CN101111866A

CN101111866A - Film mark detecting system

Info

Publication number: CN101111866A
Application number: CNA2005800472961A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马克·艾伦·舒马兹; 大泽亮一; 罗伯特·沃伦·施密特
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing SAS
Current assignee: Thomson Licensing SAS
Priority date: 2005-01-27
Filing date: 2005-01-27
Publication date: 2008-01-23

Abstract

A method and a system accomplish inspection of a mark in a frame of a film print. The system can include a frame imager which automatically selects at least one frame in the film print having an FMS mark and automatically captures an image of the frame. The image can be captured prior to, or subsequent to, the print being developed. The system also can include a marker which marks the frame with the mark. Further, the system can include a processor which automatically extracts the mark from the captured image and automatically compares the mark on the frame to a reference mark. The captured image can be stored to a database.

Description

Film mark detecting system

Technical field

Device of the present invention relates generally to the protection film and makes its field that avoids illegal copies, specifically relates to a kind of method that is used to discern anti-piracy film markings.

Background technology

The infringement of copyright that is produced by the piracy of cinefilm is ubiquitous problem.In case film publisher has then lost the control to this product to a certain extent to the copy (print) of distributing cinefilm at the projection merchant of cinema screening.In the conventional process of projection film, the consumer in the cinema can use such as hand-held camcorder and write down this film in the dark.On complicated more aspect, go for film-print illegal copies the people can by and projection merchant's employee collude with obtaining to enter between cinema screening, and after work finishes, copy film under the controlled relatively environment.Under this environment, the audio frequency from projection equipment can be applied directly in the camcorder.Can use tripod to guarantee clear and stable image.Therefore, can carry out illegal copies.

In order to prevent this piracy, production run is improved, so that help this illegal film-print of identification.This technology can be called film mark system (FMS).FMS typically is provided at a succession of fuzzy round dot that is added when film-print is made in image.The example of the film-print 400 that has FMS mark 410 in frame 420 has been described among Fig. 4.

Sometimes, realize the quality assurance processing, so that whether check uses the FMS mark to come suitably film-print to be marked.This process typical case is manual the execution, and comprises film-print is loaded into the film evaluation equipment, searches the particular frame of having made mark, this mark of verification, and load film.The labor capacity of this process is very big, so cost is very high.Therefore, having only a small amount of film to pass through this FMS label check handles.In addition, the more risk of human error has been introduced in the use of manual inspection processing.Therefore, need to carry out automatically the system of FMS label check, so that improve the accuracy of FMS label check, and reduce the cost of this check, thereby can will ought to be used for all FMS mark film-print herein economically.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a kind of method and system, be used for checking film at the mark of frame.This system can comprise the frame imager, is used for selecting at least one frame automatically in the film-print with mark, and catches the image of this frame automatically.Can before or after film development, catch this image.In addition, this system can comprise processor, is used for extracting mark from the image that captures, and automatically the mark and the reference marker of this frame is compared.The image that captures can be stored in the database.

For example, in a kind of the setting, first codec can use such as the compression scheme of Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) compress technique or another kind of block-based scheme the image that captures is carried out digital compression.First codec or second codec can decompress to the image that captures.Processor can extract mark from the image that captures after decompressing.

Description of drawings

Below with reference to the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail, in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is the figure that includes the film-print disposal system that helps to understand film mark system of the present invention (FMS) mark inspection system.

Fig. 2 is the figure of film-print disposal system that comprises another embodiment of FMS mark inspection system among Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 helps to understand process flow diagram of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is the figure with film-print of FMS mark.

Embodiment

Relate to a kind of method and apparatus according to embodiments of the invention, be used for the mark that picture frame comprised of self-verifying cinefilm copy.Can in film-print quality assurance process, realize this method and apparatus, so that detect as yet not to its film frame of suitably marking.Compare with being used for the manual existing method of film-print of checking, the present invention can provide higher mark inspection accuracy, and can realize originally with the one-tenth of saving in fact.

With reference to Fig. 1, the figure of the film-print disposal system 100 that comprises FMS mark inspection system 102 has been described.Except FMS mark inspection system 102, film disposal system 100 can also comprise film printer 104, developer 106 and exsiccator 108.Film printer, developer and exsiccator, the technician by the film-print process field is known.Importantly, the present invention is not limited to one of any specific of these elements.For example, film printer can be that continuous contact printer, stepping contact printer, step optical printer, continuous optical printer, wet film gate printer maybe can be used to use reference film 112 to go up any miscellaneous equipment that produces film image reproducing film 110 (hereinafter referred to as " film ").Similarly, developer 106 can comprise any apparatus that is used for developed film 110, and exsiccator 108 can comprise any apparatus that is used in dry film 110 after the developing process.

FMS mark disposal system 102 can comprise processor 116 and be operably connected to the frame imager 118 of processor 116.For example, processor 116 any other processor that can comprise central processing unit (CPU), special IC (ASIC), digital signal processing unit (DSP) or be suitable for the image that receives from frame imager 118 is handled.In addition, frame imager 118 can comprise imageing sensor, for example, charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) (CMOS), or be suitable for receiving images and data forwarding that will be relevant with the image that receives any other imaging device to processor 116 from film 110.Can provide light source 120, so that image is projected to frame imager 118 from film 110.

Copy process system 100 can also comprise FMS marker 122, is used to use the FMS mark to come the frame of mark film 110.FMS marker 122 is operably connected to processor 116.FMS marker 122 can comprise flashlamp, laser instrument, light emitting diode (LCD), property liquid crystal imaging device or be suitable for producing photon so that use the FMS mark to come any miscellaneous equipment of mark film 110.For those skilled in the art, the FMS marker is known.

In a kind of the setting, processor 116 can provide FMS label information 124 to FMS marker 122, and FMS marker 122 can usage flag information 124, to use suitable FMS mark to come marker frame 110 at suitable frame.For example, processor 116 can be provided in FMS mark and the frame identifier of using on the film-print, and this frame identifier is used to discern the frame of the film 110 that will use the FMS mark to come mark.Can from data-carrier store 130 and/or data input device (not shown), retrieve this information.Data-carrier store 130 can comprise electronic storage medium, magnetic storage medium or be suitable for any other storage medium of storage mark information 124.Can pass through tables of data, array, text, image file or other suitable mode, label information 124 is stored in the data-carrier store 130.

In operation, FMS marker 122 can use FMS to be marked to come mark film 110 in the designated frame.FMS marker 122 can be selected the frame of appointment by any suitable mode.For example, FMS marker 122 can comprise the counter (not shown), is used for when film 110 process FMS markers 122 frame being counted.In another kind was provided with, FMS marker 122 can be measured the film length through the FMS marker.In addition, any one technology can be used to discern frame to be marked, and the present invention is not limited to this.

Frame imager 118 can be caught image from the frame of film 110, and view data 126 is forwarded to processor 116.Processor 116 can be handled view data 126, has a frame of FMS mark so that determined whether mark suitably.For example, processor 116 can provide frame identifying information 128 to frame imager 118, is used for discerning the frame that film 110 comprises the FMS mark.Can also from data-carrier store 130, retrieve this frame identifying information 128.In addition, can pass through tables of data, text, image file or other suitable mode arbitrarily, frame identifying information 128 is stored in the data-carrier store 130.In another kind was provided with, the frame sequence that can set up standard was used for the FMS mark, and can dispose frame imager 118, so that automatically catch image from the frame by frame sequence identification.

Frame imager 118 can optionally be caught image from film 110, and optionally relevant view data is forwarded to processor 116.In a kind of the setting, frame imager 118 is only to catch image from use FMS mark is marked the frame of discerning.Alternatively, frame imager 118 can also be forwarded to display 134 with view data 132, to be used for demonstration.Can come format image data 132 by video format, for example as the VGA signal with display 134 compatibilities.View data 132 can comprise from whole films or alternatively, only the image that captures from the image with FMS mark.For example, the user that can receive the type of having selected the view data 132 that will show on display 134 selects.

In one embodiment, frame imager 118 can be arranged in film disposal system 100, so the frame imager is caught the image of the frame that has developed.Therefore, the real image that when showing film, on screen, finds of the graphical representation of being caught by the frame imager.In addition, this set helps the present invention and has comprised the combining of existing quality assurance equipment that is used for catching from single frame the element of image.

The same with FMS marker 122, frame imager 118 can also comprise counter, be used for when film 110 process frame imagers 118, frame being counted, can measure film length, or discern the frame of marking with the FMS mark in any suitable mode through frame imager 118.For example, the frame imager can be analyzed each frame, has the FMS mark so that discern which frame, and with the frame imaging of being discerned.

Processor 116 receives view data 126 from frame imager 118, and extracts included FMS mark in the view data 126.For example, processor 116 can be resolved view data 126, and included mark in the recognition image data 126.Processor 116 can compare view data 126 and FMS label information 124, and FMS label information 124 is sent to the FMS marker 122 relevant with the frame of being discerned.

In another kind was provided with, processor 116 can add suitable FMS mark to primitive frame, so that produce the reference of desired data frame.Then, the pixel value of each pixel by deducting the reference of desired data frame from the related pixel of view data 126 can be with view data 126 and desired data frame with reference to comparing, and perhaps vice versa.Ideally, at each pixel, this difference is almost nil.If mark disappears or is in incorrect position, then pixel group will have non-homodyne.Non-homodyne and the threshold value of discerning at pixel group can be compared, so that explanation noise or framing bit move.In order to minimize the image data amount of having handled, can acquisition frame so that the restriction pixel only with the contrast of the part of the frame of expecting the FMS mark therein.FMS mark on the film can change size, CF according to print speed, film condensation material type, laser instrument setting and time shutter.Therefore, need some performance criterias to check consistance with concrete norm.

If view data 126 does not comprise the FMS mark, then can trigger error condition, this FMS mark is the suitable expression of FMS mark included in the FMS label information 124.For example, error condition can produce identifier, is used to discern the particular frame of the film 110 that does not have suitable mark.

Processor 116 can store the view data 126 that receives in the data-carrier store 130, for example database.Therefore, can retrieve and check the view data 126 that receives subsequently.View data 126 can be formatted as suitable image data format arbitrarily.For example, view data 126 can be formatted as JPEG (joint photographic experts group) (JPEG) file, GIF (GIF) file, Tagged Image File (TIF) Format (TIFF) file, transplantable network image (PNG) file or bitmap (BMP) file.

In a kind of the setting, frame imager 118 can comprise codec 136, is used for view data 126 is encoded to frame (I-frame), predictive frame (P-frame) and/or bi-directional predicted frames (B-frame) in Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) frame.In this set, a plurality of frames that can imaging film 110, thus form the MPEG group (GOP) of image with the frame of having marked.In addition, processor 116 can comprise or be operably connected to codec 138, is used for GOP is decoded so that retrieve image data 126.Alternatively, codec 136 can be used for GOP is decoded.Can adopt the codec of other type, so that carry out dissimilar compression schemes.

No matter whether realized that it is favourable that one or more codecs, compression and decompression are caught the setting of image, because it checks image specific behind Code And Decode whether still to comprise suitable FMS mark inherently.For example, if after Code And Decode is handled, mark is too little and/or do not appear in the correct frame, this can be to have indicated to need bigger FMS mark, can not lose so that guarantee to be compressed at film 110 and with it under mpeg video stream situation the FMS mark, this is current film to be carried out pirate typical way.In addition, we wish to use other compression scheme, and the present invention is not limited to the MPEG compression.

In optional embodiment as shown in Figure 2, frame imager 118 ' can be arranged in film printer 104.For example, frame imager 118 ' can be arranged in the opposite side of film 110 with respect to FMS marker 122.In this is provided with, can trigger frame imager 118 ' to the real marking of film 110 with FMS mark, so that catch the image of the frame of mark.Do not need independent control procedure to discern the frame of marking with the FMS mark.In addition, frame imager 118 ' can be used for the actual energy of record mark system, and this record is returned its control system of 122 of FMS mark, can suitably operate to guarantee FMS marker 122.

With reference to Fig. 3, the process flow diagram of the method 300 that helps to understand the FMS mark that is used to check film-print has been described.Start from step 302, can use the FMS mark to come one or more frames of mark film-print.Proceed to step 304, can the developed film copy.In step 306, can catch the image of frame automatically with FMS mark.As shown in the figure, step 306 takes place after step 304, but the present invention is not limited thereto.Especially, step 306 can occur in the step 304 before the developed film.

Continue in step 308, for example can use the MPEG compression scheme that the image that captures is compressed.In step 310, can the image that capture be decompressed.Especially, do not need

step

308 and 310 to carry out this method 300, but be useful for guaranteeing at copy film 110 and it being compressed under the situation of video flowing that the FMS mark do not lose.Enter step 312, the image that captures can be stored in data-carrier store, for example database.In step 314, can from image, extract the FMS mark, and its automatically with compare with reference to the FMS mark, shown in step 316.In a kind of the setting, the step 312 of the image that storage captures can occur in after

step

314 and 316.

Although aforementioned is to concentrate on the preferred embodiments of the present invention, can under the prerequisite that does not depart from base region of the present invention, design other and additional embodiments of the present invention, and its scope is determined by claim.

Claims

1. method is used for checking the mark of the frame of film-print, and described method comprises:

In having the described film-print of mark, automatically select at least one frame; And

Automatically described mark and reference marker in the described frame are compared.

2. the method for claim 1, wherein said automatic comparison step comprises:

Catch the image of described frame; And

From the described image that captures, read described mark.

3. method as claimed in claim 2 also comprises the described image that captures is stored in the database.

4. method as claimed in claim 2 wherein, before the described film-print of developing, is carried out the described step of catching.

5. method as claimed in claim 2 wherein, after the described film-print of developing, is carried out the described step of catching.

6. the method for claim 1 also comprises:

Catch the image of described frame;

The described image that captures is carried out digital compression;

The described image that captures is decompressed;

From the image that captures of described decompression, read described mark.

7. method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, described digital compression step comprises: come the described image that captures is compressed according to Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) compression scheme.

8. the method for claim 1 also comprises:

Before described automatic selection step, use described mark to come the described frame of mark.

9. system is used for checking the mark of the frame of film-print, and described system comprises:

The frame imager is used for automatically selecting at least one frame in the described film-print with mark; And

Processor is used for automatically the described mark and the reference marker of described frame are compared.

10. system as claimed in claim 9, wherein, described frame imager is automatically caught the image of described frame, and described processor automatically reads described mark from the described image that captures.

11. system as claimed in claim 10 also comprises the described image that captures is stored in the database.

12. system as claimed in claim 10, wherein, before the described film-print of developing, described frame imager is caught described image.

13. system as claimed in claim 10, wherein, after the described film-print of developing, described frame imager is caught described image.

14. system as claimed in claim 9, wherein, described frame imager is caught the image of described frame automatically, and described system also comprises:

First codec is used for the described image that captures is carried out digital compression;

In described first codec and second codec at least one is used for the described image that captures is decompressed;

Wherein, extract described mark the image that captures of described processor after described decompression.

15. system as claimed in claim 14 wherein compresses the described image that captures according to Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) compression scheme.

16. system as claimed in claim 9 also comprises the marker that uses described mark to come the described frame of mark.