Patents by Inventor James A. Fancher

James A. Fancher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8538144
    Abstract: A system and method for color correction of 3D images including at least two separate image streams captured for a same scene include determining three-dimensional properties of at least a portion of a selected image stream, the three-dimensional properties including light and surface reflectance properties, surface color, reflectance properties, scene geometry and the like. A look of the portion of the selected image stream is then modified by altering the value of at least one of the determined three-dimensional properties and, in one embodiment, applying image formation theory. The modifications are then rendered in an output 3D picture either automatically and/or according to user inputs. In various embodiments, corrections made to the selected one of the at least two image streams can be automatically applied to the other of the image streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Ana B. Benitez, Dong-Qing Zhang, James A. Fancher
  • Patent number: 8006311
    Abstract: A movie anti-piracy system with sensing and reporting is provided. An anti-piracy subsystem is utilized to preclude, interfere with and/or prevent copying of the movie. Anti-piracy compliance sensing selectively provides compliance violation signals respectively to a sensor response controller. The controller is responsive to the compliance violation signals to provide a violation status (and other data) signal output to a control center. The control center responds to the violation status and other data signals, from one or a plurality of theaters, and provides for reporting of information (such as security compliance, attendance, etc.) to one or multiple reporting sites (such as movie distribution studios, etc.). In a preferred embodiment, the control center determines whether there are violations of providing of anti-piracy protection within a theater (or theaters) and provides reporting on the anti-piracy compliance status and data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Korishma Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Sitrick, James A. Fancher
  • Patent number: 7941407
    Abstract: A system and method for archiving films includes dividing a film feature into N parts. Metadata is digitally stored on each of the N parts of film. The film includes both analog and digital data representing an entire record of the film on a single media for at least one N part. For each N part, the single media may include all the color component images associated with that part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Pierre Ollivier, James Fancher
  • Publication number: 20100290697
    Abstract: A system and method for color correction of 3D images including at least two separate image streams captured for a same scene include determining three-dimensional properties of at least a portion of a selected image stream, the three-dimensional properties including light and surface reflectance properties, surface color, reflectance properties, scene geometry and the like. A look of the portion of the selected image stream is then modified by altering the value of at least one of the determined three-dimensional properties and, in one embodiment, applying image formation theory. The modifications are then rendered in an output 3D picture either automatically and/or according to user inputs. In various embodiments, corrections made to the selected one of the at least two image streams can be automatically applied to the other of the image streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2006
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Ana B. Benitez, Dong-Qing Zhang, James A. Fancher
  • Publication number: 20090210460
    Abstract: A system and method for archiving films includes a film feature including analog film content on a reel for archival storage. N parts of the film content are created based on criteria. The N parts include digitally stores metadata such that the film includes a hybrid of analog and digital data representing an entire record of the film on a single media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Pierre Ollivier, James Fancher
  • Publication number: 20090021372
    Abstract: A movie anti-piracy system with sensing and reporting is provided. An anti-piracy subsystem is utilized to preclude, interfere with and/or prevent copying of the movie. Anti-piracy compliance sensing selectively provides compliance violation signals respectively to a sensor response controller. The controller is responsive to the compliance violation signals to provide a violation status (and other data) signal output to a control center. The control center responds to the violation status and other data signals, from one or a plurality of theaters, and provides for reporting of information (such as security compliance, attendance, etc.) to one or multiple reporting sites (such as movie distribution studios, etc.). In a preferred embodiment, the control center determines whether there are violations of providing of anti-piracy protection within a theater (or theaters) and provides reporting on the anti-piracy compliance status and data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: David H. Sitrick, James A. Fancher
  • Patent number: 7428757
    Abstract: A movie anti-piracy system with sensing and reporting is provided. A movie projector projects a light image to reflect off of a screen. An anti-piracy subsystem is utilized to preclude, interfere with and/or prevent videotaping of the light images reflecting from the screen. Anti-piracy compliance sensing selectively provides compliance violation signals respectively to a sensor response controller. The controller is responsive to the compliance violation signals to provide a violation status (and other data) signal output to a control center. The control center responds to the violation status and other data signals, from one or a plurality of theaters, and provides for reporting of information (such as security compliance, attendance, etc.) to one or multiple reporting sites (such as movie distribution studios, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Inventors: David H. Sitrick, James A. Fancher
  • Publication number: 20070061890
    Abstract: A movie anti-piracy system with sensing and reporting is provided. A movie projector projects a light image to reflect off of a screen. An anti-piracy subsystem is utilized to preclude, interfere with and/or prevent videotaping of the light images reflecting from the screen. Anti-piracy compliance sensing selectively provides compliance violation signals respectively to a sensor response controller. The controller is responsive to the compliance violation signals to provide a violation status (and other data) signal output to a control center. The control center responds to the violation status and other data signals, from one or a plurality of theaters, and provides for reporting of information (such as security compliance, attendance, etc.) to one or multiple reporting sites (such as movie distribution studios, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: David Sitrick, James Fancher
  • Patent number: 7170577
    Abstract: A movie anti-piracy system with sensing and reporting is provided. A movie projector projects a light image to reflect off of a screen, while an infrared energy projection source generates an infrared energy pattern which is reflected off the screen (or otherwise projected) in the same field of view as the light images reflecting from the screen. Infrared energy sensors are positioned in the seating area of the theater. The infrared sensors provide sensed signals respectively to a sensor response controller. The controller is responsive to the sensor signals to provide an infrared status (and other data) signal output to a control center. The control center responds to the infrared status and other data signals, from one or a plurality of theaters, and provides for reporting of information (such as security compliance, attendance, etc.) to one or multiple reporting sites (such as movie distribution studios, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventors: David H. Sitrick, James A. Fancher
  • Publication number: 20060280379
    Abstract: A method for archiving a motion picture film can include capturing in a digital format at least one reference image set corresponding to at least one image from the motion picture film. At least one reference image set can be created which includes an unprocessed image captured, in the digital format, from an original camera negative. The image set can also include a processed image, stored in said digital format, that is a modified version of the unprocessed image. Subsequently, the reference image set can be recorded on a reference film medium to form a key frame reel. The key frame reel can thereafter be used to create monochrome color separations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventor: James Fancher
  • Publication number: 20060158613
    Abstract: A film record comprises a film strip representing a plurality of frames. At least one of the frames includes at least one region wherein the optical density of the region is representative of a symbol from a constellation of symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: James Fancher, Jeff Rosica
  • Patent number: 6771349
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to a movie anti-piracy system with sensing and reporting features. A movie projector projects a light image to reflect off of a screen, while an infrared energy projection source generates an infrared energy pattern which is reflected off the screen (or otherwise projected) in the same field of view as the light images reflecting from the screen. Infrared energy sensors are positioned in the seating area of the theater. The infrared sensors provide sensed signals respectively to a sensor response controller. The controller is responsive to the sensor signals to provide an infrared status (and other data) signal output to a control center. The control center responds to the infrared status and other data signals, from one or a plurality of theaters, and provides for reporting of information (such as security compliance, attendance, etc.) to one or multiple reporting sites (such as movie distribution studios, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventors: David H. Sitrick, James A. Fancher
  • Publication number: 20040062393
    Abstract: A movie anti-piracy system with sensing and reporting is provided. A movie projector projects a light image to reflect off of a screen, while an infrared energy projection source generates an infrared energy pattern which is reflected off the screen (or otherwise projected) in the same field of view as the light images reflecting from the screen. Infrared energy sensors are positioned in the seating area of the theater. The infrared sensors provide sensed signals respectively to a sensor response controller. The controller is responsive to the sensor signals to provide an infrared status (and other data) signal output to a control center. The control center responds to the infrared status and other data signals, from one or a plurality of theaters, and provides for reporting of information (such as security compliance, attendance, etc.) to one or multiple reporting sites (such as movie distribution studios, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: David H. Sitrick, James A. Fancher
  • Publication number: 20040061676
    Abstract: A movie anti-piracy system with sensing and reporting is provided. A movie projector projects a light image to reflect off of a screen, while an infrared energy projection source generates an infrared energy pattern which is reflected off the screen (or otherwise projected) in the same field of view as the light images reflecting from the screen. Infrared energy sensors are positioned in the seating area of the theater. The infrared sensors provide sensed signals respectively to a sensor response controller. The controller is responsive to the sensor signals to provide an infrared status (and other data) signal output to a control center. The control center responds to the infrared status and other data signals, from one or a plurality of theaters, and provides for reporting of information (such as security compliance, attendance, etc.) to one or multiple reporting sites (such as movie distribution studios, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: David H. Sitrick, James A. Fancher
  • Patent number: 6559883
    Abstract: A security method and system for protecting movie film images from being recorded by video cameras. The system is comprised of a means to generate an infrared pattern and a means to display this infrared pattern. The infrared pattern generated and displayed is of sufficient strength such that video cameras with infrared filters can not prevent the infrared pattern from interfering with the recording. A human viewing a screen containing movie film images sees only the movie film images on the screen and does not see the infrared pattern being displayed simultaneously. Video cameras aimed to record a screen containing the movie film images, even video cameras having infrared filters, are unable to prevent the infrared pattern from interfering with recording the movie film images, and one embodiment may completely obscure the picture being recorded and render it unacceptable for even pirated distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventors: James A. Fancher, David H. Sitrick, Gregory P. Sitrick