Image Capture and Distribution System and Method

• US 20100113069A1
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Published: 05/06/2010
• 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 8,159,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.300
• 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 may also view the images on portable electronic devices.

Claims

1. A method for processing images captured at a venue, the method comprising:

(a) receiving one or more images, wherein the images were captured at the venue using an image capture device, wherein the images are associated with a unique identifier;

(b) associating the images with one or more patrons of the venue, wherein the one or more patrons are associated with the unique identifier, wherein the act of associating comprises matching the unique identifier associated with the images with the corresponding one or more patrons also associated with the unique identifier;

(c) storing the images; and

(d) presenting at least a portion of the images to the one or more patrons, wherein the act of presenting comprises displaying an interactive map of the venue to the one or more patrons, wherein the interactive map includes one or more selectable indicators configured to show at least a portion of the images when the one or more selectable indicators is selected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the images are associated with one or more points of interest at the venue, wherein the one or more points of interest are indicated by the interactive map of the venue.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the selectable indicators of the interactive map of the venue are associated with corresponding ones of the points of interest, wherein each of the selectable indicators is configured to show at least a portion of the images associated with the corresponding point of interest when one of the selectable indicators is selected.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the points of interest correspond with locations of the image capture device when the associated images were captured.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the points of interest correspond with locations of the one or more patrons when the associated images were captured.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the points of interest correspond with locations of the subject matter captured in the associated images.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive map is displayed to the one or more patrons on a computer via a network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive map is displayed to the one or more patrons on a mobile device via a network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the images are received from a cell phone device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving location information associated with each of the images, wherein each of the selectable indicators is associated with at least part of the location information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the location information is also captured by the image capture device.

12. A method of processing images captured at a venue, the method comprising:

(a) receiving one or more images, wherein the images were captured using an image capture device;

(b) receiving location information associated with each of the images, wherein the location information was captured using a GPS device;

(c) associating a patron with the images; and

(d) providing the patron with access to the images, wherein the access to the images further includes access to at least a portion of the associated location information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the image capture device comprises a cell phone.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the image capture device is operably configured to wirelessly transmit the images captured by the image capture device, wherein the act of receiving one or more images comprises receiving at least part of the one or more images wirelessly from the image capture device

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the GPS device is integrated into the image capture device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the image capture device is operably configured to store the location information captured by the GPS device each time an image is captured by the camera.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the image capture device is operably configured to embed at least part of the location information in the images.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the image capture device is operably configured to wirelessly transmit the location information captured by the GPS device, wherein the act of receiving location information comprises receiving at least part of the location information wirelessly from the image capture device.

19. A method of processing images captured at a venue, the method comprising:

(a) associating a patron with a unique identifier;

(b) receiving a first set of one or more images captured at a first venue, wherein the first set of images comprise non-imageable information identifying the first venue;

(c) receiving a second set of one or more images captured at a second venue, wherein the second set of images comprise non-imageable information identifying the second venue;

(d) associating the first and second sets of images with the patron via the unique identifier; and

(e) presenting at least a portion of the first set of images and at least a portion of the second set of images to the patron, wherein the act of presenting is performed in accordance with the unique identifier associated with the patron to whom the images are presented.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the act of presenting comprises displaying a user interface to the patron, wherein the user interface provides one or more selectable indicators, wherein each of the selectable indicators is associated with a corresponding one of the venues in accordance with the non-imageable information identifying the venues associated with the first and second sets of images, wherein the user interface shows at least a portion of the images from the corresponding venue when the one or more selectable indicators is selected.