprising:
- means for detecting the inaudible identifying characteristic,
- said means comprising a frequency or phase discriminator operating in the region of 3 Khz and a tone detector for detecting tone(s) of less than approximately 25 Hz, and,
- control means for interfering with the normal operation of the recording device when the inaudible identifying characteristic is detected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.