Image capture and distribution system and method

• US 20060125930A1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Making Everlasting Memories, LLC (Service Corporation International)
• Original Assignee: Making Everlasting Memories, LLC (Service Corporation International)
• Inventors: Sefton, Steven Craig, Mindrum, Gordon Scott, Johnson, Jeffrey Jon
• Granted Patent: US 7,671,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0018 of images captured using a loaned, rented or limited-use still digital camera, e.g. recyclable or disposable camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0019 on souvenir-type products or the like, e.g. T-shirts or mugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00198 Creation of a soft photo presentation, e.g. digital slide-show

Abstract

Images captured at a venue and relating to one or more patrons of the venue are incorporated into one or more products in accordance with image selections and/or product selections made by the patron(s). The images may be captured at venues with a variety of image capture devices such as pre-mounted cameras, cell phones, cameras brought by patrons to the venue, or cameras provided to patrons by the venue or another entity. The patrons may obtain products such as T-shirts, coffee mugs, prints, slideshows, or other products incorporating one or more selected images. Patrons also view images with their iPODs while listening to the hottest hits.

Claims

1. A method for distributing images, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a plurality of images, the images having been captured at a venue with at least one image capture device, each of the images being associated with an identifier, wherein each identifier is associated with one or more patrons of said venue;

(b) storing said images per each patron of said plurality of patrons in accordance with said identifiers to produce sets of compiled images;

(c) presenting at least a portion of at least one of said sets to a corresponding patron in accordance with said identifier, the presented portion being a presented set;

(d) receiving at least one selection from said corresponding patron, said selection corresponding to at least one image from the presented set to determine selected images; and

(e) producing a product comprising at least one of said selected images.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one image capture device comprises a pre-mounted camera in the venue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one image capture device comprises a camera provided to a patron at the venue.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one image capture device comprises a camera brought to the venue by a patron, wherein the camera includes a memory device provided to the patron at the venue.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is associated with an RFID tag.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises a signal emitted by a device provided to the corresponding patron.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of at least one of said sets is presented to a corresponding patron via a video display.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a product selection from the corresponding patron, wherein the step of producing a product is performed in accordance with the product selection.

5. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

12. A method for capturing and distributing images, the method comprising:

(a) capturing a plurality of venue images at a venue, wherein an identifier provides an association between each of the venue images and a patron;

(b) presenting a set of presented images to the patron, the set of presented images comprising at least one image of the plurality of venue images;

(c) receiving one or more selections from the patron, at least one of the one or more selections corresponding to one or more of the presented images; and

(d) producing a product in accordance with at least one of the one or more selections.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the venue images are captured by cameras located at fixed positions within the venue.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of presenting is performed on a network.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the set of presented images further comprises one or more stock images.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a patron submission, wherein the patron submission is at least one of a submitted image or submitted audio, wherein the product is produced in further accordance with the patron submission.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the product is a slideshow.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the product is a tangible object of merchandise bearing an image corresponding to one of the one or more selections.

14. (canceled)

20. A method of capturing images, comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of image capture devices, each image capture device being operable to capture one or more images of patrons at a venue, wherein the patrons include a first patron;

(b) providing an identifier to the first patron, wherein the identifier is associated with the first patron;

(c) receiving a plurality of images captured by one or more of the image capture devices, the plurality of images including one or more images relating to the first patron;

(d) associating the identifier with the one or more images relating to the first patron;

(e) storing the one or more images relating to the first patron in association with the identifier as stored image data; and

(f) providing access to the first patron to at least a portion of the stored image data.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of image capture devices comprises at least one portable camera.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the portable camera is provided to the first patron, wherein the identifier is associated with the portable camera.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the identifier comprises a signal emitted from the portable camera.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of images are received via wireless transmission.

21. (canceled)

26. (canceled)