Patent Publication Number: US-2006002690-A1

Title: Intelligent media splice

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to splicing of film media and more particularly relates to an apparatus and method whereby a memory is coupled with a film medium splice.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown, in block diagram form, a conventional workflow sequence for motion picture production. A motion picture film medium  12  is provided from a media manufacturer  10 . Conventionally, motion picture film medium  12  is provided in lengths of several hundreds of feet, wound about a core  14 . In preparation for production set  18 , sections of unexposed motion picture film medium  12  are cut from the larger rolls and loaded into a film magazine  20  for exposure by a camera  22 . Exposed medium  24  is then ready for processing by a lab  26 .  
      Accompanying exposed medium  24  are written instructions  28  provided by various specialists in the production set  18  environment, working according to requirements and scene plans formulated beforehand in a preproduction activity  16 . For example, camera  22  can have a crew of three or four members, some of which may provide some form of annotation or instructions for lab  26  or for an editing facility  30 . The coupling of written instructions  28  to exposed medium  24  here and in subsequent treatment stages is fairly loose, provided primarily using adhesive labels or handwritten notes attached to film packaging.  
      Lab  26  performs any necessary processing needed to develop the image content of exposed medium  24 . For conventional silver-halide-based film media, successive baths of developer, fixer, and bleach are used, as is well known in the imaging arts; however, lab  26  may also use thermal treatment or other techniques for developing the latent image to provide a developed medium  32  for an editing facility  30 . At editing facility  30 , developed medium  32  is edited to obtain the best “takes” of a studio session and to provide daily prints  36  or “dailies” as a type of proof for these takes. Editing facility  30  may use one or more scanners  34  and may even digitize complete scenes for editing and for adding digital effects, for example. The final masters  42  are provided as intermediates for mass reproduction of motion picture print films, which are the copies distributed to local theaters. Archival print films  38  are also produced and provided to an archival facility  40 .  
      It must be emphasized that  FIG. 1  and the above accompanying description are necessarily simplified in order to provide a broad overview of the motion picture workflow. However, a number of observations about motion picture film media workflow can be clearly made based on this high-level overview, including the following: 
          (i) Different organizations at different locations handle and process the film medium. Maintaining clear communication between these organizations and tracking the progress of film media through each stage can be fairly complex.     (ii) Each organization handling the film medium has some type of tracking system, such as for billing purposes, for example. There have been some attempts to standardize information stored about the film medium at any point in the workflow; however, no widely accepted standards have been implemented.     (iii) Communication difficulties abound. There can be considerable information available, for example, from the studio production team that are currently recorded manually. Chances are high that much of the available information that could be helpful to skilled workers at editing facility  30  would be lost or that partial information would be confusing.        

      Not as apparent from the description accompanying  FIG. 1 , but well known to workers in the motion picture production environment are other problems, such as the following: 
          (a) The shooting environment of production set  18  is highly complex and involves the activities of a substantial number of skilled workers in different disciplines. These disciplines include camera crews, lighting personnel, audio personnel, stagehands, makeup and hair stylists, actors, stunt performers, and direction and production personnel. For a particular scene take, there can be a considerable body of information of value to those who work in either lab  26  or editing facility  30 . However, in conventional practice, abbreviated instructions from production set  18  personnel or from preproduction activity  16  are typically given on forms that accompany developed medium  32  to editing facility  30 . There is very little accommodation for special information that may be helpful for lab  26  or for editing personnel. For example, an instruction to defer a processing step at lab  26  may be provided in comments from production set  18  personnel and can easily be lost or forgotten.     (b) The environment of production set  18  is hectic, particularly during shooting of a scene. Film magazines  20  are loaded and unloaded from camera  22  at a rapid pace, with annotations manually made for each scene take on a particular length of film and for identifying “circle takes”, that is, scene takes that are agreed to have gone well and are intended for production in daily prints  36 . Film usage is tracked, so that waste film is accounted for and unused film left in film magazine  20  can be reused or resold.     (c) Creative intent of various skilled workers can be important to an understanding of later handling of exposed medium  24 , developed medium  32 , daily print  36 , master  42 , and archival print  38 . Using conventional methods, however, there is little or no facility for recording information that is not expressible in measurable units.     (d) Video content for any particular length of exposed medium  24 , developed medium  32 , daily print  36 , master  42 , print film, or archival print  38  is described on paper or in a database. However, there is no type of easily viewable pictorial representation or index accompanying a length of film that would enable easy identification of the content.        

      In light of the above observations (i)-(iii) and problems (a)-(d), it can be seen that there is considerable value in reliably coupling information to the motion picture film in its various production and processing stages. In particular, there is considerable value in methods that make information about earlier production steps available to workers who perform subsequent production steps. Further, there might be reasons for making information available in a selective manner, so that, for example, lab  26  may not have access to all of the information about a length of film that was provided at production set  18 ; however, editing facility  30  may have access to all of the data from both production set  18  and lab  26 .  
      One notable problem with the conventional workflow of  FIG. 1  relates to the interaction, at editing facility  30 , of scene content that is provided on conventional motion picture film with electronically generated and manipulated scene content. Much of the editing performed on a motion picture scene can be executed on a digitally scanned version of the scene content. After this treatment, the completed scene is then imaged back onto motion picture film, to be provided as daily prints  36  and as masters  42 . Using conventional handwritten notation and manual techniques for associating information about the scene with the scene itself, it is difficult to incorporate information about the scene into the digital image data stream. Written documentation must accompany film that leaves editing facility  30 ; if this documentation is inadvertently separated from the film, the job of determining what scene content is on an individual reel can be a tedious and costly task.  
      A number of types of memory devices can be coupled to a specific length of motion picture film. Examples of suitable memory devices include bar code labels or other optically encoded devices and magnetic strips or similar magnetically encoded media. RF ID devices offer yet another type of solution for associating a memory storage device with a unit of a consumable imaging medium. RF ID tags have been proposed for use in a wide range of identification and tracking applications, such as with passports and credit cards, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,222 to Moskowitz et al. One type of commercially available, low profile RF ID tag is the “TAG-IT INLAY”™ RFID tag available from Texas Instruments, Incorporated, located in Dallas, Tex., USA. This component can be used to provide identifying information about an item to which it is attached, for example. RF ID devices are useful for tracking the location of, characteristics of and usage of documents, books, packages, and other inventory. For example, RF ID tags can be used to track the location of documents and track the chain of custody of such documents within a document management system. RF ID tags offer the advantage of small size, enabling these devices to be unobtrusively attached or hidden within an item. Unlike optical or mechanical equivalents, RF ID tags allow communication regardless of orientation relative to a transceiver. Equipped with an on-board read-write memory, these devices can be used for recording and recall of at least some amount of data related to an item to which they are coupled.  
      Systems employing RF ID tags typically comprise a read/write element, or RF transceiver, that acts as the interface between the RF ID tag and a computer system of some type that uses and/or provides the stored data. The RF ID tag itself is typically embodied as a transponder, having an integral antenna, adapted to send and receive electromagnetic fields in cooperation with the transceiver, where the electromagnetic field itself contains information to be conveyed to and from a memory on the RF ID tag. Both read/write and read-only versions of RF ID tag are available. Information that is stored in memory on the RFID tag can be used to track, identify, and process an item. The RFID tag memory can also store other information that is to be associated with the item, such as timestamps and vendor identification codes for example.  
      Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,857, “Multistage System for Processing Photographic Film” (Wheeler et al.), incorporated herein by reference, discloses the use of an RF ID tag coupled with a memory for tracking the treatment of photographic film throughout the basic multi-stage motion picture film production workflow. In the Wheeler et al. patent, methods for core-to-core transfer of data are disclosed, so that, for a given process such as film exposure, development, or telecine transfer, input data is read from an RF transponder on an input core. This input data is then processed, supplemented with any suitable information for the corresponding motion picture film processing, and rewritten to an RF transponder on an output core. While the system and methods of the Wheeler et al. patent provide a useful mechanism for tracking the processing status for a complete roll of motion picture film medium at each treatment stage, there are inherent limitations to this approach where splices are used to join separate lengths of film.  
      Splicing techniques are widely used during various stages of motion picture film production and presentation. Referring back to  FIG. 1 , before or during lab  26  processing, one or more splices may be applied to join lengths of film from different cameras  22 . Splices are also widely used to join different segments of processed film that are handled by editing facility  30 . A roll of film provided from editing facility  30 , such as daily print  36 , may have multiple splices, one preceding each scene, for example. As the editing team works with the film, adding effects and coordinating audio tracks, splices may be applied to join lengths of edited film for proofs used to create master  42 .  
      Splices themselves may be formed using tape or using a combination of ultrasonic welding techniques, heat, and adhesive cement. In general, splices are avoided within a master film and within high-quality print films; however, on dailies and other types of proofs and intermediates from the editing process, splices are often used. Even at the motion picture theater, conventional practices may require the projection staff to splice together feature and trailer films in preparation for the film showing.  
      At many stages of production, spliced film requires some form of labeling and documentation, so that the film contents can be identified. Since conventional procedures for documenting which lengths of film are spliced into what roll are largely manual, there is significant opportunity for error. It can be appreciated that there is a recognized need for more automated methods for splice detection and for obtaining information on film contained in a spliced length. There would be particular advantages to a method that allowed access to information on any of a number of splices in a roll of film. An ability to automatically detect splices and identify the related visual content can save time and expense during many stages of the production cycle, including audio synchronization, content manipulation and editing, and archival.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide identifying information to accompany a recordable medium by coupling a memory with a spliced segment of film medium. With this object in mind, the present invention provides a film splice comprising a memory.  
      From another aspect, the present invention provides a method for coupling a memory onto a segment of a recordable film medium comprising the step of affixing a splice onto the segment, wherein the splice comprises an addressable memory.  
      It is a feature of the present invention that the splice itself comprise a memory having encoded information thereon about a segment of recordable film medium to which the splice is affixed. The memory may itself contain all necessary information about the spliced segment, or may comprise an electronic address for accessing information about the spliced segment.  
      It is an advantage of the present invention that it allows a separate memory to accompany each spliced segment of recordable film medium, so that any number of spliced segments can be provided in a roll of recordable film medium.  
      It is an advantage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention that it allows access to information about a spliced segment of recordable film medium without the need to unravel a roll of film medium containing the spliced segment.  
      These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter of the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing conventional workflow stages for motion picture film production.  
       FIG. 2  is a plane view showing a splicing element comprising a memory, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a plane view showing a splice comprising a memory attached to two film segments.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a roll of film medium comprising a plurality of splices.  
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing an arrangement of components for accessing a coupled memory on a splice according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The present description is directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, apparatus in accordance with the invention. It is to be understood that elements not specifically shown or described may take various forms well known to those skilled in the art.  
      The following description of the present invention is directed primarily to supporting the transfer of data for various operations performed upon a film medium used for motion pictures, due to the complex nature of the film production workflow and to the number of different facilities and functions that have a role in this workflow. However, it must be noted that the methods and apparatus of the present invention could be more broadly applied to any type of recordable film medium that, as it proceeds through a treatment or set of operations, is wrapped about itself, such as on a film core or in a reel, for example. Other types of film media to which the present invention could be applied also include photographic negative film or wound photographic paper, as well as magnetic tape media, for example.  
      For an understanding of the description that follows, it is instructive to note the broad use of the term “coupled” as used herein, as distinguished from the understanding of this term as used in prior art. In prior art embodiments, such as the in RF ID embodiment noted in the background with respect to U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,857, a memory itself is coupled to a length of motion picture film by physical attachment to film core  14 . That is, coupling is achieved by direct attachment of a device containing the memory, such as an RF transponder. However, this type of coupling may provide limited memory capacity and is not readily adaptable for identifying spliced film segments.  
      The term “memory” is used in a broad context within this disclosure, to indicate a suitable type of data storage mechanism, which can include solid-state memory devices, magnetic storage devices including magnetic disks, or optical storage devices, for example. Memory can be volatile or non-volatile, or can include both volatile and non-volatile components.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a splicing element  60  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Provided on a flexible, adhesive substrate  66 , such as a polymer tape, this type of RFID transponder can be provided in ultra-thin versions, such as are used in ID cards, luggage devices, and merchandising applications, for example. An RFID transponder of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,470 (de Vall). This type of RFID transponder is available on a reel, in a peel-and-stick configuration. TAG-IT Inlays from Texas Instruments, Dallas, Tex., are one familiar product line providing this type of RFID transponder. The self-adhesive capability of the Tag-It inlay is particularly attractive for application as splicing element  60 . A low-profile RFID transponder of this type can be unobtrusively attached at each splice location, without causing damage to a recording film medium or to its image quality.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a splice  50  comprising splicing element  60  used to splice together film segments  70  and  72 . Splicing element  60  can be adhesively attached to provide a continuous scene sequence through splice  50  or may join film segments  70  and  72  at a break between scenes.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a reel  76  of wound motion picture film  12  having a number of splices  50  using splicing elements  60 . Low-profile components, such as the TAG-IT devices noted above, allow wrapping of film  12  without noticeable impact on image quality.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a system  90  for obtaining information stored in memory  62  corresponding to one or more splices  50 . In an electromagnetic embodiment, splicing elements  60  are RF ID tags, as described in the background section above. Interface component  80  is an RF transceiver, which communicates with splicing elements  60  by transmitting a first frequency as an electromagnetic field  82  and receiving, in response, a second frequency as an electromagnetic field  83  having encoded data content. In one embodiment, for example, the transceiver used as interface component  80  is a “Model S2000”™ transceiver, available from Texas Instruments, Incorporated, located in Dallas, Tex., USA. Alternatively, the transceiver may be a “Model U2270B”™ transceiver, available from Vishay-Telefunken Semiconductors, Incorporated, located in Malvern, Pa., USA. An antenna  85  is disposed so as to be in a suitable position for reading the transponder that serves as splicing element  60 . By way of example, and not by way of limitation, Table 1 lists a number of types of splicing elements  60  that could be used, with a corresponding type of interface component  80  for each type. Interface component  80  connects with a workstation  84 , or similar control logic device, and an optional display  86  for monitoring stored data content and for accepting operator commands to read from memory  62  at one or more splicing elements  60 . Splicing elements  60  are uniquely addressable from interface component  80 .  
      System  90  may read and, optionally, write to memory  62  stored solely on one or more splicing elements  60 . Alternately, information corresponding to splicing element  62  may be stored within an external memory  92  accessed through a networked server  94 , which may be remotely located on a network  88 . In this case, memory  62  on splicing element  60  contains a pointer to an address on external memory  92 . This networked arrangement allows storage of a considerable amount of data for each splice  50 , well in excess of the typical storage capacity of splicing element  60  devices that are currently available.  
      In a “read-only” embodiment, workstation  84  may not write any new data to memory  62  on splicing element  60 , but may merely record data at the appropriate location in networked external memory  92 . With such an embodiment, it would not be necessary for interface component  80  to have full read/write capability; instead, it would be sufficient to have each splicing element  60  be uniquely encoded, so that film segments  70 ,  72  are thereby uniquely identified. The job of tracking each unique encoding would be performed using external memory  92 .  
               TABLE 1                          Exemplary Listing of Splicing Element 60       And Corresponding Interface Component 80                     Where splicing   Corresponding interface component 80       element 60 comprises:   would be:               Bar code, or other   Bar code reader or other optical reader,       optically encoded   with an optional printer for writing       representation   updated information to a bar code label.       Magnetically encoded strip   Magnetic strip reader, with an optional           write head for recording updated data.       Transponder, such as   Transceiver, such as an RF transceiver for       an RF transponder.   reading and, optionally, writing to an RF           transponder.                  
 
 Information Stored in Coupled Memory  62  for Film Segment  70  
 
      By way of example, and not by way of limitation, Table 2 lists some of the metadata available from media manufacturer  10  for storing in memory  62  that is coupled to film segment  70  for newly manufactured motion picture film  12 .  
      Information Stored in Coupled Memory  62  from Production Set  18   
      As was shown in  FIG. 1 , there is a considerable amount of valuable information about a film shooting recorded at production set  18 . This includes both information from camera  22  and information from production teams involved with sound, lighting, special effects, makeup and costuming, and direction, for example. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, Table 3 lists some of the metadata available from studio personnel at production set  18  that can be coupled to film segment  70  using memory  62 .  
               TABLE 2                          Example Metadata Provided by Media Manufacturer 10                     Metadata   Description               Manufacture date   Time stamp for date of media segment           manufacture.           Example: 020203143406GST       Emulsion batch identifier   Unique identifier for film emulsion.           Manufacturer data. Example format:           emulsion_id - roll# -slit_part# - strip# -           perf_unit#           Example: 2383-101-011-unit-01-01.1       Film type   Product name and catalog number for film           medium.           Example: Type 1351B Negative Film       Sensitometric characteristics   Data for sensitometric response of batch           of media.           Example: Density values related to log of           exposure levels.                  
 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Example Metadata Added at Production Set 18 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Metadata 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Date and time stamp 
                 Date film segment 70 was exposed, starting 
               
               
                   
                 time and ending time. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: 
               
               
                   
                 12 Feb. 2002;13:45:23;13:48:18 
               
               
                 Studio number 
                 Identification of studio using the film. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: Studio 112C 
               
               
                 Name of production 
                 Name of overall film production. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: Seargeant Bulfinch 
               
               
                 Camera crew name(s) 
                 Identification of camera team. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: J. Borlad, camera; E. Zales, 
               
               
                   
                 asst., T. Torba, 3 rd   
               
               
                 Camera identification 
                 Make, model, identifier of camera 22. 
               
               
                   
                 Ex. A model, 2349 type, S/N 
               
               
                   
                 3002093992093 
               
               
                 Lighting conditions 
                 Description of overall light conditions at 
               
               
                   
                 shooting for segment 70. 
               
               
                   
                 Ex. Daylight, outdoors. 
               
               
                 Camera settings 
                 Adjustments made to camera for each 
               
               
                   
                 segment 70. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: Focus at 12; speed 16 
               
               
                 Scene number 
                 Identification of the scenes on a particular 
               
               
                   
                 segment 70 of exposed film. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: 11, 12/B, 15, 23, 28X, 28A 
               
               
                 Take identifier 
                 Identification of the “take” exposed for 
               
               
                   
                 each scene. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: Scene 23, takes 1,2,3,4. 
               
               
                 Job number 
                 Internal number for shooting. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: 12998 
               
               
                 Director name 
                 Identification of director for each scene. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: J. Ziffrin 
               
               
                 Actor(s) name(s) 
                 Identification of talent appearing in 
               
               
                   
                 segment 70. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: A. Arhur; B. Gurnish; Bobo, 
               
               
                   
                 chimp. 
               
               
                 Film magazine number 
                 Identifiers for film magazines used. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: Mag.AU33404004 
               
               
                 Film roll number 
                 Identifier provided by manufacturer. 
               
               
                   
                 Example. 10022002DEC8848 
               
               
                 Audio crew names 
                 Names of audio crew members at the shoot. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: HGHunt; KKosmanos 
               
               
                 Start and end 
                 Markers indicating the beginning and 
               
               
                 synchronization 
                 ending of each segment 70. 
               
               
                 for each take 
               
               
                 Remarks on scene content 
                 Remarks from production set 18 crew. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: Scene 13 audio muted. 
               
               
                 Instructions for 
                 Comments useful to lab 26. 
               
               
                 lab processing 
                 Example: Bright flash at 2365. 
               
               
                 Instructions for editing 
                 Comments useful to editing facility 30. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: Horsefly in scene at 3452. 
               
               
                 Instructions for archival 
                 Comments useful for archive 40. 
               
               
                   
                 Example: Deliberately dimmed light for 
               
               
                   
                 scene 5. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
      Audio synchronization information can also be stored in coupled memory  62  for film segment  70 . Conventional methods synchronize audio on production set  18  using a clapboard. At editing facility  30 , developed medium  32  is manually scanned in order to locate the clapboard indicating the beginning of each scene, so that synchronization with taped audio content can be performed. Using coupled memory  62 , however, eliminates the need for manually searching for the clapboard image. Instead, camera  22  can simply record and store start and end data for each segment  70 , allowing automation of this synchronization activity.  
      Among the data storage capabilities of networked memory  92  on networked server  94  is the ability to store audio content corresponding to film segment  70 . While the audio content from a film shooting travels to editing facility  30  by a separate path for incorporation of the soundtrack, there can be considerable value in storing the audio content for film segment  70  in a memory  62  coupled to that length of film segment  70 . While it would be possible to store all of the audio content in memory  62  on splicing element  60 , other arrangements may be more practical and require less memory  62  storage. For example, a low-resolution copy of audio could be stored for scene takes on film segment  70 . As another example, audio data storage could be used for recording comments by the director or by members of the crew for camera  22  or other production teams. Such verbal instructions could be of value for the work performed in editing facility  30 , for example. Where coupled memory  62  is stored on a separate networked server  94 , the complete audio content of a film shooting could be stored and associated with film segment  70  using splicing element  60 .  
      Information Stored in Coupled Memory  62  by Lab  26   
      As was described with reference to  FIG. 1 , lab  26  processes film segment  70  in order to provide developed medium  32  that contains the image content for the scene takes that are on the length of motion picture film medium  12 . Conditions that affect how the processes at lab  26  are executed include the type of film provided as film segment  70 , special instructions from media manufacturer  10  and from production set  18 , if any. These conditions can impact process variables such as timing, temperature, chemicals used, procedures followed or omitted, and drying methods, for example. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, Table 4 lists some of the metadata available from lab  26  for storing in networked memory  62 .  
               TABLE 4                          Example Metadata Added by Lab 26                     Metadata   Description               Date and time stamp   Date developed, starting time and ending           time.           Example:           12 Feb. 2002;13:45:23;13:48:18       Lab identifier   Identification of lab that processed the film.           Example: MaxColorLab, OremUT 80976-           578575       Name of production   Name of overall film production.           Example: Seargent Bulfinch       Chemical process used   Description of chemicals used for           developing the image on film segment 70.           Example: Bleach: A3456; Developer:           R43; Fixer: 19765345       Temperature   Temperature of tank or drying temperature.           Example: Drying: 120 deg. F.       Timing   Timing sequence used.           Example: Bleach: 12 sec.; Developer: 28           sec; Fixer 22.4 sec.       Length   Lengths of film developed and unused.           Example: Used: 250 ft.; Recovered: 135           ft.           Waste: 18 ft.       Printed takes   Identification of scene takes printed.           Example: Scene 3, Take 2; Scene 11,           Take 1; Scene 12, Takes 2 and 3.                  
 
 Information Stored in Coupled Memory  62  by Editing Facility  30  
 
      As was described with reference to  FIG. 1 , operations performed at editing facility  30  involve a considerable range of tools and talents. The functions performed involve not only straightforward cut-and-splice editing for selecting desired content and eliminating unwanted content, but also include sophisticated operations for adding special effects, soundtrack synchronization, and retouching, for example. It can be appreciated that the personnel involved in this phase of motion picture film medium  12  preparation can benefit significantly from information and instructions provided by personnel at production set  18  and lab  26 . In addition, specialists at editing facility  30  can also provide useful information on the processes they perform. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, Table 5 lists some of the metadata available from editing facility  30  for storing in networked memory  62 .  
               TABLE 5                          Example Metadata Added by Editing Facility 30                     Metadata   Description               Date and time data   Dates and times of editing operations           performed.           Example: Scene 11, take 2. Retouch           030203, 10:52-14:28. J. HJ           Digital effects: 030303-030403 by           AUS34222           Soundtrack synch annotation:           79588903A12           Master ready: 042303 182345       Names of editing specialists   Names of persons or organizations           performing each operation.           Example: Edit coord. J. Thompson           Retouch: FFortney Labs           Dig Effects: GNHLtd.       Scenes   For daily prints 36, listing of scenes           provided.           Example: Scenes 1,4,17,23       Equipment Used   Identification of systems utilized           Example: Editor SNX9980J                  
 
 Data Flow and Networking 
 
      As is shown in the above description, particularly with reference to Tables 2-5, each successive operation performed on film segment  70  can provide data that is useful to those who perform subsequent operations. Thus, for example, with reference to  FIG. 1 , information from production set  18  is helpful for providing suitable development processing at lab  26 . Information from both production set  18  and lab  26  is helpful to specialists at editing facility  30 . To support efficient and high-quality output from motion picture film medium  12 , the method of the present invention provides a way to make media and processing information available, as needed, for each treatment step in the motion picture film medium  12  workflow.  
      Splicing element  60 , uniquely encoded for a specific film segment  70 , facilitates the logical coupling of film segment  70  content to a location in networked memory  92 . Optionally, some information can also be stored within memory  62  on splicing element  60 . To access the stored data in coupled network memory  92 , workstation  84 , or other control logic processor, cooperates with interface component  80  to obtain the encoded address data from splicing element  60 . Once this information is obtained, workstation  84  transmits an instruction or request, incorporating this address, over network  88 . Along with the address, workstation  84  may also be required to provide authentication and password data to enable access. The complete instruction to memory  92  may be in proprietary format or may be in the form of a standard network request such as an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) request, similar to that used for Internet browsers, or an SQL instruction, such as those used for database queries, for example. A database system, such as a database server available from ORACLE Corporation, could be used for networked memory  92 .  
      Throughout processing of film segment  70 , one or more networked memories  92  may be employed. Any number of alternate arrangements are possible, including the use of a single networked server  94  for one or more operations or of shared resources between any two or more operations. Similarly, it may be possible to store some portion or all of memory  62  on different servers or workstations. Alternative embodiments, in which networked memory  92  is stored differently during different operations, may also have advantages. For example, lab  26  may not provide connection to a remote database server connected as networked server  94 , but may only obtain and provide information by reading from and writing to an RF ID transceiver that serves as splicing element  60  having an integral memory  62  with just enough data capacity for lab  26  operations. In this way, there may be enough information shared with lab  26  for performing the function of developing film segment  70  to provide developed medium  32 , without requiring on-line connection of lab  26  with networked server  94 .  
      There may be reasons for allowing only partial contents of networked memory  92  to be shared with a facility that performs any one function. For example, it may not be desirable to provide lab  26  staff with access to all information generated at production set  18 . Much of the information may be superfluous, while some information may be sensitive. The method of the present invention allows partial disclosure of stored data in coupled memory  62  or  92 , using conventional techniques for protected access to selective data, as are well known in the database and information technology arts. Thus, for example, the password assigned to lab  26  might have specific permission for access to some data contents of networked memory  92 , but not to other contents.  
      Information stored in networked memory  92  can be used in conjunction with other software applications running on networked server  94  or on workstation  84  or other control logic processor. Different operations within production set  18 , lab  26 , editing facility  30 , or elswhere can be modified, optimized, or even disabled based on this stored information.  
      It can be appreciated that there would be advantages in providing a networked storage solution, such as is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Access to one or more devices providing networked memory  92  would allow participants in the film workflow for film segment  70  to have access to the appropriate data for each operation. This arrangement would help to reduce confusion about how a particular film segment  70  has been treated at any point in the workflow and, for supervisory management tracking, would help to provide status information readily available on work in process. Archival prints  38  would have associated data stored in coupled memory  62  or  92 , accessible for facilitating re-use of scene content or re-working of a motion picture film following its initial launch, for example.  
      The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention as described above, and as noted in the appended claims, by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, there can be additional metadata stored in memory  62  to support accounting and tracking functions. The present invention can be used with any number of different types of networks  88 , including local- or wide-area networks, using suitable standard protocols such as ethernet or Token Ring, or using proprietary protocols. The present invention can be used with any of a number of types of recordable film media, including negative and positive films and magnetic film media, for example.  
      Thus, what is provided is a method for coupling data to a splice for a segment of recordable film media.