System and method for event timing and photography
First Claim
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1. A system for identifying and timing an athlete during a timed sporting event in which the athlete is participating, said system comprising:
- a camera configured to capture an image of the athlete;
a media database for storing images captured by said camera; and
a processor configured to compare a digital profile picture of the athlete stored in said media database with an image of the athlete captured during the sporting event, said processor being configured to associate a time with the athlete'"'"'s performance in the sporting event based on the comparison between the profile picture and the image captured during the sporting event, said processor being configured to determine a finish time of the athlete using solely a comparison of the profile picture and the captured image of the athlete in combination with a race system clock, said processor being configured to utilize a secondary identification means for identifying the athlete if the athlete remains unidentified after the comparison between the profile picture and the captured image.
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Abstract
A system and method for identifying and timing an athlete during a timed sporting event. The athlete is timed using image recognition technology in which one or more images of the athlete taken during the sporting event by a camera (106a, 106b, or 106c) is time-stamped to generate a finish time for the athlete. The athlete is identified by comparing one of the images taken during the sporting event with a profile image of the athlete.
24 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for identifying and timing an athlete during a timed sporting event in which the athlete is participating, said system comprising:
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a camera configured to capture an image of the athlete; a media database for storing images captured by said camera; and a processor configured to compare a digital profile picture of the athlete stored in said media database with an image of the athlete captured during the sporting event, said processor being configured to associate a time with the athlete'"'"'s performance in the sporting event based on the comparison between the profile picture and the image captured during the sporting event, said processor being configured to determine a finish time of the athlete using solely a comparison of the profile picture and the captured image of the athlete in combination with a race system clock, said processor being configured to utilize a secondary identification means for identifying the athlete if the athlete remains unidentified after the comparison between the profile picture and the captured image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 18, 19, 26, 27)
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8. A method for timing an athlete participating in a sporting event having a start and a finish, the method comprising:
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capturing a digital profile image of the athlete prior to commencement of the sporting event; associating, with a microprocessor, identification data of the athlete with the athlete'"'"'s profile image; capturing a digital commencement image of the athlete at the start; capturing a digital finish image of the athlete at the finish as the athlete finishes the sporting event; determining the athlete'"'"'s race time with the microprocessor using only the images of the athlete captured at the start and the finish; identifying the athlete with the microprocessor by comparing the profile image of the athlete with at least one of the athlete'"'"'s commencement and finish images; and identifying the athlete utilizing a secondary identification if the athlete remains unidentified after the comparison between the images of the athlete. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification