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US 9,479,829 B2Granted
Copy protection system
AssigneeDCS Copy Protection Limited
InventorsDavid John Michael Robinson, John Paul Robinson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of modifying the output of an output device is provided. A first code, associated with a first recipient party, is received and used to generate, within the output device, a second code, the second code containing encoded data identifying the first recipient party and instructions for activating an additional functionality of the output device. The additional functionality is activated in accordance with the instructions contained in the second code. The output of the output device is modified according to data encoded in the second code, to encode a third code in the output of the output device, the third code including an ID code associated with the first recipient party.
Claims31
A method of modifying the output of an output device, the method comprising:
- retrieving a first code, associated with a first recipient party;
- generating within the output device, using the first code, a second code, the second code containing encoded data identifying the first recipient party and instructions for activating an additional functionality of the output device;
- activating the additional functionality in accordance with the instructions contained in the second code;
- and
- modifying the output of the output device according to the data encoded in the second code, to encode a third code in the output of the output device, the third code including an ID code associated with the first recipient party,
- wherein the output of the output device is a video signal and the additional functionality activated by the first code is copy protection of the video signal, the second code containing instructions on how copy protection should be applied to the output device's output.
3 more elements
A method of modifying the output of an output device, the method comprising:
- retrieving a first code, associated with a first recipient party;
- generating within the output device, using the first code, a second code, the second code containing encoded data identifying the first recipient party and instructions for activating an additional functionality of the output device;
- activating the additional functionality in accordance with the instructions contained in the second code;
- modifying the output of the output device according to the data encoded in the second code, to encode a third code in the output of the output device, the third code including an ID code associated with the first recipient party;
- and
- impairing or disabling the output device when an invalid first code is used to generate a second code;
- wherein the ID code is not derivable from the first code in an obvious manner;
- wherein the second code is obtained by decrypting or decoding the first code;
- wherein the first code comprises n bits and the second code comprises m bits, wherein n is greater than m, and wherein only a sub-set of n-bit first codes are valid such that they generate a valid m bit second code that activates the additional functionality;
- wherein generating the second code includes checking whether the first code is a valid code and, for all other n-bit first codes other than the valid n-bit first codes, generating a fixed m-bit second code such that the additional functionality is not activated;
- and
- wherein the output of the output device is a video signal and the additional functionality activated by the first code is copy protection of the video signal, the second code containing instructions on how copy protection should be applied to the output device's output.
9 more elements
An output device comprising;
- a memory for storing a first code associated with a first recipient party;
- a secure activation module, coupled to the memory, for generating a second code using the first code, the second code containing encoded data identifying the first recipient party and instructions for activating an additional functionality of the output device;
- a modification module arranged to implement the instructions to activate the additional functionality and further arranged to modify the output of the output device, according to data encoded in the second code, to encode a third code in the output of the output device, the third code including an ID code associated with the first recipient party;
- and
- an output;
- wherein an output of the output device is a video signal and the additional functionality activated by the first code is copy protection of the video signal, and wherein the second code contains instructions on how copy protection should be applied to the output device's output.
3 more elements
An integrated circuit for use in an output device, the integrated circuit comprising:
- a secure activation module arranged to receive a first code associated with a first recipient party and to use the first code to generate a second code, the second code containing encoded data identifying the first recipient party and instructions for activating an additional functionality of the output device;
- and
- a modification module arranged to implement the instructions to activate the additional functionality and further arranged to modify the output of the output device, according to data encoded in the second code, so as to encode a third code in the output of the output device, the third code including an ID code associated with the first recipient party;
- wherein the output of the output device is a video signal and the additional functionality activated by the first code is copy protection of the video signal, the second code containing instructions on how copy protection should be applied to the output device's output.
1 more element
A method for activating a functionality in an output device, the method comprising:
- generating a first code to activate a functionality of an output device by:
- inserting, within the first code, data comprising instructions to cause the output device to activate the functionality;
- associating the first code with a first recipient party, the first recipient party being associated with the output device;
- and
- transmitting the first code to the recipient party for insertion of the first code into the output device;
- generating within the output device, using the first code, a second code, the second code containing encoded data identifying the first recipient party and instructions for activating an additional functionality of the output device;
- activating the additional functionality in accordance with the instructions contained in the second code;
- and
- modifying the output of the output device according to the data encoded in the second code, to encode a third code in the output of the output device, the third code including an ID code associated with the first recipient party,
- wherein the output of the output device is a video signal and the functionality activated by the first code is copy protection of the video signal, the second code containing instructions on how copy protection should be applied to the output device's output.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.