RFID tag read triggered image and video capture event timing method

• US 9,586,124 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Timing Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Timing Systems LLC
• Inventors: Hansen, Kurt S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SOSANYA, OBAFEMI OLUDAYO
• Application Number:
  US13/946,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20130307988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10425 the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders
• 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 method for automatically taking an image of a participant in an event with a timing system determining a time of a passing a detection line on a route by a participant having an RFID tag, the system includes a RFID tag reader system obtaining the RFID tag numbers of the RFID tag in RFID tag reads, time stamping each RFID tag read, and transmitting a tag read message including the RFID tag number, an image capture device capturing images of participants when in proximity to one of the monitored points, generating image data, an image capture system creating an image capture message including the image data, and transmitting the image capture message, and the timing system determining the RFID tag number within the tag read messages, associating the received image data with the identified participant, and storing the image data associated with the determined RFID tag number.

Claims

1. A method for automatically taking an image of a particular participant from among a plurality of participants in an event wherein a timing system is used to determine a time of a passing a detection line on a route by the particular participant having an RFID tag that is unique to the particular participant and that is on the particular participant or an object associated with the particular participant traveling along the route, the method comprising:

a) in a RFID tag reader system;

communicating with the RFID tag;

obtaining the RFID tag number of the RFID tag in one or more RFID tag reads;

time stamping each RFID tag read; and

transmitting over a communication interface a tag read message including the RFID tag number;

b) in an image capture device;

receiving an image capture start command from an image capture system;

capturing one or more images of the particular participant responsive to receiving the image capture start command; and

generating image data over a data interface responsive to the capturing of the one or more images;

c) in the image capture system coupled to the image capture device for controlling the image capture device;

receiving a command for capturing the one or more images associated with the RFID tag number of the particular participant, the received command including the RFID tag number of the particular participant;

transmitting the image capture start command to the image capture device responsive to receiving the image capture command;

receiving the generated image message;

creating an image capture message including the image data and the RFID tag number of the received image capture command; and

transmitting the image capture message;

d) in the timing system;

receiving the tag read message from the RFID tag reader system;

e) in the timing system or the tag reader system;

generating the command for capturing the one or more images associated with the RFID tag number that includes the RFID tag number of the particular participant;

f) in the timing system;

receiving the image capture message from the image capture system;

determining the RFID tag number within the image capture message;

associating the image data in the image capture message with the identified RFID tag number and the time stamping of the received RFID tag read message from which the timing system generated the image capture command; and

storing the image data in a database file that is associated with the identified RFID tag number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the timing system generates the image capture command to the image capture system, wherein the capturing of the image by the image capture device is responsive to the timing system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the timing system provides the image capture system with the RFID tag number and the time stamping of the received RFID tag read message and the image capture system creates the image capture message to include time stamping of the RFID tag read message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag reader generates the image capture command to the image capture system, the image capture system receiving the image capture command from the RFID tag reader system, and activating the capturing of the image by the image capture device by generating the image capture start command responsive to the received input from the RFID tag reader system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag reader system provides the image capture system with the RFID tag number and the time stamping of the RFID tag read included in the RFID tag read message and the image capture system creates the capture image message to include the received time stamping of the RFID tag read.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in at least one of the image capture system and the timing system:

encrypting the image data prior to storing;

and in the timing system;

transmitting the stored image data along with the RFID tag number and an identification of the encryption of the image data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein in at least one of the image capture system and the timing system:

compressing the image data prior to storing;

and in the timing system;

transmitting the stored image data along with the RFID tag number and an identification of the compression of the image data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein in the RFID tag reader

detecting the unique RFID tag number of the particular participant as the particular participant is approaching the detection line;

and

in the image capture device

responsive to the receive of the image capture command, activating the capturing of a video sequence of the particular participant associated with the RFID tag number as they approach and pass the detection line.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in an image capture preorder system having an interface;

receiving a preorder request for an automatic capturing of a photograph and/or video of the particular participant prior to or during an event along the route; and

transmitting the received preorder request with the identification of the particular participant from the preorder system to the timing system,

wherein in the timing system that is communicatively coupled to the image capture preorder system;

receiving the transmitted preorder request;

associating the RFID tag number of the particular participant with the identification of the particular participant as identified in the image capture preorder request; and

wherein generating the image capture command is responsive to the associating.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein

and in the timing system:

comparing the RFID tag numbers of the tag read messages with the RFID tag number of the image capture message and

associating the image data in the received image capture message with the identified particular participant of the received preorder request, and storing the image data in a database file that is associated with the particular participant and the received preorder request.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein in the RFID tag reader:

detecting the unique RFID tag number of the particular participant of the preorder request approaching the detection line, and in the image capture device;

responsive to the received image capture command, activating the capturing of a video sequence of the particular participant associated with the RFID tag number as the particular participant approaches and passes the detection line.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the preorder request includes an identification of one or more requested image outputs for delivering of the captured image data during and after the event, and wherein in the timing system, transmitting the stored image data for the particular participant to one or more of the requested the image outputs contained within the preorder request of the particular participant during or after the event responsive to said preorder request.

13. A method for automatic capturing and delivery of one or more images of a particular participant from among a plurality of participants in an event wherein a timing system is used to determine a time of a passing a detection line on a route by the particular participant having a unique RFID tag on the particular participant or an object associated with the particular participant traveling along the route, the method comprising:

a) in an image capture preorder system;

receiving a preorder request for capturing a photograph and/or video of the particular participant prior to or during an event along the route; and

transmitting the received preorder request;

b) in the timing system communicatively coupled to the image capture preorder system;

receiving the transmitted preorder request;

associating the RFID tag number of the particular participant with the preorder request;

generating a command for capturing an image associated with the RFID tag number that includes the RFID tag number;

c) in a RFID tag reader system;

communicating with the RFID tag when the RFID tag is in proximity to the RFID tag reader system to obtain one or more RFID tag read from the RFID tag of the particular participant;

obtaining the RFID tag number of the RFID tag of the particular participant from the one or more RFID tag reads;

time stamping each received RFID tag read; and

transmitting a tag read message including the obtained RFID tag number and the time stamping of each RFID tag read;

d) in an image capture device;

receiving an image capture start command from an image capture system;

capturing one or more images responsive to receiving the image capture start command; and

generating image data containing the one or more captured images over a data interface responsive to the capturing of the one or more images;

e) in the image capture system coupled to the image capture device for controlling the image capture device;

receiving the image capture command including the RFID tag number of the particular participant of the preorder request;

generating the image capture start command responsive to receipt of the image capture command;

receiving the generated image message data from the image capture device;

creating an image capture message including the image data and the RFID tag number of the received image capture command; and

transmitting the image capture message over the communication interface to the timing system; and

f) in the timing system;

receiving the tag read message from the RFID tag reader system;

receiving the image capture message from the image capture system responsive to the image capture command;

comparing the RFID tag numbers of the tag read messages with the RFID tag number of the received image capture message;

associating the received image data with the RFID tag read messages responsive to the comparing identifying the same RFID tag number of the particular participant; and

storing the image data in a database file associated with the RFID tag number of the particular participant.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein in at least one of the image capture system and the timing system:

encrypting the image data prior to storing;

and in the timing system;

transmitting the stored image data along with the RFID tag number and an identification of the encryption of the image data.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein in at least one of the image capture system and the timing system:

compressing the image data prior to storing;

and in the timing system;

transmitting the stored image data along with the RFID tag number and an identification of the compression of the image data.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein in the RFID tag reader

detecting the unique RFID tag number of the particular participant as the particular participant is approaching the detection line;

and in the image capture device

responsive to the receive of the image capture command, activating the capturing of a video sequence of the particular participant associated with the RFID tag number as they approach and pass the detection line.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the preorder request for the particular participant include includes an identification of one or more requested image outputs for delivering of the captured image data during and after the event, and wherein in the timing system, automatically transmitting the stored image data for the RFID tag number to one or more of the image outputs contained within the preorder request for the particular participant during or after the event responsive to said preorder request.