Abstract:
A method and system that captures and delivers customized souvenir images to a plurality of attendees at a sporting event, music concert, and the like. Individuals wanting to receive a copy of these images provide location information, such as their assigned seat number. The present invention uses this information to identify the proper image and deliver it to the customer. Embodiments of the present invention may be adapted for use in a kiosk and to deliver the picture over a computer network, such as the Internet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to image capture and delivery devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for creating and delivering customized souvenir photographs, video clips, and the like, showing a customer at an event site. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Attendees of sport events and music concerts enjoy seeing themselves on the event site&#39;s scoreboard (“Jumbotron”). Unfortunately, they often miss the footage because it is only displayed temporarily. 
     Attendees of sport events and music concerts also often desire a souvenir photograph or video clip that memorialises their attendance at the event. To do so, these attendees often lug around still or video cameras, and ask a stranger to take their picture. This tends to be inconvenient, especially for the person who has to hold the camera during the entire event. Furthermore, it is not always possible to obtain the desired picture because the person holding the camera does not have it ready when an unpredictable memorable event occurs, such as a home run landing nearby, or because it was not possible to situate camera so as to capture the desired field of view. 
     One partial solution to these problems, commonly used in amusement parks, required that the event site assign employees to take the picture of each customer as they pass through an entrance area. The employees would then give the customer a numbered tag. Several hours later, the customer would go to a designated area, return the numbered tag, and receive the photographs. These systems, however, were labor intensive and could not provide images of the customer during unpredictable memorable events. 
     Another partial solution to these problems, also used in amusement parks, focused a camera at a particular location along a ride. The passing of a car would trigger the camera. These systems, however, only worked in applications where each customer would pass through a small and well-defined region, and could not respond to unpredictable memorable events. These systems also did not allow the customer to purchase the picture after they left the area. 
     Still another partial solution to these problems required that each guest wear a specially designed identifier badge. Cameras at the event site recorded the guests and created electronic images. Software analysed the electronic images to locate and analyse the badges, and used the resulting information to identify individuals. One drawback of these systems, however, is that they required sophisticated software to read the information on the badges. Another drawback of these systems is that they may fail if the customer is not facing the right direction or if the badge is obscured. This drawback can be a particular problem at music concerts where the seating areas are generally poorly lit. Yet another drawback of these devices they raise significant privacy concerns. 
     Clearly, there is a need for a simple, inexpensive system that can provide souvenir photographs to customers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention captures images of a plurality of attendees at an event site, such as a sport stadium, concert hall, and the like. Individuals wanting to receive a copy of a particular image can provide location information, such as their assigned seat number and/or a code associated with the seat number. Embodiments may also ask the user to present event identification information, such as the event&#39;s date and time. The present invention uses this information to identify the proper image. Embodiments of the present invention may be adapted for use in a kiosk and to deliver the picture over a computer network, such as the Internet. 
     Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is a method of providing souvenir images to event site customers comprising capturing at least one image of an event site, receiving desired location information from the customer, and displaying the at least one image associated with the desired location. The at least one image in some embodiments is associated with an event site location, and may be photograph or video clip taken from a scoreboard display signal or a television broadcast signal. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a method for providing souvenir images to a customer, comprising generating a plurality of images having locations associated therewith, receiving a location indicator from a customer, correlating the location indicator with a first image in the plurality of images, and providing the first image to the customer. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a system for providing souvenir images, comprising a camera adapted to capture at least one image of an event site, a selection input device adapted to receive a desired location from a customer, a processor adapted to correlate the desired location with the event site location, and an image delivery apparatus adapted to provide the image associated with the desired location to the customer. The at least one image is associated with at least one event site location. In some embodiments, the image delivery apparatus comprises a kiosk operably connected to a printer and a touch-sensitive monitor. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a system adapted to provide souvenir images to event site customers. One embodiment of this system comprises a camera adapted to capture a plurality of pictures of an event site, a sensor that correlates the plurality of images with a plurality of seat locations, and a kiosk. The kiosk in this embodiment comprises a ticket reader that receives an assigned seat location from a customer, a display that displays an image in the plurality of images associated with the assigned seat location; a payment receiver that receives a required payment from the customer, and a printer that prints the image associated with the desired seat location in response to the payment receiver receiving the required payment. 
     One feature and advantage of the present invention is that it provides allows sport arenas and concert halls to provide customized souvenir photographs to their customers using simple, inexpensive equipment. Another feature and advantage of the present invention is that it can easily be adapted to take advantage of any pre-existing image capture equipment at the event site, such as the scoreboard cameras and/or television cameras. These and other features, aspects, and advantages will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a pictorial illustration of a souvenir image capture system embodiment. 
         FIG. 1B  is a first image delivery system embodiment, which may operably connect to the souvenir image capture system in  FIG. 1A  at reference mark A. 
         FIG. 1C  is a second image delivery system embodiment, which may operably connect to the souvenir image capture system in  FIG. 1A  at reference mark A. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates one method of using the apparatus in  FIG. 1A  to capture and store souvenir images. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates one method of purchasing a souvenir photograph using the delivery system in  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a method of purchasing a souvenir photograph using the delivery system in  FIG. 1C . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates one method of using a kiosk to deliver still images and video clips. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates one method of determining the customer&#39;s location inside an event site. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1A  shows an image capture system  100  embodiment suitable for use with the present invention. This figure includes an event site  102 , such as a baseball park, having a play field  104  surrounded by a customer seating area (“stands”)  106 . The stands  106  contain a plurality of numbered seats  110 . One of these seats  110 ′ is uniquely assigned to a particular customer  150 . Also surrounding the playing field  104  and the stands  106  are several cameras  111  located at known locations. Each camera  111  includes a directional sensor  112  and a network interface  115  that connects the camera  111  to server computer  114  via a communications network  116 . The server  114 , in turn, includes and provides access to an image database  117  and electronic transaction processing software  118 . 
       FIG. 1B  shows a kiosk  101  embodiment suitable for delivering the images captured and stored using the image capture system  100 . This kiosk  101  includes a video monitor  122  on which information regarding the options associated with the particular transaction being undertaken are displayed to the customer  150 ; a photo-quality printer  124 ; an input device  126 ; a payment acceptor  128  through which paper currency or other forms of payment, such as credit cards, are submitted to the souvenir image capture and delivery system  100  as payment for the image to be dispensed to the customer  150 ; and a ticket reader  140 . The input device  126  in this embodiment comprises an alphanumeric keypad  136  and a trackball-style pointing device  138 . 
       FIG. 2  is a flow diagram showing the image capture system  100  in operation. At block  210 , each customer  150  of the event site  102  is provided with a ticket that he or she may use to gain admission to the event site  102  for a particular event. This ticket includes an indication (e.g., a row number and a seat number) that uniquely defines the customer&#39;s assigned seat  110 ′. This customer  150  is generally expected to sit in the assigned seat  110 ′ during most of the event. The ticket may also include a bar code, or the like, to allow the ticket reader  140  to detect the customer&#39;s assigned seat  110 ′ indication. 
     At block  212 , the cameras  111  automatically scan the stands  106  during the event and take several pictures of each numbered seat  110 . At block  214 , these pictures are electronically sent to the server computer  114  and stored in a database  117 . Also in blocks  212  and  214 , the sensors  112  send electronic signals to the server  114  that indicate in what direction the camera  111  was pointed when it took the pictures. These signals are also stored in the database  117 . At block  216 , the server  114  uses the signals from the sensors  112  to determine what portion of the event site  102  is shown in each stored image. That is, the server  114  uses the information from the sensors  112  to correlate each of the images in the database  117  with a particular physical location in the event site  102 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram showing one method of purchasing a souvenir photograph using the kiosk in  FIG. 1B . At block  310 , a customer  150  who wishes to purchase a souvenir photograph will approach the kiosk  101 . At block  312 , the customer  150  will insert their ticket into the ticket reader  140 . At block  314 , the ticket reader  140  in the kiosk  101  will electronically scan the inserted ticket, using optical character recognition or bar code scanning techniques for example, and will read the assigned seat indicator and/or bar code printed on the ticket. Alternatively, the customer  150  may enter their seat number or other location identification information using the alphanumeric pad  136  and pointing device  138 . After receiving the seat identification information, the kiosk  101  will transmit the information to the server  114  using the network  116 . 
     At block  314 , some embodiments may also require that the customer enter a security code, such as a random number printed on the customer&#39;s ticket stub or a portion of the credit card number used to purchase the ticket, to ensure that the only customer who can view and purchase the images showing a particular seat  110 ′ is the customer to whom to whom that seat is assigned. Embodiments using this feature may be particularly desirable because they will help preserve the customer&#39;s privacy. 
     At block  316 , the server  114  will then search the database  117  for any images showing the indicated seat location and will electronically transmit the images back to the kiosk  101 . These images in this embodiment may show only the particular seat  110 ′ or may show a group of seats that contains seat  110 ′. After receiving the image or images, this embodiment will display them to the customer  150  on the monitor  122  at block  318 . At block  320 , the customer will use the keypad  136  and/or the pointing device  138  to select one or more of the images for purchase. The customer  150  may also use the keypad  136  to enter a personalized message (e.g., “Jack and Jill - World Series Game  7 ”) to be printed along with the image at  324 . At block  322 , the customer  150  will insert an appropriate amount of money into the kiosk  101  into the payment acceptor  128 . At block  324 , the kiosk  101  will then print the selected image or images using the printer  124 , and give the image or images to the customer  150 . 
     When not in current use by a customer, the kiosk  101  may display promotional information, including text, images, and audio, to attract new customers. The promotional information may include information regarding the current status of ongoing event site events, scores and other statistics of recently completed sporting events, information such as maps and service guides of the sporting venue where the kiosk  101  is located, advertisements of products and services of third-parties who have paid a fee to have the advertisements displayed on the kiosk  101 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1B , the payment acceptor  128  may be any device capable of receiving payment from the customer  150 , and may include one or more of a paper currency acceptor  130 , a coin currency acceptor  131 , and a credit card reader  132 . The customer interface in this embodiment is provided through the alphanumeric pad  136  and the pointing device  138 . Alternatively, some embodiments may replace the video monitor  122 , the alphanumeric pad, and the pointing device  128  with a touch-sensitive screen whereby the customer may be input any necessary information into the kiosk  101 . The ticket reader  140  may be any device capable of reading the customer&#39;s assigned seat information off the ticket. Suitable ticket readers include a bar code reader adapted to read a bar code printed on the customer&#39;s ticket, an electronic camera coupled to optical character recognition software, and the like. 
     The server  114  may comprise any general-purpose computer having a central processing unit (CPU) and memory (e.g., random access memory, read only memory, and the like) for managing communication and servicing user requests. The memory in these embodiments contains the necessary programming and data structures to implement the methods described herein, including without limitation, the database program  117  and electronic transaction processing program  118 . One suitable embodiment is an iSeries computer running the DB2 database program and the Websphere transaction-processing program, all available from International Business Machines, Inc. 
       FIG. 1C  shows a home delivery system  180  suitable for delivering the images captured and stored using the image capture system in  FIG. 1 . This home delivery system  180  embodiment comprises a network access device  182 , such as a personal computer, cell phone, personal data assistant, and the like, connected to the Internet; a web-browsing program (not shown); a photo-quality printer  186 ; a display  188 ; a keyboard  190 ; and a mouse or other pointing device  192 . Suitable network access devices  182 , web-browsing programs, printers  186 , displays  188 , keyboards  190 , and pointing devices  192  are well known and widely available in the art. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram showing one method of using the home delivery system  180  in  FIGS. 1A and 1C  to purchase and deliver souvenir images. At block  410 , the customer  150  uses the network access device  182  to contact the transaction processing software  118 . The transaction processing software  118  responds by transmitting a web page, which is displayed on the customer&#39;s network access device. At block  420 , the customer  150  will enter their seat number and event date into the network access device, and then transmit this information to the server computer  114 . Some embodiments may also require that the customer enter a security code, such as a random number printed on the customer&#39;s ticket stub or a portion of the credit card number used to purchase the ticket, to help preserve the customer&#39;s privacy. 
     At block  430 , the server  114  will search the database  116  for any images showing the indicated seat and will electronically transmit the images back to the network access device. The quality of these images may be degraded in some embodiments, such as using a low quality transmission or superimposing a legend (e.g., “SAMPLE”), to encourage the customer  150  to purchase a higher quality copy at block  460 . 
     After receiving the images, the network access program  182  will display the images to the customer  150  at block  440 . At block  450 , the customer will then select one or more of the images for purchase using the keypad  190  or pointing device  192  attached to the network access device  182 . At this time, the customer  150  may also use the keyboard  190  to enter a personalized message (e.g., “2001 Final Four”) to be printed with the selected image. At block  460 , the customer  150  will enter payment information, such as a credit or debit card number, into the network access device  182  and transmit the payment information to the server  114 . At block  470 , the server  114  will electronically transmit a high quality version of the images to the network access device  182 , which may be printed using the attached printer  186  or stored on a mass storage device (not shown) attached to the network access device  182 . 
     Although the present invention has generally been described as collecting, storing, and delivering conventional electronic images, embodiments of the present invention allow the customer  150  to select and purchase one of a series of a images that, when displayed in sequence, creates the illusion of motion (i.e., a “frame”). These embodiments may be desirable because the customer can select the frame having the best composition (e.g., the frame in which each of their party members are looking at the camera and have their eyes open), and may be particularly desirable when combined the use of television and/or scoreboard video feeds. Other embodiments may allow the customer to select and purchase a full motion video of them at the event site. This video may be encoded using any standard encoding technique, such as MPEG or QuickTime encoding, and either copied to an appropriate medium, such as a CD-ROM disk, or transmitted to the customer&#39;s computer or electronic mail address. The video signal may also be encoded using analog techniques and delivered on appropriate media, such as VHS encoding and tapes. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates one method of using the systems in  FIG. 1C  to deliver still images and video clips. At block  502 , the user enters their seat number and transmits this information to the server  114 . At block  504 , the server  114  searches the database  116  for any video clips showing the indicated seat location and will electronically transmit the images back to the network access device  182 . At block  506 , the network access device  182  will prompt the customer to select whether they want to purchase a still image or a video clip. If the customer  150  selects still images, the network access device  182  will display a series frames showing the customer. At block  510 , the network access device  182  will prompt the customer  150  to select one or more of the frames for purchase. At block  512 , the network access device  182  will receive payment from the customer  150 , prompt for any personalization messages, and transmit the purchased souvenir image(s) to the network access device  182  using the techniques described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
     At block  512 , if the customer a video clip, the network access device  182  will display any video clips found at block  504 . At block  514 , the customer will select the portion of the video clip that they wish to purchase. That is, the network access device  182  in this embodiment will prompt the customer to indicate the starting point and the ending point of the desired video clip. At block  516 , the network access device  182  will receive payment from the customer  150 , prompt for any personalization messages and/or security codes, and transmit the purchased souvenir image(s) to the network access device  182  using the techniques described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an alternate method of determining the customer&#39;s location inside the event site. At block  602 , the kiosk  101  or network access device  182  displays a high level map of the customer seating area  106 . This map should be divided several sections. At block  604 , the customer will select the desired section using, for example, the pointing device  138  or pointing device  192 . At block  606 , the kiosk  101  or network access device  182  displays a high level map of the section selected in block  604 . This section should be divided into several subsections. At block  608 , the customer selects the desired subsection using the pointing device  138  or  192 . At block  610 , the kiosk  101  or network access device  182  displays a high level map of the subsection selected in block  608 . This subsection should be divided into several sub-subsections. At block  608 , the customer selects the desired sub-subsection. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the network access device can repeat this subdivision-selection process at block  612 , if necessary, until the network access device only displays the exact area where the customer sat during the event. The kiosk  101  or network access device  182  will then transmit, at block  614 , a description of this area to the server computer  116 . The server  116 , in turn, will then transmit any images showing the selected area using the methods described with reference to  FIGS. 2-5 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that these embodiments may be particularly desirable for use in event sites  106  without pre-assigned seating. 
     Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain examples thereof, it may be also embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential spirit or attributes thereof. For example, the kiosk  101  described with reference  FIGS. 1-4  may allow the customer to enter an electronic mail address via the keypad  136  so that the images can be electronically delivered. These embodiments may be desirable because the kiosk  101  would not use consumable supplies. Embodiments may also allow the customer  150  to enter a postal address should the customer wish to receive a high-quality print of the images. Some kiosk  101  embodiments may replace or supplement the printer  124  with a device  190  (e.g., a CD-RW or DVD-RW drive) capable of writing the images and/or video clips onto a signal bearing medium (e.g., a CD-RW or DVD-RW disk), which would then be given to the customer  150 . 
     In addition, some embodiments of the present invention may be integrated with an event site&#39;s television broadcast camera system and/or stadium scoreboard camera system to provide images of unpredictable memorable events, such as the customer  150  catching a home run. That is, many event sites already utilize a plurality of cameras and camera operators to provide live television broadcasts and scoreboard replays. These systems are designed to capture unpredictable memorable moments during the event. The present invention can take advantage of this pre-existing hardware and labor investment to provide images of the customer  150  during the memorable event. These images may be highly desirable because the unpredictable nature of these events makes it difficult for the customer  150  capture an equivalent image using their own camera. These embodiments may also allow the customer to purchase game highlight images, in addition to souvenir images, using the methods described with reference to  FIGS. 2-5 . 
     The present invention and components thereof are also capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of suitable signal bearing media include: recordable type media, such as floppy disks and CD-RW disks, CD-ROM, DVD, and transmission type media, such as digital and analog communications links. 
     The accompanying figures and this description depicted and described embodiments of the present invention, and features and components thereof. Accordingly, it is desired that the embodiments described herein be considered in all respects as illustrative, not restrictive, and that reference be made to the appended claims for determining the scope of the invention.