Sporting event image capture, processing and publication
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented digital media clearinghouse system for an athletic event comprising:
- (a) a communications component to implement communications with the system via a wired or wireless network, the communications component arranged to support the media item import interface and the distribution service;
(b) media item import interfaces, including a spectator interface and a web site interface;
(c) the spectator interface arranged to receive digital media items uploaded by a user;
(d) the web site interface arranged to receive digital media items imported from a remote web site;
(e) a database access component for accessing an event database, the event database storing registration data for each registered participant in the event, wherein the registration data for each participant includes personal identifying data;
(f) an image processing module coupled to the import interfaces to receive the digital media items and to store the received digital media items and associated metadata in a media item database;
(g) the image processing module including or coupled to a machine-recognition component to recognize a human face that appears in the received media item, and to associate the processed media item with a registrant corresponding to the recognized human face; and
(h) a distribution service for generating and distributing digital output content, wherein the distribution service aggregates together media items from all sources that have been recognized as associated with a specific registrant;
(i) wherein said identifying a human face includes acquiring at least one digital image of the face of each registered participant for comparison.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods and software are disclosed for capturing and/or importing and processing media items such as digital images or video (202) associated with a sporting event such as a marathon or bicycle race (FIG. 3). The media items are processed, including bib number or facial recognition if necessary (204, 206, 504), to associate them with an individual participant. Other input sources may include spectator uploads (506), external web sites and media sharing (508) or soda! networking (510) services. The system (500) aggregates, organizes and generates content, and distributes it (580) via various output channels, which may include event web sites (256), personal feeds (250), and other output channels (260, 254, 252, FIG. 4). Preferably, selected content is associated with at least one individual participant in the event, and that content is automatically distributed to channels that are associated with that individual participant.
69 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented digital media clearinghouse system for an athletic event comprising:
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(a) a communications component to implement communications with the system via a wired or wireless network, the communications component arranged to support the media item import interface and the distribution service; (b) media item import interfaces, including a spectator interface and a web site interface; (c) the spectator interface arranged to receive digital media items uploaded by a user; (d) the web site interface arranged to receive digital media items imported from a remote web site; (e) a database access component for accessing an event database, the event database storing registration data for each registered participant in the event, wherein the registration data for each participant includes personal identifying data; (f) an image processing module coupled to the import interfaces to receive the digital media items and to store the received digital media items and associated metadata in a media item database; (g) the image processing module including or coupled to a machine-recognition component to recognize a human face that appears in the received media item, and to associate the processed media item with a registrant corresponding to the recognized human face; and (h) a distribution service for generating and distributing digital output content, wherein the distribution service aggregates together media items from all sources that have been recognized as associated with a specific registrant; (i) wherein said identifying a human face includes acquiring at least one digital image of the face of each registered participant for comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-implemented digital media clearinghouse system for an athletic event comprising:
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(a) a communications component to implement communications with the system via a wired or wireless network, the communications component arranged to support the media item import interface and the distribution service; (b) media item import interfaces, including a spectator interface and a web site interface; (c) the spectator interface arranged to receive digital media items uploaded by a user; (d) the web site interface arranged to receive digital media items imported from a remote web site; (e) a database access component for accessing an event database, the event database storing registration data for each registered participant in the event, wherein the registration data for each participant includes personal identifying data and a bib number that is unique for the event; (f) an image processing module coupled to the import interfaces to receive the digital media items and to store the received digital media items and associated metadata in a media item database, wherein the metadata identifies a specific participant in the event; (g) the image processing module configured to associate the processed media item with a specific registrant; and (h) a distribution service for assembling and distributing digital output content, wherein the distribution service aggregates together media items from all sources that have been recognized as associated with the specific registrant. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification