Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
  • H04N5/76—Television signal recording
  • H04N5/84—Television signal recording using optical recording
  • H04N5/87—Producing a motion picture film from a television signal
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
  • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
  • G03B21/10—Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
  • G03B21/11—Projectors with built-in or built-on screen for microfilm reading
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
  • G03B27/00—Photographic printing apparatus
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B20/00—Signal processing not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Circuits therefor
  • G11B20/10—Digital recording or reproducing
  • G11B20/12—Formatting, e.g. arrangement of data block or words on the record carriers
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B20/00—Signal processing not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Circuits therefor
  • G11B20/10—Digital recording or reproducing
  • G11B20/12—Formatting, e.g. arrangement of data block or words on the record carriers
  • G11B20/1261—Formatting, e.g. arrangement of data block or words on the record carriers on films, e.g. for optical moving-picture soundtracks
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B23/00—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture
  • G11B23/38—Visual features other than those contained in record tracks or represented by sprocket holes the visual signals being auxiliary signals
  • G11B23/40—Identifying or analogous means applied to or incorporated in the record carrier and not intended for visual display simultaneously with the playing-back of the record carrier, e.g. label, leader, photograph
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B27/00—Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
  • G11B27/02—Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
  • G11B27/031—Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B7/00—Recording or reproducing by optical means, e.g. recording using a thermal beam of optical radiation by modifying optical properties or the physical structure, reproducing using an optical beam at lower power by sensing optical properties; Record carriers therefor
  • G11B7/002—Recording, reproducing or erasing systems characterised by the shape or form of the carrier
  • G11B7/003—Recording, reproducing or erasing systems characterised by the shape or form of the carrier with webs, filaments or wires, e.g. belts, spooled tapes or films of quasi-infinite extent
  • G11B7/0032—Recording, reproducing or erasing systems characterised by the shape or form of the carrier with webs, filaments or wires, e.g. belts, spooled tapes or films of quasi-infinite extent for moving-picture soundtracks, i.e. cinema
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/01—Conversion of standards, e.g. involving analogue television standards or digital television standards processed at pixel level
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B20/00—Signal processing not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Circuits therefor
  • G11B20/10—Digital recording or reproducing
  • G11B20/12—Formatting, e.g. arrangement of data block or words on the record carriers
  • G11B2020/1291—Formatting, e.g. arrangement of data block or words on the record carriers wherein the formatting serves a specific purpose
  • G11B2020/1298—Enhancement of the signal quality

Definitions

• FIG. 6 illustrates a characterization pattern for use with field- interlaced frames of video content stored in a film archive
• video data 108 can be provided to the encoder 112 in non-RGB formats, e.g., as luminance and chrominance values, various imperfections and crosstalk in the archiving and video conversion processes using these formats can introduce artifacts in the recovered video.
• a compatible video display will apply a 2.4-power function (also referred to as having a gamma of 2.4) to the video data, such that a pixel with an RGB code value x (e.g., from digitizer 106), when properly displayed, will produce a light output proportional to x 2 4.
• RGB code value x e.g., from digitizer 106
• Other video standards provide other power functions, for example, a monitor compliant with the sRGB standard will have a gamma of 2.2.
• characterization pattern 110 which indicates where each frame of video information is to be found in each frame of the archive. If interlaced fields are present in video content 102, then
• Text can also be used to annotate the pattern, for example, to indicate the format of the original video, e.g., "1920 x 1080, interlaced, 60Hz," and time-code for each frame can be printed (where at least a portion of the calibration pattern is being provided periodically throughout the archive).
• data such as a collection of binary values may be provided as light and dark pixels, optionally combined with geometric reference marks (indicating a reference frame and scale for horizontal and vertical coordinates). Such a numerically based position and scale can be used instead of graphically depicting borders for data regions. Such a binary pattern can also represent appropriate SMPTE time-code for each frame.
• the code values used for these patches are selected to substantially cover the full extent of video code values, including values at or near the extremes for each color component, so as to allow interpolation or extrapolation of the non-selected values with adequate accuracy, especially if the coverage is sparse.
• Subsets of the patches supplied in characterization pattern 110 may present color components separately or independently of other components, i.e., with the value of the other components being fixed or at zero) and/or in varying combinations (e.g., grey scales where all components have the same value; and/or different collections of non-grey values).
• the video data 108 includes code values that are, or can be converted to, RGB code values.
• the RGB code values are typically 10 bit representations, but the
• representations may be smaller or larger (e.g., 8-bits or 12-bits).
• the range of RGB codes of video data 108 should correspond to the range of codes represented in characterization pattern 110.
• the characterization pattern preferably covers at least the range of codes that the video pixel values might be using, so that there is no need to extrapolate the range. (Such extrapolation is unlikely to be very accurate.
• incorporation of the characterization pattern 110 into encoded file 114 can provide self-documenting or self- sufficient information for interpretation of an archive, including the effects of age on the archive.
• the effects of age can be accounted for based on colorimetric elements such as a density gradient, since elements in the characterization pattern would have the same aged effect as images in the film archive. If color patterns are designed to represent the entire color range for the video content, it is also possible to decode the pattern
• text instructions for archive interpretation can be included in the characterization pattern, so that a decoder can decode the archive without prior knowledge about the pattern.
• the encoded file 114 is provided to film recorder 116, which exposes color film stock 118 in accordance with the encoded file data to produce film output 122 (i.e., exposed film) having the latent archive data, which is developed and fixed in chemical film processor 124 to produce film archive 126.
• film recorder 116 which exposes color film stock 118 in accordance with the encoded file data to produce film output 122 (i.e., exposed film) having the latent archive data, which is developed and fixed in chemical film processor 124 to produce film archive 126.
• calibration data 120 produces a linearization such that a given change in density code value produces a fixed change in density, across the entire range of density code values.
• the calibration data may include a compensation matrix for crosstalk in the dye sensitivity.
• FIG. 9B shows another example of a characteristic curve (e.g., for one color) for these stocks, which may exhibit a shorter linear region, i.e., a smaller range of exposure values within the linear region BC, compared to that of FIG. 9A.
• the characteristic curve has a more substantial (e.g., over a larger range of exposures) "toe" region AB with diminished film sensitivity at low exposures, i.e., a smaller slope in the curve where an incremental exposure produces a relatively small incremental density compared to the linear region BC, and a "shoulder" region CD at higher exposures, with a similarly diminished film sensitivity as a function of exposure.
• the overall characteristic curve has a more pronounced sigmoidal shape. Nonetheless, corresponding calibration data 120 can be used to linearize the relationship between pixel code value and density to be recorded on the film archive. However, the resulting film archive 126 will be more sensitive to variations in the accuracy of film recorder 116 and film processor 124. Furthermore, since the linear region BC of this characteristic curve is steeper than that of the Kodak Internegative II Film 5272, i.e., the variation in density will be greater for a given incremental change in exposure, such stock will be more prone to noise in this intermediate region (and less so in the low or high exposure regions).
• a numeric density code value 'c' from encoded file 114 (e.g., corresponding to the amount of red primary in the color of a pixel) is provided to film recorder 116 for conversion to a corresponding film-based parameter, e.g., film density (often measured in units called "status-M"), based on calibration data 120.
• film-based parameter e.g., film density (often measured in units called "status-M"
• the calibration provides a precise, predetermined linear relationship between density code value 'c' and a resulting density.
• the film recorder is calibrated to provide an incremental density of 0.002 per incremental code value. Exposures required for generating desired film densities are determined from the film characteristic curve (similar to FIGS.
• film densities are converted back into the code values 'c' by a calibrated film scanner, as discussed below in the archive retrieval system of FIG. IB.
• FIG. IB shows an example of an archive reading or retrieval system 130 for recovering video from a film archive, e.g., film archive 126 produced by archive production system 100.
• Film archive 126 may have recently been made by film archive system 100, or may have aged substantially (i.e., archive reading system 130 may be operating on archive 126 some fifty years after the creation of the archive).
• Film archive 126 is scanned by film scanner 132 to convert film densities to film data 136, i.e., represented by density code values.
• Film scanner 132 has calibration data 134, which, similar to calibration data 120, is a collection of parameter values (e.g., offsets, scalings, which may be non- linear, perhaps a color look-up table of its own) that linearizes and normalizes the response of the scanner to film density.
• parameter values e.g., offsets, scalings, which may be non- linear, perhaps a color look-up table of its own
• densities on film archive 126 are measured and produce linear code values in film data 136, i.e., an incremental code value represents the same change in density at least throughout the range of densities in film archive 126.
• calibration data 134 may linearize codes for densities throughout the range of densities measurable by film scanner 132.
• a properly calibrated scanner e.g., with a linear relationship between density code values and film densities
• an image portion recorded with a density corresponding to a code value 'C from the encoded file 114 is read or measured by scanner 132, and the resulting numeric density code value, exclusive of any aging effects or processing drift, will be about equal to, if not exactly, 'C.
• decoder 138 reads and examines film data 136 to find the portion corresponding to characterization pattern 110, which is further examined to identify the locations of data regions, i.e., regions containing representations of video data 108, within film data 136. This examination will reveal whether the video data 108 includes a progressive or interlaced raster, and where the data regions corresponding to the frames or fields are to be found.
• decoder 138 Based on prior knowledge or information relating to, or obtained from, the characterization pattern, decoder 138 recognizes which density code values in film data 136 correspond to original pixel codes in characterization pattern 110, and a look-up table is created within decoder 138.
• prior knowledge relating to the pattern may be predetermined or provided separately to the decoder, or information may be included in the pattern itself, either explicitly or known by convention.
• the look-up table which may be sparse, is created specifically for use with decoding film data 136. Subsequently, density code values read in portions of film data 136 corresponding to video content data can be decoded, i.e., converted into video data, using this look-up table, including by interpolation, as needed.
• video data is extracted and colorimetrically decoded by decoder 138 from film data 136, whether field-by- field or frame-by- frame, as appropriate.
• Recovered video data 140 is read by video output device 142, which can format the video data 140 into a video signal appropriate to video recorder 144 to produce regenerated video content 146.
• Video recorder 144 may, for example, be a video tape or digital video disk recorder. Alternatively, in lieu of video recorder 144, a broadcast or content streaming system may be used, and recovered video data 140 can be directly provided for display without an intermediate recorded form.
• original video content 102 and regenerated video content 146 may be examined with video comparison system 150, which may include displays 152 and 154 to allow an operator to view the original video and the recovered video in a side-by-side presentation.
• video comparison system 150 an A/B switch can alternate between showing one video and then the other on a common display.
• the two videos can be shown in a "butterfly" display, which presents one half of an original video and a mirror image of the same half of the recovered video on the same display.
• Such a display offers an advantage over a dual (e.g., side-by-side) display because corresponding parts of the two videos are presented in similar surroundings (e.g., with similar contrasts against their respective backgrounds), thus facilitating visual comparison between the two videos.
• the video content 146 generated from the film archive according to the present invention will be substantially identical to that of original video content 102.
• FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show exemplary embodiments of frames of video data encoded within a film archive 126.
• film archive 200 several progressive scan video frames are encoded as frames Fl, F2 and F3 on the film
• film archive 300 interlaced scan video frames are encoded as separated, successive fields such as Fl-fl, F2-f2, and so on, where Fl- f 1 and Fl -f2 denote different fields f 1 , f2 within the same frame Fl .
• Film archives 200 and 300 are stored or written on film stock 202 and 302, respectively, with corresponding perforations such as 204 and 304 for establishing the respective position and interval of exemplary film frames 220 and 320.
• Each film archive may have an optional soundtrack 206, 306, which can be analog or digital or both, or a time code track (not shown) for synchronization with an audio track that is archived separately.
• the data regions 210, 211 and 212 of film archive 200, and data regions 310, 311, 312, 313, 314 and 315 of film archive 300 contain representations of individual video fields that are spaced within their corresponding film frames (frames 220 and 320 being
• These data regions have horizontal spacings 224, 225, 324, 325 from the edge of the corresponding film frames, vertical spacings 221, 321 from the beginning of the corresponding film frames, vertical heights 222 and 322, and interlaced fields have inter-field separation 323.
• These parameters or dimensions are all identified by the spatial and temporal descriptions provided in characterization patterns, and are described in more detail below in conjunction with FIGS. 4A-B and 5-6.
• FIG. 4 A shows a characterization pattern 110 recorded as a header 400 within film archive 126, and in this example, for original video content 102 having interlaced fields.
• Film frame height 420 is the same length as a run of four perforations (illustrated as perforation 404), forming a conventional 4-perforation ("4-perf ') film frame.
• perforation 404 a run of four perforations
• 4-perf ' 4-perforation
• a different integer number of film perforations might be selected as the film frame height.
• data regions 412 and 413 contain representations of two video fields (e.g., similar to fields 312, 313 in film archive 300), and may be defined by their respective boundaries.
• each boundary of the data region is denoted by three rectangles, as shown in more detail in FIG. 4B, which represents a magnified view of region 450 corresponding to corner portions of rectangles 451, 452 and 453 forming the boundary of data region 412.
• the rectangle in FIG. 4A having corner region 450 includes three rectangles: 451, 452, and 453, which are drawn on film 400 as pixels, e.g., with each rectangle being one pixel thick.
• Rectangle 452 differs in color and/or film density from its adjacent rectangles 451 and 453, and is shown by a hash pattern.
• the data region for field 412 includes pixels located on or within rectangle 452 (i.e., region 412 interior to rectangle 452, including those in rectangle 453), but excluding those in rectangle 451 or those outside.
• Rectangle 451 can be presented in an easily recognizable color, e.g., red, to facilitate detection of the boundary between data versus non-data regions.
• the first and second fields are laid out with the corresponding film frame (e.g., frame 320) exactly as regions 412 and 413 are laid out (including out to boundary rectangle 452) within characterization pattern frame 420.
• film recorder 116 and film scanner 132 are required to accurately and repeatably position film stock 118 and film archive 126, respectively, to ensure reproducible and accurate mapping of the encoded file 114 into a film archive, and from the film archive into film data 136 during video recovery.
• rectangles 451-453 specify precisely the location or boundary of the first field in each film frame.
• the film recorder and film scanner operate on the principle of being able to position the film relative to the perforations with sub-pixel accuracy.
• each first field e.g., Fl-fl, F2-f2 and F3-fl
• This identical spatial relationship holds true with the characterization pattern 400, which defines the regions where the first fields and second fields are located.
• region 412 as represented by its specific boundary configuration (such as rectangles 451, 452 and 453) specifies locations of first fields Fl-fl, F2-fl and F3-fl, and so on.
• rectangles around data region 413 would specify where individual second fields (e.g., Fl-f2, F2-f2 and F3-f2) are to be found.
• a single data region with corresponding boundary e.g., rectangles similar to those detailed in FIG. 4B
• progressive frame video data regions e.g., 210-212
• top 412T of first field 412 is shown in both FIGS. 4A and 4B, and defines head gap 421.
• head gap 421 is selected to ensure that data regions 412 and 413 lie sufficiently inset within film frame 420 such that film recorder 116 can reliably address the entirety of data regions 412 and 413 for writing, and film scanner 132 can reliably access the entirety of the data regions for reading.
• inter-field gap 423 (shown in exaggerated proportion compared to first and second fields 412 and 413) in archives of field-interlaced video content, assures that each field can be stored and recovered precisely and distinctly, without introducing significant errors in the scanned images that might arise from misalignment of the film in the scanner.
• a misalignment in the scanner can result in pixels near an edge of one field being read or scanned as pixels of an adjacent field.
• the characterization pattern in film frame 420 includes, for example, colorimetric elements 430-432.
• the colorimetric elements may include a neutral gradient 430, which, in one example, is a 21 -step grayscale covering a range of densities from the minimum to maximum in each of the color dyes (e.g., from a density of about 0.05 to 3.05 in steps of about 0.15, assuming such densities are achievable from film stock 118 within new film archive 126).
• a density gradient can be used as a self-calibrating tool for the effects of aging.
• decoder 138 can correct for such aging effects by reducing the lightest or lowest densities in the archive film by a corresponding amount. If the dark end (i.e., maximum density) of the gradient is 5% less dense, then similar dark pixels in the archive film will be increased by a
• a linear interpolation for any density value can be made based on two readings from the gradient, and by using additional readings across gradient 430, the system can compensate for non-linear aging effects.
• the colorimetric elements may also include one or more primary or secondary color gradient 431, which, in one example, is a 21 -step scale from about minimum density to maximum density of substantially only one dye (for measuring primary colors) or two dyes (to measure secondary colors). Similar to that described above for the neutral density gradient, density drifts arising from aging of individual dyes can also be measured and compensation provided.
• primary or secondary color gradient 431 is a 21 -step scale from about minimum density to maximum density of substantially only one dye (for measuring primary colors) or two dyes (to measure secondary colors). Similar to that described above for the neutral density gradient, density drifts arising from aging of individual dyes can also be measured and compensation provided.
• the colorimetric elements may include a collection of patches 432 which represent specific colors.
• An exemplary collection of colors would be generally similar those found in the ANSI IT8 standards for color communications and control, e.g., IT8.7/1 R2003 Graphic Technology - Color Transmission Target for Input Scanner Calibration, published by the American National Standards Institute, Washington, DC, that are normally used to calibrate scanners; or the Munsell ColorChecker marketed by X-Rite, Inc. of Grand Rapids, MI.
• Such colors emphasize a more natural portion of a color gamut, providing color samples more representative of flesh tones and foliage than would either grayscales or pure primary or secondary colors.
• the characterization pattern may be provided in the header of a single film frame 420.
• the characterization pattern of frame 420 may be reproduced identically in each of several additional frames, with the advantage being that noise (e.g., from a dirt speck affecting the film recording, processing or scanning) can be rejected on the basis of multiple readings and appropriate filtering.
• the characterization pattern may be provided in the header over multiple film frames (not shown) in addition to film frame 420, for example to provide still more characterization information (e.g., additional color patches or stepped gradients).
• a characterization pattern may include a sequence of different test patterns provided over a number film frames, e.g., a test pattern in a first frame for testing grayscale, three different test patterns in three frames for testing individual colors (e.g., red, green and blue, respectively), and four more frames with test patterns covering useful foliage and skin tone palettes.
• Such a characterization pattern can be considered as one that extends over eight frames, or alternatively, as different characterization patterns provided in eight frames.
• FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternative embodiments in which respective characterization patterns (e.g., pattern 110 of FIG. 1) are recorded so as to be distributed and recurring throughout the corresponding film archives over a number of film frames.
• FIG. 5 shows a characterization pattern in a portion of a film archive 500 for progressive scan video (similar to that in FIG. 2)
• FIG. 6 shows a characterization pattern in a portion of a film archive 600 for field-interlaced video (similar to that in FIG. 3).
• the video archived according to the present invention will have information relating to the spatial, temporal, and colorimetric properties provided or embedded as characterization pattern in the same film frames that contain the data regions.
• aging effects in the film can be properly corrected for, because the effects of aging may vary as a function of locations in the roll of film (e.g., the outer windings of the roll may have experienced larger temperature swings than the interior of the reel).
• the corresponding characterization patterns include column indicators 510 and 610 for indicating the width of the data regions 211 and 312/313 respectively.
• column indicators 510 and 610 are located in top gap 221 and 321, respectively.
• Each column indicator 510 and 610 may include, for example, a horizontal bar of a color detectably distinct from the surrounding area. The left- and right- ends of the horizontal bar indicate the left and right extremes or limits of the data regions, thereby defining the precise width or separation between left-side gap 224 and right-side gap 225 of archive 500, and the separation between left-side gap 324 and right-side gap 325 of archive 600.
• Column indicators 510 and 610 may have markers or vertical stripes to indicate specific columns, which can be used to compensate for any difference between the non- linearities in the horizontal pixel positions written by a film recorder 116 and read by scanner 132.
• a film recorder has a non-linearity along the horizontal direction, such that columns of pixels are written with x pixels/mm near an edge of a frame, and y pixels/mm near the center (where x and y are integers, and y is greater than x), and the film archive is read out by a scanner without non-linearity in the horizontal direction, e.g., at z pixels/mm from edge to center (where z is an integer between x and y).
• any nonlinearities present in the archive film (arising from the film recorder) and the film scanner can be tracked and compensated for in the recovered video.
• the column markers and the pixels in the columns themselves can be written by one machine (e.g., film recorder) having certain distortions, and read back by another machine (e.g., film scanner) having different distortions.
• another machine e.g., film scanner
• the data can be recoverable without distortion (i.e., the distortion can be corrected or
• each column's original position i.e., position of the pixel from the source video
• the marker e.g., if using Gray code, the marker can be used to label the column by number.
• the marker can also be used to simulate a pixel clock, as in a series of light and dark pixels.
• row indicators 540 and 640 are used to specify where individual scan lines of video are recorded within film frames 220 and 320.
• row indicators 540 and 640 are located in left-side gaps 224 and 324, respectively.
• row indicators 540 and 640 can be a bar, similar to column indicators 500 and 600, but oriented for determining or indicating the vertical extent of the data regions. This embodiment may use stripes to better identify individual scan lines.
• the row indicators 540 and 640 may include a binary Gray code allowing distinct numbering of each scan line of the data regions, and perhaps elsewhere within the film frame. Rather than tick marks every third column or so, a Gray code could be used to number individual columns.
• Colorimetric elements or indicators 521-523 and 530 are provided within film frame 220, and colorimetric indicators 621-623, and 630 are provided within film frame 320, but outside respective data regions 211, 312, 313 and column/row indicators 510, 540, 610 and 640. These elements can be placed in many different locations outside the data regions, including any or all of top gaps 221, 321 (e.g., neutral density gradients 521, 621), intra-field gap 323 (e.g., color patch set 630), or at the bottom of the film frame but below the data regions, e.g., patches 530, or gradients 522, 523, 622, 623. These density gradients and patches can be configured with properties similar to those discussed in connection with FIG. 4A.
• the colorimetric elements of corresponding characterization pattern 110 may be repeated, i.e., with identical elements being used or provided in different frames, which may include inserting the same characterization pattern in consecutive frames or at various intervals throughout the film archive.
• different colorimetric elements may be provided in separate frames. For example, in film archive 600, if more color patches like 630 are desirable than will fit in intra-field gap 323, then different or additional patches can be provided in a number of consecutive frames.
• the density gradients may be varied over consecutive frames. If characterization pattern 110 is designed to have the colorimetric elements vary over multiple consecutive frames, then the variations may form a cycle that is repeated occasionally or continuously throughout the archive 500, 600.
• Such repetition of the colorimetric elements of the characterization pattern can provide continuous characterization throughout the roll of film forming the archive 126. This allows the video recovery system 130 to compensate for any differential variations that may be present between the head and tail of the roll (e.g., as might occur if the temperature of the developer tank in film processor 124 was rising as film output 122 was being processed; or if archive 126 had been stored in a room having significant temperature swings that accelerated dye fade at the outer portion of the film rolls in archive 126 more than the inner portion).
• FIG. 7 shows a process 700 for creating a film archive of video content.
• Process 700 which can be implemented by a film archive system such as that in FIG. 1 A, begins at step 710, with digital video data 108 being provided to an encoder 112.
• step 712 a film archive system
• the characterization pattern which has a format compatible with the encoder (and also compatible with a decoder for recovering the video), can be provided as a text file with information relevant to the video data, or as image(s) to be incorporated with the video frames, e.g., pre-pending as headers or be included or as composite with one or more frames of image data, but in readable/writable regions not containing image data such as intra- frame gap regions.
• the characterization pattern includes one or more elements designed for conveying information relating to at least one of the following: video format, time codes for video frames, location of data regions, color or density values, aging of film archive, non- linearities or distortions in film recorder and/or scanner, among others.
• step 714 all pixel values of the video data and characterization pattern are encoded to produce encoded data 114, which are film density code values (e.g., Cineon code) corresponding to the respective pixel values.
• the film density code values and the respective pixel values are related via a substantially linear relationship.
• the characterization pattern and video data may both be present or co-resident in one or more frames of encoded data 114, or the pattern and video data may occupy separate frames (e.g., as in the case of pre-pending the pattern as headers).
• the encoded file data is written with film recorder 116 to a film stock 118.
• the recorder is calibrated based on a linear relationship between film density codes (e.g., Cineon codes) and film density values, and latent images are formed on the film negative by proper exposures according to respective film density codes or corresponding file density values.
• film density codes e.g., Cineon codes
• step 718 the exposed film stock is processed or developed using known or conventional techniques to produce film archive 126 at step 720.
• the film archive may not be suitable for producing a high quality film print, because any non-linear relationship between video pixel values (from original video data) and the film density codes may not have been taken into account in the encoded data file.
• FIG. 8 illustrates a process 800 for recovering video content from a film archive (such as archive 126 produced by process 700) in accordance with the present principles.
• Process 800 can be implemented in a system such as the example of FIG. IB.
• a film archive (which can be an "aged" archive) is provided for scanning in step 812 by a film scanner 132 to produce film data 136, i.e., measured density on the film archive is converted into a corresponding density code.
• film data 136 i.e., measured density on the film archive is converted into a corresponding density code.
• the scanner has also been calibrated based on a linear relationship between density codes and film density values.
• step 814 based on prior knowledge regarding the characterization pattern, decoder 138 picks out or identifies the record of the characterization pattern 110 from film data 136.
• the decoder uses the characterization pattern, and/or other prior knowledge relating to the configuration of various elements (e.g., certain patches corresponding to a grayscale gradient starting at white and proceeding in ten linear steps, or certain patches representing a particular order set of colors), to determine decoding information appropriate to the film data, including the specification for the location and timing of data regions, and/or colorimetry.
• the decoding information is used to decode data regions within the film archive, i.e., converting the data from film density codes to produce video data, from which the video is recovered at step 820.
• step 814 in process 800 may be omitted.
• Another example may involve including only a portion of the pattern, e.g., color patches, in the film archive. Additional information for interpreting the patches can be made available to the decoder, separate from the film archive, for decoding the archive.

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• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
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• Closed-Circuit Television Systems (AREA)
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