Imaging prevention method and system

• US 6,827,454 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Zushi, Norifumi, Kimura, Katsumi, Kataoka, Shinya, Kudo, Yuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa J
• Application Number:
  US10/454,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 353/122, 353/94, 434/286
• US Class Current: 353/122
• 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

As an imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of a number of visual images projected on a screen, there is employed a method for projecting infrared light to a viewer/audience direction from at least one or more infrared light projector devices. According to the method, infrared light may be directly incident into an imaging apparatus of a person conducting an unauthorized copying act so as to adversely affect the unauthorized copying.

Claims

1. An imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of a number of visual images projected on a screen, characterized by

directly projecting infrared light to a viewer/audience side from at least one or more infrared light projector means;

said at least one or more infrared light projector means being disposed in a near proximity or close proximity of the screen;

whereby enabling said infrared light to be directly incident into imaging means performing an unauthorized copying act so as to adversely affect the unauthorized copying operations thereof.

2. An imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of a number of visual images projected on a screen, characterized by

reflecting infrared light by infrared reflection means to a viewer/audience side

whereby enabling said infrared light to be directly incident into imaging means performing an unauthorized copying act so as to adversely affect the unauthorized copying operations thereof;

said infrared light being projected from at least one or more infrared light projector means.

3. An imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of a number of visual image images projected on a screen, characterized by

reflecting infrared light by infrared reflection means to a viewer/audience side

whereby enabling said infrared light to be directly incident into imaging means of a person conducting the unauthorized act;

said infrared light being projected from at least one or more infrared light projector means;

driving said infrared light reflection means with actuator means to variably control a reflection direction whereby scanning the viewer/audience side with reflection light reflected by said infrared light reflection means.

4. An imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of a number of visual images projected on a screen, characterized by

projecting infrared light from at least one or more infrared light projector means disposed in near proximity or close proximity of the screen;

whereby enabling said infrared light reflected on the screen to be directly incident into imaging means performing an unauthorized copying act so as to adversely affect the unauthorized copying operations thereof.

5. An imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by

automatically adjusting a projection direction of at least one or more infrared light projector means in correspondence with size change of the screen, said at least one or more infrared light projector means being disposed in a near proximity or close proximity of the screen;

and

projecting infrared light to the adjusted projection direction;

whereby enabling said infrared light reflected on the screen to be directly incident into imaging means performing an unauthorized copying act.

6. An imaging prevention system for interfering unauthorized imaging of a number of visual images projected on a screen, characterized by

disposing at least one or more infrared light projector means in a near proximity or close proximity of the screen so that said infrared light is directly incident into imaging means performing an unauthorized copying act so as to adversely affect the unauthorized copying operations thereof.

7. An imaging prevention system for interfering unauthorized imaging of a number of visual images projected on a screen, characterized by comprising:

at least one or more infrared light projector means for projecting infrared light;

reproducing means for reproducing time information, in which brightness at the screen becomes equal or less than a predetermined brightness value, from a recording medium; and

an infrared light projection control unit for controlling projection of infrared light from said at least one or more infrared light projector means in accordance with the reproduced information;

whereby enabling said infrared light reflected on the screen to be directly incident into imaging means performing an unauthorized copying act so as to adversely affect the unauthorized copying operations thereof.

8. An imaging prevention system for interfering unauthorized imaging of a number of visual images projected on a screen, characterized by comprising:

at least one or more infrared light projector means for projecting infrared light;

reproducing means for reproducing area and time information, in which brightness at the screen becomes equal or less than a predetermined brightness value, from a recording medium; and

an infrared light projection control unit for controlling individually projection of infrared light from said at least one or more infrared light projector means associated with corresponding areas on the screen in accordance with the reproduced information;

whereby enabling said infrared light reflected on the screen to be directly incident into imaging means performing an unauthorized copying act so as to adversely affect the unauthorized copying operations thereof.

9. An imaging prevention system for interfering unauthorized imaging of a number of visual images projected on a screen, characterized by comprising:

at least one or more infrared light projector means for projecting infrared light;

receiving means for receiving information from a network for time in which brightness at the screen becomes equal or less than a predetermined brightness value in synchronization with the projection of said visual image; and

an infrared light projection control unit for controlling projection of infrared light from said at least one or more infrared light projector means in accordance with the received information;

whereby enabling said infrared light reflected on the screen to be directly incident into imaging means performing an unauthorized copying act so as to adversely affect the unauthorized copying operations thereof.

10. An imaging prevention system for interfering unauthorized imaging of a number of visual images projected on a screen, characterized by comprising:

at least one or more infrared light projector means for projecting infrared light;

receiving means for receiving information from a network for area and time in which brightness at the screen becomes equal or less than a predetermined brightness value in synchronization with the projection of said visual image, and

an infrared light projection control unit for individually controlling projection of infrared light from said at least one or more infrared light projector means associated with corresponding areas on the screen in accordance with the received information;

whereby enabling said infrared light reflected on the screen to be directly incident into imaging means performing an unauthorized copying act so as to adversely affect the unauthorized copying operations thereof.

11. An imaging prevention system for interfering unauthorized imaging of a number of visual images projected on a screen, characterized by

disposing at least one or more infrared light projector means in a near proximity or close proximity of the screen surface at a front side of the screen viewing from a viewer/audience so as said infrared light reflected on the screen incident into imaging means performing an unauthorized copying act so as to adversely affect the unauthorized copying operations thereof.

12. An imaging prevention system for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by comprising:

at least one or more infrared light projector means disposed in a near proximity or close proximity of the screen surface for projecting infrared light to the screen;

projecting direction actuator means for driving said infrared light projector means to vary its projection direction;

memory means for recording projecting direction information of each infrared light projector means according to a screen size; and

projecting direction control means for reading out said projecting direction information from said memory means when an instruction to change the screen size is detected, for providing the read-out information to said projecting direction actuator means, and for automatically adjusting a projecting direction of said infrared light projector means.

13. An apparatus for interfering with an unauthorized imaging device which is performing unauthorized imaging of one or more visual images appearing on a screen, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting said unauthorized imaging device when unauthorized copying of one or more images on said screen is being performed;

an infrared light projector comprising a plurality of light emitting devices disposed in an array format for projecting infrared light; and

a control unit controlling said light emitting devices.

14. An apparatus for interfering with an unauthorized imaging device which is performing unauthorized imaging of one or more visual images appearing on a screen, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting said unauthorized imaging device when unauthorized copying of one or more images on said screen is being performed;

an infrared light projector projecting infrared light;

a light sensor detecting brightness of said screen; and

a control unit controlling said infrared light projector in accordance with a detection result of said light sensor.