Apparatus for unscrambling protected television pictures

Recently, "pay-TV" systems have become popular in the U.S.A. In such pay-TV systems, viewers who have contracts with the broadcasting station can correctly receive a scrambled transmitted program, while viewers who do not have contracts with the broadcasting station cannot. In order to prevent correct reception by nonsubscribers, methods for processing a video signal in some manner are used, so that when a program is received by a television set of a nonsubscriber, he cannot watch a correct picture. Thus, these methods are called scrambling methods or scrambled broadcast. For this purpose, various scrambling methods for processing a video signal have been proposed. Then, in the pay-TV system using such a scrambling method, a viewer who has a contract with the station is provided with a decoder for decoding (or unscrambling) the scrambled signal to obtain the original signal.

One of the conventional scrambling methods is known in which white and black levels are inverted about a predetermined reference level or turn-up level. A video signal S_vshown in Fig. 1A is inverted in its polarity about the turn-up level V_m which is set between the white and black levels to form a scrambled video signal Sy_s, shown in Fig. 1B. In this case, if vertical and horizontal synchronizing pulses of the video signal were inverted, it would be difficult to unscramble the signal. Thus, only a video period is inverted,

When the level-inversion scrambling method is used in a broadcasting system, in practice, a scramble pattern is formed in an arbitrary arrangement of level-inverted and non-inverted filed periods, as shown in Fig. 2 and is transmitted repeatedly. Simultaneously, an identification signal ID which indicates that the broadcasting program is scrambled, and a key code signal KY which is used for descrambling the scramble pattern, are inserted at predetermined positions ID+KY of Fig. 2 of a vertical blanking interval, respectively. In one scrambling method, for example, the identification signal ID having a constant level is inserted in the sixteenth horizontal scanning period of the vertical blanking interval, and the key code signal KY is inserted in the seventeenth and eighteenth horizontal scanning periods of the vertical blanking interval.

To receive the scrambled television signal as described above, the level-inverted field period is detected based on the key code signal KY, and then unscrambling must be performed by reinverting the signal during this period to obtain the original video signal. The turn-up level for reinversion is formed at the receiver corresponding to the turn-up level V_m at the transmitter. If the turn-up level at the receiver was subjected to the influence of variations in the electronic components having ambient temperature fluctuations, for example, the reinversion would not result in the reproduction of the original waveform. As shown in Fig. 3A, when the signal S_vs which is inverted about the turn-up level V_m at the transmitter is reinverted about the identical level V_m at the receiver, the waveform equal to the original one of the signal Sy shown in Fig. 1A can be obtained. However, as shown in Fig. 3B, when the signal is reinverted about a turn-up level having an offset of an amount AV_m, the signal S_v' having the distorted waveform indicated by the solid line will be obtained instead of the correct signal Sy indicated by the dotted line.

In order to solve this problem, it has been suggested that the level of the identification signal ID set at the identification level related to the turn-up level V_m is transmitted. As shown in Fig. 4, the identification signal ID which has the level V_m' and is inserted in the sixteenth horizontal scanning period (16H) has a known value relative to the turn-up level V_m (in Fig. 3, V_m'=_Vm). Therefore, the identification signal ID is transmitted for serving also as a reference level signal for unscrambling.

Even if the level of the video signal varies during transmission, the turn-up level based on the level of the signal V_m' and used for reinversion provides accurate unscrambling because the level of the identification signal ID varies with the video signal. Thus, no special adjustment need be performed at the receiver side.

US-A-3924059 discloses a device for unscrambling a scrambled transmitted signal scrambled by signal inversion in accordance with a scrambling pattern. The signal is unscrambled by means of a key signal which indicates the pattern of scrambling of the signal.

There has also been suggested a system in which a scrambled broadcasting program is transmitted after midnight, for example, and is first recorded on a tape by a VTR, and the recorded tape is later reproduced for unscrambling. In this system, the scrambled signal is recorded directly, and when being reproduced, the reproduction signal is descrambled through a decoder in order to obtain a correct image. However, when the scrambled signal which has a turn-up level (to be referred to as an inverse level hereinafter) V_m is recorded or reproduced, the following problem occurs due to nonlinear characteristics of the VTR and variations in their other characteristics.

Fig. 5 shows the input/output characteristics of the VTR. A curve A indicates signal characteristics of the normal portion (Fig. 2) of the signal, and a curve B indicates the signal characteristics of the signal portion inverted with respect to a 50% inverse level (half-way between the black level and the white level). As is apparent from Fig. 5, the signal characteristics of the normal field are different from those of the inverted field. The distortion in the reinverted signal becomes different from that of the normal portion of the signal. The reproduced pictures flicker at the time that the normal portion is inverted or the inverted portion is reinverted when the scrambled signal S_vs in Fig. 2 is unscrambled.

A turn-up level control circuit must be used in the receiver system described above. A viewer or a person who installs a decrambler must adjust the descrambler. When the person who installs the unscrambler performs the adjustment of the unscrambler, the installation cost is increased. In addition to this disadvantage, when the viewer replaces the VTR with a new one, readjustment of the unscrambler is required. When the viewer adjusts the unscrambler, the adjustment requires skill. As a result, fine adjustment cannot be performed, and the viewer watches the screen pictures with degraded quality.

According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus for unscrambling a scrambled transmitted television signal, said signal including a scrambled video signal scrambled by signal inversion of parts thereof in accordance with a first scrambling pattern and a key signal indicating the pattern of scrambling of the video signal, the apparatus including unscrambling means for unscrambling said scrambled video signal by reinverting same on the basis of said key signal characterised in that the apparatus is adapted to unscramble a television signal which has been recorded on a recording medium and thereby subject to level distortion and which includes a control signal for enabling the level distortion to be corrected, the control signal being scrambled in accordance with a second scrambling pattern and having associated therewith a second key signal in the television signal, by provision of means for unscrambling the control signal by reference to the second key signal and means operable by the user to adjust the level about which the video signal is reinverted, during unscrambling, by the unscrambling means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for unscrambling or scrambled transmitted television signal, the signal including a scrambled video signal scrambled by signal inversion of parts thereof in accordance with a first scrambling pattern and a key signal indicating the pattern of scrambling of the video signal, the method including the steps of unscrambling the scrambled video signal by re-inverting same on the basis of said key signal by means of unscrambling means characterised in that the television signal is recorded on a recording medium and thereby subject to level distortion, the television signal including a scrambled control signal scrambled in accordance with a second scrambling pattern and having associated therewith a second key signal in the television signal; the method including the steps of unscrambling the control signal on the basis of the second key signal by means of the unscrambling means and adjusting the level about which the video signal is reinverted, during unscrambling, by the unscrambling means by provision of level changing means operable by the user.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Figs. 1A and 1B show waveforms, of video signals for explaining level inversion, respectively;</li><li>Fig. 2 shows a waveform of the scrambled video signal;</li><li>Figs. 3A and 3B show waveforms of video signals for explaining reinversion of the inverted video signals, respectively;</li><li>Fig. 4 shows a waveform for explaining the relationship between an ID signal and the inverted signal;</li><li>Fig. 5 is a graph showing the input/output characteristics of a VTR;</li><li>Fig. 6 shows the signal format of the initial portion of the scrambled television signal;</li><li>Figs. 7A and 7B show the screen control signal and a 2-field picture, respectively;</li><li>Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a sending-side apparatus;</li><li>Fig. 9 is a block diagram of a receiving-side apparatus which embodies the present invention; and</li><li>Fig. 10 is a graph showing the input/output characteristics of the VTR after the inverse level is controlled.</li><li>Fig. 6 shows the format of a scrambled television or video signal sent from a broadcast station.</li></ul>

During the video period, a screen control signal SR is sent from the broadcast station for one minute, and a scrambled program follows the screen control signal SR. During the vertical blanking period, a control start code is sent prior to 10V (where V is the field) before the signal SR is sent. ID, KY.and program codes follow the control start code. A control end code is inserted in the midst of the KY, ID and program codes of the vertical blanking period at the end of the signal SR. Meanwhile, the audio signals can be scrambled by using the scrambling pattern in accordance with any technique in the audio channel. Any one of the above-described codes is obtained such that a binary signal having a predetermined number of bits is NRZ-modulated.

The key code KY is a deciphering key code for unscrambling the scrambled video signal and has a code for designating the scrambling pattern. The screen control signal SR is used to display the control pattern for one minute before the program is displayed. The control start signal may be detected to start the VTR or the unscrambler.

The screen control signal SR is scrambled as shown in Fig. 7A, and is displayed on the screen as shown in Fig. 7B if it is not unscrambled. The screen control signal SR forms an inverse-A at substantially the center of the screen in the range of 101H to 130H and an inverse-B in the range of 131H to 160H. The inverse-A and inverse-B are alternately formed in every field. In this manner, the screen control signal SR has a scrambling pattern different from that of the program.

The inverse-A and inverse-B of the screen control signal SR are reinverted by the descrambler. When the reinverted components are directly applied to the CRT, the picture flickers. Therefore, the inverse level for reinversion must be controlled to minimize flicker. This control is performed by means of a control knob operated by the viewer. This control operation can be easily performed by any viewer. The contents of the inverse-A and inverse-B may comprise monochrome video components. In such case, flicker is emphasized at the horizontal scanning lines 101 H, 130H, 131H and 160H, so that the viewer can easily control the picture to minimize flicker.

Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing a sending-side apparatus for producing television signals of Fig. 6.

A video signal Sy of a specific program is supplied to an input terminal 1. The video signal Sy is then supplied to a scrambler 2 and a sync separator 3, and horizontal and vertical sync pulses HD and VD are separated from the video signal S_v. A scramble pattern generator 4 generates a predetermined scrambling pattern signal S₁ in response to the horizontal and vertical sync pulses HD and VD. The scrambler 2 inverts a predetermined field period of the video signal Sy in accordance with the predetermined scrambling pattern signal S_i. A screen control scramble pattern generator 5 generates a screen control scrambling pattern signal S₂ shown in Fig. 7A so as to scramble the signal for one minute prior to the program. The signals S₁ and S₂ are digitally coded as key codes by encoders 6 and 7, respectively. Therefore, the key codes include a key code for deciphering the signal SR and a key code for deciphering the scrambled program. These key codes and the various codes such as a program code formed by a code generator 8 are inserted by an adder 9 in a predetermined period of a scrambled signal S_v'. The signal with the various codes inserted therein appears as a scrambled television signal Sy_s at an output terminal 10.

Fig. 9 schematically illustrates a video signal receiving apparatus which includes an unscrambling circuit 35, a VTR 11 and a monitor 33.

In Fig. 9, the VTR 11 receives a broadcasting signal from an antenna 12. The received signal is provided to a tuner 13 in order to select a scrambled television signal and the signal selected by the tuner 13 is provided to a detector 14. After detection, the detector 14 supplies the signal to a recording processor 15 which, in the conventional manner, frequency modulates a Y signal and converts chrominance signals to a lower frequency. The signal from the recording processor 15 is supplied to a record terminal REC of a switch 16. When the switch 16 provides a circuit path through the terminal REC, the received signal is supplied to a magnetic head 17 for recording on a magnetic tape 18.

When the recorded signal is reproduced, the reproduction signal is supplied to a playback processor 19 which demodulates the Y signal and converts the chrominance signals to the original higher frequency through a playback terminal PB of the switch 16. Then, the Y signal and the chrominance signals are synthesized to provide a composite video signal. The reproduced signal is supplied to a video output terminal 20. The unscrambling circuit 35 has an input terminal 21 that accepts the composite signal.

The composite signal is supplied to a clamping circuit 22, and the pedestal level of the composite signal is clamped therein. Horizontal and vertical synchronizing pulses in the composite signal are separated by a sync separating circuit 23. Simultaneously, a code detector 24 detects the key code signal based on the horizontal and vertical synchronizing pulses from the circuit 23. A detecting pulse generator 25 generates a detecting pulse for detecting a turn-up level V_m' based on the horizontal and vertical synchronizing pulses in order to detect the identification signal ID inserted in the sixteenth horizontal scanning period. The clamped signal from the circuit 22 is supplied to a detecting circuit 26 for detecting the level V_m'. Then, the turn-up level V_m' of the signal is detected in the detecting circuit 26 in accordance with the detecting pulse from the generator 25. Based on the detected level V_m', an inverse level generator 27 provides an inverse level (or turn-up level) for unscrambling in accordance with the level V_m'. Then, an inverting circuit 28 inverts the level of the signal from the clamping circuit 22 in accordance with the inverse level.

A switching control circuit 29 recovers the scrambling pattern in accordance with the detected key code signal and the detected level V_m', that is, the signal ID. The switching control circuit 29 then detects a scrambling pattern consisting of the level-inverted period and the non-inverted period of the input composite signal. Then, the switching circuit 29 generates an unscrambling signal. In response to the unscrambling signal, in the case of the level-inverted period, a switch 30 is changed over to a contact b, and in the case of the non-inverted period, the switch 30 is at a contact a. Therefore, when the switch 30 is at the contact a, the composite signal is directly provided from the switch 30. On the contrary, when the switch 30 is at the contact b, the inverted, that is, the reinverted, original level signal is provided from the switch 30. Accordingly, a completely descrambled signal can be obtained. The completely descrambled signal is output from an output terminal 32 through a buffer amplifier 31. Therefore, the output signal at the output terminal 32 is supplied to the monitor 33 in order to view a correct image.

The screen control pattern unscrambled from that shown in Fig. 7B is displayed on the screen of the monitor 33 for one minute. The viewer controls an inverse level control variable resistor 34 in the inverse level generator 27 to minimize flicker. Therefore, the difference between the characteristic curves A and B of Fig. 5 is minimized, as shown in Fig. 10. When the inverse level is thus controlled, the scrambled program is unscrambled in accordance with this inverse level. As a result, flicker of the playback picture can be minimized. In the above embodiment, the signal SR is followed by the program. However, the signal SR may be inserted in or after the program.