EP1237369A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Copy protection for digital motion picture image data
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 2002-02-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2022-02-15
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for displaying a copy-deterrent pattern (104) within a digital motion picture in order to discourage recording of the motion picture using a video camera or other sampling recording device. A copy-deterrent pattern (104) could be, for example, one or more symbols, a random pattern, a digital watermark or a text message (106). The copy-deterrent pattern (104) comprises a plurality of pixels within each frame of the digital motion picture, and the displayed pixel intensities are modulated at a temporal frequency using modulation characteristics deliberately selected to be imperceptible to human observers while simultaneously producing objectionable aliasing in any copy made using a video camera.
Inventors
- 👤 Babak c/o Eastman Kodak Company Tehranchi
- 👤 Paul W. c/o Eastman Kodak Company Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/0085; G06T1/005; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/913; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3179; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0064; H04N2005/91357; H04N2005/91392
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A copy-deterrent display apparatus for displaying a sequential plurality of
image frames, each of said image frames comprising an array of pixels, each said
pixel assigned to be displayed at a predetermined intensity within each frame, said
apparatus comprising: (a) a pattern generator/modulator assembly capable of providing
control signals specifying a pattern of pixels within each said frame, said
control signals specifying temporal modulation of said pattern of pixels,
wherein said temporal modulation is chosen to be imperceptible to a human
observer while simultaneously producing objectionable artifacts due to
aliasing when said displayed frames are captured by a video capturing device; (b) an image forming assembly capable of accepting said control
signals from said pattern generator/modulator assembly and of modifying the
displayed pixel intensities within each said frame, in response to said control
signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said modulated pattern of pixels
comprises a text message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said modulated pattern of pixels
comprises a predetermined copy obscuration pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said modulated pattern of pixels
comprises a random pattern.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of any of claims 1-4 and wherein in order to provide copy
deterrence to a video capturing device having a sampling frequency of 60 Hertz
and/or 120 Hertz a temporal modulation frequency is used that meets the criteria of
the absolute value of the difference between the sampling frequency and the temporal
modulation frequency is greater than or equal to 10 Hertz and less than or equal to 30
Hertz.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for displaying a copy deterrent pattern in a sequential plurality
of image frames, each of said image frames comprising an array of pixels, said pattern
comprising a plurality of pixels selected from said frame, the method comprising
temporally modulating said pattern wherein said temporal modulation is chosen to be
imperceptible to a human observer while simultaneously producing objectionable
artifacts due to aliasing when said displayed frames are captured by a video capturing
device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said copy deterrent pattern comprises a
message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said copy deterrent pattern comprises a
predetermined copy obscuration pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said copy deterrent pattern comprises a
random pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said copy deterrent pattern comprises a
digital watermark.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said copy deterrent pattern substantially
comprises said frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of image frames form part of
a digital movie or video image having a predetermined refresh rate and wherein said
pattern is temporally modulated at a frequency higher than the refresh rate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 and wherein the temporal modulation is
sinusoidal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 and wherein intensity of the pixels comprising
the modulated pattern is adjusted to compensate for the modulation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 or 12 and wherein the modulation is a rectangular
wave.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 6 or 12 and wherein one or more color components
of an image in the frame is subject to said temporal modulation but other color
components of the same image frame are not subject to said temporal modulation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 6 or 12 and wherein the pattern comprises
plural portions and the plural portions are temporarily modulated at different
frequencies from each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 6 or 12 and wherein the frequency of
modulation is changed from one frequency to another frequency during the course of
display.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 6 or 12 and wherein the plurality of
pixels are analyzed according to a peak intensity criterion and pixels meeting the
criterion further determine the pattern that is subject to the temporal modulation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6 or 12 and wherein the temporal modulation is
sinusoidal.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
75 words
The method according to any of claims 6 through 20 and wherein in order
to provide copy deterrence to a video capturing device having a sampling frequency
of 60 Hertz and/or 120 Hertz a temporal modulation frequency is used that meets the
criteria of the absolute value of the difference between the sampling frequency and
the temporal modulation frequency is greater than or equal to 10 Hertz and less than
or equal to 30 Hertz.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for identifying a candidate modulation frequency to be applied
to a selected pattern of pixels within a sequence of digital motion picture frames, said
candidate modulation frequency intended to cause aliasing when the sequence of
digital motion picture frames is sampled using a video capture device, said method
comprising: (a) selecting a plurality of sequential frames; (b) obtaining intensity values for each pixel within said selected pattern of
pixels; (c) calculating a modulation intensity value for each said pixel within said
selected pattern of pixels, said modulation intensity value conditioned by the duty
cycle for a modulation signal waveform; (d) calculating a bandwidth for said pixels within said selected pattern of
pixels; (e) choosing a target sampling frequency; and (f) calculating said candidate modulation frequency based on said target
sampling frequency and based on predetermined thresholds for visible modulation,
said candidate modulation frequency selected based on having a first order or a
second order side band within bounds of said predetermined thresholds for visible
modulation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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