Patent ID: 6429892
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method for operating a self-portrait vending system, comprising the steps of:a. identifying a photographic site including a landmark readily identified with said site; b. positioning video recording means at said site and operable to capture continuous real time images of said landmark within a field of view; c. providing video display means operatively associated with said video recording means and operating said video recording means to provide continuous real time images at said video display means of said landmark and a subject passing between said video recording means and said landmark; d. providing at said video recording means selection means operable by said subject, said selection means upon operation by said subject prompting said subject to deposit payment into payment acceptor means and subsequent to said deposit instructing said subject to assume poses within said field of view; e. providing a subject recognizable indicia signaling to said subject that an image will be captured by said video means at the end of a predetermined period; f. visually capturing said image at said end of said predetermined period; g. sequentially repeating step e and step f to capture additional images; h. displaying on said video display means said image and said additional images; i. prompting said subject to select a session image from said image and said additional images displayed on the video display means; j. providing a plurality of digitized images at said video display means and in superimposition with said session image selected by said subject as a plurality of composite images viewable by said subject; k. prompting said subject to select one of said composite images; l. printing the composite image selected by said subject on a photographic media; and m. vending said photographic media including the printed composite image to said subject.