ES2354570T3 - FILM COPY PROTECTION. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method to thwart the piracy of a film, the film includes a plurality of filmed frames, each of the filmed frames includes an image, the method comprises: editing the film before projection such that different areas of the film image of one of the filmed frames are in different frames so that different zones will be projected at different times; and repeat the edition for other filmed frames.

Description

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the protection of film copying.

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION

The present application claims priority over provisional US patent applications N / S 60 / 710.054, N / S 60 / 710.048 and N / S 60 / 710.264 of Moshe, and others, filed on August 22, 2005, whose descriptions are incorporated herein as a reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A frustrating problem in the film industry is the piracy of movies shown in a movie theater. Movie pirates usually enter a premiere movie theater, record the screen movie on 10 videotapes, and then publish pirated versions of the premiere movie on the videotape for the public.

The following references are believed to represent the most advanced technology:

U.S. Patent 1,498,433 for Bouin;

U.S. Patent 1,610,423 for Cawley; fifteen

U.S. Patent 1,759,777 to Cawley;

U.S. Patent 2,983,190 for Betz, and others;

U.S. Patent 3,469,837 for Heilig;

U.S. Patent 3,622,223 to Brackell;

U.S. Patent 3,712,708 to Brown; twenty

U.S. Patent 3,598,470 for Vetter;

U.S. Patent 3,964,822 for Yamashita;

U.S. Patent 4,297,723 to Whitby;

U.S. Patent 5,121,252 to Okada, and others;

U.S. Patent 5,651,065 to Stufflet, and others; 25

U.S. Patent 5,680,454 for Mead;

U.S. Patent 5,837,346 to Langille, and others;

U.S. Patent 5,959,717 for Chaum;

U.S. Patent 6,309,072 for Chaum;

U.S. Patent 6,421,174 for Ooshima, and others; 30

U.S. Patent 6,529,600 for Epstein, and others;

U.S. Patent 6,894,835 to Ohsako, and others;

U.S. published patent application Weisgerber 2003/0169404;

U.S. published patent application 2003/0202576 by Enriquez;

U.S. published patent application 2004/0091110 from Barkans; 35

U.S. published patent application 2004/0098753 by Reynolds, and others;

U.S. published patent application 2004/0033051 of IP;

U.S. published patent application Fan's 2004/0258272;

U.S. published patent application 2005/0200952 of Niwa, and others;

U.S. published patent application 2005/0243278 of Li, and others; 40

U.S. published patent application 2005/0248843 of Maruta, and others;

U.S. published patent application 2004/02655770 from DeCegama;

European Published Patent Application EP 1202079 of Arsenich;

European published patent application EP 0897243 from France Telecom;

PCT published patent application WO 00/74366 of Digital Electronic Cinema, Inc .; Four. Five

Giry's published PCT patent application WO 01/31398;

PCT published patent application WO 03/089987 by Erlas Erlanger Lasertechnik GMBH;

PCT published patent application WO 2004/010681 of Spitz, Inc; Y

PCT published patent application WO 2004/066626 from Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.

Descriptions of all references mentioned above and throughout this report, as well as descriptions of all references mentioned in those references, are incorporated herein by reference. 5

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a system to thwart movie piracy.

The system and method of the present invention, in preferred embodiments thereof, frustrates movie piracy by splitting each frame of a film into two or more substitution frames. Each of the replacement frames is each projected at a time, so that the replacement frames of an original frame are usually projected one after another.

The projection of the individual substitution frames results in a pirated film with significant degradation, so that an illegal copy will be a very low quality copy and therefore virtually unusable. However, the partition is not observed by the human eye.

The system and method of the present invention, in preferred embodiments thereof, also frustrates movie piracy by changing the frame rate during projection and / or by excluding the projection of individual frames by editing or by using of a suitable shutter associated with the movie projector. twenty

The system of the present invention, in preferred embodiments thereof, also includes the use of a screen that has one or more projections and / or recesses on the screen surface, so that the image recorded by a video camera Pirate degrades due to uneven reflections on the screen, thereby leading to a pirate copy of the movie that is virtually useless. On the other hand, the human eye has an extraordinary ability to adjust to differences in light, so that a viewer sees the movie in general without appreciable alterations.

Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method to thwart piracy of a movie, the film includes a plurality of filmed frames, each of the filmed frames includes an image, including the method of editing of the film before the projection, such that the different areas of the image of one of the filmed frames 30 are in different frames so that the different zones will be projected at different times, and the repetition of the editing of others of the filmed frames.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the different zones are areas that are not cut from the image of a filmed frame.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method 35 includes physically duplicating the filmed frame producing a first projected frame and a second projected frame, the first projected frame includes one of the different zones, the second projected frame includes Another one of the different zones.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the edition includes the edition of at least one zone in each of the first and 40 second projected frames leaving the different zones behind.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the analysis of the image of a filmed frame to decide the most suitable way to divide the image of the filmed frame thereby determining the different zones.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention a form of at least one of the different zones changes between a filmed frame and another of the filmed frames.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention a location of at least one of the different zones changes between a filmed frame and another of the filmed frames. fifty

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an orientation of at least one of the different zones changes between a filmed frame and another of the filmed frames.

Also provided according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method to thwart piracy of a movie, the movie includes a sequence of a plurality of 55 frames, each of the frames includes an image, the frames include a pair of frames that include a first frame and a second frame, the method includes avoiding the projection of a first zone of the first frame and a second zone of the second frame, the first frame is next to the second frame in the sequence of frames, the first zone covers

a different frame area from the second zone, and repeat the impediment for other adjacent pairs of filmed frames.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention before the impediment, the image of the first frame is substantially the same as the image of the second frame. 5

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the impediment includes the physical edition of the first zone of the first frame and the second zone of the second frame before the projection of the film.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes providing a film projector having a shutter, and in which the impediment includes projecting the film in such a way that the shutter selectively avoids the projection of the first zone for the first frame and the second zone for the second frame.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention a shape of the first zone and a shape of the second zone changes between that pair and another pair of frames.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the location of at least the first zone or the second zone changes between that pair and another pair of the frames.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the orientation of at least the first zone or the second zone changes between that pair and another pair of the frames.

Also provided, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, is a film projector system to thwart piracy of a movie, the film includes a sequence of a plurality of frames, each of the frames includes an image, the frames include a pair of frames that include a first frame and a second frame, the system includes a reel set for reel the film, a lamp and lens assembly mechanically connected to the reel set, a shutter mechanically connected to the lamp and lens assembly, the shutter is operative to prevent the projection of at least one zone 25 of at least one of the frames, and a shutter controller operatively connected to the shutter, the shutter controller is operative to control the shutter so that the projection of a first zone of the first frame and a second zone is prevented of the second frame, the first frame is next to the second frame in the sequence of frames, the first zone covers a different area of the frames than the second zone. 30

Still in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention before projection, the image of the first frame is substantially the same as the image of the second frame.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shutter controller is operative to control the shutter such that a shape of the first zone and a shape of the second zone change between the pair and another pair of frames.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the shutter controller is operative to control the shutter such that a location of at least the first zone or the second zone changes between the pair and another pair of frames.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the shutter controller 40 is operative to control the shutter such that an orientation of at least the first zone or the second zone changes between the pair and another pair of frames.

There is also provided, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method to thwart piracy of a film, the film includes a sequence of a plurality of frames, the method includes at least the elimination or duplication of some of the frames 45 of a first section of the film so that the first section can be projected at a first projection speed, and at least the elimination or duplication of some of the frames of a second section of the film so that the second section can be projected at a second projection speed that is different from the first projection speed, so that the projection of the first section with the first projection speed and the projection of the second section with the second projection speed It is perceived by a viewer as if projected at a constant speed.

Still in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a projection duration of the first section with the first projection speed is the same as the projection duration of the second section with the second projection speed. 55

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a projection duration of the first section with the first projection speed is different than a projection duration of the second section with the second projection speed.

Also provided in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a movie projector system to thwart piracy of a movie, the film includes 60

a sequence of a plurality of frames, the system includes a reel assembly for reelling the film, a lamp and lens assembly mechanically connected to the reel assembly, a shutter mechanically connected to the lamp and lens assembly, the shutter is operative to selectively exclude individual frames not to be projected, and a shutter controller operatively connected to the shutter, the shutter controller is operative to control the shutter so that a first number of frames of a first section of the film they are excluded from the projection, and a second number of frames of a second section of the film are excluded from the projection, in which the first number is not equal to the second number.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a projection duration of the first section takes the same as a projection duration of the second section.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a projection duration of the first section is different than a projection duration of the second section.

Also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a film display apparatus, which includes a projection surface having a plurality of edges, and an anti-piracy surface feature disposed on the projection surface, the function includes two strips, each of the strips includes two edges, the edges of the strips extend from one of the edges of the projection surface to another of the edges of the projection surface, one of the edges of the strips is connects with the projection surface, another of the edges of the strips connects 20 the strips, a minimum angle between the strips is more than 90 degrees and less than 180, the strips have a minimum width of 0.5 cm.

Also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a film display apparatus, which includes a projection surface having a plurality of edges, the projection surface includes a plurality of strips, each of the strips includes two 25 edges, the edges of the strips extend from one of the edges of the projection surface to another of the edges of the projection surface, the strips have a minimum width of 0.5 cm, different from the strips that look in different directions.

Still in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the strips are connected to each other at the edges of the strips, with a minimum angle between the strips that is more than 90 30 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the strips are arranged in a plurality of groups, each of the groups forms a pattern, the pattern is repeated for each of the groups, the different strips in each group look in different directions.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the different strips in each group look in at least four different directions.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the strips form a non-continuous surface that has gaps between the strips.

Also provided according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method to thwart piracy of a film, which includes providing a screen of films 40 that includes a plurality of strips, the strips are arranged in a plurality of groups, each of the groups forms a pattern, the pattern is repeated for each of the groups, the different strips in each group look at least in two different directions, providing a synchronized projector arrangement, and arranging the projection arrangement in order to project the film from a plurality of different orientations with respect to the screen in the strips that look in the different directions.

Still in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes synchronization of the projection arrangement in order to project selectively alternately in each of the different directions.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the projection arrangement 50 includes a plurality of synchronized projectors, each of the projectors is associated with one of the different directions.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method includes the projection from the different orientations on the strips simultaneously.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the projection 55 is performed in such a way that there is no overlap of the film on the screen from the different orientations.

Still in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the projection is performed without overlapping using complementary filters arranged in the projection arrangement.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the projection arrangement includes a plurality of synchronized projectors, each of the projectors is associated with one of the different directions, the projection is performed without overlapping by editing, to each of the projectors, of a copy of the film in order to remove unprojected parts of the copy. 5

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the strips form a non-continuous surface that has gaps between the strips.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated in more detail from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a simplified graphic illustration of the frame division of an anti-piracy system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a simplified graphic illustration of the asymmetric frame division of the system of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a simplified graphic illustration of an alternative asymmetric division of 15 frames of the system of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a simplified graphic illustration showing a preferred method of preparing a film for use with the system of Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is a simplified graphic illustration showing another preferred method of preparing a film for use with the system of Figure 1; twenty

Fig. 6 is a simplified graphic illustration showing even another preferred method of preparing a film for use with the system of Figure 1;

Fig. 7 is a simplified block diagram view of the film projector system for use with the anti-piracy system of Figure 1;

Fig. 8 is a simplified graphic illustration of a fixed time interval that changes the projection speed for use in an anti-piracy system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a simplified graphic illustration of duplicate frames for use with the system of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a simplified graphic illustration of frame removal for use with the system of Figure 8;

Fig. 11 is a simplified graphic illustration of a non-fixed time interval for changing the projection speed for use with the system of Figure 8;

Fig. 12 is a simplified block diagram view of a film projector system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 35

Fig. 13 is a simplified graphic illustration of a fixed time interval for changing the projection speed for use with the system of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a simplified graphic illustration of a non-fixed time interval for changing the projection speed for use with the system of Figure 12;

Fig. 15 is an orthogonal schematic view of a film display apparatus 40 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 16 is a schematic top view of the apparatus of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is an orthogonal schematic view of a film display apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 18 is a schematic top view of the film display apparatus of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged view of a section of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is an orthogonal schematic view of a film display apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 21 is a partly graphic view in part block diagram of a multi-projector anti-50 piracy system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention for use with the film display apparatus of the figure 20;

Fig. 22 is a partly graphic view in part block diagram of a single projector anti-piracy system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention for use with the film display apparatus of the figure 20; 55

Fig. 23 is a partly graphic view in part block diagram of a multi-projector anti-piracy system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention for use with the film display apparatus of the figure 20;

Fig. 24 is a partly graphic view in part block diagram of a multi-projector anti-piracy system constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred alternative embodiment 5 of the present invention for use with the film display apparatus of figure 20; Y

Fig. 25 is a schematic top view of a film display apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

By way of introduction, the human eye in general does not distinguish the difference between the 10 images projected at 24 frames per second and the images projected at 100 frames per second, by way of example, since the melting threshold of the human flicker is normally approximately 16 frames per second.

Generally, it is necessary for a digital video camera, which is being used to shoot a movie projected on the screen, to be synchronized with the frame rate of the movie projection in order to capture a relatively normal quality image . The refresh rate of the camcorder must be reasonably close to the projection frame rate.

It is common in the television and film industries to use some frame multiplication techniques in order to create a fluid projection. For example, most of the 20 movies are shot at 24 frames per second, but the ordinary speed of movie projection in cinemas is generally 48 frames per second, so that the frames are doubled before the screening.

The present invention, in preferred embodiments thereof, takes advantage of the presence of human vision persistence. A critical part of understanding the phenomena of visual perception of the human eye is that the human eye is not a video camera: there is no "frame rate" or "scan speed" in the eye.

Reference is now made to Figure 1, which is a simplified graphic illustration of the frame division of an anti-piracy system 10 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The frame division typically includes the replacement of 30 of each of the original frames filmed into two or more replacement frames. Figure 1 describes a frame division, by way of non-limiting example, by replicating a frame 12 of a film twice to form two replacement frames 14, 15. The original frame 12 has an image 16. Image 16 is now divided into two strips 18, 19 between the replacement frames 14, 15, respectively. Therefore, the replacement frames 14, 15 are produced from 35 of the original frame 12. The replacement frame 14 includes the strip 18 which is the left part of the image 16 of the original frame 12. The replacement frame 15 includes the strip 19 which is the right part of the image 16 of the original frame 12.

During the projection of the film, each replacement frame 14, 15 is normally projected each at a time, preferably one after the other. It will be appreciated that the number of 40 new frames created by each original frame affects the speed of the projection. In the example of Figure 1, the frame rate must be doubled, so that the film is now projected at 48 frames per second instead of 24 frames per second.

As a consequence, the human viewer usually does not perceive any difference in the film, which will look as fluid as usual. However, the camcorder will record the movie 45 with substantial degradation, so that an illegal copy will be a very low quality copy, and therefore not usable in practice.

It will be appreciated that the desired frame rate will at least partially determine the number of divisions of each original frame.

Ordinarily skilled in the art will also appreciate that the number of divisions 50 of each original frame does not have to be fixed and can be changed for each film or even within the same film, in order to combat piracy.

In the example in Figure 1, the frame is divided equally in half. Other examples are described below in which the frames are not divided equally in half.

Reference is now made to Figure 2, which is a simplified graphic illustration of the asymmetric division of the frame of the system 10 of Figure 1. An original frame 21 has an image 24. Image 24 of the original frame 21 is preferably divided into several different zones 36 to be arranged between a replacement frame 26 and a replacement frame 28 so that the image 24 is divided asymmetrically between the replacement frame 26 and the replacement frame 28.

Reference is now made to Figure 3, which is a simplified graphic illustration of the alternative asymmetric division of the frame of the system 10 of Figure 1. The shape of the division of the original frames into two or more replacement frames is optionally different for the different original frames within the same movie, as described below.

The results of the division of the image 24 of the original frame 21 of Figure 2 into the 5 different zones 36 using the replacement frame 26 and the replacement frame 28 are shown again in Figure 3.

Another original frame (not shown), of the same film as the original frame 21, is divided into a plurality of different zones 38 between a replacement frame 30 and a replacement frame 32. The different zones 38 have the same shape as different zones 36. However, 10 different zones 38 have a different orientation than the orientation of different zones 36. Different zones 38 are based on the same two shapes 40 (two rectangles) as different zones 36. However , the shapes 40 of the different zones 38 of the replacement frame 30 are in a different location and orientation to the shapes 40 of the different zones 40 of the replacement frame 26.

Even another original frame (not shown), in the same film as the original frame 15, is divided into a plurality of different zones 38 between a replacement frame 44 and a replacement frame 46. The different zones 42 have two shapes 48 (ovals). The shapes 48 (ovals) are different from the shapes 40 (rectangles) of the different zones 36, 38.

The frame division system 10 described above with reference to Figures 1-3 is normally implemented using the methods described with reference to Figures 4-7. twenty

Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which is a simplified graphic illustration showing a preferred method for preparing a film 50 for use with the system of Figure 1. The film 50 preferably includes a plurality of filmed frames 52 (only shows a frame shot 60 for the sake of clarity). Each of the filmed frames 52 normally includes an image 54. The film is preferably prepared by performing the following steps, described by way of example for the filmed frame 60. The stages are repeated for each of the filmed frames 52 of the film. fifty.

First, the filmed frame 60 is preferably duplicated physically producing a projected frame 56, a projected frame 58 and a projected frame 62 (bracket 72). The first stage is usually done for all the filmed frames 52 of the film 50 30 before performing the next stage. The dashed lines show a plurality of zones 76, which are removed from the projected frames 56, 58, 62 in the next stage of the edition.

Secondly, the film 50 is edited, before the projection, so that the different areas 64 of the image 54 of the filmed frame 60 are in the different frames 56, 58, 62 (bracket 74). Zones 64 include a zone 66, a zone 68 and a zone 70. The different zones 66, 35 68, 70 are zones, which preferably do not intersect, of the image 54 of the filmed frame 60. The projected frame 56 includes the zone 66. Projected frame 58 includes zone 68. Projected frame 62 includes zone 70. Therefore, different zones 66, 68, 70 will be screened at different times, usually one after the other, in the final film 50 The edition preferably includes the editing of the zones 76 in each of the projected frames 56, 58, 62 leaving behind the different zones 66, 68, 70.

Reference is now made to Fig. 5 which is a simplified graphic illustration showing another preferred method for preparing a film 50 for use with the system 10 of Figure 1. In the most progressive editing processes, which use the digital edition , for example, the division of frames of the film 50 is preferably carried out by means of the use of a module that analyzes the image 54 in 45 each filmed frame 52, and finds the most suitable way to break each filmed frame 52 in two or more replacement frames 78 with parts of each hidden replacement frame as required. Thus, for example, the image 54 of the filmed frame 60 is analyzed in order to decide a more suitable way to divide the image 54 of the filmed frame 60 thereby determining a plurality of different zones 80, 82, 84. Each of the different zones 80, 82, 84 are arranged in a different 50 replacement frame 78 so that when the film 50 is projected, the different zones 80, 82, 84 are projected at different times, preferably one after the other.

Reference is now made to Fig. 6 which is a simplified graphic illustration showing even another preferred method of preparing a film 86 for use with the system 10 of Figure 1. When film 86 is filmed, film 86 is filmed at two or more times the normal shooting speed 55 giving a plurality of groups 90 (at least pairs) of frames 88 having substantially the same image 92. Next, an appropriate zone or zones 94 of each frame 88 is edited. The method is described in more detail below.

The film 86 includes a sequence of frames 88. As an example, the film 86 is shot at three times the normal shooting speed, so for substantially the same image 60 92 there are three frames 88, namely a frame 96, a frame 98 and a frame 100 (bracket 102). Frames 96, 98, 100 are adjacent to each other in frame sequence 88. Zones 94 for

The deletion is shown with a dotted line. In particular, the zones 94 include a zone 104 of the frame 96, two zones 106 of the frame 98 and a zone 108 of the frame 100. The zones 104, 106, 108 normally cover different zones of the image 92 of the frames 96, 98, 100

Next, the projection of zone 104 of frame 96, zones 106 of frame 98 and zone 108 of frame 100 is prevented by physical editing of zone 104 of frame 96, zones 106 of frame 98 and zone 108 of frame 100 before the projection of film 86 (bracket 110). The edition is preferably repeated for each of the groups 90 (at least the adjacent pairs) of the frames 88 of the film 86.

Reference is now made to Figure 7, which is a simplified block diagram view of a film projection system 112 for use with the anti-piracy system 10 of Figure 1. Instead of the physical edition of the areas of the film 86 of Figure 6, it is normally avoided that the zones 94 of the frames 96, 98, 100 are projected during the projection of the film 86, as described in more detail below. Reference is also made to bracket 102 of Figure 6.

The film projector system 112 preferably includes: a reel assembly 15 114 normally for winding the film 86; a lamp and lens assembly 116 generally mechanically connected to the spool assembly 114; a shutter 118 normally mechanically connected to the lamp and lens assembly 116, the shutter 118 is preferably operative to prevent the projection of at least one area 94 of at least one of the frames 88, and a connected shutter controller 120 normally operatively with the shutter 20 118. The shutter controller 120 is preferably operative to control the shutter 118 in such a way as to prevent the projection of the area 104 of the frame 96, the zones 106 of the frame 98 and the zone 108 of the frame 100.

The shutter controller 120 is preferably operative to control the shutter 118 such that a shape and / or location and / or orientation of the zones 94 changes between at least 25 some of the groups 90 (at least pairs) of the frames 88.

It will be appreciated that the choice of how many times the normal speed of filming a movie will depend on the choice, and in particular the speed, of the shutter 118, and vice versa.

Reference is now made to Fig. 8, which is a simplified graphic illustration of a fixed time interval that changes the projection speed for use in an anti-30 piracy system 122 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred alternative embodiment of The present invention.

As described above, a movie is made up of frames so that when the frames are projected at a constant speed of normally 24 frames per second (fps), a viewer tends to perceive a fluid motion during the screening of the movie. 35

As an introduction, an attempt by a pirate to capture a movie that is displayed on a television screen (TV), which has a refresh rate of 52.7 Hz, with a video camera, usually has as a result a degraded image when captured by the video camera. A well known solution is to change the refresh rate of the camcorder to be substantially the same as the refresh rate of the screen of the TV. The refresh rate of the camcorder is normally adjusted by adjusting the shutter speed of the camcorder so that the camcorder is synchronized with the TV.

In order to thwart the piracy of a movie, the system 122 preferably includes changing the projection speed, R, of the film during movie projection, so that the video camera in general cannot be synchronized with the speed of movie projection, even if an automatic mechanism is provided in the camcorder for synchronization.

Therefore, the system 122 preferably projects the film with different projection speeds, R, by projection of the film normally at fixed time intervals, t. Therefore, at the end of each time interval, t, the projection speed, R, is usually changed. All 50 time intervals, t, preferably have the same duration. Figure 8 shows five time periods (t1 to t5), which have the corresponding projection speeds (R1 to R5).

A projector (not shown) of the system 122 has to be instructed on how to project the film as needed by the projection speed, R, for each time interval, t. The projector is normally instructed on projection speeds using a control track, or any other suitable method that allows synchronization between the projector and the necessary projection speed, R, for each time interval, t.

Reference is now made to Figure 9, which is a simplified graphic illustration of the duplication of a plurality of frames 124 for use with the system 122 of Figure 8. Reference is now made to Figure 10, which is a simplified graphic illustration. of the removal of a plurality of frames 126 for use with the system 122 of Figure 8. Reference is also made to the

Figure 8. It is important to note that for each time interval, t, projected at a projection speed, R (each time interval, t, corresponds to the different sections of the film), one or more original frames of the film normally they need to be duplicated or deleted in the editing phase of the movie so that the movie will be perceived by the viewer as if it were projected at a constant speed. 5

By way of example (as shown in Figure 9), a first section 128 of the film includes a sequence of eight frames 130 and is projected at a faster speed, R1, than the speed at which the film was filmed. Therefore, frames 124 (frames 4 and 8) of the first section 128 are duplicated to produce a sequence 132 of ten frames 130, so that the first section 128 can be projected at the projection speed, R1. 10

Also, by way of example (as shown in Figure 10), a second section 134 of the film includes a sequence of 8 frames 130 that will be screened at a slower speed, R2, than the speed at which the film was filmed. movie. Therefore, frames 126 (frames 4 and 8) of the second section 134 are removed producing a sequence 132 of six frames 130, so that the first section 134 can be projected at the projection speed, R1. The projection speed 15 R1 is different from the projection speed R2.

Therefore, the projection of the first section 128 with the projection speed, R1, and the projection of the second section 134 with the projection speed, R2, is perceived by the viewer as if projected with a constant speed.

The projection duration of the first section 128 with the projection speed, R1, 20 is substantially the same (within the frame accuracy) as the projection duration of the second section 134 with the projection speed, R2.

Reference is now made to Figure 11, which is a simplified graphic illustration of a non-fixed time interval that changes the projection speed for use with the system 122 of Figure 8. Optionally, the duration of the time intervals t They are preferably varied as shown in Figure 11. By way of example, the projection duration of the time interval section t1, projected with the projection speed R1, is different from the projection duration of the section of the time interval t2, projected with the projection speed R2.

Reference is now made to Fig. 12, which is a simplified block diagram view of a film projector system 138 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment 30 of the present invention. Reference is now made to Figure 13, which is a simplified graphic illustration of a fixed time interval that changes the projection speed for use with the system 138 of Figure 12.

The movie projector system 138 preferably projects a movie 140 shot at a relatively high speed, for example, but not limited to, between 4 and 10 times faster than the movies usually shot. One reason for filming the movie 140 with a higher than normal speed is to allow the movie projector system 138 to exclude the projection of selected frames of the movie shot 140, as described in more detail below.

The film projector system 138 is now described in more detail.

The movie projector system 138 is to thwart the piracy of the movie 140 that 40 includes a sequence of a plurality of frames 142 (only six frames 142 are labeled in Figure 13 for clarity). The film projector system 138 preferably includes: a reel assembly 144 normally for winding the film 140; a lamp and lens assembly 146 generally mechanically connected to the reel assembly 144; a shutter 148 mechanically connected to the lamp and lens assembly 146, the shutter 148 45 is preferably operative to selectively exclude the projection of individual frames from frames 142; a shutter controller 150 normally operatively connected with shutter 148, and a number generator 152 operatively generally connected with shutter controller 150. Number generator 152 typically generates numbers, preferably randomly (pseudo-random or real-random) in order to instruct shutter controller 150 about how many frames 142 to exclude from projection in each period of time, t.

The operation of the shutter controller 150 is now described with reference to two sections 154, 156 of the film 140.

Shutter controller 150 is preferably operative to control shutter 148 such that: a first number of frames 142 (eg, a plurality of frames 55 158) of section 154 (time period t1) of film 140 is exclude from projection; A second number of frames 142 (for example, a plurality of frames 160) of section 156 (time period t2) of film 140 are excluded from the projection. The first number is not generally equal to the second number. The shaded frames in Figure 13 indicate frames 140 excluded from projection by shutter 148. 60

Therefore, the frame rate "projected on the screen" of section 154 (R1) is normally different from the frame rate "projected on the screen" of section 156 (R2). The projection duration of section 154 (time period t1) and section 156 (time period t2), as well as all sections of the film 140 are generally the same.

The frames 142 excluded in each time interval, t, are preferably distributed randomly in the available frames of the time interval.

The viewer of the movie 140 in the cinema still perceives a fluid movement, since the remaining number of frames is sufficient for the perception of fluid movement. However, a video copy pirated by a video camera in general will be of poor quality since the camcorder will have synchronization problems in the projection of the film 140. 10

It should be noted that the actual projection speed of frames (the speed of the projection of the film 140 by the reel assembly 144) is preferably the same as the speed at which the film 140 was filmed. However, some of the frames Filmed 142 usually do not project which leads to the change in the speed of "projected on the screen" frames along the projection of the film 140. 15

Reference is now made to Figure 14, which is a simplified graphic illustration of a non-fixed time interval that changes the projection speed for use with the film projector system 138 of Figure 12. Optionally, the duration of the Time intervals t are varied as shown in Figure 14. By way of example, the projection duration of a section 162 (time interval t1), with a speed, R1, "projected on the screen" is different from the duration of the projection of a section 164 (time interval t2), with a speed, R2, "projected to the screen".

Reference is now made to Figures 15 and 16. Fig. 15 is an orthogonal schematic view of a film screen apparatus 166 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16 is a schematic top view of the apparatus 166 of Fig. 15. 25

The film screen apparatus 166 preferably includes: a projection surface 168 having a plurality of edges 170, and a characteristic 172 of the anti-piracy surface normally disposed on the projection surface 168. The surface characteristic 172 preferably includes two strips 174. Each of the strips 174 generally includes two edges 176 extending from one of the edges 170 of the projection surface 168 to another of the edges 30 170 of the projection surface 168. One of the edges 176 of the strips 174 is usually connected to the projection surface 168 and another of the edges 176 of the strips 174 preferably connects the strips 174 to each other. A minimum angle, Y, between strips 174 is normally more than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. Each strip 174 generally has a minimum width, L, of 0.5 cm.

The surface feature 172 usually causes the center of an image 35 recorded by a pirate video camera to be degraded due to irregular reflections of the surface feature 172. The pirate video camera therefore normally shoots images of a darker or lighter patch that corresponds to feature 172 of surface 172 so that the pirate copy is virtually useless. However, the human eye normally adapts easily to different light reflections. 40

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the projection surface 168 and the strips 174 can be formed as independent elements or as a unitary element.

Reference is now made to figures 17-19. Fig. 17 is an orthogonal schematic view of a movie screen apparatus 178 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 18 is a schematic top view of the film screen apparatus 45 178 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is an enlarged view of a section of Fig. 18.

The film screen apparatus 178 preferably includes a projection surface 180 which normally has a plurality of edges 182 (upper and lower edge of the projection surface 180). The projection surface 180 preferably includes a plurality of strips 184. 50 Each of the strips 184 generally includes two edges 186 (in the elongated direction of the strips 184). The edges 186 of the strips 184 generally extend from one edge 182 of the projection surface 180 to another edge 182 of the projection surface 180. The strips 184 preferably connect to each other at the edges 186 of the strips 184. The strips 184 are normally mounted on a screen backing 188 to provide additional support for the structure of the strips 184. The edges 186 (along the elongated direction) of each strip 184 make any suitable angle, A, with the upper edge 182 of the projection surface 180, as shown in Figure 17.

The strips 184 are generally arranged in a plurality of groups 190. Each of the groups 190 normally forms a pattern. The same pattern is preferably repeated for each of the groups 190. However, those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that the film screen apparatus 178 may include a single group of strips without a repeat pattern.

Fig. 18 shows an enlarged view of a group 190. The different strips in each group 190 look in at least four different directions (D1, D2, D3 and D4).

A minimum angle between the strips 184 (for example, the angle C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 or C7) is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180. Therefore, the minimum subtended angle between the strips 184 and the backrest 188 of the screen (for example, the angle B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8) is usually greater than 0 5 degrees and generally less than 90 degrees, preferably less than 45 degrees. The strips usually have a minimum width, H, of 0.5 cm. All strips can have the same width, M, or different widths or any other suitable width option. For example, two adjacent strips may have different widths, so that the subtended angle between the adjacent strips and with the screen backrest 188 is different for each of the adjacent strips. 10

In the example of Figure 18, angles C1 and C7 are equal, angles C3 and C5 are equal, angles B1, B2, B7 and B8 are equal and angles B3, B4, B5 and B6 are equal. However, each of the minimum angles between the strips 184 or between the screen backing 188 and the strips 184 may be different or from any other suitable choice of angles.

The protrusions and recesses created by the strips 184 generally cause an image 15 recorded by a pirate video camera to be degraded due to uneven reflections from the strips 184. The pirate video camera therefore generally films images of one more patch. dark or lighter that corresponds to the outgoing and incoming so that the pirate copy is practically useless. However, the human eye normally adapts easily to different light reflections.

Those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that the strips 184 can be of any suitable shape and have any suitable shape, for example, but not limited to, a flat shape or a curved shape.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the films are projected by a projector 192 (Fig. 17) on the film screen apparatus 178. Therefore, it is not necessary to modify the standard movie theaters in the screening room. 25

In accordance with other preferred embodiments of the invention, the films are projected by a plurality of synchronized projectors, or optical arrangements, on the screen. The number of projectors normally used is equal to the number of different directions, D, in which the strips 184 look. Projectors usually project alternately, one by one, each projector is adapted to project in each of the directions, D. Optionally , the projectors project at the same time, so that preferably there is no overlap of the image on the screen as described with reference to Figures 23 and 24. The projection systems for projecting on a multi-directional screen are described in more detail with reference to figures 21-24.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the backrest 188 of the screen and the strips 174 can be formed from independent elements or as a unitary element. 35

Reference is now made to Fig. 20, which is an orthogonal schematic view of a film screen apparatus 194 constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention. In order to simplify the description of the projection systems of Figures 21-24, the projection systems are described with reference to the film screen apparatus 194 which is a two-way film screen. However, those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that the projection systems of Figures 21-24 can be implemented with a projection screen with strips facing more than two directions.

The film display apparatus 194 is described in more detail below.

The film display apparatus 194 is substantially the same as the film display apparatus 178 (Figs. 17-19), except that in the film display apparatus 194 all 45 strips 184 have the same width and all the strips they subtend the same angle to each other and the screen backing 188 so that all the strips 184 look in one of two directions, D1 or D2.

Reference is now made to Fig. 21, which is a partly graphic view in part block diagram of a multi-projector anti-piracy system 196 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention for use with the film display apparatus of Figure 50. Those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that anti-piracy system 196 can be used with other suitable film screens with the appropriate modification for anti-piracy system 196.

The anti-piracy system 196 preferably includes an arrangement 198 of synchronized projectors. The arrangement 198 of projectors normally includes a plurality of synchronized projectors 55. Each of the projectors 200 is generally associated with one of the different directions, D1 and D2, usually by the arrangement of the projectors 200 in order to project a film. from different orientations with respect to the screen 194 on the strips 184 that look in the different directions, D1 and D2. Projector arrangement 198 also preferably includes a synchronization unit 202 for synchronizing projectors 200 in order to selectively selectively project in each of the different directions, D1 and D2. The unit of

Synchronization 202 is preferably connected operationally with the projectors 200 either via a cable connection 208 or a wireless connection (not shown).

Therefore, one projector 200 normally projects on the strips 184 facing the direction D1 and the other projector 200 normally projects on the strips 184 facing in the direction D2, alternately. Each projector 200 generally projects full frames 232 (only one is shown) of the entire film in the manner described below.

As an example, a projector 200 starts projecting on strips 184 that look in the direction D1 for 1/48 of a second without another (in other words, the first 1/48 second, the third 1/48 second, and so on successively) and the projector 200 then projects on the strips 184 that look in the direction D2 one 1/48 of a second without another (in other words, the second 1/48 of a second, the fourth 10 1/48, and so on ).

It should be noted that the projection every 1/48 of a second through each projector 200 has just been given by way of example only. The projection speed can be as low as every 1/32 of a second per frame so that the human eye perceives a fluid movement and usually less than 1/64 of a second so that a pirate video camera 204 does not record more 15 of 32 full frames per second.

Therefore, the human eye perceives a fluid effect, while a camcorder copy is virtually unusable, since although the projection frame rate is sufficient for fluid movement, only parts of each frame are projected at a given time to the capture by video camera 204, as shown by a sample frame 206 captured by video camera 204.

Ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that more than two projectors can be used depending on the screen being used. In addition, those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that projection timing will also depend on the number of projectors used. 25

Reference is now made to Fig. 22, which is a partly graphic view in part block diagram of a single-projector anti-piracy system 210 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention for use with the film display apparatus 194 of Figure 20. The anti-piracy system 210 is substantially the same as the anti-piracy system 196 of Figure 21 except for the following differences. The projectors 200 are preferably replaced by a single projector 212 to simulate the action of the projectors 200 using an optical arrangement 214 that normally includes one or more of the following optical components: mirrors (not shown), prisms (not shown), lenses 216, beam splitters (not shown), waveguides 218 and shutters 220.

The optical arrangement 214 is adapted so that a beam projected from the projector 35 212 is projected consecutively in each of the available directions (for example, D1 and D2). Therefore, the frames of the original movie normally need to be duplicated for each direction (for example, D1 and D2). Alternatively, the film must be filmed with a very high speed, usually equal to a standard shooting speed multiplied by the possible number of different directions (for example, D1 and D2), so that the quality and / or fluid movement Don't miss out

Moving from one projection direction (for example, D1 and D2) to another is normally done by means of the arrangement of shutters 220 in the beam paths for each direction (for example, D1 and D2) and then selectively operating the shutters 220 so that only one of the paths allows the light to pass to the movie screen apparatus 194 at any given time. Four. Five

Reference is now made to Fig. 23, which is a partly graphic view in part block diagram of a multi-projector anti-piracy system 222 constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention for use with the film display apparatus 194 of Figure 20. The anti-piracy system 210 is substantially the same as the anti-piracy system 196 of Figure 21 except for the following differences. First, the synchronization unit 202 is operative to synchronize the projectors 200 to project from the different orientations on the strips 184 at the same time (the projectors 200 projecting in the film screen apparatus 194 at the same time, and not alternately). Secondly, the projection of the projectors 200 is preferably carried out in such a way that there is no superposition of the film in the film display apparatus 194 from the different orientations. The overlapping of the film 55 on the screen 194 is usually avoided by editing, for each of the projectors 200, a copy of the film in order to eliminate unprojected portions of the copy. Fig. 23 shows a frame 224 that includes "odd" strips of an original frame (not shown) for projection with a projector 200 and a frame 226 that includes "even" strips of the original frame for projection with the other projector 200. However, the complete original frame is projected, in combination, with 60 the two projectors 200.

The editing is preferably performed using one of the methods described with reference to Figures 4-6 or any other suitable editing method.

Therefore, a pirate camcorder records a copy of the movie, which features: light and dark patches due to different reflections from the non-uniform screen; or lack of patches normally due to the position of the camcorder in the cinema in relation to the strips 184 of the 5 screen 194.

Reference is now made to Fig. 24, which is a partly graphic view in part block diagram of a multi-projector anti-piracy system 228 constructed and operative in accordance with another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention for use with the film screen apparatus 194 of Figure 20. The anti-piracy system 228 is substantially the same as the anti-piracy system 222 of Figure 23 except that overlapping of the film on the screen 194 is avoided by using a plurality of complementary filters 230. One of the filters 230 is arranged on the lens of each projector 200. Therefore, the selective projection of the film is performed without the need to edit the film by using the complementary filters 230 on the projectors 200. therefore, the different parts of each frame of the film are projected by the different projectors 200 15 without the need to edit the film.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that projectors 200 may be replaced by a single projector such as projector 212 (Fig. 22) using a suitable optical arrangement, such as optical arrangement 214 (Fig. 22) with suitable modifications.

Reference is now made to Fig. 25, which is a schematic top view of a film screen apparatus 20 234 constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention. The film display apparatus 234 is substantially the same as the film display apparatus 178 described with reference to Figures 17 to 19 with the exception of the following differences. The strips 184 are connected with the screen backrest 188 and not with each other so that the surface of the screen is not continuous, with gaps between the strips 184. The strips 184 follow 25 arranged in the groups 190 looking at least in two addresses. In the example of Figure 25, strips 184 look in three directions, D5, D6 and D7.

It will be appreciated that several features of the invention that, for clarity, are described in the context of the independent embodiments can also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. On the contrary, the various features of the invention which, for 30 reasons of brevity, are described in the context of an individual embodiment can also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described above. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.

Claims (8)

1. A method to thwart the piracy of a movie, the movie includes a plurality of filmed frames, each of the filmed frames includes an image, the method comprises:

the editing of the film before the screening in such a way that different areas of the image of one of the filmed frames are in different frames so that the different zones will be projected at different times; Y Repeat editing for other filmed frames.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the different zones are zones that preferably do not cross the image of the filmed frame. 10

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising physically duplicating the filmed frame producing a first projected frame and a second projected frame, the first projected frame includes one of the different zones, the second project frame includes Another one of the different zones.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the edition includes the editing of at least one zone in each of the first and second projected frames leaving the different zones behind.

5. The method according to any of claims 1-4, further comprising analyzing the image of a filmed frame in order to decide the most appropriate way to divide the image of the filmed frame thereby determining the different zones.

6. The method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein a form of at least one of the different zones changes between the filmed frame and another of the filmed frames.

7. The method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein a location of at least one of the different zones changes between the filmed frame and another of the filmed frames.

8. The method according to any of claims 1-7, wherein an orientation of at least one of the different zones changes between the filmed frame and another of the filmed frames. 25