# US 7,703,113 B2 · Copy protection arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,703,113 B2 - Document ID: US7703113B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/880,798 - Filed: 2007-07-24 - Published: 2007-11-29 - Granted: 2010-04-20 - Earliest claimed: 2004-07-26 - Assignees: Sony Corporation; Sony Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Thomas Patrick Dawson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7703113B2 ## CPC - H04N 5/04: Synchronising (for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56) - G06Q 20/085: {involving remote charge determination or related payment systems} - G06Q 20/3674: {involving authentication} - G06Q 20/3821: {Electronic credentials} - G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply - H04N 5/913: for scrambling {; for copy protection} - H04N 21/234327: {by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers} - H04N 21/2351: {involving encryption of additional data (arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23)} - H04N 21/23614: {Multiplexing of additional data and video streams (arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28)} - H04N 21/4135: {external recorder (interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775)} - H04N 21/4147: PVR [Personal Video Recorder] (H04N5/76 takes precedence {; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40}) - H04N 21/426: Internal components of the client {; Characteristics thereof} (H04N5/44 takes precedence) - H04N 21/42661: {for reading from or writing on a magnetic storage medium, e.g. hard disk drive} - H04N 21/43072: {of multiple content streams on the same device} - H04N 21/4348: {Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams} - H04N 21/4353: {involving decryption of additional data (arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23)} - H04N 21/45455: {applied to a region of the image} - H04N 21/4627: Rights management {associated to the content (security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08)} - H04N 5/781: on disks or drums - H04N 5/85: on discs or drums - H04N 9/8042: {involving data reduction} - H04N 21/242: Synchronisation processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Programme Clock References] {(arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract In certain embodiments, a method for generating fees using a receiving device, involves distributing censored video from a distributor video to a receiving device; and uncensoring the censored video using the receiving device upon payment of a fee. The receiving device uses overlay data received from the distributor to uncensor the censored video by overlaying the overlay data over the censored video using a video overlay frame to overlay a video frame containing the censored video data in accordance with boundaries determined by an alpha plane within the receiving device. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for generating fees using a receiving device, comprising: distributing censored video from a video distributor to a receiving device; and uncensoring said censored video using the receiving device upon payment of a fee, said receiving device using overlay data received from said distributor to uncensor said censored video by overlaying the overlay data over the censored video using a video overlay frame to overlay a video frame containing the censored video data in accordance with boundaries determined by an alpha plane within the receiving device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the censored video data comprises at least one region or more than one region selected from the following: a static portion of the video data, a motion vector portion of the video data, a random block of the video data, a macroblock of video data, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising permitting a user to store the video data having the censored region and the overlay data on a personal video recorder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, further comprising permitting the user to store data defining the alpha plane on the personal video recorder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the uncensoring comprises compositing the video data with the video overlay data in accordance with the boundaries defined by the alpha plane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the overlay video data are encrypted. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the receiving device comprises either a television, a television set top box or a personal video recorder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein said distributor comprises a content provider. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein said content provider, upon receiving payment of the fee, instructs said receiving device to uncensor said censored video. ### Claim 10 A method for generating fees using a receiving device, comprising: distributing censored video from a video distributor to a receiving device; uncensoring said censored video using the receiving device upon payment of a fee, said receiving device using overlay data received from said distributor to uncensor said censored video by overlaying the overlay data over the censored video using a video overlay frame to overlay a video frame containing the censored video data in accordance with boundaries determined by an alpha plane within the receiving device; wherein the censored video data comprises at least one region selected from the following: a static portion of the video data, a motion vector portion of the video data, a random block of the video data, a macroblock of video data, or any combination thereof; and wherein the uncensoring comprises compositing the video data with the video overlay data in accordance with the boundaries defined by the alpha plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising permitting a user to store the video data having the censored region and the overlay data on a personal video recorder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising permitting the user to store data defining the alpha plane on the personal video recorder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the overlay video data are encrypted. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the receiving device comprises either a television, a television set top box or a personal video recorder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein said distributor comprises a content provider. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said content provider, upon receiving payment of the fee, instructs said receiving device to uncensor said censored video. ### Claim 17 A method for generating fees using a receiving device, comprising: distributing censored video from a content provider serving as a video distributor to a receiving device; uncensoring said censored video using the receiving device upon payment of a fee, said receiving device using overlay data received from said distributor to uncensor said censored video by overlaying the overlay data over the censored video using a video overlay frame to overlay a video frame containing the censored video data in accordance with boundaries determined by an alpha plane within the receiving device; wherein the overlay video data are encrypted; wherein the censored video data comprises at least one region selected from the following: a static portion of the video data, a motion vector portion of the video data, a random block of the video data, a macroblock of video data, or any combination thereof; wherein the uncensoring comprises compositing the video data with the video overlay data in accordance with the boundaries defined by the alpha plane; and further comprising permitting a user to store the video data having the censored region and the overlay data on a personal video recorder, and permitting the user to store data defining the alpha plane on the personal video recorder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the receiving device comprises either a television, a television set top box or a personal video recorder. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said content provider, upon receiving payment of the fee, instructs said receiving device to uncensor said censored video.