Abstract: A system for providing motion picture photographic film with encoded information, such as unique film footage and frame identification, which can be machine read prior to film processing. This system provides machine readable encoded information markings on the raw stock film which may be read in a camera or other photoprocessing device with a reader prior to or concurrent with the film image capture process. The machine readable encoded information markings may be easily converted into a “video image” for display in a real time video from a CCD imager in the film camera or other device. Furthermore this pre-processing machine readable encoded information may be used in conjunction with optical latent image recorded information which becomes machine or human readable after processing as presently provided by film manufacturer's according to industry standards.

Abstract: A system for photographic film processing adapted to access stored information that is related to film processing. An electrically programmable read/write memory contained in a transponder is integrally attached to the film container used at each stage in the film processing chain. The transponder is capable of receiving a first RF frequency electromagnetic field and deriving power and address information from the first frequency, then generating a second RF frequency electromagnetic field in response, where the second electromagnetic field is characteristic of the data stored in memory. A transceiver is disposed within the processing apparatus, connected with an antenna and support components for polling each transponder. As instructed by a control logic processor, the transceiver communicates with the transponder to both read stored data from the transponder, such as manufacturing data for the film, and store usage and processing data to the transponder for storage in memory.