Optics: motion pictures – Methods – Exhibiting
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-30
2004-12-07
Fuller, Rodney (Department: 2851)
Optics: motion pictures
Methods
Exhibiting
C725S078000, C725S116000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06829033
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
I. Field of Invention
The invention generally relates to digital cinema and is more particularly related to scheduling one or a plurality of presentations in a digital cinema system.
II. Description of the Related Art
Video compression is a key factor of multimedia. An effective digital compression can reduce the cost as well as increase the quality of video displayed over any digital communication. One application of the video compression technique is in the motion picture industry.
In the traditional motion picture industry, theatre operators receive reels of celluloid film from a studio or through a distributor for eventual presentation in a theatre auditorium. The reels of film include the feature program (a full-length motion picture) and a plurality of previews and other promotional material, often referred to as trailers. The theatre operator may also be required or choose to present some of its own trailers, often comprising of local promotional and advertising material. A two hour motion picture plus five minutes of trailers, for example, generates approximately 11,250 feet of celluloid film. As a result, theatre operators may receive a two hour movie that is divided into five or six reels.
One way to present the multiple reels of film is to use two projectors. One projector is threaded with the first reel and the other projector with the second reel. The theatre operator starts the film on the first projector. At an appropriate time for a changeover, the theatre operator starts the second projector and stops the first projector. While the second reel is rolling, the theatre operator removes the first reel and threads a third reel on the first projector. This swapping continues throughout the presentation. Therefore, the theatre operator must monitor each presentation in each auditorium for the changeovers.
Alternatively, a device called a platter is also used in theatres. A platter may consist of two or more large discs of approximately four or five feet in diameter that are stacked vertically about one to two feet apart. The discs are large enough to hold one large spool of film, which the theatre operator assembles by splicing together all of the lengths of film from the different reels. Splicing is the process of cutting the end of one strip of film so that it carefully matches up to the beginning of the next strip of film, and then taping the strips together. This allows the theatre operator to show the entire presentation without changeovers.
Therefore, a theatre operator builds a “platter” by sequencing reels of celluloid film in the order in which it is to be presented, and physically splicing together the film to be played by the projector. A theatre operator may also insert cues and milestones onto celluloid film by physically attaching trigger strips onto the film. Cues may be attached in between programming, or within a particular feature or trailer. Currently, a theatre operator controls auditorium environment through the use of theatre automation systems. Theatre automation systems control such functions as turning lights on and off, opening and closing curtains, and changing the projector lens. Theatre automation systems control these functions by reading a trigger strip physically placed onto the film as the film passes through a reader connected to the theatre automation system. Trigger strips are typically metallic or optical pieces of tape adhered onto the film. When the tape passes under the reader, an electrical signal is output to the theatre automation system.
Along with reels of films comprising features and trailers, the theatre operator receives one or more soundtracks to be played with each film. Soundtracks come in a variety of languages and sound formats. Sound formats, such as stereo, 7.1, or 5.1, refer to the number of channels the sound format requires. Because sound systems vary greatly from theatre to theatre, the studio or distributor typically ship multiple soundtracks for a given film.
Moreover, trailers and features each have associated ratings, which define the appropriateness of the material for a given audience. In the United States, ratings are labeled to motion pictures and trailers by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). However, different jurisdictions have different ratings systems, and not all jurisdictions are consistent as to the rating level of a given program. Accordingly, a theatre operator in a given jurisdiction need be conscious of the types of programs he plans to display together.
Therefore, when a theatre operator is building a platter, the operator must be careful to ensure that the platter is created accurately. For example, each image program should have the appropriate soundtrack loaded, in terms of language and sound format. Moreover, the image programs on the platter should have the appropriate ratings. That is, one wants to ensure that an “R” rated trailer is not displayed with a “G” rated movie. Further, cues must be inserted in the proper places and the correct lens needs to be attached to the projector in order for viewing at the proper display aspect ratio. However, human error is inevitable and all too frequent.
An evolution of the film industry is occurring as the industry moves from celluloid film to digitized image and audio programs. However, theatres are not equipped to process digital programming to create and schedule “digital platters.”
SUMMARY
Advances in digital technology have led to a distribution concept whereby presentation material is electronically stored in a digitized format. Digitized images may be distributed on various storage mediums such as magnetic media or compact optical discs, and/or transmitted over wired, fiber optic, wireless, or satellite communication systems.
To reduce the data rate requirement for the storage and/or transmission of high quality electronic images, compression algorithms are being developed. For example, absolute discrete cosine transform (ABSDCT) allows significant compression while preserving the quality of image signals. ABSDCT is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,891, entitled “Adaptive Block Size Image Compression Method And System,” assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. DCT techniques are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,345, entitled “Adaptive Block Size Image Compression Method And System,” assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Further, the use of the ABSDCT technique in combination with a Discrete Quadtree Transform technique is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,104, entitled “Adaptive Block Size Image Compression Method And System,” also assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Technologies such as ABSDCT offer the possibility of a “digital cinema” system. Generally defined, digital cinema refers to the electronic distribution and display of high quality film programming which has been converted to a digital electronic representation for storage, transmission, and display purposes. A digital cinema system would overcome many of the limitations of the current film distribution process. A digital system would not be subject to the quality degradation over time experienced by celluloid film. Further, a digital system may eliminate the theft and illegal duplication of films by allowing implementation of security measures within the digital system itself. Moreover, distribution of film information using a digital electronic format actually increases the potential for rapid, low-cost duplication without quality degradation.
With the advent of digital cinema systems, full-length motion pictures, trailers, advertisements and other audio/image “cinema-quality” programs are delivered to theatres throughout the world using digital technology. Authorized theatres receive the digitized programs and store them, typically while still compressed. At each showing, the digitized information is retrieved via a local area network from the storage medium, then is decrypted if necessary, decompressed and displayed using cinema-quality electronic projectors featuri
Hose Jesse
Mitrani Michael
Olmstead Roger
Choi Jae-Hee
Fuller Rodney
Minhas Sandip S.
QUALCOMM Incorporated
Smith Arthur A
LandOfFree
Presentation scheduling in digital cinema system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Presentation scheduling in digital cinema system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Presentation scheduling in digital cinema system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3287683