Method and apparatus to conduct a contest utilizing a booth that provides a control card both to activate a contest recording and to define contest rules

• US 20070250879A1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Studio One Entertainment, Inc. (Aftermaster, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Studio One Entertainment, Inc. (Aftermaster, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ryckman, Lawrence G., Fisher, Paul D.
• Application Number:
  US11/526,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• 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 1/00286 with studio circuitry, devices or equipment, e.g. television cameras television studio circuitry, devices or equipment per se H04N5/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A method for conducting a contest in which recorded performances of different individuals are reviewed to select a winner. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of recording booths each including recording equipment comprising at least one camera for photographing the video portion of an individual'"'"'s performance and generating video signals; at least one microphone for sensing the audio portion of an individual'"'"'s performance and generating audio signals; lighting; performance apparatus to record video and audio signals generated by said camera and microphone and to balance the volume of the individual'"'"'s voice with any accompaniment music. The recording equipment in one of the booths produces a recorded performance having recording characteristics generally equivalent to a recorded performance produced in each of the others of the recording booths.

Claims

1. Apparatus to conduct a contest in which recorded performances of different individuals are reviewed to select a winner, said apparatus comprising

(a) at least one recording booth including

(i) recording equipment comprising

at least one camera for photographing the video portion of at least one individual'"'"'s performance and generating video signals,

at least one microphone for sensing the audio portion of said individual'"'"'s performance and generating audio signals,

lighting,

performance apparatus to record video and audio signals generated by said camera and microphone and generate a recorded performance by said individual,

(ii) a registration station to enter information concerning said individual participating in the contest and to produce a control card to

activate a recording session in said booth, and

set forth contest rules;

and,

(b) apparatus for reviewing recorded performances generated by said booth to select a winner of the contest.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recorded performance comprises a still photograph of said individual.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recorded performance comprises a video of said individual.