Anti-copy system utilizing audible and inaudible protection signals

Claim 2

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.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the b) means comprises; means for producing audible artifacts at least just prior to the start of the desired program material.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the b) means comprises; means for producing audible artifacts at least immediately after the end of the desired program material.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the audible artifacts are clicks.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the audible artifacts are clicks.

Claim 9

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.

Claim 10

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.

Claim 11

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.

Claim 12

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.

Claim 13

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.

Claim 14

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.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the recording is a digital tape recording.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the audible artifacts are created by causing interference to digital recording stream and wherein the inaudible identification signal is introduced prior to conversion of the analog wave to a digital wave.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the audible artifacts and the inaudible identification signal are introduced prior to converting analog wave to a digital wave.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13 wherein step (a) is limited to essentially constant voltage segments of the program wave which occur during passages having an amplitude of less than 10% of the full amplitude of the wave.

Claim 21

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.

Claim 22

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.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the frequency of the sine wave is in the range of 15 Khz to 22 Khz.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the attenuating means, when active, attenuates the output wave to the point of inaudibility.

Claim 25

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.

Claim 26

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.

Claim 27

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.

Claim 28

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.

Claim 29

The digital recording of claim 19, wherein audible artifacts are incorporated in said recording.

Claim 30

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.

Claim 31

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.

Claim 34

The system of claim 22 wherein the rate of the inaudible phase modulation is below 25 Hz.

Claim 35

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.

Claim 36

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.

Claim 37

The circuitry of claim 24 wherein the modulation means comprises one or more phase modulation means.

Claim 38

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.

Claim 39

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.

Claim 40

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.

Claim 41

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.

Claim 42

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.

Claim 43

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.

Claim 44

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.

Claim 45

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.

Claim 46

A playback unit of claim 8 wherein said playback unit is a VCR.

Claim 47

The digital recordings of claim 19 wherein said recordings are VCRs.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the program material is stored on the sound track of a motion picture film.

Claim 49

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.

Claim 50

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.