U.S. patent application number 11/872645 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-07 for interfering with illicit recording activity.
Invention is credited to Stephen P. Balogh.
Application Number | 20080031596 11/872645 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33565473 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080031596 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Balogh; Stephen P. |
February 7, 2008 |
INTERFERING WITH ILLICIT RECORDING ACTIVITY
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.
Inventors: |
Balogh; Stephen P.;
(Hillsboro, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Steven D. Yates;BLAKELY, SOKOLOFF, TAYLOR & ZAFMAN, LLP
7th Floor
12400 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles
CA
90025
US
|
Family ID: |
33565473 |
Appl. No.: |
11/872645 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11013062 |
Dec 14, 2004 |
7298965 |
|
|
11872645 |
Oct 15, 2007 |
|
|
|
09957810 |
Sep 20, 2001 |
6868229 |
|
|
11013062 |
Dec 14, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
386/210 ;
348/E5.137; 386/248; 386/E5.004 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/913 20130101;
H04N 2005/91335 20130101; H04N 5/74 20130101; H04N 2005/91392
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
386/117 ;
386/094; 386/E05.004 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/913 20060101
H04N005/913 |
Claims
1. A method for interfering with illicit attempts to record an
event with a recording device, comprising: receiving by the
recording device a control command to interfere with the recording
device's ability to record; wherein the control command is emitted
according to a pattern.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving
human imperceptible radiation.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the human imperceptible radiation
comprises infrared.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting by the
recording device an indication of an authorization to record the
event.
5. A method for interfering with illicit attempts to record an
event with a recording device, comprising: receiving a radiation
that is not human perceptible during the event that will interfere
with a recording device used during the event; wherein the
radiation is emitted according to a time pattern.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the radiation comprises
infrared.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving the radiation
occurs according to a selected one of the following intervals:
randomly during the event, continuously during the event, at
selected moments of interest during the event.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving the
radiation according to a pattern selected from at least one of: a
watermark, purchase instructions for obtaining a legitimate copy of
the event, a message.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the radiation comprises
receiving one or more control instructions to affect operation of
the recording device during the event.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more control
instructions comprises 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.
11. A system comprising: a recording medium capable of recording an
event; a receiver to receive a control command to interfere with
the recording medium's ability to record the event, wherein the
control command is emitted as radiation that is not human
perceptible.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the radiation comprises
infrared.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the control command is designed
to interfere with a recorded image recorded by the recording
medium.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the control command is designed
to interfere with the operation of the recording medium.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the recording medium comprises
a selected one of the following: a charge-coupled device (CCD), a
complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel sensor
(APS).
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the controlled command is
further emitted according to a time pattern.
17. An article, comprising a machine-accessible media having
associate data for interfering with illicit attempts to record an
event, wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine
performing: receiving a control command to interfere with a
recording device's ability to record; wherein the control command
is emitted according to a pattern.
18. The article of claim 17, wherein the machine-accessible media
further includes data, that when accessed by the machine, results
in the machine performing: receiving human imperceptible radiation
comprising infrared.
19. The article of claim 17, wherein the machine-accessible media
further includes data, that when accessed by the machine, results
in the machine performing: transmitting an indication of the
recording device's authorization to record the event.
20. An article, comprising a machine-accessible media having
associate data for interfering with illicit attempts to record an
event, wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine
performing: receiving a radiation that is not human perceptible
during the event that will interfere with a recording device used
during the event; wherein the radiation is emitted according to a
time pattern.
21. The article of claim 20, wherein the radiation comprises
infrared.
22. The article of claim 20, wherein the receiving the radiation
occurs according to a selected one of the following intervals:
randomly during the event, continuously during the event, at
selected moments of interest during the event.
23. The article of claim 20, wherein the machine-accessible media
further includes data, that when accessed by the machine, results
in the machine performing: receiving the radiation according to a
pattern selected from at least one of: a watermark, purchase
instructions for obtaining a legitimate copy of the event, a
message.
24. The article of claim 20, wherein receiving the radiation
comprises receiving one or more control instructions to affect
operation of the recording device during the event.
25. The article of claim 24, wherein the one or more control
instructions comprises 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.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/013,062 filed on Dec. 14, 2004, which is a
continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,229 issued on Mar. 15, 2005,
and claims priority thereto.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention generally relates to preventing illicit
recording of events, and more particularly to emitting non-visible
radiation, such as infrared, so as to interfere with recording
devices.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In recent years, charge-coupled devices (CCDs) have been
used within recording devices such as still-shot cameras, movie
cameras, television cameras, telescopes, and other recording
devices.
[0004] A charge-coupled device (CCD) is an instrument comprising an
array of light sensitive elements, such as capacitors, that are
charged by incoming light and the generated current is recorded.
CCDs are advantageous in recording devices since CCDs are highly
sensitive to light, and due to their inherent digital nature,
easily incorporated into electronic machines. For example, in
telescopes for recording celestial images, CCDs record a higher
percentage of light reaching the CCD than does conventional
film-based telescopes.
[0005] In addition to visible light, CCDs are also sensitive to
non-visible radiation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description of the
present invention in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates an environment according to one
embodiment of the invention for using projectors of non-visible
radiation to interfere with illicit attempts to record an event
with a recorder sensitive to the non-visible radiation.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate configuration for the FIG. 1
projectors of non-visible radiation.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to one embodiment of the
invention for controlling the FIG. 1 projectors.
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a suitable computing environment in which
certain aspects of the invention may be implemented.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates an environment according to one
embodiment of the invention. Illustrated is a focus region 100,
such as a movie theater screen, television screen, computer
monitor, stage, outdoor area, or other area in which viewer
attention is focused. In the illustrated embodiment, it is assumed
the focus region is a screen, and projectors 102, illustrated with
dashed lines and not drawn to scale, are behind the focus region
100 with an opening or openings in screen through which projections
occur. In another embodiments, the projectors may be mounted within
the focus region, e.g., for a stage, the projectors may be mounted
on the surface of props.
[0012] Also illustrated are viewing positions 104, which may be
theater seats or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, one of
the viewing positions 106 represents someone attempting within the
viewing positions that is attempting to illicitly record an event,
such a pre-recorded event, such as a movie, or live presentation,
e.g., a play, concert, opera, etc. Projectors 102 are used to
confound this illicit activity. In particular, advantageous usage
may be made of known sensitivity of CCDs to certain non-visible
radiation, such as infrared that can not be seen by people. When a
CCD based recorder receives infrared input, the input is recorded
as visible light. Typically, infrared input is recorded as white
light at varying intensities, e.g., it is recorded as a gray-scale
image. The non-visible infrared input can be used to interfere with
illicit recording attempts of an event, or to introduce an infrared
watermark or copyright notice on a recording, without affecting
viewing of the event by people.
[0013] The illustrated projectors 102 have one or more emitters 108
that emit infrared and/or other non-visible light that is
subsequently received and recorded by recording devices such a CCD
based video cameras, digital cameras, etc. It will be appreciated
that other recording media sensitive to non-visible light may also
be similarly manipulated. For example, if an alternate light
sensitive technology, such as complementary
metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) Active Pixel Sensors (APS)
replaces conventional use of CCDs in recording devices, then the
projectors may be configured to emit non-visible radiation that
affects the alternate light sensitive technology in a manner
similar to the effect of infrared on CCDs.
[0014] In one embodiment, the projectors are configured to blanket
the viewing area 104 with infrared light, causing the illicit
recorder 106 to record a washed out image. Or, assuming a
sufficient number of projectors, in another embodiment, the
projectors are configured to project a pattern forming words, such
as a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warning, copyright
information, purchase information to allow an illicit recorder
opportunity to purchase a legitimate copy of the event, an
arbitrary image, or the like.
[0015] In one embodiment, the projectors 102 may be configured to
emit known infrared commands designed to stop or interfere with an
illicit recording. Most recording devices provide an infrared
interface for controlling the recording device. Thus, for example,
along with projecting a pattern to recording devices, the
projectors could also emit all known stop, rewind, eject, etc.
commands for recording devices. Thus, to an unsophisticated thief,
the recording device would appear to malfunction. Assuming multiple
emitters 108 within a projector, a single projector may
simultaneously interfere with image recording while also emitting
control commands.
[0016] In one embodiment, the projectors 102 emit the above
described interference continually throughout the event. In another
embodiment, the interference is emitted randomly. In a still
further embodiment, the interference emissions are queued to
particular moments of the event. For example, certain moments of
high interest in an event may be interfered with so as to allow an
illicit recorder to believe a recording was successful. That is,
when the illicit recording is played back, after successful viewing
for some period of time, at an important moment during the event,
e.g., a key scene in a movie or play, the quality of the recording
is substantially degraded due to the emitted interference.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate environment according to one
embodiment of the invention, in which.
[0018] Illustrated is a focus region 100 as in FIG. 1, but in this
embodiment the projectors 200 are disposed about the focus region,
instead of on or behind the focus region as with the projectors 102
of FIG. 1. As with FIG. 1, the projectors are not drawn to scale.
As discussed above, the projectors may be used to emit interference
for an illicit recording device. In one embodiment, the illustrated
projectors may be configured to direct their emissions in certain
directions or patterns, e.g., to move like a search light or laser
show light. In one embodiment, the projectors are moved so as to
spell out words or patterns on receiving recorders.
[0019] In another embodiment, rather than projecting towards an
illicit recorder 106, instead the focus region 100 is coated in a
material that is highly reflective to the radiation emitted from
the projectors 200. That is, assuming infrared based projectors,
and the focus region is a screen, then the screen is coated with a
material that absorbs and reflects the projected infrared. In this
embodiment, the projectors are directed towards the screen, and as
discussed above, the projectors are directed to draw words and/or
patterns on the screen that are not visible to intended audience
viewers, but that nonetheless ruin an illicit recording. It will be
appreciated that the techniques of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 may be
employed simultaneously. It will be further appreciated that
emitting towards the illicit recorder or towards the focus region
may be configured to operate in conjunction with movement through
space so as to give the appearance of a large image or message
displayed by the moving emitters.
[0020] In one embodiment, since more and more devices are being
configured with short range communication technology, such as
BlueTooth, wireless plug and play, and other wireless technology, a
transceiver (not illustrated) is used to query for the identity of
recorders within range of the transceiver. In such fashion,
commercial recording devices may be able to announce the identify
of the recorder owner, or at least to place management of an event
on notice that an illicit recording may be occurring.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart according to one embodiment
for initializing and/or actively managing projectors 102, 200 of
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The projectors may be stationary, e.g. having
non-moving emitters, or they may be directed or moved about to
blanket an area with a desired radiation, e.g., infrared or other
emission. Initialization and/or management of projectors may be
controlled by a machine such as is described with reference to FIG.
4.
[0022] A first illustrated operation is the determination 300 that
an event has started. Such determination may occur by way of a
signal received at the start of an event, such as from a signal
embedded within a movie, by monitoring an environment for a change,
such as dimming lighting, by manual human indication, or by other
indication. Different emission techniques may be applied to
interfere with illicit recordings, e.g., as discussed above,
emissions may be designed to interfere with recorded images, while
other emissions are designed to interfere with operation of
recording devices.
[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, a test 302 may be performed
to determine whether continuous emissions, such as blanketing a
presentation environment with infrared, will be used. If so, then
the projectors 102, 200 are configured and/or actively directed to
continuously emit 304 a desired radiation as desired. In one
embodiment, a projector controller, e.g., a machine such as in FIG.
4, assigns a particular task to a projector, e.g., engage in
continuous emission. In one embodiment, once assigned a task,
projector performs the task without further direction from the
projector controller until a new task is assigned. In another
embodiment, the controller remains in intermittent or continuous
communication with the projectors to control their activity.
[0024] If 302 continuous emission is not desired, a test 306 may be
performed to determine whether random emissions will be used. For
example, to minimize wear on emitters, or reduce electricity
consumption, the projectors may be utilized at random intervals
during the event. If so, then the projectors 102, 200 are
configured and/or actively directed to randomly emit 308 a desired
radiation as desired.
[0025] If 306 random emission is not desired, a test 306 may be
performed to determine whether targeted emissions will be used. For
example, rather than interfering with an entire event, instead,
certain portions of the event that are deemed of interest, such as
an emotional moment within an event, are flagged for interference.
During these moments of interest, illicit recording devices are
interfered with. This embodiment allows one to partially illicitly
record an event before receiving interference. As discussed above,
emissions may be configured to display messages on recorders, and
such messages may include instructions for obtaining a legitimate
copy of the event. Thus, if targeting is to be used, then the
projectors 102, 200 are configured and/or actively directed to
randomly emit 312 a desired radiation as desired.
[0026] If no emissions are desired, or when emissions are
completed, such as at the end of the event, then processing ends
314. Ending processing may include a determination (not
illustrated) of the end of the event, such as, for a movie, due to
an end signal embedded within the event, or based on some other
signal or cue.
[0027] FIG. 4 and the following discussion are intended to provide
a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in
which certain aspects of the illustrated invention may be
implemented.
[0028] An exemplary machine 400, e.g., a computer or other device,
for controlling the projectors 102 (FIG. 1), 200 (FIG. 2) includes
a system bus 402. Typically, attached to the bus are processors
404, a memory 406 (e.g., RAM, ROM), storage devices 408, a video
interface 410, and input/output interface ports 412.
[0029] The system may also include embedded controllers, such as
Generic or Programmable Logic Devices or Arrays, Application
Specific Integrated Circuits, single-chip computers, smart cards,
or the like, and the system is expected to operate in a networked
environment using physical and/or logical connections to one or
more remote machines 414, 416 through a network interface 418,
modem 420, or other data pathway. Systems may be interconnected by
way of a wired or wireless network 422, such as an intranet, the
Internet, local area networks, wide area networks, cellular, cable,
laser, satellite, microwave, short range wireless networks such as
"BlueTooth" type networks, optical, infrared, or other short range
or long range wired or wireless carrier.
[0030] The invention may be described by reference to or in
conjunction with program modules, including functions, procedures,
data structures, application programs, etc. for performing tasks,
or defining abstract data types or low-level hardware contexts.
Program modules may be stored in memory 406 and/or storage devices
408 and associated storage media, e.g., hard-drives, floppy-disks,
optical storage, magnetic cassettes, tapes, flash memory cards,
memory sticks, digital video disks, biological storage. Program
modules may be delivered over transmission environments, including
network 422, in the form of packets, serial data, parallel data,
propagated signals, etc. Program modules may be used in a
compressed or encrypted format, and may be used in a distributed
environment and stored in local and/or remote memory, for access by
single and multi-processor machines, portable computers, handheld
devices, e.g., Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), cellular
telephones, or the like.
[0031] Thus, for example, with respect to the illustrated
embodiments, assuming machine 400 operates to control the
projectors 102, 200, then remote machines 414, 416 may respectively
be the projectors 102, 200, and a transceiver-based system for
detecting illicit recorders. It will be appreciated that remote
machines 414, 416 may be configured like machine 400, and therefore
include many or all of the elements discussed for machine. It
should also be appreciated that machines 400, 414, 416 may be
embodied within a single device, or separate
communicatively-coupled components.
[0032] Having described and illustrated the principles of the
invention with reference to illustrated embodiments, it will be
recognized that the illustrated embodiments can be modified in
arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. And,
though the foregoing discussion has focused on particular
embodiments, other configurations are contemplated. In particular,
even though expressions such as "in one embodiment," "in another
embodiment," or the like are used herein, these phrases are meant
to generally reference embodiment possibilities, and are not
intended to limit the invention to particular embodiment
configurations. As used herein, these terms may reference the same
or different embodiments that are combinable into other
embodiments.
[0033] Consequently, in view of the wide variety of permutations to
the embodiments described herein, this detailed description is
intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken as
limiting the scope of the invention. What is claimed as the
invention, therefore, is all such modifications as may come within
the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents
thereto.
* * * * *