Method for controlling copy protection in digital video networks

A method of providing copy protection of signal material transmitted via digital delivery networks to a consumer's set-top box, to prevent copying and/or subsequent viewing of a recorded copy of the signal material, comprising:

• supplying copy protection controls indicative of desired copy protection for the signal material;
• storing a copy protection configuration corresponding to the desired copy protection in the set-top box;
• transmitting commands derived from and in response to the copy protection controls which activate the copy protection configuration for the signal material;
• and
• applying the copy protection configuration to the signal material in response to the commands to prevent the subsequent viewing of the recorded copy of the copy protected signal material while allowing viewing of the original signal material as via a television set;
• wherein the step of supplying includes;
• developing copy protection control software which describes control signals for applying the copy protection process to the signal material and for returning to a service provider usage data indicative of the signal material selected at the consumer's set-top box;
• generating mode and configuration control bit patterns in response to the copy protection control software;
• and
• transmitting said control bit patterns to the consumer's set-top box when the consumer joins the delivery network and thereafter on a prescribed routine basis.

A method of providing copy protection of signal material transmitted via digital delivery networks to a consumer's set-top box, to prevent copying and/or subsequent viewing of a recorded copy of the signal material, comprising:

• supplying copy protection controls indicative of desired copy protection for the signal material;
• storing a copy protection configuration corresponding to the desired copy protection in the set-top box;
• transmitting commands derived from and in response to the copy protection controls which activate the copy protection configuration for the signal material;
• applying the copy protection configuration to the signal material in response to the commands to prevent the subsequent viewing of the recorded copy of the copy protected signal material while allowing viewing of the original signal material as via a television set;
• receiving and writing a mode control bit pattern in the set-top boxes;
• and
• wherein the stored copy protection configuration responds to the transmitted mode control bit pattern to activate, control and modify the copy protection process as defined by the mode control bit pattern.

A system for controlling copy protection of proprietary signal material transmitted via digital delivery networks, wherein a service provider enables a copy protection process which prevents unauthorized copying and/or subsequent viewing of the recorded signal material by consumers even when the original signal material is watchable, the system comprising:

• a control/billing center for supplying copy protection control signals as directed by the service provider;
• wherein said copy protection control signals define a first mode command which enables real time mode control as well as on/off control of selected components of the copy protection process, and a second configuration bit pattern command which determines a programmable operating configuration of the copy protection process;
• a transmitter for transmitting the signal material, the first mode command and the second configuration bit pattern command in response to the copy protection control signals to selectively control the copy protection process;
• and
• a device located with each consumer for applying said programmable operating configuration of the copy protection process to the signal material in response to the transmitted first and second commands to prevent copying and/or subsequent viewing of the recorded signal material while allowing watching of the signal material.

A system for controlling copy protection of signal material transmitted via digital delivery networks coupled to a plurality of remote devices, wherein a service provider enables a copy protection process which prevents copying and/or subsequent viewing of the recorded signal material even when the original signal material is viewable, the system comprising:

• a controlling/billing center for supplying at least first and second copy protection control signals as directed by the service provider;
• wherein the second control signal is a configuration bit pattern indicative of a programmable copy protection configuration;
• a transmitter for transmitting first and second commands commensurate with the first and second copy protection control signals to determine and control the copy protection process;
• and
• at least one remote device including an encoder coupled to the networks and responsive to the first and second commands for applying the programmable copy protection configuration to the signal material in response to the first command to prevent the copying and/or subsequent viewing of the recorded signal material even when the original signal material is viewable.

A method of providing copy protection of signal material transmitted to remote devices via digital delivery networks to prevent copying and/or subsequent viewing of a recorded signal material, comprising:

• receiving copy protection commands at one or more of the remote devices, which commands are indicative of desired copy protection for the signal material and which are transmitted by a control center coupled to the digital delivery networks;
• wherein the copy protection commands include a first bit pattern for enabling mode control as well as on/off control of the copy protection, and a programmable second bit pattern for determining the configuration of the copy protection to be applied to the signal material;
• and
• activating the copy protection for the signal material by applying the copy protection configuration determined by the programmable second bit pattern in response to the first bit pattern to prevent unauthorized copying and/or subsequent viewing of the recorded signal material.

A device coupled to digital delivery networks for controlling copy protection of signal material transmitted via the digital delivery networks, to prevent copying and/or subsequent viewing of a recorded signal material, the device comprising:

• a central processing unit (CPU);
• memory coupled to the CPU for storing instructions and information associated with copy protection control commands, the copy protection control commands being indicative of desired copy protection for the signal material and which are transmitted to the device by a control center via the digital delivery networks;
• wherein the information associated with the copy protection control commands includes a first mode bit pattern for on/off/mode control which enables real time mode control of selected components of the copy protection process, and a second configuration bit pattern for determining a programmable copy protection configuration of the copy protection process;
• and
• an encoder circuit coupled to the CPU and the memory for receiving the first mode bit pattern and the second configuration bit pattern, wherein the CPU executes the instructions stored in the memory in response to the copy protection control commands to provide commands to the encoder circuit which apply the programmable copy protection configuration to the signal material in response to the first mode bit pattern to prevent the unauthorized copying and/or subsequent viewing of the recorded signal material.