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.). In a preferred embodiment, the control center determines whether the infrared sensors or other data indicate violation of anti-piracy protection within a theater and provides reporting on the status and data. If a violation is indicated, then the control center sends a violation
signal such as to the sensor response controller which can trigger an alarm and / or activate a violation inhibit output to
shut down the movie
projector. This
shut down of the
projector is an optional feature. In a preferred embodiment, the
shut down can be overridden with the entry of an appropriate security code. A
data entry subsystem permits entry of additional data, which is communicated as
signal to the sensor response controller. The controller provides for
processing the data from the
data entry and communicating to the control center. The additional data can include
ticket sales for one or more movies, attendance data, security code, etc. In a preferred embodiment, there are a plurality of theater systems, each of which has an equivalent anti-piracy
system installed, each providing reporting back to the control center which provides overall
system control.