Method and system for obtaining person-specific images in a public venue

• US 6,526,158 B1
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hysterical Sunset Limited, Photonmotion, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Photonmotion, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldberg, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bali, Vikkram
• Application Number:
  US09/242,987
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382/116, 382/117, 382/118, 382/119, 382/103, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.32, 340/5.7, 233/382, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 386/117, 713/168
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/001 Counting; Classifying; Marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/00 Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• 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 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• 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 1/00143 Ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 : from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00151 : with selective access
• 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 1/00193 : to a portable storage medium, e.g. a read-writable compact disk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 : Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00286 : with studio circuitry, devices or equipment, e.g. television cameras television studio circuitry, devices or equipment per se H04N5/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00299 : with a television transmission apparatus, e.g. a videophone, a teletext system or a digital television system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 : with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence

Abstract

A method whereby personalized photographic images are obtained of patrons in an entertainment venue, such as a theme park. The system employs a unique machine-readable identification tap (49) located in a device such as a card, pin, or bracelet, which is attached to the patron (43). The identification tag is decoded by readers (52) positioned at various locations within the entertainment venue. This identification information is matched with electronic images of the patron carrying the identification tag that are captured by digital cameras (63). The electronic images along with the matched patron identities are collected at a storage device (71). At a distribution station (77), the patron can view images (85) corresponding to his tap identification, and the images may be printed (87) or may be delivered in electronic form on a videotape, CD, or e-mail. The images distributed to patrons may be single-frame images or video recorded images with audio. The images may be modified for entertainment effect prior to distribution.

Claims

1. A method of capturing and distributing images of patrons, in a venue, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing electronic visual images of patrons at the venue;

obtaining identifying data comprising a substantially unique personal identifier associated with each of the patrons within the electronic visual images, by using a directional sensor capable of remotely sensing, and wherein the steps of capturing and obtaining occur substantially simultaneously;

identifying the patrons from the identifying data;

storing the captured electronic visual images and the identifications of the patrons who are represented within each of same electronic visual images in association with each other; and

distributing visual images derived from the electronic visual images by relating the identifications of the patrons requesting images to identifications stored in association with the stored electronic;

visual images and, by retrieving at least a subset of the associated electronic visual images from storage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining utilizes tags conveyed by the patrons, and wherein each tag is associated with the substantially unique personal identifier of the patron conveying the tag.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each tag comprises pulsed light output means wherein the personal identifier is encoded in modulated light output, and wherein the remote sensor comprises a light sensor.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein each tag comprises an optically-sensed identifier that is remotely sensed by an electronic optical detection system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the optically-sensed identifier comprises a bar code symbology.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the optically-sensed identifier comprises printed text.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the optically-sensed identifier comprises a color code.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the optically-sensed identifier comprises a circular spatial pattern.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifier is encoded in modulated sound energy emitted by a sound emitter, and wherein the sensor comprises a microphone.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sound emitter is associated with a trigger signal receiver, wherein an external trigger signal of which the receiver is receptive induces the emitter to emit the identifier encoded in modulated sound energy.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the external trigger signal comprises modulated sound energy.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the external trigger signal comprises a radio frequency signal.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is sensed within the electronic visual images, and wherein the directional sensor comprises the image capturing means.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying comprises a step of machine-executed facial recognition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of machine-executed facial recognition uses the captured electronic visual images.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of capturing comprises videographic recording.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of capturing, storing and distributing additionally include similarly capturing, storing and distributing audio representations of the patrons in conjunction with the corresponding visual images of the patrons.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of distributing includes the step of printing the visual images of the patrons.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of distributing includes providing the visual images of the patrons in digital format.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of providing includes the step of transmitting the electronic visual images of the patrons in digital format over a wide area digital communications network.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of distributing involves the use of a monitor on which visual images corresponding to the patron requesting visual images for distribution can be viewed by the patron.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein requests by the patron for distribution of visual images are transmitted over a wide area digital communications network.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of distributing comprises a second step of identifying patrons by sensing the substantially unique personal identifier, wherein the patron identification is used to select stored electronic visual images relating to the patron for retrieval.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the means of capturing is located in a fixed, predetermined location.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the means of capturing moves in a predetermined path.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the means of capturing is mobile and whose path is not predetermined, and wherein the step of capturing is initiated manually.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the electronic visual images are transmitted from the means of capturing to the means of storage via wireless transmission.

28. The method of claim 1, additionally including the step of modifying the electronic visual images.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of modifying comprises interspersing pre-recorded videographic recordings not containing the patrons with videographic recordings of the patrons.

30. The method of claim 28, herein the step of modifying comprises replacing a subset of image elements in the electronic digital images.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of modifying comprises merging image elements so as to eliminate edge transition effects.

32. The method of claim 1, including the additional step of directing the patron to perform an observable action.

33. A system of capturing and distributing images of patrons in a venue, comprising:

an identifier physically-associated with each patron wherein the identifier encodes a substantially unique identification code;

an image capturing device which captures electronic visual images of the patrons;

a directional sensor remote from the patrons which is receptive of the identifier, wherein the image capturing device and the directional sensor operate substantially simultaneously;

an electronic decoder associated with the sensor which decodes the identification code received by the sensor from the identifier;

a storage device associated with the image capturing device and the decoder and receptive of the electronic visual images and identification codes, wherein the electronic visual images are stored in association with the related identification codes; and

a selector associated with the storage device which retrieves electronic visual images when provided with the related patron identification codes.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the identifier comprises a tag conveyed by the patron.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the tag produces modulated light output, and wherein the directional sensor comprises a light sensor.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the directional sensor comprises an optical sensor, and the identifier is optically-sensed.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the identifier comprises a bar code symbology.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the identifier comprises printed text.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the identifier comprises a color code.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the identifier comprises a circular spatial pattern.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein the directional sensor comprises a microphone, and the tag comprises a sound emitter.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the sound emitter is associated with a trigger signal receiver, wherein an external trigger signal of which the receiver is receptive induces the emitter to emit the identifier encoded in modulated sound energy.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the external trigger signal comprises modulated sound energy.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the external trigger signal comprises a radio frequency signal.

45. The system of claim 33, wherein the identifier is sensed within the electronic visual images, and wherein the directional sensor comprises the image capturing device.

46. The system of claim 33, wherein the directional sensor comprises an optical sensor and wherein the identifier comprises physical characteristics of the patron'"'"'s face, wherein the electronic decoder comprises a facial recognizer.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the optical sensor comprises the image capturing device.

48. The system of claim 33, wherein the image capturing device comprises a videograph recorder.

49. The system of claim 33, wherein the image capturing device, the storage device, and the selector additionally capture, store and select audio representations of the patrons in conjunction with the corresponding visual images of the patrons.

50. The system of claim 33, additionally including a printer associated with the selector, wherein the printer prints visual images of the patrons when the selector is provided with the related patron identification codes.

51. The system of claim 33, additionally including a digital reproducer associated with the selector, wherein electronic visual images retrieved by the selector are reproduced for the patron in digital format.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the reproducer transmits electronic visual images over a wide area digital communications network to the patron.

53. The system of claim 33, additionally including an image display associated with the selector on which image display the visual images corresponding to the patron requesting visual images can be viewed by the patron.

54. The system of claim 33, additionally including a wide area communications network associated with the selector, wherein the patron requests for visual images to be retrieved are transmitted over the communications network.

55. The system of claim 33, additionally including a second directional sensor associated with the selector which is receptive of the identification code encoded in the identifier, wherein the second directional sensor provides identification codes to the selector.

56. The system of claim 33, wherein the image capturing device is located in a fixed, predetermined location.

57. The system of claim 33, wherein the image capturing device moves in a predetermined path.

58. The system of claim 33, wherein the image capturing device is mobile and whose path is not predetermined, and wherein the image capturing device is manually actuated.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein electronic visual images are transmitted from the image capturing device to the storage device via wireless communication.

60. The system of claim 33, additionally including an electronic visual image modifier associated with the storage device, wherein the electronic visual images are modified by the modifier.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the electronic visual image modifier intersperses pre-recorded videographic recordings not containing the patrons with videographic recordings of the patrons.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein the electronic visual image modifier replaces a subset of image elements in the electronic digital images.

63. The system of claim 60, wherein the electronic visual image modifier merges image elements so as to eliminate edge transition effects.

64. The system of claim 33, additionally including a task director associated with the image capturing device, wherein the task director directs the patrons to perform an observable action that can be captured by the image capture device.

65. A method of capturing and distributing images of patrons, including at least a first patron, in a venue, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing an electronic visual image of the first patron, wherein the electronic visual image comprises an electronic representation of both the first patron and a substantially-unique identifier associated with the first patron;

identifying the first patron within the electronic visual image using the electronic representation of the identifier present within the electronic visual image;

storing the captured electronic visual image and the identification of the first patron in association with each other; and

distributing 4 visual image derived from the electronic visual image by relating the identification of the first patron to the identification stored in association with the stored electronic visual image and by retrieving the associated electronic visual image from storage.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the identifier comprises a tag conveyed by the first patron.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the tag comprises a color code.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein the identifier comprises physical characteristics of the first patron'"'"'s face, and wherein the step of identifying comprises facial recognition.