Method and apparatus for providing a copy protected analog video signal via a DAC

Abstract

A method and apparatus provides a copy protected analog video signal in response to control bits, wherein a programmable waveform is generated which provides horizontal sync pulses of predetermined position and or width and programmable pseudo sync and or AGC pulses. The method may provide a programmable duration, phase and or position of a color burst signal. The copy protected analog video signal is outputted from a digital to analog converter, wherein a parameter of the pseudo sync, AGC, horizontal sync pulses, or of the color burst, forming the copy protection signals, is determined by the control bits.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
   
   
       44 . A method of providing a copy protected analog video signal from an output of a digital to analog converter, wherein the method uses a control signal, comprising:
 receiving a digital signal containing video information;   supplying the control signal in the form of control bits;   providing in selected television lines one or more horizontal sync pulse modified in sync pulse width and or position, and one or more automatic gain control (AGC) pulse to synthesize the copy protected analog video signal;   producing the copy protected analog video signal via the output of the digital to analog converter; and   activating or deactivating the step of providing the one or more modified horizontal sync pulse and the one or more AGC pulse in response to the control bits.   
   
   
       45 . An apparatus for providing a copy protected analog video signal from an output of a digital to analog converter, wherein the apparatus uses a control signal, comprising:
 a circuit for receiving a digital signal containing video information;   a circuit for supplying the control signal in the form of control bits;   a circuit for providing in selected television lines one or more horizontal sync pulse modified in sync pulse width and or position, and one or more automatic gain control (AGC) pulse;   wherein the digital to analog converter produces the copy protected analog video signal; and   wherein the circuit for providing may be activated or deactivated in response to the control bits.   
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 45  further including a circuit for providing one or more pseudo sync/AGC pulse pair. 
   
   
       47 . A method of processing a video signal, comprising:
 receiving a digital signal containing video information;   modifying one or more horizontal sync pulse by programming a horizontal sync pulse width and or position, and providing one or more AGC pulse;   providing control bits; and   outputting a copy protected analog video signal from an output of a digital to analog converter with the programmed pulse width and or position for the horizontal sync pulse and with the one or more AGC pulse.   
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47  further including providing one or more pseudo sync/AGC pulse pair. 
   
   
       49 . An apparatus for processing a video signal, comprising:
 a circuit for receiving a digital signal containing video information;   a circuit for modifying one or more horizontal sync pulse by programming a horizontal sync pulse width and or horizontal sync pulse position, and providing one or more AGC pulse;   a digital to analog converter for providing an analog video signal output;   a circuit for providing control bits; and   a circuit for outputting a copy protected analog video signal from an output of the digital to analog converter with the programmed pulse width and or position for the horizontal sync pulse and with the one or more AGC pulse.   
   
   
       50 . A method of processing a digital signal, comprising:
 providing control bits;   receiving a video signal free of copy protection waveforms;   generating a programmable waveform, wherein the programmable waveform provides horizontal sync pulses of a predetermined position and or pulse width in selected video lines;   generating programmable pseudo sync and or AGC pulses in a portion of a video signal; and   outputting a copy protected analog video signal from an output of a digital to analog converter, wherein a parameter of the pseudo sync pulses, AGC pulses, or horizontal sync pulses is determined by the control bits.   
   
   
       51 . An apparatus for processing a digital signal, comprising:
 a circuit for receiving a video signal free of copy protection waveforms;   a circuit for providing control bits;   a circuit for generating a programmable waveform, wherein the programmable waveform provides horizontal sync pulses of a predetermined position and or pulse width in selected video lines;   a circuit for generating programmable pseudo sync and or AGC pulses in a portion of a video signal; and   a circuit for outputting a copy protected analog video signal from an output of a digital to analog converter, wherein a parameter of the pseudo sync pulses, AGC pulses, or horizontal sync pulses is determined by the control bits.   
   
   
       52 . A method of processing a digital signal containing video information to provide a copy protected analog video signal via a digital to analog conversion, comprising:
 receiving the digital signal free of copy protection waveforms;   supplying control bits;   generating a programmable waveform, wherein the programmable waveform provides horizontal sync pulses of a predetermined position and or pulse width in selected video lines;   providing programmable duration, phase, and or position of one or more color burst signal;   generating programmable pseudo sync and or AGC pulses in a portion of a video signal; and   outputting via a digital to analog converter the copy protected analog video signal, wherein a parameter of the pseudo sync pulses, AGC pulses, horizontal sync pulses, or color burst signal is determined by the control bits.   
   
   
       53 . An apparatus for processing a digital signal containing video information to provide a copy protected analog video signal via a digital to analog conversion, comprising:
 a circuit for receiving the digital signal free of copy protection waveforms;   a circuit for supplying control bits;   a circuit for generating a programmable waveform, wherein the programmable waveform provides horizontal sync pulses of a predetermined position and or pulse width in selected video lines;   a circuit for providing programmable duration, phase, and or position of one or more color burst signal;   a circuit for generating programmable pseudo sync and or AGC pulses in a portion of a video signal; and   a digital to analog converter circuit for outputting the copy protected analog video signal, wherein a parameter of the pseudo sync pulses, AGC pulses, horizontal sync pulses, or color burst signal is determined by the control bits.   
   
   
       54 . A method of processing a digital signal to provide a copy protected analog signal from a digital to analog converter with one or more pseudo sync pulse, comprising:
 receiving the digital signal free of copy protection waveforms;   supplying control bits;   providing programmability to a position, phase, and or duration of one or more color burst signal;   supplying one or more pseudo sync signal; and   outputting the copy protected analog signal from the digital to analog converter, wherein the control bits activate or deactivate the one or more pseudo sync pulse in a portion of the copy protected analog signal.   
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the analog signal includes horizontal sync pulses, wherein the pulse width duration and or position of selected horizontal sync pulses is programmable. 
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 54  further including one or more automatic gain control (AGC) pulse in the analog signal. 
   
   
       57 . An apparatus for processing a digital signal to provide a copy protected analog signal with one or more pseudo sync pulse via digital to analog conversion, comprising:
 a circuit for receiving the digital signal free of copy protection waveforms;   a circuit for supplying control bits;   a circuit for enabling programmability for a position, phase, and or duration of one or more color burst signal;   a circuit for supplying one or more pseudo sync signal; and   a digital to analog converter circuit for outputting the copy protected analog signal, wherein the control bits activate or deactivate the one or more pseudo sync pulse in a portion of the copy protected analog signal.   
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 57  wherein the analog signal includes horizontal sync pulses, wherein the pulse width duration and or position of selected horizontal sync pulses is programmable. 
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 57  further including one or more automatic gain control (AGC) pulse in the analog signal. 
   
   
       60 . An apparatus for providing a copy protected analog video signal via a digital to analog conversion, comprising:
 a circuit for receiving a video signal free of copy protection waveforms;   a circuit for supplying control bits;   a circuit for providing programmability for a position, phase, and or duration of one or more color burst signal;   a circuit for supplying one or more pseudo sync/AGC pulse pair signal, one or more AGC pulse, and or one or more narrowed or modified horizontal sync pulse to synthesize a copy protection signal to inhibit recording; and   a digital to analog converter circuit for outputting the copy protected analog video signal, wherein the control bits activate or deactivate the one or more pseudo sync/AGC pulse pair signal, AGC pulse, and or narrowed horizontal sync pulse in a portion of the copy protected analog video signal.   
   
   
       61 . A method of providing a copy protected analog video signal via a digital to analog conversion, comprising:
 supplying control bits;   receiving a video signal free of copy protection waveforms;   providing programmability for a position, phase, and or duration of one or more color burst signal;   supplying one or more pseudo sync/AGC pulse pair signal, one or more AGC pulse, and or one or more narrowed or modified horizontal sync pulse; and   outputting the copy protected analog video signal from an output of a digital to analog converter, wherein the control bits activate or deactivate the one or more pseudo sync/AGC pulse pair signal, AGC pulse, and or narrowed horizontal sync pulse in a portion of the copy protected analog video signal.   
   
   
       62 - 66 . (canceled)