Northern Telecom Limited

Other

Bell Canada

Vincent C So

Paul J Vella

Richard P Hughes

Fred A Huszarik

Jonathan So

Maurice Stephen O'Sullivan

Hyung B Kim

Renato Mariani

David D Clegg

Barbara So

Michel Lessard

Jason B Lamont

Stephen So

Image display methods and systems are provided wherein for each of a plurality of still images of a motion picture, rendering a respective sequence of sub-frames such that in each sub-frame one or more portions of the still image is altered with the sequence of sub-frames summing to the still image, and for each pair of consecutive still images that is one of a plurality of pairs of still images of the plurality of still images of the motion picture, the pair comprises first and second consecutive still images and there is a variation in the rendering of the respective sequence of sub-frames between the first and second consecutive still images. Intensity compensation may be applied such that when sub-frames are displayed, an image substantially equivalent to the still image is perceptible.

Image display methods and systems with sub-frame intensity compensation

Systems and methods of distributing and controlling use of data content are provided. Data content is distributed to users by a service provider system, shared between computer system users, or both. In one embodiment, data content is segregated into a plurality of sections, each section is encrypted using a respective one of a plurality of encryption keys, and the resultant plurality of encrypted sections is downloaded to a customer processing platform. In order to control the use of the data content, a plurality of decryption keys corresponding to the plurality of encryption keys are then delivered to the customer processing platform in a manner such that the customer processing platform has possession of at most a subset of the plurality of decryption keys at any time. According to another embodiment, downloaded data content is adapted for use only with a particular software component that establishes a connection with a data content service provider system to obtain permission to use the data content.

Internet-based data content rental system and method

Image display methods and systems are provided wherein only portions of a still image of a motion picture, generated for display during an image time interval, are displayed during respective sub-intervals of the image time interval. A still image is thereby separated into portions and displayed separately during corresponding sub-intervals. Preferably, no single portion of the image includes all of the content of the entire image. However, the sum of all of the portions preferably includes all of the content of the image, and all of the portions are displayed within the image time interval. Although an image displayed in this manner can be correctly perceived by a viewer, recording of such an image may capture fewer than all of the portions of the image to thereby degrade the quality of recorded copies of the image and thus the motion picture. Intensity compensation is performed such that a consistent brightness is perceived by a user notwithstanding the fact that some portions are displayed for less time.

Anti-piracy image display methods and systems with sub-frame intensity compensation

Image display methods and systems are provided wherein only portions of a still image of a motion picture, generated for display during an image time interval, are displayed during respective sub-intervals of the image time interval. A still image is thereby separated into portions and displayed separately during corresponding sub-intervals. Preferably, no single portion of the image includes all of the content of the entire image. However, the sum of all of the portions preferably includes all of the content of the image, and all of the portions are displayed within the image time interval. Although an image displayed in this manner can be correctly perceived by a viewer, recording of such an image may capture fewer than all of the portions of the image to thereby degrade the quality of recorded copies of the image and thus the motion picture.

Anti-piracy image display methods and systems

A computer-user wrist support for supporting the wrist during operation of a computer inputting device. A resilient cushion located at the underside of the wrist provides the support while fastening means, comprising an elongated radially-stretchable fabric tube with closure means, secure the resilient cushion in place against the wrist.

Mouse user wrist support

A fiber optic adaptor is provided which facilitates the connection of either an ST terminated fiber or an FC terminated fiber to another FC terminated fiber, or to some other optical device. The adaptor has a pair of pins mounted on supports connected to an FC coupling receptacle. The pins have extended and retracted positions. When extended, the pins engage the J-shaped slots of the ST terminated fiber, and when retracted, they are out of the way allowing the FC terminated fiber to be connected to the receptacle. In another embodiment, an adaptor is provided which facilitates the connection of either an ST terminated fiber or an SC terminated fiber to another SC terminated fiber.

Fibre optic adaptor

A wavelength measurement system is provided which allows the very accurate measurement of wavelengths in a relatively small predetermined range. A transmission ratio is formed consisting of the power of an optical signal which has passed through a thin-film interference filter divided by the power of a control signal. A table look up is performed in a stored transmission ratio wavelength table. The system is also used in a self stabilizing laser, and a spectrometer.

Optical wavelength measurement system

In an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR), an optical signal is coupled to an optical fiber path to be tested, and back-scattered and reflected light from the optical fiber path is detected and used to determine loss-distance characteristics of the path. A control unit varies the wavelength of the optical signal by varying the temperature of a semiconductor laser constituting the optical source, so that the loss-distance characteristics for a plurality of different wavelengths are determined and can be displayed to show any wavelength dependent loss of the optical fiber path, which loss may be due to modal interference associated with closely spaced discontinuities in the path.

Optical time domain reflectometer using a tunable optical source

An OTDR includes an optical source, an optical detector, and two optical fiber connectors respectively for connection of a single mode fiber or a multi-mode fiber to be tested. Optical paths selectively couple either the source to the first connector and the first connector to the detector, or the source to the second connector and the second connector to the detector. The path from the source to the first connector consists of single-mode fiber, the path from the second connector to the detector consists of multi-mode fiber, and the paths from the first connector to the detector and from the source to the second connector each consist of single mode fiber followed by multi-mode fiber. The selective coupling is achieved using an optical switch and two optical couplers.

Optical time domain reflectometer for selective testing of optical

A fiber optic coupler has a cylindrical rod protruding along the apex of an angled block. An optical waveguide is mounted to extend around part of the circumferential of the rod. A transparent body is located on the side of the fiber remote from the rod, and the rod and the body are biased together to bend the fiber around the rod surface and to form an intimate contact between the transparent body and the curved part of the fiber. A light input or output device is positioned to direct light at or receive light from the curved fiber part through the transparent body.

Fiber optic coupler

An optical fiber interface includes a detector assembly, which may include an integral fiber, for detecting an optical signal carried on a single fiber in an outbound direction and a piezo electric transducer or the like for providing relative movement between the fiber and the detector assembly to produce a modulated return optical signal in reflections of the outbound signal. The return optical signal has a lower frequency or data rate than the outbound signal. Several embodiments modulate the return signal by relative movement either perpendicular to or parallel to the fiber. The perpendicular movement modulates the reflected signal by varying alignment of the fiber and detector assembly, while the parallel movement modulates by varying a Fabry-Perot gap formed between the fiber and the detector assembly. One embodiment includes a cantilever beam of semiconductor material attached to the detector surface. The beam providing an integrated transducer and reflecting surface.

Optical fiber interface

Optical communications fibers extend from a central office to subscribers' premises for carrying signals in both directions between optical transmitters and receivers. Each subscriber's optical receiver continuously reflects back to its fiber, and then to the central office, about 20 percent of the light which it receives. At the central office the reflected light is monitored in turn for each subscriber, and is correlated with the signal transmitted to that subscriber to provide a signal for optical time domain reflectometry of the respective subscriber's fiber connection.

Optical fiber communications system with optical fiber monitoring

A bandwidth limiter for an optical fiber transmission path comprises a four-port optical coupler via which an optical signal is passed. A spliced optical fiber provides a loop, from an output to an input of the coupler, with a predetermined propagation delay and attenuation. An alternative arrangement uses two couplers which are coupled together via fibers of different length and hence propagation delay.

Optical fiber bandwidth limiting

Light reflected at an optical fiber connector is monitored to test the connector. Light entering an optical fiber via the connector under test is attenuated in the fiber to prevent undesired reflections.

Test instrument for optical fiber connectors

An optical fiber having a core and a cladding has its cladding interrupted and an electro-optic crystal disposed at the interruption, a modulating electric field being applied via electrodes to the crystal to control its refractive index and thereby modulate an optical signal carried by the fiber. In one embodiment the interruption in the cladding extends all around the core. In another embodiment the fiber is embedded in a curved position in epoxy material, and the epoxy material and fiber are ground down on the outside of the curve to interrupt the cladding and expose the core, the electro-optic crystal being provided on the ground surface. A second fiber can be inverted on the crystal to provide an optical coupler. The electro-optic crystal is for example a single crystal of a tetragonal phosphate.

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Edmonton, Canada

Vincent C So