US6526158B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for obtaining person-specific images in a public venue
Assignee: PHOTONMOTION Inc
•
Filing: 1997-09-03
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Granted: 2003-02-25
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Expires: 2017-09-03
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Goldberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00281; H04N1/00283; H04N1/00286; G; G03; G03D; G03D15/00; G03D15/001; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; G06F16/583; G06F16/5838; G07; G07C; G07C11/00; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/253; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/26; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/02; G11B27/022; G11B27/028; G11B27/031; H04N1/00132; H04N1/00137; H04N1/00143; H04N1/00145; H04N1/00148; H04N1/00151; H04N1/00167; H04N1/00169; H04N1/00172; H04N1/00185; H04N1/00188; H04N1/0019; H04N1/00193; H04N1/00204; H04N1/00209; H04N1/00299; H04N1/00326; H04N1/00342; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/16; G06V40/172; G07C2011/02; G07C2011/04; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2537; G11B2220/2545; G11B2220/90; G11B27/024; G11B27/034; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3204; H04N2201/3205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 71
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
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.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
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.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein each tag comprises an optically-sensed identifier that is remotely sensed by an electronic optical detection system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the optically-sensed identifier comprises a bar code symbology.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the optically-sensed identifier comprises printed text.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the optically-sensed identifier comprises a color code.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the optically-sensed identifier comprises a circular spatial pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
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.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
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.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the external trigger signal comprises modulated sound energy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the external trigger signal comprises a radio frequency signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
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.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying comprises a step of machine-executed facial recognition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of machine-executed facial recognition uses the captured electronic visual images.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of capturing comprises videographic recording.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
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.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of distributing includes the step of printing the visual images of the patrons.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of distributing includes providing the visual images of the patrons in digital format.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
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.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
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.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein requests by the patron for distribution of visual images are transmitted over a wide area digital communications network.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
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.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the means of capturing is located in a fixed, predetermined location.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the means of capturing moves in a predetermined path.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
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.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
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.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , additionally including the step of modifying the electronic visual images.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
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.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 28 , herein the step of modifying comprises replacing a subset of image elements in the electronic digital images.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the step of modifying comprises merging image elements so as to eliminate edge transition effects.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , including the additional step of directing the patron to perform an observable action.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
141 words
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.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
141 words
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.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 33 , wherein the identifier comprises a tag conveyed by the patron.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 34 , wherein the tag produces modulated light output, and wherein the directional sensor comprises a light sensor.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 34 , wherein the directional sensor comprises an optical sensor, and the identifier is optically-sensed.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 36 , wherein the identifier comprises a bar code symbology.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 36 , wherein the identifier comprises printed text.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 36 , wherein the identifier comprises a color code.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 34 , wherein the identifier comprises a circular spatial pattern.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 34 , wherein the directional sensor comprises a microphone, and the tag comprises a sound emitter.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
40 words
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.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 42 , wherein the external trigger signal comprises modulated sound energy.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 42 , wherein the external trigger signal comprises a radio frequency signal.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
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.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
33 words
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.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 46 , wherein the optical sensor comprises the image capturing device.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 33 , wherein the image capturing device comprises a videograph recorder.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
37 words
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.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
34 words
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.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
31 words
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.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the reproducer transmits electronic visual images over a wide area digital communications network to the patron.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
35 words
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.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
33 words
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.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
38 words
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.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 33 , wherein the image capturing device is located in a fixed, predetermined location.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 33 , wherein the image capturing device moves in a predetermined path.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
28 words
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.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 58 , wherein electronic visual images are transmitted from the image capturing device to the storage device via wireless communication.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
28 words
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.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
26 words
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.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 60 , wherein the electronic visual image modifier replaces a subset of image elements in the electronic digital images.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 60 , wherein the electronic visual image modifier merges image elements so as to eliminate edge transition effects.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
38 words
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.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
137 words
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.
Claim 68
Independent Claim
137 words
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.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 65 , wherein the identifier comprises a tag conveyed by the first patron.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 66 , wherein the tag comprises a color code.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
26 words
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.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-24 | 2006-08-26 | 2007-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-24 | 2010-08-26 | 2011-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-24 | 2014-08-26 | 2015-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |