Patent US7693330B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7693330B2
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Anti-piracy image display methods and systems with sub-frame intensity compensation
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 2005-10-13
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Granted: 2010-04-06
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Expires: 2025-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Image display methods and systems are provided wherein only portions of a still image of a motion picture, generated for display during an image time interval, are displayed during respective sub-intervals of the image time interval. A still image is thereby separated into portions and displayed separately during corresponding sub-intervals. Preferably, no single portion of the image includes all of the content of the entire image. However, the sum of all of the portions preferably includes all of the content of the image, and all of the portions are displayed within the image time interval. Although an image displayed in this manner can be correctly perceived by a viewer, recording of such an image may capture fewer than all of the portions of the image to thereby degrade the quality of recorded copies of the image and thus the motion picture. Intensity compensation is performed such that a consistent brightness is perceived by a user notwithstanding the fact that some portions are displayed for less time.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent So
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/913; G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/0085; H04N19/00; H04N19/10; H04N19/102; H04N19/103; H04N19/105; H04N19/132; H04N19/169; H04N19/17; H04N19/176; H04N19/46; H04N19/467; H04N19/60; H04N19/61; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/238; H04N21/2389; H04N21/23892; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8358; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3102; H04N9/3111; H04N9/3117; H04N9/3179; H04N2005/91392
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method comprising: using a computer or a motion picture playback apparatus to perform steps of: for each of a plurality of still images of a motion picture: processing each still image to determine portions that have a low intensity that is low enough that the portions can be intensity compensated; rendering a respective sequence of sub-frames such that each sub-frame comprises the still image with one or more portions omitted, with each portion of the still image being included in at least one sub-frame, wherein the portions that are omitted in rendering the sequence of sub-frames are selected from the portions determined to have low intensity; applying intensity compensation such that when the sequence of sub-frames is displayed, an image substantially equivalent to the still image is perceptible.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method comprising: using a computer or a motion picture playback apparatus to perform steps of: for each of a plurality of still images of a motion picture: processing each still image to determine portions that have a low intensity that is low enough that the portions can be intensity compensated; rendering a respective sequence of sub-frames such that each sub-frame comprises the still image with one or more portions omitted, with each portion of the still image being included in at least one sub-frame, wherein the portions that are omitted in rendering the sequence of sub-frames are selected from the portions determined to have low intensity; applying intensity compensation such that when the sequence of sub-frames is displayed, an image substantially equivalent to the still image is perceptible.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing each still image to determine portions that have a low intensity comprises: determining portions that have an intensity less than or equal to 1/N times a maximum intensity, where N is the number of sub-frames in the sequence of sub-frames.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 wherein applying intensity compensation such that when the sequence of sub-frames is displayed, an image substantially equivalent to the still image is perceptible comprises: rendering a film with one still image per processed still image in which portions that are to be omitted are brighter on the film; storing information identifying the portions of the film that are brighter; during projection, applying sub-framing using the stored information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein rendering and applying intensity compensation comprises: storing one digital image per sub-frame; increasing intensity of stored pixels that are omitted in at least one sub-frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the respective sequence of sub- frames of the still image comprises N sub-frames, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1, and wherein each sub-frame is displayed for sub-intervals that is approximately a fraction 1/Nth of an image time interval, and wherein portions that are omitted in all but one sub-frame have their intensity increased by a factor of N 1/γ , where γ is a power relationship between an encoded luminance (Y) of the portion and an actual desired image brightness (I) by I=Yγ.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein applying intensity compensation and rendering comprises: storing one digital image per still image in which pixels of the portions to be omitted have increased intensity, and storing information identifying the portions that have increased intensity; during projection, applying sub-framing using the stored information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein processing the image to determine portions that have a low intensity comprises: determining a maximum brightness of each of a set of possible portions to be omitted; selecting portions having a maximum brightness less than a threshold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 7 wherein determining a maximum brightness of each of a set of possible portions to be omitted comprises: determining a maximum encoded luminance (Y) value for each of the possible portions to be omitted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising computing a luminance (Y) value for each pixel from RGB coding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: rendering the sub-frames comprises displaying the sub-frames.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 1 wherein rendering comprises recording.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating each still image in a motion picture projector for projection onto a screen; wherein rendering comprises filtering the generated still image to allow the plurality of portions of the generated still image to pass to the screen during respective sub-intervals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: projecting each still image onto a mirror; wherein rendering comprises reflecting the plurality of portions of the still image from the mirror to a screen during respective sub-intervals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein rendering comprises illuminating a mirror in a digital motion picture projector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein displaying comprises: providing an LCD (liquid crystal display) covering at least a portion of the mirror; and controlling the liquid crystal display to position liquid crystals of the LCD to allow the portions of the generated still image to pass through the LCD during respective sub -intervals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein rendering comprises filtering each still image to display the plurality of portions of the still image during the respective sub-intervals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A projection system comprising: a computer or motion picture playback apparatus configured to implement the method of claim 1 .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A motion picture medium production system comprising: a computer or motion picture playback apparatus configured to implement the method of claim 1 .
Claim 20
Independent Claim
163 words
A system comprising: an image generator configured to generate a plurality of still images of a motion picture for display during respective image time intervals; and a display controller configured to display, for each of a plurality of still images of a motion picture, a respective sequence of sub-frames such that each sub-frame comprises the still image with one or more portions omitted, with each portion of the still image being included in at least one sub-frame, wherein the portions that are omitted in one or more of the sub-frames are selected from portions determined to have low intensity that is low enough that the portions can be intensity compensated; wherein there is intensity compensation such that each portion of the still image that is not included in all sub-frames is perceptible to have a brightness substantially equivalent to a brightness of the portion that would have been perceptible had the portion been included in all of the sub-frames of the still image.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
163 words
A system comprising: an image generator configured to generate a plurality of still images of a motion picture for display during respective image time intervals; and a display controller configured to display, for each of a plurality of still images of a motion picture, a respective sequence of sub-frames such that each sub-frame comprises the still image with one or more portions omitted, with each portion of the still image being included in at least one sub-frame, wherein the portions that are omitted in one or more of the sub-frames are selected from portions determined to have low intensity that is low enough that the portions can be intensity compensated; wherein there is intensity compensation such that each portion of the still image that is not included in all sub-frames is perceptible to have a brightness substantially equivalent to a brightness of the portion that would have been perceptible had the portion been included in all of the sub-frames of the still image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of sub-frames of each generated still image comprises n sub-frames, and wherein each of the sub-frames is displayed for approximately a fraction 1/nth of the image time interval.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein the image generator comprises a motion picture projector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
150 words
An article of manufacture comprising: an intensity compensated sub-framed motion picture medium comprising: for each of a plurality of still images, a respective sequence of sub-frames stored on the intensity compensated sub-framed motion picture medium such that each sub-frame comprises the still image with one or more portions omitted, with each portion of the still image being included in at least one sub-frame; wherein the portions that are omitted in one or more sub-frames are selected from portions determined to have low intensity that is low enough that the portions can be intensity compensated, and intensity compensation is applied to the sub-frames such that each portion of the still image that is not included in all sub-frames is perceptible to have a brightness substantially equivalent to a brightness of the portion that would have been perceptible had the portion been included in all of the sub-frames of the still image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
150 words
An article of manufacture comprising: an intensity compensated sub-framed motion picture medium comprising: for each of a plurality of still images, a respective sequence of sub-frames stored on the intensity compensated sub-framed motion picture medium such that each sub-frame comprises the still image with one or more portions omitted, with each portion of the still image being included in at least one sub-frame; wherein the portions that are omitted in one or more sub-frames are selected from portions determined to have low intensity that is low enough that the portions can be intensity compensated, and intensity compensation is applied to the sub-frames such that each portion of the still image that is not included in all sub-frames is perceptible to have a brightness substantially equivalent to a brightness of the portion that would have been perceptible had the portion been included in all of the sub-frames of the still image.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
180 words
An article of manufacture comprising: an intensity compensated motion picture medium comprising: a plurality of still images stored on the intensity compensated motion picture medium, in which plurality of still images intensity compensation has been performed such that when subsequently a respective sequence of sub-frames is produced and displayed from each still image such that each sub-frame comprises the still image with one or more portions omitted, with each portion of the still image being included in at least one sub-frame, wherein the portions that are omitted in one or more sub-frames are selected from portions determined to have low intensity that is low enough that the portions can be intensity compensated, each portion of the still image that is not included in all sub-frames is perceptible to have a brightness substantially equivalent to a brightness of the portion that would have been perceptible had the portion been included in all of the sub-frames of the still image; and a computer readable storage medium containing information on how sub-framing is to be performed consistently with how intensity compensation was performed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
180 words
An article of manufacture comprising: an intensity compensated motion picture medium comprising: a plurality of still images stored on the intensity compensated motion picture medium, in which plurality of still images intensity compensation has been performed such that when subsequently a respective sequence of sub-frames is produced and displayed from each still image such that each sub-frame comprises the still image with one or more portions omitted, with each portion of the still image being included in at least one sub-frame, wherein the portions that are omitted in one or more sub-frames are selected from portions determined to have low intensity that is low enough that the portions can be intensity compensated, each portion of the still image that is not included in all sub-frames is perceptible to have a brightness substantially equivalent to a brightness of the portion that would have been perceptible had the portion been included in all of the sub-frames of the still image; and a computer readable storage medium containing information on how sub-framing is to be performed consistently with how intensity compensation was performed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of manufacture of claim 23 wherein the intensity compensated motion picture medium comprises a film having the plurality of still images stored thereon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of manufacture of claim 23 wherein the plurality of still images comprise digital images stored on the computer readable storage medium together with instructions regarding how sub-framing is to be performed.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
157 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a sub-framed motion picture medium comprising: for each of a plurality of still images, a respective sequence of sub-frames stored on the sub-framed motion picture medium such that each sub-frame comprises the still image with one or more portions omitted, with each portion of the still image being included in at least one sub-frame, wherein the portions that are omitted in one or more sub-frames are selected from portions determined to have low intensity that is low enough that the portions can be intensity compensated; and a computer readable storage medium containing instructions identifying where intensity compensation needs to be performed within the sub-frames such that each portion of the still image that is not included in all sub-frames is perceptible to have a brightness substantially equivalent to a brightness of the portion that would have been perceptible had the portion been included in all of the sub-frames of the still image.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
157 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a sub-framed motion picture medium comprising: for each of a plurality of still images, a respective sequence of sub-frames stored on the sub-framed motion picture medium such that each sub-frame comprises the still image with one or more portions omitted, with each portion of the still image being included in at least one sub-frame, wherein the portions that are omitted in one or more sub-frames are selected from portions determined to have low intensity that is low enough that the portions can be intensity compensated; and a computer readable storage medium containing instructions identifying where intensity compensation needs to be performed within the sub-frames such that each portion of the still image that is not included in all sub-frames is perceptible to have a brightness substantially equivalent to a brightness of the portion that would have been perceptible had the portion been included in all of the sub-frames of the still image.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 wherein the still images are digital images stored on the computer readable storage medium together with the instructions identifying where intensity compensation needs to be performed within the sub-frames.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2013-04-05 | 2013-10-05 | 2014-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2017-04-05 | 2017-10-05 | 2018-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2021-04-05 | 2021-10-05 | 2022-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |