US 6,983,225 B2
System and method for remotely monitoring, diagnosing, intervening with and reporting problems with cinematic equipment
David H. Sprogis, Watertown, Mass. (US); and Dan U. Zehme, Medfield, Mass. (US)
Assigned to CineCast LLC, Cambridge, Mass. (US)
Filed on Dec. 17, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/738,875.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/435164, filed on Dec. 20, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2004/0249613 A1, Dec. 09, 2004
Int. Cl. G06F 11/00 (2006.01); H04N 7/18 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 702—188 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for communicating with, and receiving data representative of equipment state and status from, movie theatre equipment in theatres, said system comprising:
a central computer storage unit for receiving and storing data representative of equipment status;
a plurality of remote computer storage units coupled to said central computer storage unit for transmitting data representative of equipment status, each of said plurality of remote computer storage units including;
a first remote computer storage unit coupled to at least one theatre automation unit for detecting and transmitting data representative of a non-error condition as well as data representative of an error condition with respect to automation equipment status responsive to a periodic request signal;
said first remote computer storage unit also being coupled to at least one theatre projection unit for detecting and transmitting data representative of a non-error condition as well as data representative of an error condition with respect to projection equipment status responsive to the periodic request signal;
said first remote computer storage unit also being coupled to at least one theatre audio processing unit for detecting and transmitting data representative of a non-error condition as well as data representative of an error condition with respect to audio equipment status responsive to the periodic request signal; and
said first remote computer storage unit also being coupled to at least one theatre power source for detecting and transmitting data representative of a non-error condition as well as data representative of an error condition with respect to power status responsive to the periodic request signal.