Interfering with illicit recording activity

• US 7,298,965 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Balogh, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fletcher; James A.
• Application Number:
  US11/013,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20050219112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/94, 386/117, 380/201, 380/202, 380/203, 352/47, 352/97, 352/135
• US Class Current: 386/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91335 the copy protection signal being a watermark
• 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

Often, during an event, such as a movie, play, concert, opera, etc., viewers of the event attempt to illicitly record the event. Such illicit recording attempts may be interfered with by using emitters that emit radiation that interferes with recording and/or operation of the recording devices. For example, infrared emitters may be used to saturate an event viewing area. The infrared, while non-visible to human viewers, is received and recorded by recorders using charge-coupled devices (CCDs), such as conventional digital cameras, movie cameras, television cameras, telescopes, etc. Other radiation can be emitted based on the type of recorder with which one desires to interfere. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, emitters may also be used to send commands to recorders, such as stop, rewind, eject, etc., to interfere with operation of the recorders.

Claims

1. A method for interfering with illicit attempts to record an event with a recording device, comprising:

initializing an emitter to emit a control command to the recording device according to a time pattern, the control command to interfere with the recording device'"'"'s ability to record; and

emitting the control command to the recording device in accordance with the time pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said emitting comprises emitting human imperceptible radiation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the human imperceptible radiation comprises infrared.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking whether the recording device has an authorization to record the event.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining receipt of a payment associated with the recording device; and

allowing the recording device to record the event based at least in part on the payment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time pattern is one of random emission during the event, continuous emission during at least a portion of the event, or emission at selected times during the event.

7. A program module on a machine-accessible medium having associated data for interfering with illicit attempts to record an event with a recording device, wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine performing:

initializing an emitter to emit a control command to the recording device according to a time pattern, the control command to interfere with the recording device'"'"'s ability to record; and

emitting the control command to the recording device in accordance with the time pattern.

8. The program module of claim 7, wherein the associated data further includes data, which when accessed, results in the machine emitting human imperceptible radiation.

9. The program module of claim 8, wherein the human imperceptible radiation comprises infrared.

10. The program module of claim 7, wherein the associated data further includes data, which when accessed, results in the machine checking whether the recording device has an authorization to record the event.

11. The program module of claim 7, wherein the associated data farther includes data, which when accessed, results in the machine performing:

determining receipt of a payment associated with the recording device; and

allowing the recording device to record the event based at least in part on the payment.

12. The medium of claim 7, wherein the time pattern is one of random emission during the event, continuous emission during at least a portion of the event, or emission at selected times during the event.

13. A method for interfering with illicit attempts to record an event, comprising:

identifying a starting point for projecting interference during an event; and

emitting a radiation that is not human perceptible during the event that will interfere with recording devices used during the event;

wherein the emitting the radiation comprises emitting control instructions to affect operation of recording devices used during the event.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the control instructions comprise selected ones of the following operation commands:

stop, rewind, fast forward, power off, power on, erase recording media, identify the recording device, and sound theft alarm.

15. A program module on a machine-accessible media having associated data for interfering with illicit attempts to record an event, wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine performing:

identifying a starting point for projecting interference during an event; and

emitting a radiation that is not human perceptible during the event that will interfere with recording devices used during the event;

emitting control instructions to affect operation of recording devices used during the event.