Imaging system and method

• US 6,698,943 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Media Technologies Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Media Technologies Licensing LLC
• Inventors: Gluck, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US10/231,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20020197074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 396/1, 396/2, 396/322, 396/419, 396/427, 396/429, 348/157
• US Class Current: 396/427
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• 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 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• 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 1/00188 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 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324

Abstract

There are described herein systems and methods for producing and distributing personalized photographic souvenirs for spectators of an event. Equipment well-known in the art is used to take photographs of performers at the event, and to scan images or take photos of items representative of the event, for example a ticket stub, advertisement, or team names and logos. In addition, at least one pan-and-tilt camera system, also well-known in the art, is used to take an orderly, indexed series of photos of the spectators such that substantially every spectator will appear in at least one spectator photo. The spectator photos are indexed according to a predetermined mapping algorithm which maps a particular location of the venue to a virtual sector. Individual souvenirs are then created at the venue in a centralized processing location, by organizing and combining a spectator photo with the other photos and/or scanned images. The souvenirs are then distributed to vendors who then present them to spectators in the sector or sectors from where the spectator photo was taken. The souvenirs may also be available to the spectator from the centralized processing location.

Claims

1. A method of producing images comprising the steps of

obtaining images of various views of a venue, and people and objects therein by changing one or more of pan, tilt or zoom of an imaging system,

transferring and storing into a server the obtained images,

indexing the obtained images according to specific locations within the venue, and

making captured images available by identifying locations within the venue for which images are desired.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the obtained images are indexed according to locations comprising virtual sectors of the venue.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein images using substantially all possible views of a venue are obtained.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein images are captured by one or more digital cameras.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein images are captured by one or more film cameras, and the captured film images are converted and transferred to the server.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein people can select an image they desire among the obtained images for a location within the venue.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein people can search for desired images through use of video display units.

8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the images include images of portions of the venue and or images of people at the venue and images of objects at the venue which are combined to present composite images of the venue and people and objects at the venue.

9. A method as in claim 1 wherein the images are printed via color printers.

10. A method as in claim 1 wherein an operator initiates an image taking sequence to execute a series of steps to take a continuous succession of images throughout at least a portion of the venue.

11. A method as in claim 1 wherein a person can select a desired image by seat location.

12. A method as in claim 1 wherein the images are transferred to a server by any one or more of disks, cartridge, transmitted via cable, wire, radio, infrared and satellite.

13. A method as in claim 1 wherein captured images can be manipulated at workstations using image editing software.

14. A method as in claim 1 wherein the venue is a sports venue.

15. A method as in claim 1 wherein the venue is an entertainment venue.

30. A method as in claim 1 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras that are controlled manually.

31. A method as in claim 1 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras that are computer-controlled.

32. A method as in claim 1 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras that are remote-controlled.

33. A method as in claim 1 wherein the venue is a golf course.

34. A method as in claim 1 wherein the venue is accessible to the public.

35. A method as in claim 1 wherein the venue is the location of a live event.

36. A method as in claim 1 wherein the images are indexed according to time.

37. A method as in claim 1 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras that are mounted to mobile units.

38. A method as in claim 1 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras that are hand-carried.

39. A method as in claim 1 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras that are placed at locations to allow viewing of substantially the entire venue.

40. A method as in claim 1 wherein the venue is divided into sectors.

41. A method as in claim 1 wherein the sectors are based on physical boundaries within the venue.

42. A method as in claim 1 wherein the sectors have overlapping boundaries.

43. A method as in claim 1 wherein a plurality of images may be captured simultaneously.

44. A method as in claim 1 wherein a selected image is combined with additional text, graphics or images to create a souvenir.

45. A method as in claim 1 wherein the obtained images are indexed according to locations.

46. A method as in claim 45 wherein the sectors are virtual sectors.

47. A method as in claim 1 wherein the obtained images are taken and indexed according to locations within the venue.

48. A method as in claim 1 wherein software controls which images are automatically sent to particular video-display units, workstations, or computer terminals.

49. A method as in claim 1 wherein the venue includes spectators.

50. A method as in claim 1 wherein people can select an image they desire among the obtained images.

51. A method as in claim 50 wherein the selected images are printed.

52. A method as in claim 50 wherein the images are printed via one or more of the group consisting of color printers, dye sublimation printers, and photographic quality printers.

53. A method as in claim 1 wherein people can search for desired images through use of video display units, workstations, or personal computers.

54. A method as in claim 1 wherein the images include images of portions of the venue and/or images of people at the venue and images of objects at the venue which are combined to present composite images of the venue and people or objects at the venue.

55. A method as in claim 1 wherein a continuous succession of images throughout at least a portion of a venue are captured automatically.

56. A method as in claim 13 wherein one or more of the workstations are PC'"'"'s running image editing software.

88. A method as in claim 1 wherein people can initiate an image taking sequence to execute a series of steps to take a continuous succession of images throughout at least a portion of the venue.

89. A method as in claim 1 wherein people can select a desired image by seat location.

16. A system for enabling images of a venue to be produced comprising

one or more pan, tilt and zoom imaging systems for obtaining images of various views of a venue including images of substantially the entire venue and persons and objects at the venue,

a server to which the images can be transferred, and by which the images can be indexed according to specific locations within the venue, and

at least one viewing unit by which the images can be made available by identifying locations within the venue for which images are desired.

17. A system as in claim 16 wherein the images are indexed according to locations comprising virtual sectors of the venue.

18. A system as in claim 16 wherein images using substantially all possible views of a live venue are obtained.

19. A system as in claim 16 wherein images are captured by one or more film cameras, and including a converter for converting the captured film images and enabling them to be transferred to the server.

20. A system as in claim 16 wherein people can select images they desire among the images of a location within the venue using a viewing unit.

21. A system as in claim 16 wherein the viewing unit comprises one or more video display units.

22. A system as in claim 16 wherein the images include images of portions of the venue and/or images of persons and/or images of objects which are combined to present composite images of the venue, people and objects.

23. A system as in claim 16 including a color printer to print the images.

24. A system as in claim 16 wherein an image taking sequence can be initiated to execute a series of steps to take a continuous succession of images throughout at least a portion of the venue.

25. A system as in claim 16 wherein a person can select a desired image by seat location.

26. A system as in claim 16 wherein captured images are transferred to the server by any one or more of disks, cartridge, transmitted via cable, wire, radio, infrared and satellite.

27. A system as in claim 16 including workstations whereby captured images can be manipulated using image editing software.

28. A system as in claim 16 wherein the venue is a sport venue.

29. A system as in claim 16 wherein the venue is an entertainment venue.

57. A system for enabling images of a venue to be produced comprising

one or more pan, tilt and zoom imaging systems for obtaining images of various views of a venue and people or objects at the venue,

a server to which the images can be transferred, and by which the images can be indexed according to specific locations within the venue, and

at least one viewing unit by which the images can be made available by identifying locations within the venue for which images are desired.

58. A system as in claim 57 wherein the images are indexed according to locations within the venue.

59. A system as in claim 57 wherein images using substantially all possible views of a live venue are obtained.

60. A system in claim 57 are captured by one or more film cameras, and including a converter for converting the captured film images and enabling them to be transferred to the server.

61. A system as in claim 57 wherein people can select images they desire among the obtained images.

62. A system as in claim 57 wherein the viewing unit comprises one or more video display units.

63. A system as in claim 57 wherein the images include images of portions of the venue including people or objects therein which are combined to present composite images of the venue, people or objects.

64. A system as in claim 57 including a color printer to print the images.

65. A system as in claim 57 wherein an image taking sequence can be initiated to execute a series of steps to take a continuous succession of images throughout at least a portion of the venue.

66. A system as in claim 57 wherein people can select a desired image by seat location.

67. A system as in claim 57 wherein captured images are transferred to the server by any one or more of disks, cartridge, transmitted via cable, wire, radio, infrared and satellite.

68. A system as in claim 57 including workstations whereby captured images can be manipulated using image editing software.

69. A system as in claim 57 wherein the venue is a sport venue.

70. A system as in claim 57 wherein the venue is an entertainment venue.

71. A system as in claim 57 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras that are controlled manually.

72. A system as in claim 57 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras that are computer controlled.

73. A system as in claim 57 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras that are remote-controlled.

74. A system as in claim 57 wherein the images are indexed according to time.

75. A system as in claim 57 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras mounted to mobile units.

76. A system as in claim 57 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras that are hand-carried.

77. A system as in claim 57 wherein the imaging system includes one or more cameras that are placed at locations to allow viewing of substantially the entire venue.

78. A system as in claim 57 wherein the obtained images are divided into sectors.

79. A system as in claim 57 wherein the sectors are based on physical boundaries within the venue.

80. A system as in claim 57 wherein the sectors have overlapping boundaries.

81. A system as in claim 57 wherein a plurality of images may be captured simultaneously.

82. A system as in claim 57 wherein a selected image can be combined with additional text, graphics or images to create a souvenir.

83. A system as in claim 57 wherein the obtained images are indexed according to locations.

84. A system as in claim 57 wherein the sectors are virtual sectors.

85. A system as in claim 57 wherein the obtained images are indexed according to locations within the venue.

86. A system as in claim 57 wherein software controls which images are automatically sent to particular video-display units, workstations, or personal computers.

87. A system as in claim 57 wherein the venue includes spectators.