Timothy P Rea

US Patent:

6477253, Nov 5, 2002

Filed:

Jan 13, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/229685

Inventors:

Timothy D. Rea - Quakertown PA
Alfred W. Stufflet - Norristown PA
Kevin T. Chang - Neshanic Station NJ

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

H04N 1114

US Classification:

380221, 380200, 380210

Abstract:

A method and device for scrambling video signals for broadcast in a proprietary television system includes modifying the vertical or horizontal synchronization pulses of the video signal to prevent unauthorized viewers from properly displaying the programming content. Preferably, the vertical sync pulses are removed from the signal prior to broadcast and replaced with horizontal sync pulses. A descrambler used with the receiving television uses the manner in which the false horizontal sync pulses were inserted into the video signal to recreate a sufficient approximation of the vertical sync pulses.