Motion picture editing and distribution

• US 6,735,776 B1
• Filed: 02/01/1999
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kim R. Legate
• Inventors: Legate, Kim R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US09/241,945
• Time in Patent Office: 1,926 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.700, 348/722, 348/460, 348/476, 348/463, 348/464, 725/19, 725/1, 725/9, 725/14, 725/18, 725/20, 725/25, 725/28, 725/30, 725/31, 725/63, 725/64, 725/65, 725/66, 725/73
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence

Abstract

Motion picture distribution is performed by converting the motion pictures into digital video signals, combining the video signals with code elements or icons positioned in the active picture area of images formed by the video signals and sent via satellite to theaters or other receiving locations. The video signals are stored at the receiving locations and displayed repetitively to audiences by means of a projection television system. The coded areas in the pictures are used to transmit motion picture identification, theater authorization and other information which can be used to control the distribution and display of the motion pictures. Reports regarding playing of the motion picture are transmitted from each display site to the offices of the remote distributor. Motion pictures are edited by converting the film into video signals, inserting coded areas into the active picture areas of the video signals to provide time codes, edge codes and related information useful for editing. Preferably, edge codes are represented by coded areas recorded on the motion picture film itself, either prior either to or during filming of the motion picture.

Claims

1. A system for distribution of motion pictures to a plurality of authorized receiving locations, said system comprising

transmitting equipment for transmitting motion pictures in electronic signal form from a first location,

at least one receiver associated with each of a plurality of receiving locations,

at least one motion picture theater for displaying said motion pictures for paid admissions at each of said receiving locations,

storage means associated with each of said receiving locations for storing the electronic signals received by said receiver and representing said motion pictures, and

display means in each of said theaters for displaying visible motion pictures based upon said electronic signals,

said electronic signals including data signals representing data-bearing areas or icons located in the image area of individual frames of said motion pictures, and containing authorization information for enabling said receiver at each of said authorized receiving locations.

2. A system as in claim 1 including detecting means associated with each of said receiving locations for detecting the data signals in said data-bearing icons, and for indicating the detection of said data signals.

3. A system as in claim 1 in which said electronic signals are encrypted, each receiving location has a decryption unit for decrypting said electronic signals, said data-bearing icons include the identification code of each receiving location authorized to receive said motion picture, and a detector at each of said receiving locations for detecting the identification code of that location and enabling said decryption unit.

5. A system as in claim 1 in which said transmitting equipment includes an uplink facility, a satellite for receiving signals from said uplink facility and sending them to said receiving locations.

6. A system as in claim 1 in which said display means is a projection television display.

7. A system as in claim 1 in which said icons are located in a margin of each frame of said motion picture.

8. A system as in claim 1 in which said transmitting equipment includes means for encoding in said icons information identifying the motion picture being transmitted, and each receiving location authorized to receive the motion picture, and for encrypting said signals before transmission.

4. A system for distribution of motion pictures to a plurality of receiving locations, said system comprising

transmitting equipment for transmitting motion pictures in electronic signal form from a first location,

at least one receiver associated with each of a plurality of receiving locations,

storage means associated with each of said receiving locations for storing the electronic signals received by said receiver and representing said motion pictures, and

display means associated with each of said receiving locations for displaying visible motion pictures based upon said electronic signals,

said electronic signals including data signals representing data-bearing areas or icons located in the image area of individual frames of said motion pictures,

including detecting means associated with each of said receiving locations for detecting the data signals in said data-bearing icons, and for indicating the detection of said-data signals,

including sending means associated with each of said receiving locations for sending to a remote location information signals representing information taken form said detecting means, in which said information signals identify a motion picture played and the receiving location at which it was played.

9. A system for distribution of motion pictures to a plurality of receiving locations, said system comprising

transmitting equipment for transmitting motion pictures in electronic signal form from a first location,

at least one receiver associated with each of a plurality of receiving locations,

storage means associated with each of said receiving locations for storing the electronic signals received by said receiver and representing said motion pictures, and

display means associated with each of said receiving locations for displaying visible motion pictures based upon said electronic signals,

said electronic signals including data signals representing data-bearing areas or icons located in the image area of individual frames of said motion pictures,

including detecting means associated with each of said receiving locations for detecting the data signals in said data-bearing icons, and for indicating the detection of said data signals,

including sending means associated with each of said receiving locations for sending to a remote location information signals representing information taken form said detecting means, in which said information includes a member of the group consisting of:

the identify of the motion picture played and the receiving location at which it was played;

the number of times the motion picture has been played;

when the motion picture was played;

box office receipts for the playing of the motion picture;

concession receipts during playing of the motion picture;

a unique code to identify the information transmitted as to the motion picture from which it came, said remote location being a destination authorized to receive commercial information from said receiving locations.

10. A method of distributing motion pictures to paid admission motion picture theaters at a plurality of remote receiving locations;

said method comprising the steps of;

(a) sending from a first station electronic signals representing motion pictures with electronic areas in the image-bearing portions of said motion pictures, said areas bearing information enabling selecting ones of said theaters to receive said signals;

(b) reading said information from said areas to enable receiving said electronic signals at each of said selected ones of said receiving locations;

(c) storing the signals receiving in storage means associated with each of said selected receiving locations;

(d) displaying in said theater at each of said selected receiving locations motion pictures corresponding to said signals.

11. A method as in claim 10 including the step of transmitting the information read from said areas to a further location remote from said receiving locations, and utilizing said information at said further location.

13. A method as in claim 10 in which said information includes the identity of the motion picture in which said areas are located.

14. A method as in claim 15 in which the sending step comprises uplinking said electronic signals to a satellite and broadcasting said signals to said receiving locations from said satellite, including encrypting said signals before sending them, and detecting information stored in said areas to enable decryption means at those selected receiving locations authorized to receive said signals to decrypt said signals.

15. A method as in claim 10 in which the sending step comprises encrypting and uplinking said signals to a satellite, and said receiving step includes broadcasting said signals from said satellite to a receiving antenna at each of said receiving locations.

16. A method as in claim 10 in which said displaying step includes sending said signals to a projection TV system with a screen in one of said theaters for displaying said motion pictures.

17. A method as in claim 10 in which said signals are digital, said sending step including the step of compressing and encrypting said signals and uplinking them to a satellite.

19. A method as in claim 11 in which the information transmitted to said further location includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of;

the identity of the motion picture played and the receiving location at which it was played;

the number of times the motion picture has been played;

when the motion picture was played;

box office receipts for the playing of the motion picture;

concession receipts during playing of the motion picture; and

a unique code to identify the information transmitted as to the motion picture from which it came.

12. A method of distributing motion pictures to receiving locations;

said method comprising the steps of;

(a) sending from a first station electronic signals representing motion pictures with electronic information bearing areas in the image-bearing portions of said motion pictures;

(b) receiving said electronic signals at each of a plurality of receiving locations remote from said first station;

(c) storing the signals receiving in storage means associated with each of said receiving locations;

(d) displaying at each of said receiving locations motion pictures corresponding to said signals, and reading the information from said information bearing areas or icons, including the step of transmitting the information read from said icons to a further location remote from said receiving locations, and utilizing said information at said further location, in which said information includes the identify of the motion picture played and the identity of the receiving location at which the picture is displayed.

18. A method of distributing motion pictures to receiving locations;

said method comprising the steps of;

(a) sending from a first station electronic signals representing motion pictures with electronic information bearing areas in the image-bearing portions of said motion pictures;

(b) receiving said electronic signals at each of a plurality of receiving locations remote from said first station;

(c) storing the signals receiving in storage means associated with each of said receiving locations;

(d) displaying at each of said receiving locations motion pictures corresponding to said signals, and reading the information from said information bearing areas or icons, including the step of transmitting the information read from said icons to a further location remote from said receiving locations, and utilizing said information at said further location, in which said information includes the identity of the motion picture in which said areas are located, in which said information is selected from the group consisting of the number of time and the dates each location is authorized to display the motion picture;

stop and start signals for the storage means at the receiving location;

information as to when to erase a motion picture from storage;

local insertion location information for previews and/or local advertising;

identification of the previews selected for display at each receiving location; and

a code number to uniquely identify reports of plays and other commercial activities at the receiving location.