DDD.L Regulatory News (DDD)

12 Jul 2006 09:06

DDD Group PLC 12 July 2006 DDD AWARDED FURTHER PATENTS COVERING 2D TO 3D CONVERSION AND TRANSMISSION Santa Monica, Calif. (July 12th, 2006) - DDD Group plc (AIM: DDD), the 3D software and content company, today announces that it has been granted two further patents from the United States and Canadian patent offices of its key "Dynamic Depth Cueing" ("DDC") technology. DDC is a core DDD technology that enables existing photo, film or video images to be converted for display in stereo 3D. The new US patent extends the existing US 2D to 3D conversion patents with a series of automated image analysis and 3D depth calculation techniques designed to improve the productivity of DDD's high quality, offline 2D to 3D conversion process. Automation of the post-production 2D to 3D conversion process is a key requirement in the emerging market for 3D digital cinema as studios seek cost effective methods to repurpose new and existing films for release on 3D screens. The new Canadian patent complements the previously issued DDC Canadian patent that describes the conversion of existing 2D content libraries to 3D. The new encoding component allows delivery of 3D enhanced content in a format that remains compatible with today's 2D distribution formats. The patent addresses the need for studios and broadcasters to transmit one broadcast signal or produce a single content file that can be viewed in 2D or 3D depending on the viewer's preference and display capabilities. The DDC encoding patent addresses a growing range of emerging mass-market 3D distribution platforms including digital cinema, DVD and broadcast television. DDC regenerates 3D information that is not recorded when a conventional film or video camera is used. Once the 3D information is recreated, it is then used to manipulate the underlying 2D image, allowing 2D images to be transformed to 3D for a wide variety of 3D display formats ranging from large format IMAX(R) films to the latest generation of mobile telephone 3D displays. Dr. Julien Flack, Chief Technology Officer of DDD commented, "The automated image analysis and depth reconstruction techniques are an important addition to our growing international patent library. With the recent arrival of the 3D digital cinema market, automating the post production conversion process reduces the cost of a feature length movie conversion, improving the financial viability of releasing converted movies for studios who are keen to take advantage of the growing number of 3D capable screens." Enquiries: DDD Group Chris Yewdall, President & CEO +1 310 566-3340 e-mail: info@ddd.com Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial Nick Lambert +44 (0) 20 7861-3232 Notes to Editors About DDD DDD, also known as Dynamic Digital Depth, is transforming the viewing experience with software applications for glasses-free and glasses-based 3D displays. Its patented technologies enable 3D viewing without glasses; simple integration of computer graphics applications with 3D displays; supply of 3D content through 2D to 3D conversion; and 3D content transmission over existing networks. DDD is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM: DDD). • A new category of flat screen LCD and plasma displays are being developed and marketed by major consumer electronics companies that provide stereoscopic 3D images without the need for the viewer to wear glasses. Stereoscopic 3D images appear to have natural in and off-screen depth. 3D displays have already been included in mobile phones in Japan and in desktop PC displays and notebook computers in North America and Japan. • DDD's solutions provide an important bridge between conventional two-dimensional (2D) content and the new 3D displays. Normal 2D pictures, video and computer graphics images are manipulated by DDD's patented software enabling them to be displayed on 3D displays without requiring the content to be created specially for a 3D display. DDD's solutions also enable automatic conversion of virtually any media from 2D to 3D without any pre-processing of the 2D image. • DDD licenses these software applications, marketed under the TriDef(R) and DDD MobileTM brand names, to consumer electronics manufacturers for inclusion with the 3D display products supplied to their end users. DDD also licenses its software directly to end users who already own 3D displays and through an international sales channel. • In July 2005, DDD entered into a two-year, non-exclusive, software licensing agreement and a development agreement with one of the world's top five mobile phone manufacturers for a second-generation, glasses-free 3D mobile phone for DDD Mobile. The licensing arrangements are expected to yield per unit royalties once the licensee launches their 3D handset. • In July 2005, DDD entered into a memorandum of understanding with Jamster! for the 2D to 3D conversion of images and animations from Jamster!'s mobile content library using DDD's offline content conversion process for subsequent download by 3D mobile phone owners. • DDD intends to enter into revenue sharing agreements with mobile phone network operators (carriers) and content providers for the conversion and delivery of existing libraries of premium wallpaper, animations and movies to wireless subscribers who download 3D content that has been converted from 2D to 3D by DDD. • In September 2004, DDD entered into a hardware development agreement with Arisawa for the TriDef Vision+ 3D set top box. DDD's set top box, combined with Arisawa's polarising materials applied to a large LCD television, allows for the real-time conversion of virtually any media from 2D to 3D for viewing on the switchable 2D/3D television. DDD and Arisawa intend to license this solution to global television manufacturers. • In September 2003, DDD entered into a multi-year, non-exclusive software licensing agreement with Sharp which allows them to include five of DDD's 3D software applications with their Actius range of switchable 2D/3D notebook PCs sold in Japan and North America. • DDD is currently investigating IP licensing opportunities in the digital cinema market. More information is available at www.DDD.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange