PHOTO BOOTH SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20100188707A1
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Traveling Photo Booth Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Traveling Photo Booth Inc.
• Inventors: Gassman, Matthew J., Stewart, Jacob G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,158,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.180
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor

Abstract

Photo booth systems and methods of using photo booth systems, such as those that provide photo booths and interaction between the photo booths and one or more user groups.

Claims

1. A method of using a photo booth, the method comprising:

providing a photo booth, wherein the photo booth defines a user space, wherein the photo booth comprises;

computing apparatus;

printing apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus is configured to print a plurality of photo strips, wherein each photo strip of the plurality of photo strips comprises at least two sets of images, wherein each set of images of the at least two sets of images comprises one or more images;

imaging apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to image the user space;

input apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the input apparatus is configured to allow a user to input information into the computing apparatus; and

output apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the output apparatus is configured to present information to a user from the computing apparatus, wherein the output apparatus comprises a display; and

interacting between the photo booth and one or more user groups, wherein each user group of the one or more user groups comprises one or more users, wherein interacting between the photo booth and each user group of the one or more user groups comprises;

displaying on the display one or more imaging options, wherein the one or more imaging options are operable to modify images imaged with the imaging apparatus using the computing apparatus, wherein the one or more imaging options comprise tone options;

allowing the user group to select one or more imaging options from the one or more imaging options using the input apparatus, wherein allowing the user group to select one or more imaging options comprises allowing the user group to select a tone using the tone options;

imaging the user space with the imaging apparatus to provide one or more images;

storing the one or more images using the computing apparatus;

modifying at least one image of the one or more images with the selected one or more imaging options using the computing apparatus, wherein modifying at least one image of the one or more images comprises modifying at least one image of the one or more images with the selected tone using the computing apparatus; and

printing using the printing apparatus a photo strip comprising a first set of images and a second set of images, wherein each of the first set of images and the second set of images are based on the same one or more images imaged by the imaging apparatus, and further wherein the second set of images comprises the one or more images modified by the computing apparatus with the selected tone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tone options comprise at least one of black-and-white, sepia, and color.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein interacting between the photo booth and each user group of the one or more user groups further comprises displaying on the display a preview image of the user space to be imaged by the imaging apparatus, wherein the preview image is modified with the selected tone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more imaging options further comprise background options, wherein allowing the user group to select one or more imaging options comprises allowing the user group to select a background using the background options, and further wherein modifying at least one image of the one or more images comprises overlaying at least a portion of the at least one image over the selected background.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more imaging options further comprise foreground options, wherein allowing the user group to select one or more imaging options comprises allowing the user group to select a foreground using the foreground options, and further wherein modifying at least one image of the one or more images comprises overlaying the selected foreground over the at least one image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more imaging options further comprise distortion options, wherein allowing the user group to select one or more imaging options comprises allowing the user group to select a distortion using the distortion options, and further wherein modifying at least one image of the one or more images comprises distorting the at least one image with the selected distortion.

7. A method of using a photo booth for one or more events, the method comprising:

providing a photo booth, wherein the photo booth defines a user space, wherein the photo booth comprises;

computing apparatus;

printing apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus is configured to print a plurality of photo strips, wherein each photo strip of the plurality of photo strips comprises at least two sets of images, wherein each set of images of the at least two sets of images comprises one or more images;

imaging apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to image the user space;

input apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the input apparatus is configured to allow a user to input information into the computing apparatus; and

output apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the output apparatus is configured to present information to a user from the computing apparatus, wherein the output apparatus comprises a display;

configuring the photo booth with event specific configuration information, wherein the event specific configuration information comprises a preset tone; and

interacting between the photo booth and one or more user groups, wherein each user group of the one or more user groups comprises one or more users, wherein interacting between the photo booth and each user group of the one or more user groups comprises;

displaying on the display one or more imaging options, wherein the one or more imaging options are operable to modify images imaged with the imaging apparatus using the computing apparatus, wherein the one or more imaging options comprise tone options;

allowing the user group to select one or more imaging options from the one or more imaging options using the input apparatus, wherein allowing the user group to select one or more imaging options comprises allowing the user group to select a tone using the tone options;

imaging the user space with the imaging apparatus to provide one or more images;

storing the one or more images using the computing apparatus;

modifying at least one image of the one or more images with the selected one or more imaging options using the computing apparatus, wherein modifying at least one image of the one or more images comprises modifying at least one image of the one or more images with the selected tone using the computing apparatus;

modifying at least one image of the one or more images with the preset tone using the computing apparatus; and

printing using the printing apparatus a photo strip comprising a first set of images and a second set of images, wherein each of the first set of images and the second set of images are based on the same one or more images imaged by the imaging apparatus, wherein the first set of images comprises the one or more images modified by the computing apparatus with the preset tone, and further wherein the second set of images comprises the one or more images modified by the computing apparatus with the selected tone.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the tone options comprise at least one of black-and-white, sepia, and color.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein interacting between the photo booth and each user group of the one or more user groups further comprises displaying on the display a preview image of the user space to be imaged by the imaging apparatus, wherein the preview image is modified with the preset tone.

10. A method of using a photo booth, the method comprising:

providing a photo booth, wherein the photo booth defines a user space;

wherein the photo booth comprises;

computing apparatus;

printing apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus;

imaging apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to image the user space;

input apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the input apparatus is configured to allow a user to input information into the computing apparatus; and

output apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the output apparatus is configured to present information to a user from the computing apparatus, wherein the output apparatus comprises a display; and

interacting between the photo booth and one or more user groups, wherein each user group of the one or more user groups comprises one or more users, wherein interacting between the photo booth and each user group of the one or more user groups comprises;

imaging the user space with the imaging apparatus to provide one or more images;

storing the one or more images using the computing apparatus; and

printing using the printing apparatus a photo strip comprising at least one image of the one or more images;

displaying on the display one or more imaging options, wherein the one or more imaging options comprise reprint options;

allowing the user group to select one or more imaging options from the one or more imaging options using the input apparatus, wherein allowing the user group to select one or more imaging options comprises allowing the user group to select at least one previously-printed photo strip for the printing apparatus to reprint using the reprint options; and

reprinting the selected previously-printed photo strip using the printing apparatus.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein interacting between the photo booth and one or more user groups further comprises:

generating a unique alphanumeric string with the computing apparatus for each printed photo strip, wherein printing using the printing apparatus a photo strip comprising at least one image of the one or more images further comprises printing the unique alphanumeric string on the photo strip, wherein allowing the user group to select at least one previously-printed photo strip using the reprint options comprises allowing the user group to input an alphanumeric string corresponding to at least one previously-printed photo strip to be reprinted using the reprint options.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein allowing the user group to select at least one previously-printed photo strip using the reprint options comprises:

displaying a plurality of previously-printed photo strips on the display, and

allowing the user group to select at least one of the plurality of previously-printed photo strips to be reprinted using the reprint options.

13. A method of using a photo booth, the method comprising:

providing a photo booth, wherein the photo booth defines a user space, wherein the photo booth comprises;

computing apparatus;

printing apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus;

imaging apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to image the user space;

input apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the input apparatus is configured to allow a user to input information into the computing apparatus; and

output apparatus operably coupled to the computing apparatus, wherein the output apparatus is configured to present information to a user from the computing apparatus, wherein the output apparatus comprises a display; and

interacting between the photo booth and one or more user groups, wherein each user group of the one or more user groups comprises one or more users, wherein interacting between the photo booth and each user group of the one or more user groups comprises;

displaying on the display user instructions provided by the computing apparatus, wherein the user instructions comprise posing instructions advising the user group how to be postured within the user space;

imaging the user space with the imaging apparatus to provide one or more images;

storing the one or more images using the computing apparatus; and

printing using the printing apparatus a photo strip comprising at least one image of the one or more images.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the posing instructions comprise instructions directing the user group where to look.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the posing instructions comprise instructions directing the user group where to position their heads.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the posing instructions comprise instructions directing the user group where to position their bodies.

17. A photo strip comprising:

a first set of one or more images; and

a second set of one or more images,

wherein each set of one or more images is based on the same set of one or more images, and further wherein the second set of one or more images is modified with a different tone than the first set of one or more images.

18. The photo strip of claim 17, wherein each image of the one or more images of the first set is aligned vertically along a first side of the photo strip, and further wherein each image of the one or more images of the second set is aligned vertically along a second side of the photo strip.

19. The photo strip of claim 18 further comprising a gutter located between the first set and the second set, wherein the gutter comprises a perforation separating the first set from the second set.