RFID TAG READ TRIGGERED IMAGE AND VIDEO CAPTURE EVENT TIMING METHOD

• US 20130307988A1
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,586,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/157
• 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 system and method for automatically taking an image of a participant in an event wherein a timing system is used to determine a time of a passing a detection line on a route by a participant having an RFID tag on the participant or an object associated with the participant traveling along the route is disclosed, the system includes a RFID tag reader system configured for obtaining the RFID tag numbers of the RFID tag in one or more 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 one or more images of one or more participants when in proximity to one of the RFID tag reader monitored points, generating image data over a data interface, an image capture system receiving the generated image message, creating an image capture message including the image data, and transmitting the image capture message, and timing system receiving the tag read message from the RFID tag reader system and the image capture message, determining the RFID tag number within the tag read messages, associating the image data in the image capture message with the identified participant, and store the image data in a database file that is associated with the determined RFID tag number.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A method for automatically taking an image of a participant in an event wherein a timing system is used to determine a time of a passing a detection line on a route by a participant having an RFID tag on the participant or an object associated with the 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;

capturing one or more images of one or more participants when in proximity to one of the RFID tag reader monitored points; and

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

c) in an image capture system;

receiving the generated image message;

creating an image capture message including the image data; and

transmitting the image capture message;

d) in a timing system;

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

receiving the image capture message;

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

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

27. The method of claim 26, in the timing system, activating the capture of an image by the image capture device, wherein the capturing of the image by the image capture device is responsive to the timing system.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein in timing system providing the image capture system with the RFID tag number in the image capture system including the received RFID tag number in the image capture message.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein in the image capture system receiving an input from the RFID tag reader system, and activating the capturing of the image by the image capture device responsive to the received input from the RFID tag reader system, wherein in RFID tag reader system, the RFID tag reader system generates a message to the image capture device that it has detected an RFID tag.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein in RFID tag reader system, activating the capturing of the image by the image capture device when the RFID tag reader system has detected an RFID tag and providing an image capture command to the image capture device.

31. The method of claim 26, 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.

32. The method of claim 26, 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.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein in the RFID tag reader detecting a particular RFID tag number approaching the detection line;

and in the image capture device activating the capturing of a video sequence of the participant associated with the RFID tag number as they approach and pass the detection line.

34. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

in an image capture preorder system having an interface;

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

transmitting the received request,

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

receiving the transmitted request;

associating the RFID tag number with the image capture request; and

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

35. The method of claim 34, wherein in the image capture device:

receiving an image capture start command, wherein the capturing of one or more images is responsive to receiving the image capture start command and wherein the generating of image data over a data interface is responsive to the capturing of the one or more images;

in the image capture system;

receiving the image capture demand;

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

receiving the generated image message;

creating an image capture message including the image data; and

transmitting the image capture message over the communication interface to the timing system,

and in the timing system;

comparing the RFID tag numbers of the tag read messages with the RFID tag number of the image capture command, wherein the image capture command is generated by the timing system responsive to the RFID tag number being identified within the RFID tag read messages;

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

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

36. The method of claim 34 wherein in the RFID tag reader:

detecting a particular RFID tag number approaching the detection line, and in the image capture device;

activating the capturing of a video sequence of the participant associated with the RFID tag number as they approach and pass the detection line.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the request include 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 RFID tag number to each of the image outputs contained within the request during or after the event responsive to said request.

38. A method for preordering the automatic taking of one or more images of a participant in an event wherein a timing system is used to determine a time of a passing a detection line on a route by a participant having an RFID tag on the participant or an object associated with the participant traveling along the route, the method comprising:

a) in an image capture preorder system;

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

transmitting the received request;

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

receiving the transmitted request;

associating the RFID tag number with the image capture 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;

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

time stamping each RFID tag read; and

transmitting a tag read message including the RFID tag number;

d) in an image capture device;

receiving an image capture start command;

capturing one or more images 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;

e) in an image capture system;

receiving the image capture demand;

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

receiving the generated image message;

creating an image capture message including the image data; 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;

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

generating the image capture command responsive to the RFID tag number being identified within the RFID tag read messages;

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

associating the image data with the RFID tag number of the tag read messages; and

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

39. The method of claim 38, 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.

40. The method of claim 38, 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.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein in the RFID tag reader detecting a particular RFID tag number approaching the detection line;

and in the image capture device

activating the capturing of a video sequence of the participant associated with the RFID tag number as they approach and pass the detection line.

42-43. -43. (canceled)