Personal video capture system including a video camera at a plurality of video locations

• US 5,655,053 A
• Filed: 05/13/1996
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: YourDay Video Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RenieVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Renie, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, Y YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/647,581
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 386/117, 386/46, 386/38, 386/4, 386/52, 386/64, 386/107, 386/118, 348/143, 348/157, 348/158, 348/159, 348/207, 348/155, 364/300, 360/27, 360/69
• US Class Current: 386/278
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A personalized video system for acquiring video of an individual consumer as shot at an amusement park or the like and combining those images with standard, preshot video of rides or attractions. The system includes cameras for generating digital video signals of the consumer at several locations on the attraction which are marked by an identification processor with information identifying the particular attractions with the particular consumer and stored in memory. The identifying information and information as to which of several attractions have been frequented by an individual are input by means of a card to a controller. Upon receipt of signals indicating the consumer wishes to receive a completed video, the controller generates command signals for a video assembler to create the final video product inserting the personalized video signals as appropriate in a standard, preshot film.

Claims

1. A system that asynchronously records an image of an individual at a preselected location and retrievably stores digital signals of the image for preparing a personalized video tape, the system comprising:

a camera means for asynchronously providing digital signals indicative of the image of the individual at the preselected location;

an identification processor for combining said digital signals with correlation signals identifying the individual with said digital signals and generating correlated camera means signals;

a memory means for retrievably storing the correlated camera means signals;

a controller for presenting to said memory means, in response to received tape assembly signals, control signals to retrieve selected correlated camera means signals and for presenting to said identification processor said correlation signals in response to received individual information signals and further for generating tape initiating signals to begin personalized video tape assembly;

an input reader means for receiving signals from the individual containing identifying information and generating therefrom said individual information signals;

video storage means having stored therein signals corresponding to a standard video image of said preselected location without the individual;

a means for generating said tape assembly signals for initiating tape assembly are identifying selected correlated camera means signals; and

a video assembly means for generating, in response to said tape initiating signals, a personalized video tape including said standard video image asynchronously combined with said selected correlated camera means signals.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising an editor means for transferring said selected correlated camera means signals from said memory means onto a selected location in said personalized video tape.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said camera means further comprises a video camera moveable about a video location.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said camera means further comprises a video camera providing camera means signals in digital form.

6. The system according to claim 1 further comprises a means for compressing said digital signals.

5. A system that asynchronously records an image of an individual at a preselected location and retrievably stores digital signals of the image for preparing a database of digital signals for use in analysis of attractions frequented by consumers, the system comprising:

a camera means for asynchronously providing digital signals indicative of the image of the individual consumer at the preselected location;

an identification processor for combining said digital signals with correlation signals identifying the individual with said digital signals and including signals indicative of said location configured in a plurality of location parameter fields and generating correlated camera means signals;

a memory means for retrievably storing the correlated camera means signals;

a controller for presenting to said memory means, in response to received tape assembly signals, control signals to retrieve selected correlated camera means signals and for presenting to said identification processor said correlation signals in response to received individual information signals and further for generating tape initiating signals to begin personalized video tape assembly;

an input reader means for receiving signals from the individual containing identifying information configured in a plurality of individual parameter fields and generating therefrom said individual information signals; and

a compiler means, in response to said tape initiating signals from said controller, for generating a database of signals indicative of selected ones of said location and individual parameter fields from said individual information signals, said digital signals and said correlation signals.

7. A method of making a personal video capture product that asynchronously records an image of an individual at a preselected location and retrievably stores digital signals of the image comprising the steps of:

providing a camera means for presenting at least one digital video image at a predetermined location in response to a control signal;

asynchronously presenting the digital video image at a predetermined location in response to the control signal;

providing a storage medium for retrievably storing said digital video image;

sending the digital video image to the storage medium;

receiving signals from the individual containing identifying information and generating therefrom individual information signals;

digitally processing the digital video image to label the digital video image with said individual information signals;

retrievably storing the labeled digital video image in the storage medium;

selecting and retrieving the labeled digital video image in the storage medium in accordance with an editing program; and

asynchronously combining the selected digital video image with standard video signals.

8. A system that records an image of an individual at a preselected location and retrievably stores digital signals of the image for preparing a database of signals for use in analysis of attractions frequented by consumers, the system comprising:

a camera means including a plurality of video cameras at each of a plurality of video locations for providing digital signals indicative of the image of the individual consumer at the preselected location;

an identification processor for combining the digital signals from said plurality of video cameras with correlation signals identifying the individual with said digital signals and including signals indicative of said location configured in a plurality of location parameter fields and generating correlated camera means signals;

a memory means for retrievably storing the correlated camera means signals;

a controller for presenting to said memory means, in response to received tape assembly signals, control signals to retrieve selected correlated camera means signals and for presenting to said identification processor said correlation signals in response to received individual information signals and further for generating tape initiating signals to begin personalized video tape assembly;

an input reader means for receiving signals from the individual containing identifying information configured in a plurality of individual parameter fields and generating therefrom said individual information signals; and

a compiler means, in response to said tape initiating signals from said controller, for generating a database of signals indicative of selected ones of said location and individual parameter fields from said individual information signals, said digital signals and said correlation signals.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprises a means for compressing the digital signals.

10. A method of making a personal video capture product that records an image of an individual at a preselected location and retrievably stores digital signals of the image comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of camera means at each of a plurality of video locations for presenting at least one digital video image at a predetermined location in response to a control signal;

presenting the video image at a predetermined location in response to the control signal;

digitizing the video image;

providing a storage medium for retrievably storing said digital video image;

sending the digital video image to the storage medium;

receiving signals from the individual containing identifying information and generating therefrom individual information signals;

receiving signals from the individual containing identifying information;

digitally processing the digital video image to label the digital video image with said individual information signals;

retrievably storing the labeled digital video image in the storage medium

selecting and retrieving the labeled digital video image in the storage medium in accordance with an editing program; and

combining the selected digital video image with standard video signals.

11. A system that records an image of an individual at a preselected location and retrievably stores digital signals of the image for preparing personalized video tape, the system comprising:

a camera means including a plurality of video cameras, one video camera being located at each of a plurality of video locations for providing digital camera means signals indicative of the image of the individual at the preselected location;

an identification processor for combining said digital camera means signals from said plurality of video cameras with correlation signals identifying the individual and corresponding video camera location, and generating correlated camera means signals;

a memory means for retrievably storing the correlated camera means signals;

a controller for presenting to said memory means in response to received tape assembly signals;

control signals to retrieve selected correlated camera means signals and for presenting to said identification processor said correlation signals in response to received individual information signals and further for generating tape initiating signals to begin personalized video tape assembly;

an input reader means for receiving signals from the individual containing identifying information and generating therefrom said individual information signals;

video storage means having stored therein standard video signals corresponding to a standard video image of said preselected location without the individual;

a means for generating said tape assembly signals for initiating tape assembly and identifying selected correlated camera means signals; and

a video assembly means for generating, in response to said tape initiating signals, a personalized video tape including said standard video signals combined with said selected correlated camera means signals.

12. The system according to claim 11 further comprising an editor means for transferring said selected correlated camera means signals from said memory means onto a selected location in said personalized video tape.

13. The system according to claim 11 wherein said identification processor further comprises a means for generating individual correlation signals for associating received camera means signals with a one of a corresponding plurality of individuals and wherein said video assembly means further comprises a video means for generating, in response to said tape initiating signals, a plurality of said personalized video tapes, each of said tapes corresponding to a respective one of said individuals.

14. The system according to claim 11 wherein said camera means further comprises a video camera moveable about a video location.

15. The system according to claim 11 wherein said camera means further comprises a video camera providing camera signals in digital form.