Title: Detecting and thwarting imaging systems at theatrical performances
Abstract: A system and method of detecting and thwarting the use of unauthorized imaging systems at theatrical performances. Sensors are deployed at a theatrical event to detect the IR focusing signal and/or the RF signal of an unauthorized imaging device. De-focusing signals are used to disrupt the auto focus system of imaging devices that do not use IR focusing systems. A thwarting signal comprising invisible light frequencies may be combined to produce a thwarting signal that is received by the CCD of an imaging device as white light thereby rendering the recorded image unusable.
Patent Number: 6,861,640 Issued on 03/01/2005 to Light, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Light; Elliott D. (12 Bentana Way, Rockville, MD 20850);
Roberts; Jon L. (529 Clear Spring Rd., Great Falls, VA 22066)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
294273 |
| Filed:
|
November 14, 2002 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
250/221; 250/208.2; 380/201; 386/94 |
| Intern'l Class: |
H01J 040//14 |
| Field of Search: |
250/221,208.2,208.4
352/38,39
380/201
353/122,90,34
386/94
360/60
348/744
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 6018374 | Jan., 2000 | Wrobleski.
| |
| 6742901 | Jun., 2004 | Kimura et al. | 353/122.
|
| 6771349 | Aug., 2004 | Sitrick et al. | 352/85.
|
| 2004/0091110 | May., 2004 | Barkans | 380/201.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 1 057 323 | Feb., 2002 | EP.
| |
| WO 00/74366 | Dec., 2000 | WO.
| |
Primary Examiner: Luu; Thanh X.
Assistant Examiner: Yam; Stephen
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Roberts Abokhair & Mardula
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for detecting the pirating of a theatrical experience
comprising:
a plurality of sensors arranged spatially proximate to an area wherein the
theatrical experience is taking place;
the plurality of sensors adapted to sense auto focus emissions from an
imaging system;
the plurality of sensors further connected to a network;
a processor connected to the network and adapted to receive signals from
the plurality of sensors and to initiate a warning if the signals are
received.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the area wherein the theatrical experience
is taking place is a room and the plurality of sensors are located on the
interior walls defining the room.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the area wherein the theatrical experience
is taking place is an outdoor theater and the plurality of sensors are
mounted on structures arranged spatially so as to surround a space
occupied by an audience.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor comprises a computer program
for determining the location of the imaging system from which the
emissions emanate.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors are further
adapted to receive radio frequency emissions from the imaging system.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the sensors adapted to receive radio
frequency emissions are located in audience seating fixtures.
7. The system for detecting the pirating of a theatrical experience of
claim 1 further comprising a thwarting signal generator located proximate
to the area in which the theatrical experience is taking place, the
thwarting signal generator adapted to emit a thwarting signal that is
visible to the imaging system.
8. The system for detecting the pirating of a theatrical experience of
claim 1 further comprising a thwarting signal generator located proximate
to the area in which the theatrical experience is taking place, the
thwarting signal generator adapted to emit a thwarting signal that is
visibly detectable by an auto focus system of the imaging system.
9. A method of detecting the pirating of a theatrical experience wherein a
plurality of sensors are located proximate to an area in which the
theatrical experience is taking place, the method comprising:
receiving at a plurality of sensors auto focus emissions from an imaging
system;
receiving at a processor the output of the plurality of sensors;
initiating an alarm if the auto focus emissions from an imaging system are
detected.
10. The method as in claim 9 further comprising receiving at the plurality
of sensors radio frequency emissions of the imaging system.
11. The method as in claim 9 wherein the processor further comprises
software means for determining the location of the source of the auto
focus emissions received by a plurality of sensors.
12. The method as in claim 9, further comprising emitting a thwarting
signal from a thwarting signal generator that is visible to the imaging
system.
13. The method as in claim 9, further comprising emitting a thwarting
signal from a thwarting signal generator that is visibly detectable by an
auto focus system of the imaging system.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of entertainment. More
specifically, the present invention is a system and method of detecting
and thwarting the use of unauthorized imaging systems at theatrical
performances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Entertainment is a multibillion-dollar business. Movies, plays, and
concerts represent investments that have both a time value and an
intellectual property value. The time value of an entertainment asset is
usually very high, but reflects the reality that over time the demand for
an entertainment asset will decline as access to the asset increases or as
competition from other entertainment assets increases. For example, a
movie is most valuable when it is first released to theaters and the
potential audience is exposed to advertising and hype about the movie. The
movie declines in value over time as the audience has viewed the movie and
as other movies are released.
Entertainment assets also have an intellectual property value. A movie, for
example, that has completed its theater run has potential value as a video
for sale or rental purposes. The movie is a copyrighted asset and that
asset can be sold or licensed.
Increasingly, entertainment assets are subject to piracy. Theaters that
admit patrons to movies, concerts, and plays forbid the filming or
recording of performances. However, it is difficult to police such
conditions of admission. Finding a video camera or other imaging system in
a large, dark theater is a significant challenge. It is also the case that
within days or even hours of the release of a new movie, pirated copies of
varying quality are available for sale on the street. Such copies are
frequently the result of an unscrupulous individual taking a video camera
into the theater and simply filing or recording the movie. Copies can then
be rapidly made in a "boiler room" environment and sold on the street. And
this does not only apply to movies. Live concerts and performances are
equally protected by the copyright laws and, unfortunately, are equally as
vulnerable to this form of pirating.
What is needed is a means of detecting, locating and/or thwarting the use
of an imaging system that is being used to surreptitiously film a
theatrical performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention is a system and method of detecting,
locating and/or thwarting the use of an imaging system that is being used
to surreptitiously film a theatrical event. For purposes of this
application, the phrase "imaging system" is used to describe any still or
movie camera whether digital or tape based having a storage medium capable
of recording and reconstructing a theatrical perform. The term "thwarting"
is used to describe any action that either detects that a recording is
being made, stops the recording or renders the recording useless, or any
combination thereof.
It is an aspect of the present invention to detect and locate an imaging
system that is being used to surreptitiously film a theatrical event.
It is another aspect of the present invention to detect the infrared auto
focus beam emitted by an imaging system being used to surreptitiously film
a theatrical event.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to detect the radio
frequency signature of an imaging system being used to surreptitiously
film a theatrical event.
It is still another aspect of the present invention to detect both still
and video imaging systems.
It is an aspect of the present invention to thwart the recording of a
theatrical event by an imaging system by interfering with the recording
process or rendering the recording useless for viewing.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from
a review of the detailed description that follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment according to the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the present invention, infrared (IR) sensors are
installed on the performance area (i.e., a stage or screen) where the
theatrical event is being performed and on structures to the sides and
back of the performance area, and on structures above the audience. The IR
sensors are sensitive to IR energy emitted by range finders (auto focus
devices) used in imaging system equipment. This IR light is generally
emitted by an imaging system as a main beam at a target. The target
reflects the light back to the imaging system where it is received and
processed to determine the distance of the target from the imaging system.
The IR light transmitters on an imaging system not only emit a main beam of
IR light, but also emit less powerful side lobes that can be detected by
IR sensors of the present invention located on either side of the imaging
system. Further, the present invention provides IR sensors located behind
the imaging system for detecting the IR radiation reflected from the
target. These sensors are placed in fixed locations on the back wall of
the theatre, for example, or in the case of so-called "stadium" seating,
on the front walls of the various tiers of the theater. Sensors in the
ceiling may also be used to pick up IR scattered by the target.
Some video cameras do not use IR for auto focus but rely on the incoming
light for optimization of imaging being recorded. In these imaging
systems, a CCD image sensor and an associated processor will sense
incoming wave forms of light reflected from, for example, a screen in
movie theater and will create an image as sharp as possible. Because the
sharpest image possible requires the highest possible frequency, the
system tries to find the highest frequency in the incoming image and
adjust the position of the CCD to optimize reception of this frequency. In
another embodiment of the present invention, a de-focusing signal is used
to disrupt this type of auto focus system. In this embodiment, the
de-focusing signal is a high frequency light pulse that is emitted from a
source that is in front of or behind the performance area, thereby causing
the imaging system to misfocus the recorded image or to cause the imaging
system to constantly change in focus point. In another embodiment, a
plurality of de-focusing signals is used at various focal points to
disrupt the recording process.
In still anther embodiment of the present invention, a "thwarting signal"
comprises a light source emitting energy in the light spectrum that is not
visible to the human eye but which is detectable by the CCD of a digital
imaging system. By way of example and not as a limitation, many CCDs used
in video cameras are sensitive to IR energy. A thwarting signal comprising
IR energy would be seen in a recording as a white light. Other invisible
light frequencies may be combined to produce a thwarting signal of this
kind. In another embodiment, the thwarting signal is projected onto a
screen from a movie projector. In another embodiment, the thwarting signal
is projected outward from the performance area of a live performance.
Because the human eye cannot detect short duration pulses of light, a
thwarting signal may comprise light energy in the visible spectrum. In
this embodiment, light is pulsed at high energy, but not sufficiently high
to be detected by the human eye. In another embodiment, a thwarting signal
comprises both light from the visible and invisible spectrum and is pulsed
to thwart a recording of a theatrical event.
Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of embodiment according to the present
invention is illustrated. A theatrical performance is performed on
performance area 10 and viewed by audience 15. A member of the audience is
filming the theatrical performance 20 with an imaging system (not shown).
The imaging system emits both IR light 22 and an RF signature 24.
Reflected IR light 26 is reflected from the focal object. Side lobes
produced by the IR auto focuss system of the imaging system are radiated
perpendicular to the direction of the lens. Dual sensors 30 are place at
the performance area (out of view of the audience), to the sides of the
audience, and at the back of the audience to receive both IR light and the
RF signature of the imaging system. An RF-only sensor 32 is deployed in a
seat of the audience. In a preferred embodiment, each seat would be
equipped with an RF-only sensor 32.
Thwarting signal generators 40 and defocusing signal generators 45 are also
illustrated.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the IR sensors are connected to
a processor through a network. When the processor receives data from the
IR sensors the data may be used to mathematically triangulate approximate
the location of the imaging system using means known in the art.
In another embodiment of the present invention, RF detectors are used in
lieu of or in addition to IR sensors. In this embodiment, the RF detectors
scan the audience for an RF signature that matches a fingerprint of a
digital camera. In another embodiment of the present invention, the RF
detectors are used in conjunction with the IR sensors and allow the IR
sensors to be focused on a suspected operating camera. Additionally, RF
detectors may be installed in the audience seating fixtures.
In still another embodiment, thwarting signal generators 40 and defocusing
signal generators 45 are deployed without detectors.
A system and method of detecting and thwarting the use of unauthorized
imaging systems at theatrical performances has now been illustrated. It
will be understood by those skilled in the art of the present invention
may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the scope
of the invention disclosed and that the examples and embodiments described
herein are in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled
in the art of the present invention will recognize that other embodiments
using the concepts described herein are also possible.
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