Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing application, service, and/or content access control. Based at least in part on a consumer's choice of applications, services, content, and/or content providers—particular in exchange for a subsidy on content and/or network access fees provided to the consumer by chosen content providers—, a computing system may determine whether access to applications, services, and/or content not associated with the chosen content providers (“other content”) should be allowed or restricted. If restricted, the computing system might utilize various network access techniques and/or technologies to block the consumer's access to the other content, to allow access to the other content on a charge per access basis, or to allow access to the other content at reduced network access speeds. In some embodiments, an access provider (e.g., an Internet service provider, etc.) might perform both determination and implementation of content access and restriction.

The invention resides in a method of placing a code, having a plurality of digits, in original data having media data including audio data, such as a music video, piece of music or music track, to produce coded data. The method determining an area of original data where a digit of the code can be placed to inhibit detection using a placement criteria. A coding strategy determines at least one of the format or location of a digit of the code in coded data. The or each digit of the code has a melodic or sympathetic relationship with a characteristic, such as an audio characteristic, of the corresponding original data in the at the location in which it is placed. Digits are added to the original data and outputting coded data. Similarly, the invention resides in a method for decoding and devices and systems for implementing said methods.

In various embodiments, an iterative encoding application encodes a source video sequence. The encoding optimization application generates a set of shot encode points based on a set of encoding points and a first shot sequence included in the source video sequence. Each shot encode point is associated with a different encoded shot sequence. The encoding optimization application performs convex hull operation(s) across the set of shot encode points to generate a first convex hull associated with the first shot sequence. Subsequently, the encoding optimization application generates encoded video sequences based on the first convex hull and a second convex hull associated with a second shot sequence included in the source video sequence. The encoding optimization application computes a new encoding point based on the encoded video sequences and a target value for a first video metric and then generates an optimized encoded video sequence based on the new encoding point.

Techniques for authentication of digital recordings are provided. An element of encrypted data is output in a recording environment. The element of encrypted data, embedded in a digital recording comprising at least one of audio data and image data captured in the recording environment, is extracted. A decrypted value is generated based on a private key and the first element of encrypted data, and the first decrypted value and a stored value associated with a first element of the digital recording are compared. The digital recording is authenticated based on the first decrypted value substantially matching the stored value.

A digital information recording apparatus includes a recording circuit for recording information of a retention period included in the digital information and indicating a period for permitting the digital information to be held in the recording medium, starting with a time at which the digital information is recorded on the recording medium; and information of a playback permission period included in the digital information and indicating a period for permitting the digital information to be played back starting with a time at which the information is reproduced initially following recording of the digital information on the recording medium, permitting temporary recording or copying for the information permitted for “copy never” or “copy one generation.”

Fingerprinting, including: receiving a plurality of master datasets, each master dataset divided into a plurality of input segments, wherein at least one master dataset of said plurality of master datasets is uniquely marked; selecting a corresponding input segment from one of said plurality of master datasets; storing a segment identifier indicating from which master dataset said selected corresponding input segment was selected; and sending said selected corresponding input segment to a client computer system over a computer network.

An apparatus, method and computer program, the apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; and memory circuitry including computer program code, the memory circuitry and the computer program code configured to, with the processing circuitry, enable the apparatus to: enable a wireless connection to be established with an electronic device; capture an audio signal and enable the captured audio signal to be sent to the electronic device using the wireless connection to enable the captured audio signal to be used to create an enhanced audio signal; and wherein the apparatus is arranged to be removeably attachable to the electronic device.

In various embodiments, an encoding optimization application positions key frames within encoded video sequences based on shot changes. The encoding optimization application determines key frame location(s) based on shot change(s) included in a source video sequence associated with a media title. Each key frame location is associated with a different frame included in the source video sequence. For each of the key frame location(s), the encoding optimization application configures an encoding application to encode a frame of video content located at the key frame location as a key frame when performing encoding operations. Subsequently, the encoding optimization application causes the encoding application to perform encoding operation(s) on the source video sequence to generate a first encoded video sequence. During playback, the media title is switchable between a decoded version of the first encoded video sequence and a decoded version of a second encoded video sequence at the key frame location(s).

The invention generates encoded data in which image quality degradation of regions of the frame of interest that have not been encoded is suppressed. For this, an apparatus comprises a quantizing unit which quantizes image data of a frame in accordance with a quantization parameter, every predetermined block set in advance, an encoding unit which encodes quantized data, a quantization control unit which controls the quantization parameter such that a code amount approaches a target code amount, and a scene change detecting unit which detects a scene change. The quantization control unit has at least two control methods, applies a first quantization control method when starting encoding of a frame, and, in a case where the scene change detecting unit detects a scene change, switches to a second quantization control method from the first quantization control method.

Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing application, service, and/or content access control. Based at least in part on a consumer's choice of applications, services, content, and/or content providersparticular in exchange for a subsidy on content and/or network access fees provided to the consumer by chosen content providers, a computing system may determine whether access to applications, services, and/or content not associated with the chosen content providers (other content) should be allowed or restricted. If restricted, the computing system might utilize various network access techniques and/or technologies to block the consumer's access to the other content, to allow access to the other content on a charge per access basis, or to allow access to the other content at reduced network access speeds. In some embodiments, an access provider (e.g., an Internet service provider, etc.) might perform both determination and implementation of content access and restriction.