Centralized video system

• US 5,751,885 A
• Filed: 12/19/1995
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian O'Loughlin, Maureen O'Loughlin
• Original Assignee: Brian O'Loughlin, Maureen O'Loughlin
• Inventors: O'Loughlin, Brian, O'Loughlin, Maureen
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/574,921
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/117, 348/143, 348/158, 348/207, 348/7, 348/8, 348/159, 364/300
• US Class Current: 386/240
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2512 Floppy disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• 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: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/005 using at least one opto-electrical conversion device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A centralized video system that is designed for large theme parks and popular tourist areas that allows the user to be in the video by freeing the user from carrying a video cam-corder and can produce a customized video on the spot by adding background music, introductions, and conclusion. The centralized video system includes at least one remote video recorder, imparting apparatus, combining apparatus, producing apparatus, identifying apparatus, and dispensing apparatus. Each remote video recorder records at least one video clip for each customer. The imparting apparatus imparts a different customer identification code for each customer on all the video clips recorded for that customer. The combining apparatus combines all the video clips by the different customer identification code. The producing apparatus produces a video of the combined video clips for each different customer identification number. The identifying apparatus identifies the produced video by the different customer identification code. The dispensing apparatus dispenses the identified produced video. And, at least two remote interactive video recorders can be used wherein one of is adaptable to a ride and another is adaptable to the customer so that a separate concurrent image can be produced on the video to highlight the facial expressions of the customer during exciting parts of the ride.

Claims

1. A centralized video system, comprising:

a) at least one remote video recorder each of which recording at least one video clip for at least one customer;

b) imparting means for imparting a different customer identification code for each of said at least one customer on each of said at least one video clip recorded for said at least one customer;

c) an imaging means for inputting/transmitting video clips of said at least one customer to said remote video recorder, wherein said imaging means is triggered by said imparting means;

d) combining means for combining said at least one video clip by said customer identification code;

e) producing means for producing a video of said combined at least one video clip for each said different customer identification number;

f) identifying means for identifying said produced video by said different customer identification code; and

g) dispensing means for dispensing said identified produced video.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said imparting means includes a remote card reader in communication with said at least one remote video recorder.

3. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein said imparting means further includes a card that contains said customer identification code and that is readable by said remote card reader.

4. The system as defined in claim 3, wherein said customer identification code is in a form selected from a group consisting of magnetic strip and bar code.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said combining means is included in a central control unit.

6. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein said producing means is included in said central control unit.

7. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein said identifying means includes a central card reader in communication with said central control unit.

8. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein said dispensing means is included in said central control unit.

9. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein said central control unit has a customer terminal for customizing said combined at least one respective video clip.

10. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein said customizing is selected from a group consisting of music from a music source, title from a video titler, and credits including the name of said at least one customer.

11. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one remote video recorder is at least two remote interactive video recorders.

12. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein said at least one video clip is said customer on a ride.

13. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein one of said at least two remote interactive video recorders is adaptable to said ride and another of said at least two remote interactive video recorders is adaptable to said customer so that a first image from said one of said at least two remote interactive video recorders can be combined with a separate concurrent second image from said another of said at least two remote interactive video recorders to form two individual concurrent images wherein said first image can be used to highlight the facial expressions of said customer during exciting parts of said ride.

14. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein said central control unit communicates with said at least one remote video recorder by means selected from a group consisting of radio waves and cable.

15. A centralized video system, comprising:

a) providing means for providing a different customer identification number for each of at least one customer;

b) first producing means for producing at least one video clip or said each of said at least one customer;

c) imparting means for imparting said different customer identification number on said at least one video clip produced for said each of said at least one customer;

d) an imaging means for inputting/transmitting video clips of said at least one customer to a remote video recorder, wherein said imaging means is triggered by said imparting means;

e) sorting means for sorting said at least one video clip by said different customer identification number;

f) combining means for combining said sorted at least one video clip by said different customer identification number;

g) second producing means for producing a video of said combined sorted at least one video clip for each said different customer identification number;

h) identifying means for identifying said produced video by said different customer identification number; and

i) dispensing means for dispensing said identified produced video to said at least one customer whose said different customer identification number has been identified.

16. A method of using a centralized video system, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a different customer identification number for each of at least one customer;

b) producing at least one video clip for said each of said at least one customer;

c) imparting said different customer identification number on said at least one video clip produced for said each of said at least one customer;

d) an imaging means for inputting/transmitting video clips of said at least one customer to a remote video recorder, wherein said imaging means is triggered by said imparting means;

e) sorting said at least one video clip by said different customer identification number;

f) combining said sorted at least one video clip by said different customer identification number;

g) producing a video of said combined sorted at least one video clip for each said different customer identification number;

h) identifying said produced video by said different customer identification number; and

i) dispensing said identified produced video to said at least one customer whose said different customer identification number has been identified.

17. The method as defined in claim 16;

further comprising the step of adding information selected from a group consisting of music from a music source, title from a video titler, and credits including the name of said at least one customer.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein said step of adding information occurs subsequently to said combining step.

19. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein said adding step is accomplished by a user terminal.

20. A centralized video system, comprising:

a) a first remote video recorder being positioned on a front of a vehicle of a ride in which a specific customer is riding and recording only the vehicle of the ride and the specific customer riding in it as a first image;

b) a second remote video recorder being affixed to the specific customer riding in the vehicle of the ride and recording only the specific customer, and not the vehicle of the ride itself, as a second image;

said second remote video recorder being interactive with said first remote video recorder;

said first image and said second image being combined forming two individual concurrent images on the same frame of a video;

b) imparting means for imparting a specific customer identification code for the specific customer on the video recorded for the specific customer;

c) an imaging means for inputting/transmitting video clips of said at least one customer to said first remote video recorder, wherein said imaging means is triggered by said imparting means;

d) a customer terminal utilized by the specific customer to customize said video of the specific customer so as to form a customized video;

e) producing means for producing said customized video of said specific customer identification number so as to form a produced video;

f) identifying means for identifying said produced video by said specific customer identification code so as to form an identified video; and

g) dispensing means for dispensing said identified produced video to the specific customer.

21. The system as defined in claim 20, wherein said imparting means includes a remote card reader in communication with said first and second remote video recorders.

22. The system as defined in claim 21, wherein said imparting means further includes a card that contains said specific customer identification code which is read by said remote card reader.

23. The system as defined in claim 22, wherein said specific customer identification code is in a form selected from the group consisting of magnetic strip and bar code.

24. The system as defined in claim 20, wherein said combining means is included in a central control unit.

25. The system as defined in claim 24, wherein said producing means is included in said central control unit.

26. The system as defined in claim 24, wherein said identifying means includes a central card reader in communication with said central control unit.

27. The system as defined in claim 24, wherein said dispensing means is included in said central control unit.

28. The system as defined in claim 24, wherein said central control unit has said customer terminal.

29. The system as defined in claim 20, wherein said customer terminal can be utilized by the specific customer to add to said video an item selected from the group consisting of music from a music source, title from a video titler, and credits including the name of the specific customer.

30. The system as defined in claim 24, wherein said central control unit communicates with said first and second remote video recorders by means selected from the group consisting of radio waves and cable.