Digital imaging system having distribution controlled over a distributed network

• US 7,358,986 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NextPat Limited
• Original Assignee: NextEngine, Inc.
• Inventors: Agabra, David S., McKinley, William D., Knighton, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bugg; George A.
• Application Number:
  US09/660,811
• Time in Patent Office: 2,771 Days
• Field of Search: 348/51, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 345/419, 380/258
• US Class Current: 348/51
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00173 wherein the origin of the content is checked, e.g. determining whether the content has originally been retrieved from a legal disc copy or another trusted source
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00224 wherein the key is obtained from a remote server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00013 Reading apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00042 Monitoring, i.e. observation H04N1/00029 - H04N1/00039 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3235 Checking or certification of the authentication information, e.g. by comparison with data stored independently
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3236 Details of authentication information generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

The three-dimensional imaging system providing distribution over a distributed network. A low-cost convenient three-dimensional imaging system having a digitizer and orientation fixture which automatically acquires and calibrates to each other. Automatic acquisition and calibration provide vastly improved ease of use. The system interfaces with a distributed network, such that authorization for operation and/or access to data captured may be controlled at a remote node on the distributed network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a digitizer having a linear image sensor to collect three-dimensional data about an object;

an orientation fixture to automatically reposition the object from a first orientation to a second orientation to expose a first aspect and a second aspect of the object relative to the digitizer, wherein the digitizer and orientation fixture are integrally coupled as a single unit; and

a controller to coordinate the automatic repositioning with data capture by the digitizer.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the digitizer is capable of automatic calibration.

3. The system of claim 1 comprising:

a host to process the three-dimensional data to render a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of the object.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the host comprises:

a distributed network interface, the interface to transmit the three-dimensional representation to a remote node.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the single unit communicates with the host over a wireless link.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the single unit comprises:

a self contained power source.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the orientation fixture is a turntable.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a request over a distributed network to authorize operation of a lockable image capture system at a node remote from the image capture system and coupled to the distributed network; and

sending an authorization data to the image capture system across the distributed network such that the image capture system is unlocked and enabled to capture an image.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the image capture system performs three-dimensional imaging.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

reprogramming a reconfigurable array of logic of the image capture system from a remote node.