18
`
`EP 4418 786 A2
`
`20
`
`of Entilement Contra! Messages (ECMs} for
`the encrypted content.
`
`38.
`
`The method of claim 29, further comprising:
`
`praviding an ECM set to a reseller upon com-
`nlelion of licensing/authorizationof rights to the
`content and
`generating an encryption record (ER}, describ-
`ing ihe scheme by which the content was en-
`crypied and the number of associated ECMs.
`
`St.
`
`The method of claim 21, wherein the cryptic period
`comprises a number of packets separated by at
`least one recurring marker.
`
`32.
`
`The method of clairn 31, wherein:
`
`5
`
`10
`
`18
`
`generaling the new key, and resurning encryp-
`tion until ihe new number of packets has been
`encrypted; and
`repeating ihe process, generating a newpacket
`count and a new key for segments of the
`streaming content.
`
`a7.
`
`The method of claim 3 6, cornprising:
`
`as each segmentis encrypted, storing an index
`number indicating the packet at which the seg-
`ment begins, and saving information about the
`encryption key; and
`generating an index file of all of the index num-
`bers so that a multiplexing process can deter-
`mine the points within the stream wherethe an-
`cryption keys were changed to synchronize in-
`sertion of corresponding ECMs..
`
`the recurring rnarkeris an 1-frame header; and
`further comprising:
`
`20
`
`38.
`
`The method of clam 37, wherein:
`
`changing the cryptographic key every time
`n i-frames pass, where n>.
`
`33.
`
`The method of claim 21, wherein:
`
`25
`
`the crypto period comprises a variable number
`of packets in the strearning content.
`
`34,
`
`The method of claim 33, further comprising:
`
`36
`
`(39.
`
`establishing upper and lower constraints on the
`crypio period;
`changing the crypto-peried randomly within the
`upper and lower constraints using a pseudo-
`random algorithm;
`calculating a number of packets for each crypto
`period and changing the key after that number
`of packets; and
`generating an index file indicating at which
`packet numbers the encryption key should be
`changed.
`
`38.
`
`36.
`
`The method of clairn 34, furher comprising:
`
`selecting the upper and lower constraints for
`crypio periods within the performance timits of
`a distribution/playback system.
`
`The method of claim 34 or claim 35, further com-
`prising:
`
`choosing an initial key and beginning encryp-
`tion of the stream;
`when a number of packeis have been encrypt-
`ed, using the pseudo-random algorithm to se-
`lect a new value for the number of packets to
`be encrypted by a new key;
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`58
`
`14
`
`the index nurnbers are selected from packet
`numbers within the streaming content, packet
`counts associated with each separately er-
`crypied segment, or any other index number
`suitable for use by a raultiplexing engine in de-
`termining which packets are associated with
`each separately encrypted segment.
`
`The mathod of any one of claims 21 io 38, further
`comprising:
`
`generating an Entitlement Control! Message
`{ECM} for each separately encrypted crypto pe-
`riod: and
`maintaining the ECMs separately from the en-
`crypted streaming content.
`
`40.
`
`41.
`
`42.
`
`The mathod of any one of claims 21 io 39, further
`comprising:
`
`saving information about the encryption key for
`each encrypted segment; and
`encoding the encryption keys into a sei of En-
`titlement Control Messages (ECMs)}.
`
`The method of any one of claims 21 to 40, further
`comprising:
`
`selecting a crypto period consistent with the
`known performance limitations of elements of
`a VOD delivery and playback infrastructure.
`
`The method of any one of claims 21 fo 41, further
`comprising:
`
`maintaining the ancrypted content separately
`from any information about its encoding and en-
`
`IPR2022-01227
`IPR2022-01227
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00851
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00851
`
`

`

`21
`
`EP 4418 786 A2
`
`22
`
`eryption.
`
`43.
`
`44,
`
`45.
`
`48.
`
`a7.
`
`48.
`
`The method of any one of claims 24 to 38, further
`comprising:
`
`storing inforrnation about all of the encryption
`keys used to encrypt the program content in a
`sequential order in which they were used fo er-
`crypt the program content.
`
`The method of any one of claims 21 fo 38, further
`comprising:
`
`generating an encryption record defining the
`encryption method and other relevant encryp-
`tion parameters;
`staring the encryption record; and
`associating the encryption record with the
`streaming content.
`
`A system for delivery of pre-encrypied program
`content cornprising;
`means for encoding the program content into
`digital form;
`means for encrypting the encoded content;
`
`and
`
`means for segmenting the encoded content
`into a plurality of segments, and using a different
`cryptographic key for encrypting each segment.
`
`The system of claim 45, further comprising:
`
`managing the encrypting of the content by per-
`mitting encryption only if valid licensing exists.
`
`The system of claim 45, further comprising:
`
`means for transmitting the encrypted cantent to
`a receiver.
`
`The system of claim 47 further comprising:
`
`a receiver for receipt of ihe encrypted program
`content including means for receiving the er-
`crypted content and storing if in a server from
`which it can be re-transmitted to end-users.
`
`43.
`
`The system of claim 48 further comprising:
`
`at the receiver, means for requesting program
`content, for receiving encryption records defin-
`ing how the requested program cantent is en-
`crypted, and for receiving Entitlement Control
`messages (ECMs) associated with the encryp-
`tion of the programcontent.
`
`50.
`
`The system of claim 48 or claim49 further compris-
`ing:
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`36
`
`40
`
`12
`
`at the receiver, means for receiving requests
`from end users for program content, and for
`verifying that appropriate authorizations are in
`place for the end user fo view the requested
`content.
`
`54.
`
`The systern of claim 50, further comprising:
`
`means for delivering the requested, encrypted
`content to the end user's VOD playback device
`and for generating an Entitlement Management
`Message (EMM) for the requested content for
`delivery to the VOD playback device.
`
`§2.
`
`53.
`
`The system of any one of claims 45 to 51, wherein
`each segment represents a crypto period, and the
`rneans for encrypting comprises means for chang-
`ing the cryptographic key each time the time interval
`passes.
`
`The systemof claim 45, wherein each segment rap-
`resenis a fixed number of content packeis, and the
`meansfor encrypting comprises means for chang-
`ing the cryptographic key for each of a olurality of
`the fixed nurmber of content packets.
`
`. The system of claim 45, wherein each segment rep-
`resenis a crypto period, and the means for encrypt-
`ing comprises means for changing the cryptograph-
`ic key for each of a number of packets separated
`by at least one recurring marker.
`
`§5.
`
`The sysiem of claim 45, wherein each segment rep-
`resenis a variable number of content packets, and
`the means for encrypling comprises means for
`changing the cryptographic key for each of a plural-
`ity of the variable number of content packeis.
`
`IPR2022-01227
`IPR2022-01227
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00852
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00852
`
`

`

`| |
`
`EP 4418 786 A2
`
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`
`IPR2022-01227
`IPR2022-01227
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00853
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00853
`
`

`

`EP 4418 786 A2
`
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`IPR2022-01227
`IPR2022-01227
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00854
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00854
`
`
`

`

`
`
`Europaisches Patentamt
`
`European Patent Office
`
`Office européen des brevets
`
`(V4)
`
`EP 1427 218 AZ
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`
`(19)
`
`(12)
`
`{43} Date of publication:
`99.06.2004 Bulletin 2004/24
`
`{21} Application number: 03078709.7
`
`(22) Date offiling: 24.44.2003
`
`(51) int cl?: HO4N 7/58, GOGF 15/00
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FIFR G8 GR
`HUE TT LILU MC NL PT ROSE SISK TR
`
`Designaiad Extension States:
`AL LT LV MK
`
`{30) Priarity: 04.42.2002 US 309887
`
`(71) Applicant EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
`Rochester, New York 14656 (US}
`
`° Jones, Bavid S., cio Eastman Kodak Company
`Rochester New York 14650-22071 (US}
`* Tomblin, Paul, clo Eastman Kodak Company
`Rochester New York 14650-2201 (US}
`° McCrackan, Michael E.,
`cle Eastman Kodak Company
`Rechester New York 14850-2204 (US}
`» Orfitelll, William A.,
`cle Eastman Kodak Company
`Rochester New York 14650-2201 (US)
`
`(72) inventors:
`* Buble, Walter C., clo Eastman Kodak Company
`Rochester New York 14650-2204 (US}
`* Gates, Curtis R., clo Eastman Kodak Company
`Harrow, Middlesex HAT 4TY (GB}
`Rochester New York 14650-2201 {US}
`
`
`| (74) Representative: Haile, Helen Cynthia et al
`Kodak Limited,
`Patents Department (W82-34},
`Headstone Drive
`
`(54) Method and system for generating a playlist for digital cinema
`
`A method is described for scheduling a playlist
`{57}
`
`from digital content supplied to a server in a multi-screan
`digital cinema theater, where the playlist includes com-
`ponents of the content stored in the server and repre-
`senis a digital entity that is subsequently projected in
`the digital cinema theater. The method includes the
`steps of: (a) generating and displaying a table ofplayl-
`ists currently available for scheduling, each playlist dis-
`playad along with its run time; (6) generating and dis-
`playing a schedule table showing a schedule view for
`each screen as an elongated timeline bar representing
`a time dimension, wherein the slongaied timeline bars
`
`for a plurality of the screens are arranged one adjacent
`the other relative to a displayed time axis to provide an
`overall perspective of the schedules for the screens of
`the theater; (c) selecting a playlist from the table of play-
`lists and specifying a scheduled start time and a selact-
`ed screen; and (d) updating the schedule table by in-
`serting the selected playlist as an elongated element in-
`to the elongated tirneline bar for the selected screen,
`wherein the element starts at the scheduled start time
`
`and has a time dimension corresponding to the run time
`of the selected playlist, whereby the updated schedule
`
`table is used to schedul
`e the selected playlist for the
`selected screen.
`
`
`
`
`
`EP1427218A2
`
`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
`
`IPR2022-01227
`IPR2022-01227
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00855
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00855
`
`

`

`|
`
`EP 4 427 218 A2
`
`2
`
`Description
`
`This invention is related io the field of digital
`{0004}
`cinema, and moreparticularly to the preparation, sched-
`uhng and use of digitized motion picture information in
`a multi-theater environment.
`
`Today, motion picturas - fromfeature films, to
`{6062}
`film based commerciais - are distributed and exhibiled
`
`largely in the form of film. Studios produce film masters,
`and distributers produce filra copies that are then dis-
`tributed to theatres for exhibition. in the theatre, espe-
`cially mulii-sereen ‘cineplexes', incoraing films need to
`be scheduled for exhibition. Specifically,
`the theatre
`homeoffice and the theatre manager delermine the au-
`ditorium and show timesfor a particularfilm. A schedule
`is compiled, usually describing the theatre exhibition
`olan for 1-2 weeks, or until an new feature is acquired.
`Executing a schedule typically entails moving huge rolls
`of film from one projectorstation to anotherstation; pre-
`paring the newfeature showing by splicing separate
`D
`reels of film together, adding film trailers and ‘railing ad-
`vertisements' to the beginning. Overall, itis a laborin-
`iansive process.
`{6063} There have been aitempts in the priorart to au-
`tomate the contro! of movie display electronics in a film
`cinema system. For
`instance,
`in U. S. Patent No.
`6,384,893 B1, which is entitled "Cinema Networking
`System” and was issued May 7, 2002, such a system
`includes a cinema controller which receives as input, in-
`formation regarding start times of movies and content
`of corresponding film reels. The information can be input
`8 varialy of ways. In one embodiment, the information
`is manually entered into a file or database for subse-
`quent reference. The publication shows (Fig. 4} an entry
`form that may be displayed. In this embodirnent, an op-
`erator enters, either via a keyboard and/or by using a
`cursor control device, a description of the content of the
`film reels including the duration and filrn format of each
`segment. In addition, a film identifier, such as the tlle,
`is supplied along with the times it is to be played in a
`particular projection room. Other embodiments are also
`contemplated. For example, ihe information may be re-
`ceived or downloaded from a remote centralized loca-
`
`tion. Alternately, the inforrnation may be retrievable from
`a web site maintained to contain such information.
`
`Over the last fewyears, the digitization of film
`(0004)
`has become very commonfor the purpose of integrating
`‘computer generated special effects in scene content.
`Digilized content turns oul be much easier fo handle,
`from the point of view of making copies, storing, distrib-
`uling, and ‘touching up’. A natural out-growth of digital
`special effects work is the attempt to carry the digitized
`content through postoroduction, onto distribution and
`exhibition. Such a workflow is described in general as
`‘digital cinema’. Recent technological advancesinsior-
`age, networking and projection equipment are making
`digital
`cinema a genuine possibility.
`(0005) As described by S.A. Morley, in “Making Digital
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`36
`
`40
`
`Cinema Actually Hapoen-—What it Takes and Who's
`Going to Da it’, SMPTE 140!" Technical Conference,
`Pasadena, California, October 31, 1998, digital cinerna
`provides an ability to extend presentation capabilities
`beyond just showing movies. More specifically, a simple
`graphical computerinterface can make screen sched-
`uling @asy, accurate and flexible for the theatre operator.
`Although no specific interface is described, Morley
`opines that by a simple drag-and-drop action on a PC
`ina theaier manager's office, amovie can be scheduled
`to showat a certain time in a given auditorium and with
`a defined set of trailers and promotions, which can be
`changed at each show time.
`{6006} Avica Technology Corp. markets a Digital Cin-
`ema Manager product that allows monitoring and con-
`trol of siorage server parameters by a theatre manager
`or engineering supervisor in a digital cinama environ-
`ment. Securify setting, playlist creation, content load-in
`and systern maintenance functions can be accessed
`from local or network connections. Multiple servers can
`be monitored and contralled from a single terminal. Gon-
`versely, multiple rnanagement terminals may access an
`individual server. The user interface provides creation
`of multi-event playlists including features, trailers and
`promotions, and timeline based playlist management for
`a single auditoriumat a time.
`{6007} Wheiher automating the scheduling of film cin-
`ema or digital cinerna systerns, the prior art nas come
`up short in providing a user-friendly interface, particu-
`larly in a multi-screen cineplex environment. Whatis
`therefore needed is an approach that leverages the flex-
`ibility provided by digital cinema without adding unnec-
`essary complexity in the scheduling task.
`{0603] The present invention is directed to overcom-
`ing one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly
`summarized, according fo one aspect of the present in-
`vention, a method is described for scheduling a playlist
`from digital content supplied to a server in a multi-screen
`digital cinema theater, where the playlist includes com-
`ponents of the content stored in the server and repre-
`senis a digital entity that is subsequently projected in
`the digital cinema theater. The method includes the
`steps of: (a) generating and displaying a iabie of playi-
`ists currently available for scheduling, each playlist dis-
`played along with its run time; (b) generating and dis-
`playing a schedule table showing a schedule viewfor
`each screen as an elongated timeline bar representing
`a time dimension, wherain the elongated timeline bars
`for a plurality of the screens are arranged one adjacent
`the other relative to a displayed time axis to provide an
`overall perspective of the schedules for the screens of
`the theater; (c}) selecting a playlist from the table of play-
`lists and specifying a scheduled start time and a selact-
`ed screen; and (d) updating the schedule table by in-
`serting the selected playlist as an elongated element in-
`to the elongated tirneline bar for the selected screen,
`wherein the element starts at the scheduled start time
`
`and has a time dimension corresponding to the run time
`
`IPR2022-01227
`IPR2022-01227
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00856
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00856
`
`

`

`3
`
`EP 4 427 218 A2
`
`4
`
`of the selected playlist, whereby the updated schedule
`table is used to schedule the selected playlist for the
`selected screen.
`
`In atfurther aspectof the invention, a digital cin-
`{0608]
`ema sysiem is described for exhibiting digital content
`supplied in a coded forrn to a central content manage-
`ment server in amuli-screendigital cinema theatre hav-
`ing a plurality of auditoriums. The digital cinema system
`includes: a plurality of digital projectors for projecting
`digital content in the plurality of auditoriums, each pro-
`jector inchiding a decoder for decoding the digital con-
`tentinto a device-dependent signal for projection; a plu-
`rality of content player servers, each one devoted to a
`respective digital projector; and a local area network
`linking the content player servers to the central content
`managementserver and to the digital projectors, whaere-
`by each digital projector is a network-enabled device
`that can communicate with any of the content player
`servers to display digital content. in still a further aspect,
`the digital cinema system includes a cinema operating
`sysiem for generating and scheduling playlists, each
`playlist including components of the content stored in
`the content management server and representing a dig-
`ital entity that is subsequently projectedin the digital cin-
`ema.
`
`By counting the creating of playlists as a pre-
`{0070}
`cursor to scheduling, there is the advantage that the
`need to physically handle, splice and set up farge
`lengths of film is obviated.
`{6014} These and other aspects, objecis, features
`and advantages of the present invention will be more
`clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the
`following detailed description of the preferred embodi-
`ments and appended claims, and by reference io the
`accompanying drawings.
`{0072]
`FIG. 1 ts a block diagram of an exhibition com-
`ponent of a digital cinema system, showing in particular
`a cinema operating system in accordance with the in-
`vention.
`
`FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration of a scheduling
`{0073]
`cantext screen from @ graphical user interface imple-
`mented by the cinema operating sysiem shown in Fig-
`ure 1.
`
`FIG. Sis apictorial tustration of the scheduling
`(0074]
`menus and controls accessible through the menu bar of
`the scheduling context screan shownin Figure 2.
`{6045}
`Fic. 4 is a pictorial
`illustration of a window
`showing playlist properties, which is accessible through
`the scheduling context screen shown in Figure 2 and
`the menu controls shown in Figure 3.
`(0046)
`FiG. 5 is a pictorial illustration of a dialog box
`for scheduling a playlist in the foreground of a schedule
`timeline shown in the scheduling context screan shown
`in Figure 2, which
`is accessible through the scheduling
`context screen shownin Figure 2 and the menu controls
`shown in Figure 3.
`{6017}
`FIG. 6 is a sictorial illustration of a dialog box
`for scheduling a tirne block in a schedule timeline shown
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`36
`
`40
`
`in the scheduling context screen shown in Figure 2,
`which is accessible through the scheduling context
`screen shownin Figure 2 and the menu controls shown
`in Figure 3.
`{6018}
`FIG. 7 is a sictorial illustration of a dialog box
`for scheduling a playlist in the background of a schedule
`timeline shownin the scheduling coniexi screen shown
`in Figure 2, which is accessible through ithe scheduling
`coniext screen shown in Figure 2 and the menu controls
`shownin Figure 3.
`{0079]
`FIG. 3 is a pictorial illustration of a dialag box
`for scheduling a rolling ad in a schedule timeline shown
`in the scheduling context screen shown in Figure 2,
`which is accessible through the scheduling context
`screen shown in Figure 2 and the rnenu controls shown
`in Figure 3.
`(6020)
`FiG. 9 is a pictorial ilustration of a schedule
`view by month which is accessible through the sched-
`uling context screen shownin Figure 2 and the menu
`controls shown in Figure 3.
`(0027)
`FIG. 10 is a pictorial illustration of a window
`showing schedule iter properties for a particular playlist
`on a particular day for a particular screen, which is ac-
`cessibie through the scheduling context screen shown
`in Figure 2 and the menu controls shown in Figure 3.
`(0022)
`FiG. itis a pictorial Hustration of the schedul-
`ing context screen shown in Figure 2, whichis filled out
`to show the schedule properties on @ particular dayfor
`the theater.
`
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an exhibition
`{0023]
`component of a digital cinema system, showing in par-
`ticular a further ernbodiment of a cinema operating sys-
`tem in accordance with a further aspectof the invention.
`{0024] Because digital image processing systems are
`wall known, the present description will be directed in
`particular to altributes forming part of, or cooperating
`rnore directly with, a method and systemin accordance
`with the present
`invention. Meithad and system at-
`iributes not specifically shown or described herain may
`be selected from those knownin the art. In the following
`description, a preferred ambodiment of the present in-
`vention would ordinarily be implernenied as a software
`
`program, although those skilled in the art will readily rec-
`ognize that the equivalent of such software may also be
`constructed in hardware. Given the method and system
`as described according to the invention in the following
`materials, software not specifically shown, suggested or
`describedherein that is useful for implementation of the
`invention is conventional and within the ordinary skill in
`such arts. if the invention is implemented as a computer
`pragrarn, the program may oe stored in a conventional
`camputer readable storage medium, which may com-
`prise, for example; magnetic storage media such as 4
`magnetic disk (such as a floppy disk or a hard drive) or
`rmnaqgnetic tape; optical storage media such as anoptical
`disc, optical tape, or machine readable bar code; solid
`staie electronic storage devices such as random access
`memory (RAM), or read only memory (ROM): or any oth-
`
`IPR2022-01227
`IPR2022-01227
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00857
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00857
`
`

`

`an
`
`EP 4 427 218 A2
`
`6
`
`er physical device or mediurn ernployed to store a corn-
`puter program.
`{0025} A digital cinema system coraprises a digital
`mastering center for generating digital content, such as
`from a feature film, a distribution center for transmitting
`the digital content, and a digital exhibition centerfor pro-
`jecting the content to audiences. The exhibition center
`wil include, among its many parts, a projection systern
`and a software application herein identified as the digital
`cinema operating sysiem. The digital cinema operating
`system is a custom software solution that supports the
`loading, scheduling, control and playback of features,
`trailers and other pre-showcontent, such as slide shows
`and advertising, on multiple digital cinema screens.
`While not a specific part of this description, the digital
`cinema operating sysiam will download decryption kays
`from studics to allow features to be played back an dig-
`ital projectors, and also controls automated theatre ap-
`eration suchas lighting and sound systems. In the latter
`connection, the digital cinema operating system will typ-
`ically interface witht existing, commoercially-available
`coritrol systerns for such automated theatre operations.
`{0026] Besides referring to the digital distribution and
`projection of first-run movies, digital cinema has also
`been used to refer to the digital distribution and projec-
`tion of pre-show entertainment, including commercials,
`music videos and other content, ordinarily in connection
`with the showing of full-length feature mation picture
`films, perhaps with film trailers and the like. Thus, and
`as used herein in a preferred ambodiment, the digital
`cinema operating system refers to an in-theater network
`io receive, schedule, distribute and project advertising
`and other ore-show content as a digital entity preceding
`and/or following a motion picture film feature, as well as
`to an in-theater network to receive, schedule, cdistrinute
`and project full-length feature digital content, often with
`digital trailers, advertising and other pre-show,or inter-
`show content, where ail of the digital entities are com-
`bined together as a single digital preseniation. Furiher-
`more, in another embodiment, as will be illustrated in
`Figure 12, the scheduling functionality of the digital cin-
`ema operating systern may be shared with other corn-
`ponents of the digital cinema system, such as a central
`digital cinerna distribution facility or service, where it
`may be convenient to establish an association between
`cerlain digital content, such as between certain ad or
`irailer content and specific feature content.
`{6027} The digital cinama system is comprised of
`hardware and software (ihe digital cinerna operating
`system) that, when installed in a multi-screen cineplex,
`can provide sophisticated digital cinema functionality.
`Referring to Figure 1, the digital cinema system is com-
`prised of:
`
`¢
`
`»
`
`ahigh storage capacity content management serv-
`er 16 having a server database 12 associated ihere-
`with;
`one or more high resolution digital prajectors 14
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`36
`
`40
`
`*
`
`*
`
`e
`
`and/orhigh resolution display screens 16, each pro-
`Jector and/or screen corinected to,
` oneor more specialized decoding processors 18 for
`decoding compressed digital content that is down-
`loaded from the content management server 18 to
`one or more content player servers 20, each con-
`tent player server 20 connected to,
`alocal area network (LAN) 22 tying each of the con-
`tant player servers 20 to the content management
`server 10; and
`acinema operating system graphical user interface
`24 used to manage digital cinerna content, sched-
`ule content, and in general contral the various com-
`ponents of the system, wherein the user interface
`24 interfaces with a high resolution display 26 to im-
`plement the functional interface components 28 of
`the cinema operating sysiem.
`
`As shown in Figure 1, ihe cinerna operating system op-
`erates in a multi-screen cineplex environment featuring
`both digital and film content shown in a plurality of au-
`ditoriums 36, each having a screen 34 that is positioned
`fo receive a projected image. More specifically, the dig-
`tal proiectors 14 are used in one or more auditoriums
`3@ (three being shown) to project a digitally-cbtained im-
`age upon the screens 34 and a filmprojector 32 is used
`in at least one of the auditoriums 38a to project a film
`nage upon a screen 34a. In regard to filrn projection,
`
`the cinema operating system may signal a projectionist
`atan appropriate time to bagin projection. Alternatively,
`actual control of the film projector may be integrated into
`the cinemaoperating system through ihe user interface
`24, Moreover, since digital content (such as ad content)
`may be played before and/or after a mation picture film,
`the film auditorium 30a may aiso contain a digital pro-
`Jector 14 connected as shown in broken line to the LAN
`22 through 2 conient player server 28 and a processor
`48. A theatre management system 36 may also be inte-
`grated into the cinemaoperating system through the us-
`er interface 24, and it provides automated control of
`highting and sound systems, as well as integrating with
`a ticket sales and advertising system.
`{0628] The illustrated LAN connection 22 may be im-
`plemented with any sullable network architecture, such
`as Ethernet. In practice, the processors 18 (which in one
`embodiment may be a processor board/card added tc
`the content player servers 20 instead of a separate com-
`ponent (18) as shownin Figure 1) decode the image
`daia into a device-dependent signal, such as RGB, suif-
`able for driving the projectors 14. This means that the
`connection between the processors 18 and the projec-
`tors 141s a dedicated off-network connection. If the de-
`
`coder processor (48) is insiead ernbedded into the pro-
`jectors 14, then the projectors 14 will become network
`devices capable of being driven directly off the LAN 22.
`As will be explained further in connection with Figure 12,
`having the projectors 14 as network devices has an add-
`ed redundancy benefit since any given projector can be
`
`IPR2022-01227
`IPR2022-01227
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00858
`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 00858
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`griven off any content server 20, therefore providing au-
`tomatic backup in case the content server for a particular
`auditorium should go dawn.
`{0028] The user interface 24 of the cinema operating
`systemis desigried to be operated by a theatre manager
`and/or a lead orojectionist or other designated person,
`
`usually in the environment of their offices or workspac-
`es, such as a projection booth or for that matter any
`place connectable to the LAN 22. At the core of the cin-
`ema operaling sysiem are the functional interface corn-
`ponents 28, which in this embodiment include four func-
`tional camponents:
`
`9
`
`*
`»
`*
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`a content management function 38;
`aplaylist management function 46;
`ascheduling function 42; and
`an exhibition/playback monitoring function 44.
`
`Under the content management furiction 38, the theatre
`manager or another designated operator can load new
`digital content 46 to the central server 78, and view, edit
`and delete the digital content stored in the server data-
`base 12. Examples of coniant are rolling ads (commaer-
`cials), trailers Geature film previews) and full features
`feature films). Content generally comes, ¢.g., from a
`studio, an advertising providerorthe like, andis intend-
`ed to be exhibited for a contracted period of time. There-
`after, the conient is purged. While not a part of this in-
`vention,
`the digital confent 46 would typically be re-
`ceived over a satellite connection, a terrestrial network,
`or physical media such as a DVD thatis delivered to the
`theater office.
`
`(0038) Another key use of content is for ihe creation
`of playlists. A playlist is an ordered collection of one or
`rnore content files available from the content manage-
`ment server 10, and represenis the content package
`that is scheduled into a particular auditoriumat a partic-
`ular time.
`in a totally digital environment, a plavlist is
`analogousto the final reel offilm thai a projectionist pra-
`pares for exhibition, by splicing rolling ads and trailers
`to the main feature film. In a mixed digital and film envi-
`ronment, the playlist is analogous to the spliced film
`components comprising the rolling ads and perhans the
`trailers that are scheduled to precede the rain feature
`film, or simply run between main feature films as, e.¢.,
`a digitized slide stiow. Under the playlist management
`function 40, the theatre manager create can create, edit
`and delete playlists. Having coniantat their core, playl-
`ists also have 4 specific lifetime, after which they are
`purged. Accordingly, each playlist represents the digital
`entity that is subsequently projected, either through a
`projector in an auditorium 38, or on a display 16, @.¢.,
`in the theatre lobby.
`the theater
`{00231] Once the playlists are created,
`manager or another designated person must schedule
`when and where the required playlists are olayed. This
`is done in the scheduling function 42. The schedules for
`playlists ta be exhibited are aiso tied ta the theatre man-
`
`10
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`20
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`25
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`36
`
`40
`
`agement system 36, and specifically to the iheater’s
`ticketing systern, which also provides show times to
`newspapers and other sources weil in advance of the
`scheduled showings.
`In the cinema operating system
`according to the preferred embodirnent, the function of
`scheduling is to program into the system the start time
`and the auditorium in which each playlist will play. When
`the scheduled time arrives, the cinema operating sys-
`tem controls the starting and playback of the content
`represented within the digital glayiist. Finally, a monitor-
`ing function 44 provides the theatre manager and pro-
`jectionist a means io view the current state of playlist
`playback. The moniter user interface is similar to the
`scheduling user interface set to the presenttime, in that
`the theatre manager can viewthe overall state of play-
`back in the various auditoriums and onthe various dis-
`
`plays tied to the cinema operating system.
`{6032]