US6608563B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for automated photo capture and retrieval
Assignee: MQ Gaming LLC
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Filing: 2001-01-26
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Granted: 2003-08-19
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Expires: 2021-01-26
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides an improved system and method for automated photo/video capture and retrieval using RFID tags containing a unique person and/or group identifier number. The system allows automated capturing and indexing of individual or group photo/video images according to each unique person and/or group identifier. Tags are worn by each park patron during their visit to the park or other entertainment facility. Various readers distributed throughout the park or entertainment facility are able to read the RFID tags. Thus, the unique identifier numbers can be conveniently read and provided to an associated photo/video capture system for purposes of providing indexing of captured photo/video images according to the unique identifiers of all individuals standing within the field of view of the camera. Captured photo images can thus be selectively retrieved and organized into a convenient photo/video album to provide a photo record of a family's or group's adventures at the park or other entertainment facility. Unique picture storybooks can also be created using selected “gag” or “novelty” photo images taken throughout the facility and/or by using digital photo image processing to create a particular desired storybook. Thus, play participants themselves become actual characters in the storybook and participate in the storyline.
Inventors
- 👤 Denise Chapman Weston
- 👤 Thomas J. Lochtefeld
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K17/00; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; A; A63; A63F; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/60; A63F2300/69; A63F2300/695
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
An automated photo capture and retrieval system for automatically capturing and indexing photo images of multiple individuals or groups of individuals within a facility comprising: one or more tags adapted to be worn by each individual or group of individuals desired to be photo imaged, each tag comprising a unique person identifier (“UPIN”) for identifying the associated individuals and a unique group identifier number (“UGIN”) which may be used to match a defined group of individuals to any relevant captured photo images that contain any individual(s) within the defined group; one or more cameras distributed throughout the facility adapted to automatically capture photo and/or video images of one or more individuals in the field of view of the camera; one or more readers distributed throughout the facility and associated with each camera, each said readers being adapted to read each tag of each individual substantially within the field of view of each associated camera and to determine the unique person and/or group identifier for each tag; and an image processor to receive each captured photo image and all associated unique person and/or group identifiers and to record or each captured photo image and associated unique person and/or group identifiers such that each image may be retrieved according to its associated unique person and/or group identifiers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
An automated photo capture and retrieval system for automatically capturing and indexing photo images of multiple individuals or groups of individuals within a facility comprising: one or more tags adapted to be worn by each individual or group of individuals desired to be photo imaged, each tag comprising a unique person identifier (“UPIN”) for identifying the associated individuals and a unique group identifier number (“UGIN”) which may be used to match a defined group of individuals to any relevant captured photo images that contain any individual(s) within the defined group; one or more cameras distributed throughout the facility adapted to automatically capture photo and/or video images of one or more individuals in the field of view of the camera; one or more readers distributed throughout the facility and associated with each camera, each said readers being adapted to read each tag of each individual substantially within the field of view of each associated camera and to determine the unique person and/or group identifier for each tag; and an image processor to receive each captured photo image and all associated unique person and/or group identifiers and to record or each captured photo image and associated unique person and/or group identifiers such that each image may be retrieved according to its associated unique person and/or group identifiers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The automated photo capture and retrieval system of claim 1 wherein said tags comprise one or more RFID tags.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The automated photo capture and retrieval system of claim 1 wherein each RFID tag may be read over a read distance of from about 4″-60″.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for creating an interactive story book using an automated photo capture and retrieval system, comprising the following steps: applying a readable tag to an individual or group of individuals, each tag comprising a unique person and/or group identifier for identifying each associated individual and which may be used to match each individual or group of individuals to any relevant captured photo images; providing one or more cameras to capture photo images of the individual or group of individuals; using one or more readers to read each tag within the field of view of each associated camera and to determine the unique person and/or group identifier for each tag; transmitting each captured image and associated unique person and/or group identifiers to an image processor; and organizing the captured images into s simulated comic book or storybook comprising an arrangement of one or more captured images of predetermined scenes or cartoons relating to a particular desired story line, wherein images of one or more individuals in different scenes and/or poses are incorporated into the predetermined scenes or cartoons to create the interactive storybook.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for creating an interactive story book using an automated photo capture and retrieval system, comprising the following steps: applying a readable tag to an individual or group of individuals, each tag comprising a unique person and/or group identifier for identifying each associated individual and which may be used to match each individual or group of individuals to any relevant captured photo images; providing one or more cameras to capture photo images of the individual or group of individuals; using one or more readers to read each tag within the field of view of each associated camera and to determine the unique person and/or group identifier for each tag; transmitting each captured image and associated unique person and/or group identifiers to an image processor; and organizing the captured images into s simulated comic book or storybook comprising an arrangement of one or more captured images of predetermined scenes or cartoons relating to a particular desired story line, wherein images of one or more individuals in different scenes and/or poses are incorporated into the predetermined scenes or cartoons to create the interactive storybook.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said sport comprises competitive flow boarding on a sheet flow water ride and wherein said tags are provided on flow boards used by each sport participant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 5 wherein at least one reader is provided on or underneath a ride surface of said sheet flow water ride and adapted to read said tags provided on each said flow board.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for creating index-retrievable images of one or more individuals participating in a sporting event using an automated photo capture and retrieval system, comprising the following steps: providing a readable tag to each individual or group of individuals participating in said sporting event, each tag comprising a unique person and/or group identifier for identifying each associated individual and which may be used to match each individual or group the following steps; providing one or more cameras to capture photo images of individuals or groups of individuals participating in said sporting event; using one or more readers to read each tag within the field of view of each associated camera and to thereby determine the unique person and/or group identifier for each tag; transmitting each captured image and each determined unique person and/or group identifiers to an image processor; and using the image processor to organize and store captured images according to each unique person identifier whereby relevant stored images of individual and/or group sport participants may be retrieved using said unique person and/or group identifier.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for creating index-retrievable images of one or more individuals participating in a sporting event using an automated photo capture and retrieval system, comprising the following steps: providing a readable tag to each individual or group of individuals participating in said sporting event, each tag comprising a unique person and/or group identifier for identifying each associated individual and which may be used to match each individual or group the following steps; providing one or more cameras to capture photo images of individuals or groups of individuals participating in said sporting event; using one or more readers to read each tag within the field of view of each associated camera and to thereby determine the unique person and/or group identifier for each tag; transmitting each captured image and each determined unique person and/or group identifiers to an image processor; and using the image processor to organize and store captured images according to each unique person identifier whereby relevant stored images of individual and/or group sport participants may be retrieved using said unique person and/or group identifier.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-18 | 2011-02-17 | 2011-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-18 | 2015-02-17 | 2015-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |