Method and system for preventing the off screen copying of a video or film presentation

• US 6,018,374 A
• Filed: 06/25/1997
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Macrovision Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Macrovision Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Wrobleski, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/882,675
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 380/54, 380/7, 380/5, 348/164, 348/744, 348/750, 348/751, 348/776, 348/778, 348/779, 352/39, 352/131, 352/133, 352/244, 353/30, 353/48, 353/94, 353/36
• US Class Current: 348/744
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91392 using means for preventing making copies of projected video images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

A method and system for preventing a visible video copy being made of a projected image on a screen. In a theater environment, an image is projected upon a screen by a film projector or a video projector. A form of film piracy is accomplished by copying the image on the screen with a video camcorder. Most of these video camcorders are sensitive to the visual spectrum as well as portions of the infra red spectrum. To prevent the copying of a projected image by such a video camcorder, a focused or unfocused image in the infra red spectrum is projected on top of the visual image. This infra red image will not be visible to the audience in the theater. However a recording of the visual image by a video camcorder sensitive to the infra red spectrum will be distorted beyond use.

When a focused infra red image is projected onto the screen it may include a message indicating the date and source of the recording. Other messages could be used including a message to the video pirate that he has been caught.

Claims

1. A method of preventing a visible video copy being made of a projected image on a screen comprising the steps of:

projecting a visual image on to a screen;

projecting an infra-red signal on to at least one portion of said screen;

recording said visual image and said infra signal reflected from said screen,

wherein said recording device is sensitive to both said visual image and said infra red light signal thus making a degraded recording of said visual image while said infra signal is not perceived by human observers of said screen.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein said infra-red signal is unfocused on to a the screen thus making a degraded recording of said visual image.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein said infra-red signal is focused on to the screen and includes a message indicating the date and source of the recording.

4. A system for preventing a usable video copy being made of a projected visual image on a screen comprising:

a first projector, projecting a visual image on a screen;

a second projector, projecting an infra red light signal on to at least one portion of said screen; and

a recording device, sensitive to both the, infra red and visual light spectrum,

wherein said infra red signal and said visual image are reflected from said screen and said infra red light signal obscures said reflected visual in said recording device while said infra red signal is not perceived by the human observers of said screen.

5. A system of claim 4, wherein said infra-red signal is unfocused on to a the screen thus making a degraded recording of said visual image.

6. A system of claim 4, wherein said infra-red signal is focused on to the screen and includes a message indicating the date and source of the recording.