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What Is HDCP

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23 views2 pages

What Is HDCP

Uploaded by

hamdopopuslic
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What is HDCP?

HDCP stands for High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection, a copy protection scheme to
eliminate the possibility of intercepting digital data midstream between the source to the
display. The format designed by Intel and licensed by Digital Content Protection, LLC
using an authentication and key exchange procedure before video and audio is
presented. Products compatible with the HDCP scheme such as DVD players, satellite
and cable HDTV set-top-boxes, as well as few entertainment PCs requires a secure
connection to a compliant display, the process often described as the handshake. Due to
the increase in manufacturers employing HDCP in their equipment, it is highly
recommended that any HDTV you purchase is compatible. Although most video devices
support high-definition video over component output, analog connections are scheduled
to phase out in the future or possibly forced to limited resolutions output.

Why is it important to me?

Although manufacturers are still making most products with at least component HD
output, new generation of products like HD-DVD and Blu-Ray devices will limit the analog
output resolution (Analog defined as Component or RGBHV). The highest resolutions
these devices can output (720p/1080i/1080p) will be available on via the digital (DVI or
HDMI) connections that employ HDCP encryption. Any new HDTV purchase should have a
digital HDCP compatible input.

It is important to note that HDCP is currently not a standard used in PC monitors, and
almost none of these displays have Component inputs. Although PC monitors are HDTV
capable, HDCP encryption limits this type of use. If you use an HTPC and want to ensure
dual use of your new flat panel display, look for HDCP compatibility.

How does it work?

A simple answer is that an HDCP session will result in the exchange of keys between the
source and display device. The source device will query the display to make sure that the
equipment is HDCP compliant before video is shown. Non-HDCP devices such as PC's and
older model DVI products will work with any DVI compliant display, but the HDCP
compliant boxes will show an image only on HDCP compliant display.

Other products affected by HDCP are scalers, switchers, and splitters (distribution amps).
While these devices do no authentication for key exchange, they must be able to transmit
the presence of HDCP if the video is handled (processed) in any way. Due to the two
different formats of digital connections, occasional inability for proper communications
may result in loss of interoperability. The newer format, HDMI was designed to be
backwards compatible with DVI and in most instances, the two signal types are easily
adaptable, but older devices may not always work well with in-line devices like scalers or
switchers. These problems can sometimes be fixed in "firmware' although that is not
always the case. Incompatibility is often displays on-screen as a snowy image or an error
message.

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