Detecting and Thwarting Content Signals Originating from Theatrical Performances

• US 20100303449A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DigiMedia Tech, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Auctnyc 19 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Roberts, Jon L., Light, Elliott D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,148,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/343
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91392 using means for preventing making copies of projected video images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

A system and method of detecting and thwarting the use of unauthorized imaging systems at theatrical performances. A method includes determining, using a computing device and stored emission signatures of a plurality of different imaging devices, whether an emission is indicative of a presence of an imaging device that has transmitted a content signal and in response to determining that the emission is indicative of the presence of the imaging device that has transmitted the content signal, and initiating, using the computing device, transmission of a thwarting signal from a signal generator to thwart the imaging device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, using a computing device and stored emission signatures of a plurality of different imaging devices, whether an emission is indicative of a presence of an imaging device that has transmitted a content signal; and

in response to determining that the emission is indicative of the presence of the imaging device that has transmitted the content signal, initiating, using the computing device, transmission of a thwarting signal from a signal generator to thwart the imaging device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining if the emission is indicative of the presence of the imaging device that has transmitted a recording signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining if an RF noise emission is indicative of the presence of the imaging device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the emission using a sensor located at a theatrical performance venue.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising generating a reporting signal based on the emission.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises using stored RF emission signatures of at least one imaging system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising halting a playing medium upon determination that the emission is indicative of the presence of the imaging device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating transmission comprises initiating transmission of an infrared or RF command for thwarting an operation of the imaging device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the initiating transmission further comprises producing a stop, rewind, or eject command.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating several infrared or RF commands multiple times per second in the thwarting signal.

11. An article of manufacture including a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, execution of which by a computing device causes the computing device to perform operations comprising:

determining, using the computing device and stored emission signatures of a plurality of different imaging devices, whether RF noise emissions are indicative of a presence of an imaging device that has transmitted a content signal; and

in response to determining that the RF noise emissions are indicative of the presence of the imaging device that has transmitted the content signal, initiating, using the computing device, transmission of a thwarting signal from a signal generator to thwart the imaging device.

12. A system comprising:

means for determining, using stored emission signatures of a plurality of different imaging devices, whether RF noise emissions are indicative of a presence of an imaging device that has transmitted a content signal; and

means for initiating transmission of a thwarting signal from a signal generator to thwart the imaging device in response to determining that the RF noise emissions are indicative of the presence of the imaging device that has transmitted the content signal.

13. A system comprising:

a sensor configured to detect RF noise emissions; and

a memory storing instructions, execution of which by a computing device causes the computing device to perform operations comprising;

determining, using stored emission signatures of a plurality of different imaging devices, whether the RF noise emissions are indicative of a presence of an imaging device that has transmitted a content signal, and

in response to determining that the RF noise emissions are indicative of the presence of the imaging device that has transmitted the content signal, initiating transmission of a thwarting signal from a signal generator to thwart the imaging device.

14. A method comprising:

matching, using a processing device, a detected infrared emission with a stored emission signature of an imaging device; and

in response to matching the detected infrared emission, generating a thwarting signal corresponding to the imaging device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising detecting the infrared emission using a sensor sensitive to infrared energy.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the detecting further comprises detecting a side lobe in the infrared emission.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the matching comprises matching an auto-focus emission as the infrared emission.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising detecting the infrared emission using an aperture in a screen displaying a playing medium.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising using a de-focusing signal as the thwarting signal.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising using a pulse of light causing contrast of an image to change as the thwarting signal.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising saturating a CCD array of the imaging device using the thwarting signal.