Digital Imaging Method and Apparatus

• US 20090042654A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pamela Leslie Barber
• Original Assignee: Pamela Leslie Barber
• Inventors: Barber, Pamela Leslie
• Granted Patent: US 9,492,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

An apparatus and method for electronically creating combined digital images of a person and incorporating them into a series of site-specific background images or film clips making it appear as if the user were actually a part of the original imaging sequence. As to housing, camera, processor, output devices, control boards, cables, currency machine; see Pat. No. 6,507,361. In one embodiment the camera can move to take the images from different angles and in an alternative embodiment there are multiple cameras situated such that they sequentially capture and store a series of images to be incorporated into the product. An alternative housing apparatus is in a booth for automatically producing an imaging sequence of a self-portrait of the user integrated into a stored background or film clip, including a cash or credit card receiving device, a computer triggered by cash or credit received in the device, a movable digital camera or video camera to view the user, a video monitor for self viewing, and the possibility of one located outside the booth for advertising or amusement purposes. A series of stored digital imaging movie clips for selective withdrawal by the user where the captured sequence of the user is automatically integrated into stock stored movie clips and can be either output in an e-mail message posted to a board with a link to user'"'"'s choice of e-mail friends'"'"' addresses for retrieval or a direct link to friend'"'"'s and family'"'"'s e-mail addresses or an output device with hard copy of personalized sequence to CD ROM or Video or hard copy print of a still image.

Claims

1. An apparatus for personalizing an electronic game with an image of a user comprising:

a computer system comprised of imaging software, sizing software, game personalizing software, a camera, a monitor and an electronic game cartridge recorder

wherein said imaging software is operable to image a plurality of profiles of a head-portion of said user by capturing images from said camera when said user is posing before said camera;

wherein said sizing software is operable to size said profiles by said user responding to commands from said sizing software to determine a distance between an eye level and a chin-level of said user and to create sized profiles for an electronic game;

wherein said game personalizing software is operable to map said sized profiles into a character played in said electronic game and to create a personalized character profile; and

,

wherein said computer system is operable to write said personalized character profile to an electronic game cartridge inserted in said electronic game cartridge recorder.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electronic game is stored on said electronic game cartridge before insertion in said electronic game recorder.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electronic game is stored on said computer system and wherein said computer systems is operable to write said electronic game to said electronic game cartridge inserted in said electronic game cartridge recorder.

4. An apparatus for creating a souvenir incorporating an image of a user in a video clip comprising:

a computer system comprised of imaging software, sizing software, video clip personalizing software, a camera, a monitor and a video device recorder

wherein said imaging software is operable to image a plurality of profiles of a head-portion of said user, by capturing images from said camera when said user is posing before said camera;

wherein said sizing software is operable to size said profiles by said user responding to commands from said sizing software to determine a distance between an eye level and a chin level of said user;

wherein said video clip personalizing software maps said sized profiles into a plurality of scenes in pre-specified places in said scenes in said video clip to create a personalized video clip;

wherein said computer system is operable to write said personalized video clip to receptive media inserted in said video device recorder.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said video clip is stored on said computer system.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said video clip is selected from a library of video clips stored on said computer system.

7. An online game system for a user played over a network comprising:

a computer system comprised of a game server, 3D face modeling software, a database of software games, and a network connection

wherein said game server is operable to receive a plurality of coordinated facial images of said user via said network and to process said facial images by said 3D face modeling software to create a personalized character profile for each game in said database of software games; and

,

wherein said game server is operable to permit said user to select a game from said database of games and to play said game over said network using said personalized character profile.