Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7391866 | Broadcast apparatus and reception apparatus for providing a storage service by which scrambled content is stored and descrambled using scrambling key list A reception apparatus includes: a reception unit for receiving the scrambled content, the scrambled content being scrambled so that a predetermined unit of scrambled content is descrambled using a descrambling key corresponding to the predetermined unit of scrambled... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7389420 | Content authentication and recovery using digital watermarks The disclosure describes methods for using digital watermarking to authenticate digital media signals, such as images, audio and video signals. It also describes techniques for using embedded watermarks to repair altered parts of a media signal when alteration is de... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7363620 | Non-linear execution of application program instructions for application program obfuscation Obfuscating an application program comprises reading a first application program, determining an application program instruction location permutation that transforms the first application program into an obfuscated application program having at least one application... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7353499 | Multiple instruction dispatch tables for application program obfuscation Obfuscating an application program comprises reading an application program comprising code, determining multiple dispatch tables associated with the application program, transforming the application program into application program code configured to utilize the di... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7340059 | Programmable scrambler and De-scrambler for digital telephony equipment A scrambler circuit for digital telephony equipment receives a sequence of input bits, generates the sequence of output bits based on the input bits and stores the sequence of output bits. The generating of the sequence of output bits includes selecting at least one... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7233670 | Signal tracing system and method A system and a method are for determining the origin of a signal received by a pay television subscriber in a given region. A system includes an encryption device located at a main operator, a transmission device adapted to transmit an encrypted video signal towards... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7146008 | Conditional access television sound A digitally encrypted audio signal may be transmitted with an analog television signal. Access to the analog television video signal may be controlled by using graphics overlay techniques. The use of digital encryption techniques on the audio channel prevents improp... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7117514 | Multi-tuner television receiving apparatus and method of restricting the viewing A process and network able to restrict a video appliance equipped with either a single tuner or with multiple tuners, from receiving and subsequently displaying video image signals represented by an accompanying broadcast discretionary control data to include a high... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7043022 | Packet order determining method and apparatus A transmitter adds packet transmission order information to transmitted packets using a forward error device (416) and a masking device (420). The masking device (420) receives ordering masks (610) from a mask store (424). The orde... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7007208 | Systems and methods for data unit modification A modification subsystem suitable for introducing user-defined errors into a designated data unit substantially in real time, so as to facilitate evaluation of the response of a high speed data communications system to errors as such are exemplified in the modified ... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6928162 | Method and system for manipulating and telescoping a hash function A method and system for providing a hash and a complement of the hash for an item in a computer system are disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of components from the item. The plurality of components include a first component and a last co... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6925342 | System and method for protecting digital media A system and method for verifying digital recordings that have a plurality of tracks. The system includes an encoder that: divides the digital recording into a plurality of sections and associates a random number with each section; calculates an identifier as a func... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6839433 | Method and apparatus for generating a signal that defeats illegal cable decoders Illegal cable decoders, i.e., black boxes, are defeated by adding, inserting and/or superimposing an added signal onto an already scrambled video signal, which added signal is capable of disrupting the operation of the illegal cable decoder. As a result of the added... | 01/04/2005 |
| 6792111 | Cryptation system for packet switching networks based on digital chaotic models A cryptation system for information transmitted through packet switching networks masks the digital information data by combining it at the transmitting station with digital data of a certain cryptation code before transmitting the so-encrypted data through the netw... | 09/14/2004 |
| 6754347 | Input/output unit, input/output method, and receiving unit A switching portion of an IRD supplies a non-descrambled TS (transport stream) received from a front end portion or a descrambled TS received from a descrambler to a DVCR connected to an IEEE 1394 interface. In addition, data received from the DVCR is supplied to th... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6633982 | Method and process for managing ultra secure electronic distribution of digital movies to commercial exhibitors A method and system for managing electronic distribution of digital movies to commercial exhibitors at warp speed is made ultra secure by utilizing synchronized and concurrent digitally bifurcated data transmissions via both satellite up-links/downlinks a... | 10/14/2003 |
| 6275509 | Masked signal transceiver A masked signal transceiver of the present invention comprises a transmitter for transmitting a combined signal of a primary communications signal and an attenuated secondary communications signal occupying substantially the same frequency band concurrent... | 08/14/2001 |
| 6215875 | Cipher processing system A cipher processing apparatus which readily updates a cipher processing circuit for encrypting information communicated through a communication function. A service station side and a user side are connected. A receiving function receives a command for req... | 04/10/2001 |
| 6188870 | Passive interdiction system for scrambling The passive interdiction system for CATV scrambling provides a plurality of passive, preselected negative signal traps for securing specific CATV channels. Each trap cyclically attenuates the desired CATV channel thereby confusing the AGC (automatic gain ... | 02/13/2001 |
| 5621792 | Method and system of controlling the mode of access to signals, in particular picture signals The present invention concerns a method of controlling the mode of access to wanted signals, such as picture signals (IMAGE), whereby the user selects an access mode to a wanted signal remotely. A first access mode consists in supplying the user with the ... | 04/15/1997 |
| 5467397 | Interdiction method and apparatus with variable dwell time A cable television interdiction apparatus comprises a microprocessor actuation and control means for actuating and controlling one or more frequency agile voltage controlled oscillators. The voltage controlled oscillators selectively jam only unauthorized... | 11/14/1995 |
| 5463689 | Interdiction method and apparatus with random mode jamming An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscribe... | 10/31/1995 |
| 5361301 | Interdiction method and apparatus with direct memory control of variable frequency elements An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscribe... | 11/01/1994 |
| 5355410 | Method and apparatus for multi-tire time shared CATV jamming A method and apparatus, for jamming selected channels, in a CATV system, wherein six different pre-determined frequencies ("fx"), are generated at a head end, on a time divisional basis, which head end also generates a synchrinization signal ("sync. sig."... | 10/11/1994 |
| 5341424 | Interdiction method and apparatus with frequency change inhibit function An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscribe... | 08/23/1994 |
| 5323462 | CATV subscriber disconnect switch Television service denial apparatus comprises a microprocessor controller for controlling the generation of a control signal waveform. The control signal toggles a program denial device between first and second conditions. The program denial device, respo... | 06/21/1994 |
| 5317635 | Interdiction method and apparatus with mode control for variable frequency elements An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscribe... | 05/31/1994 |
| 5289541 | Interdiction method and apparatus with constant blanking and variable dwell times An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscribe... | 02/22/1994 |
| 5278908 | Interdiction method and apparatus with programmable jamming effectiveness An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscribe... | 01/11/1994 |
| 5276734 | Oscillator system A system for producing an oscillating signal to be used for jamming signal for a band of CATV has a voltage producing circuit for producing a control voltage corresponding to the band, a first oscillator circuit for producing a first oscillating signal ha... | 01/04/1994 |
| 5265160 | Interdiction method and apparatus with pulsed mode jamming An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscribe... | 11/23/1993 |
| 5255318 | Expandable cable television subscriber control system A subscriber control system designed to be placed outside of the subscriber's home, for controlling access to cable television signals provided by a cable television headend. The system is modular in design containing a single control module and a single ... | 10/19/1993 |
| 5243651 | Diagnostic method and apparatus for a cable television interdiction system A diagnostic method and apparatus for a cable television interdiction system is provided. One or more diagnostic modes each corresponding to a particular problem or state associated with the interdiction unit may be entered into by the interdiction unit. ... | 09/07/1993 |
| 5233652 | Selective off-premises jamming for premium CATV service Selective off-premises jamming for premium CATV service is provided by using continuously running fixed-frequency oscillators (19.1-19.n) for generating jamming signals at each of a plurality of distribution locations (13). The frequency of each oscillato... | 08/03/1993 |
| 5228082 | Jamming signal producing system in CATV A system for producing a jamming signal to be inserted in a band of CATV has a voltage producing circuit for producing a control voltage corresponding to the band, and a first voltage-controlled oscillator for producing a first jamming signal having a fre... | 07/13/1993 |
| 5142574 | Optimum amplitude and frequency of jamming carrier in interdiction program denial system Off premises cable television interdiction apparatus comprises a microprocessor actuation and control means for actuating and controlling one or more frequency agile voltage controlled oscillators. The voltage controlled oscillators selectively jam only u... | 08/25/1992 |
| 5140633 | Cable subscriber control device using shared jamming modules A device is disclosed for controlling access to cable television signals. Jamming oscillators are shifted in frequency, jamming multiple services each. The oscillators are shared between multiple subscriber ports, providing a cost effective, high security... | 08/18/1992 |
| 5014309 | Off-premises cable television channel interdiction method and apparatus An off-premises cable television interdiction apparatus provides a microprocessor controller for controlling and switching one or more variable frequency voltage controlled oscillators. The variable frequency oscillators selectively jam only unauthorized ... | 05/07/1991 |
| 4912760 | Off-premises cable television channel interdiction method and apparatus Off premises cable television interdiction apparatus comprises a microprocessor actuation and control means for actuating and controlling a plurality of frequency agile voltage controlled oscillators. The voltage controlled oscillators selectively jam onl... | 03/27/1990 |
| 4837820 | Hybrid CATV scrambling system A CATV scrambling system ultilizes low cost, uncritical, pole mounted components for all subscriber locations and high cost precision components only in subscriber units provided at "premium" subscriber locations. The subscriber unit includes a digital st... | 06/06/1989 |
