Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     For many years, amateur and professional photographers have endeavored to take quality group photographs. Usually, group photographs are of an assembly with which an individual has an association. For larger groups or more formal groupings, professional photographers specializing in large group photos are employed. School and wedding photos are common examples of large group photos. Additionally, social organizations such as sororities and fraternities, lodges, community service groups, and other groups often desire large group photograph formats. All of these groups have a similar set of needs and challenges. 
     One group photograph challenge requires managing cooperation among subjects.  FIG. 1  illustrates some of these challenges, such as absent persons  100 , bad weather  102 , closed eyes  104 , turned heads  106 , poor placement in the group  108  and a host of other cooperative issues. Clearly, trying to coordinate a large number of people for a photo shoot requires patience, diligence and luck. 
     Another challenge of group photography is coordinating the names associated with each individual subject in the photo. It is common to have an incorrect name associated with a particular subject in the group photo. The biographical information related to the individual subjects in the photo are vulnerable to being recorded incorrectly, limited in the amount of information provided, illegible, or not used at all. In many group photos, the individual subjects fill out a card and provide it to the coordinator. Unfortunately, these cards are vulnerable to being shuffled, lost, damaged by the subject or not turned in. The final product may not include the right name with the right individual subject, or lead to a decision to not include names for fear of getting them wrong. Due to these limitations, it is often very difficult to create group photos based upon biographical information. 
     If a group photo of a subset of a larger group is desired, numerous photography sessions are required for each subset group. However, if only a single large group photo is shot, it is impossible to create another group photo based upon a subset of the aforementioned biographical information, such as the wedding party, the honor society or a team. Instead, another photo shoot is needed, which requires additional time on the part of all the individual subjects, and once again overcoming many of the same challenges. 
     Similarly, it is often difficult to get all of the individual subjects for a group photograph together at the same time. For example, many individuals want to send a Christmas or Holiday photo that has the entire family in it. However, it is common to have one or more family members away at the time the photo needs to be taken. Thus, only a portion of the family is in the family photo. This is true for other events such as weddings, family reunions, class reunions, composite office shots, etc. 
     Yet another challenge related to group photos is the ability to artistically correct the photo after the fact. For example, a subject may be tall enough to block everyone standing behind them, or the subjects line up out of order. In some instances, the subjects may be wearing similar clothing and be placed next to each other. In these instances, the photographer may wish to artistically adjust the placement of any of a number of individuals. Unfortunately, the single shot group photo does not readily facilitate such adjustments. Furthermore, any movement of the subjects within the photo after it has been shot forces extensive manual movement of the individual subject&#39;s name or biographical information. 
     Another problem with group photos is the input device and subsequent quality of a group photo. Currently, a group shot requires an expensive camera capable of capturing large volumes of data. The better the optical input device, the better the ultimate image will be. Thus, the input device also drives a limitation of the group photo. Accordingly, professionals having very expensive camera equipment with very expensive lenses and large format film usually shoot group photos. Currently, the cameras used for group shots are digital cameras providing large quantities of data per pixel. 
     Often, individuals wish to create a group photo from other photos or raw digital data. Although some software currently allows people to create such photos, it is a time-consuming, difficult task requiring the technical expertise of one having advanced skills. The cost to hire someone to create such a photo is exorbitantly expensive, and often beyond the reach of the average person. Additionally, creating such photos requires a manual positioning and sizing of individuals relative to the other individuals. This creates the challenge of extracting the image of the individual subject from the existing photo or raw digital data. 
     Even if each individual subject is shot and pasted into a group photo, the sizing remains an issue.  FIG. 2  illustrates a perfect set of individual photos manually pasted into a group photo, but highlights the problem of sizing the individual subjects relative to each other. The back row and front rows are identically sized, yet none of the individual subjects are proportional to each other. 
     What is needed is a way to take group photos that does not require the entire group to be there, and captures all the information about each individual subject in the group photo, referred to hereinafter as “images.” Additionally, the photographer, referred to as an “operator” hereinafter, needs an instrument to easily adjust the image without adding undue expense. Preferably, such a system will be automated and allow the operator to exert minimal input to create the final product. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present invention, a method for creating a faux group image is provided which overcomes the deficiencies described above, and has other advantages as well. 
     In one embodiment, the current invention provides a method of creating a faux group image. The method comprises the steps of:
         (a) capturing at least one digital image of each of a plurality of subjects;   (b) obtaining at least one biographical data element associated with each subject and linking the biographical data element with the associated digital image;   (c) electronically storing each linked digital image and biographical data element;   (d) selecting a group image format;   (e) selecting the digital images;   (f) selecting a background; and   (g) automatically generating the faux group image from the selected digital images, wherein each digital image is automatically and proportionally sized relative to the other digital images based upon the position of the digital image within the faux group image.       

     In another embodiment, the current invention provides a method of creating a faux group image. The method comprises the steps of:
         (a) obtaining at least one biographical data element associated with each of a plurality of individual subjects;   (b) capturing at least one digital image of each of the individual subjects and linking the captured digital image with the biographical data element;   (c) electronically storing each linked digital image and biographical data element;   (d) selecting a desired group image format;   (e) automatically positioning the individual subjects in the desired group image format using at least one element of the biographical data elements;   (f) selecting a background; and   (g) automatically creating the faux group image.       

     In yet another embodiment, the current invention provides a method of creating a faux group image. The method comprises the steps of;
         (a) capturing at least one digital image of each of a plurality of subjects;   (b) obtaining at least one biographical data element associated with each subject and linking that biographical data element with the associated digital image;   (c) electronically storing each linked digital image and biographical data element;   (d) selecting a background;   (e) automatically generating the faux group image from the selected digital images; and   (f) providing access to each subject for selection of their preferred digital image and entry of any necessary corrections to the associated biographical data elements.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a representation of a representative illustration of a school age group image showing challenges faced when photographing group images. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of a representative illustration of a group image without the benefit of the inventive method. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of the inventive method. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart of the subset faux group using the inventive method. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of the individual having his or her image captured. 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are illustrations of the creation of faux group images using the inventive method. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustration of a faux group image using the inventive method. 
         FIG. 9  is an illustration of a faux group image after adjustment using the inventive method. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the inventive method for creating a faux group image is illustrated by flowchart  10 . Step  12  of flowchart  10  illustrates obtaining a group image of one or more subjects  14 .  FIG. 5 , illustrating step  16 , provides for capturing digital image  18  of subjects  14 . Before, after or contemporaneously with step  16 , step  20  provides for obtaining at least one biographical data element  22  on each subject  14 . Biographical data elements  22  are the dataset of personal, identifying information related to each individual subject  14 . The capturing of digital image  18  and the obtaining of biographical data elements  22  are discussed in detail hereinbelow. 
     Following steps  16  and  20 , each digital image  18  and the associated biographical data element(s)  22  are linked together in step  24 . The linked data is stored in database  26  in step  28  of flowchart  10  for later retrieval and use. 
     Step  30  provides for the optional selection of group image style  32  used to generate the faux group image. Example styles of the faux group image are depicted in sample style menu  34  illustrated in  FIG. 3  and depicted in  FIGS. 6-9 . Sample style menu  34  provides several representative and non-limiting examples of group image styles  32 . The non-limiting examples include the basic selection of size and/or image background. Additionally, in all of the examples, placement of subject  14  in the faux group image is made by choosing one or more data elements from biographical data elements  22 . The non-limiting example of a high school class photo highlights this versatility. A senior class faux group image may desire to place everyone alphabetically, except the front row may have the class officers centered within and further positioned by their office. 
     Another non-limiting example of the style provides the operator the option of selecting the number of rows  36  and columns  38  for the faux group image. Still another non-limiting example provides the operator the option of selecting the number of rows  36  and the number of subjects  14  on each row  36 . This example allows for decreasing or increasing the numbers of subjects  14  in each row. This example also allows for subjects  14  in one row  36  to be offset from the subjects  14  in the row immediately in front. 
     Yet another non-limiting example provides for the ability for subjects  14  to spell words as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , and as practiced by a marching band. Similarly, another non-limiting example provides for the ability to place subjects  14  about an object  40 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . If the operator chooses a free-form approach, the operator is able to select the images or biographical data elements  22  to populate the faux group image in the format artistically desired. Other pre-defined group image styles  32  may be created and stored for use, as well as creating subsets of pre-defined group image styles  32  that allow refined placement of subjects  14 . 
     Step  42  provides for the selection of the digital image  18  and/or biographical data element  22  from database  26 . The selection is made by the operator, a representative of subjects  14 , and/or each subject  14 . Step  42  and step  30  may be accomplished sequentially, contemporaneously, or in reverse order. 
     Once step  30  and step  42  are accomplished, step  44  provides for the automatic generation of faux group image  46 . If desired, faux group image  46  includes at least one biographical data element  22  for each subject  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , biographical data element  22  includes the name of subject  14 , and indicates which position and row  36  they appear in faux group image  46 . The operator is able to view biographical data elements  22  on faux group image  46 , but may choose to not display biographical data elements  22  on the final faux group image  46 . 
     After faux group image  46  is generated in step  44 , if the operator did not have the background selected as part of sample style menu  34 , the operator then selects the desired background, and then the operator may finalize faux group image  46 , as illustrated in step  48 . 
     Referring to step  47 , the operator may optionally select to display biographical data elements  22  on faux group image  46 . The display may be manually inputted or automatically generated. 
     Furthermore, the operator may wish to adjust faux group image  46  by clicking, dragging and moving an individual subject  14  with faux group image  46  to a new position, as illustrated in step  50 . Alternatively, the operator may wish to move an individual biographical data element  22  to a new position. In the first instance, digital image  18  of subject  14  is moved to a new position, thereby causing biographical data element  22  linked to subject  14  to move to the new position. The new positions of digital image  18  and biographical data element  22  are relative to the other subjects  14  and their linked biographical data elements  22 . In other words, the biographical data elements are positioned in the faux group image relative to each other, and mirror the digital image positions to the other digital images. In the second instance, biographical data element  22  of subject  14  is moved, thereby causing digital image  18  of subject  14  to be moved in faux group image  46 . As before, the new positions of digital image  18  and biographical data element  22  are relative to the other subjects  14  and their linked biographical data elements  22 . Once the operator has completed step  50 , the operator may finalize faux group image  46  in step  48 , or the operator may provide subjects  14  the opportunity to provide commentary input and suggested changes to faux group image  46 . 
     The operator has the option of providing step  52 , which presents a draft of faux group image  46  for commentary input and suggested changes thereto. Step  52  may directly follow step  44  or step  50 . For example, a draft of faux group image  46  is presented for subjects  14 , or other customers, to view the image and biographical detail. The presentation may be online, in a store, through a hardcopy, or in any other form. An option the operator may present to subjects  14  or other customers is the option to select a background, if a background has not already been selected. The presentation provides numerous options to subjects  14 , customers and the operator. If biographical data elements  22  have errors or have changed, subjects  14  are able to submit corrections and updates. If subject  14  has an alternate digital image on file, subject  14  may suggest using the alternate image. The amount of data, input and control presented to subjects  14  is at the discretion of the operator. 
     Step  48  is the finalization of faux group image  46 . Although step  48  is the final step, the nature of the digital file allows additional efforts. As described herein, the part of the finalization step may include inserting the background. For example, the “customer” may have selected a different background, or a series of backgrounds, for faux group image  46 . The “customer” includes subjects  14 , representatives of subjects  14 , or anyone else desiring faux group image  46 . 
     The steps of the inventive method may be accomplished in several different orders. For example, the customer may establish optional selection of group image style  32  prior to the capturing of the digital image  18 . In that case, the selection of group image style ( 32 ) may be one of the first steps. Thus, when step  44  is executed, group image style ( 32 ) from sample style menu  34  may already be selected. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the method to create a subset faux group is illustrated in flowchart  54 . Once digital images  18  and biographical data elements  22  are stored in database  26 , subset faux group image  56  may be created. Creating subset faux group image  56  is similar to the method described in flowchart  10 . 
     Flowchart  54  begins with the database  26  as illustrated in step  24  of flowchart  10 . From database  26 , a subset of biographical data elements  22  are selected, thereby forming subset dataset  58  which are used to create subset faux group image  56  in step  60 . Some non-limiting examples of the selection of a subset of biographical data elements  22  include social organizations, honor society, graduating class, hometowns, age, gender, military unit, etc. A non-limiting example is a school class image. Once database  26  is created for the school class image, it may be desirable to have subset dataset  58  with all the students who are in the Honor Society. Alternatively, it may be desirable to create subset dataset  58  of only the football team or the band members from database  26 . The same concept is used to form a subset dataset  58  of any group that is within database  26 . 
     Once the subset dataset  58  is selected, the method presented in flowchart  10 , and described above, is repeated. Step  62  provides for selecting subset group image style  64  that is substantially similar to step  30  for the selection of group image format  32 . The selection of subset group image style  64  is made from sample style menu  66 . Sample style menu  66  is similar to sample style menu  34 . 
     Step  60  and step  62  may be accomplished sequentially, contemporaneously, or in reverse order of each other. Step  67  is similar to step  42  for selecting digital images  18  and biographical data element  22  from database  26 . Step  68  provides for the automatic generation of subset faux group image  56 , which is substantially similar to step  44  and the automatic generation of faux group image  46  with a selected background. Step  69  is similar to step  47  for providing the option to display biographical data elements  22  on subset faux group image  56 . In step  69 , the operator may optionally select to display biographical data elements  22  on subset faux group image  56 . The display may be manually inputted or automatically generated. 
     Step  70  provides for finalizing subset faux group image  56 . Step  72  provides for the adjustment of subset faux group image  56  in the same manner as step  50 . Step  74  provides for presenting the draft subset faux group image  56  for the customer to potentially select a background, and to potentially provide feedback, updates and corrections thereto, as found in step  52 . The format of the updates is presented in various formats. Those formats include a hard copy, an internet site, a store-based computer, a kiosk, a mobile kiosk, a storage disc and combinations thereof. 
     Just as subset faux group image  56  is able to be created from database  26 , a plurality of databases  26  may be combined to create a new, larger database. For example, if a first database  26  is limited to a senior class and a second database  26  is limited to a junior class, the two databases  26  may be combined into a larger school database. From that database, a large faux group image  46  may be created, or a series of subset faux group images  56  may be created. 
     Digital Image Capture 
     Preferably, each individual subject  14  or individual object  40  is captured as a separate raw digital image. Digital image  18  is the resulting image from the isolation of subject  14  or object  40  from the raw digital image. Accordingly, the raw digital image of subject  14  or object  40  may require pre-processing to isolate the image of subject  14  or object  40 . To minimize the pre-processing, raw digital image of each individual subject  14  or individual object  40  is captured in front of screen  78 , where screen  78  is preferably a green screen or blue screen. This approach minimizes the pre-processing effort. However, any background may be used to capture the raw digital image. The amount of pre-processing required to generate digital image  18  is increased when a green screen or blue screen is not used. Methods to remove background from around an image are known to those having skill in the art. 
     Digital image  18  is captured using any digital device  76 . A preferred digital device  76  is a digital camera having at least a 21-megapixel capability. However, a digital camera having less pixels, a digital video camera, a digital video recorder, a digitizing scanner, a smart phone or combinations of these devices will suffice to capture digital image  18 . The quality of digital image  18  is degraded with less capable digital devices  76 . Preferably, digital devices  76  produce an output in a portable network graphic (PNG) file format. Alternatively, digital device  76  produces an output capable of conversion to a PNG file format. PNG file formats are the preferred file formats for the faux group image method described herein. 
     Digital image  18  may be captured as a three-dimensional image. A three-dimensional image increases the options for creating faux group image  46 , and for recreating different image capture positions relative to subjects  14 . For example,  FIG. 6  illustrates a plurality of subjects spelling out “GO TEAM.” With three-dimensional images, each digital image allows use of angles for off-center images, images slightly above, or any other image the operator can image. 
     Subject  14  may have multiple digital images  18  made. In that case, the operator, subject  14  or a representative of subject  14  may select the preferred digital image  18 . It may be desirable to have multiple digital images  18  taken of subject  14  to represent the various groups for which they are members. For example, a high school student may create a “senior picture” digital image, a band digital image, and an athletic digital image. Each digital image  18  may be used for different faux group images  46  and/or subset faux group images  56 , 
     Biographical Data Collection and Linking 
     Biographical data elements  22  and subset dataset  58  include at least a name or descriptive names of each individual subject  14 . Descriptions of biographical data elements  22  and subset dataset  58  relate to objects  40  instead of persons. Other biographical data elements  22  may include information such as hometowns, birthdates, individual group affiliations, schools, grades, activities, military units, religion, etc. The foregoing lists are non-exhaustive and non-limiting. The type of biographical data elements  22  and subset dataset  58  may be tailored to the individual subjects  14  and groups. 
     Once all of digital images  18  and biographical data elements  22  are defined, each digital image  18  of subject  14  and the associated biographical data elements  22  for subject  14  are linked. Linking involves electronically embedding and/or combining digital image  18  with biographical data elements  22  in an electronic file, or database  26 . Database  26  stores the linked digital image  18  with biographical data elements  22  as individual datasets. Retrieval of datasets from database  26  is usually accomplished with one element of biographical data elements  22 . 
     Selection of Format 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 - 9 , sample style menus  34  and  66  depict a sampling of potential, pre-defined group image formats  32  available to the operator. As described above, the operator has the option of using rows  36  and columns  38 , matrices, word images, object-based images, free-form images, or any other pre-defined image the operator chooses to employ. The operator may also combine any of these into a pre-defined group image format  32  or subset group image style  64 . The discussion above clearly defines group image formats  32  and the matrix approach with rows  36  and columns  38 . In one embodiment, rows  36  and columns  38  create a matrix that can be automatically populated with digital images  18 . For example, if the desired positioning in the matrix is alphabetical, then the operator must identify that as the biographical element, and then identify the size of the matrix. From there, faux group image  46  is generated. Similarly, the operator may choose to spell words, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , or place object  40  front and center, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In both cases, biographical data elements  22  are selected to identify positioning within faux group image  46  or subset faux group image  56 . Use of object  40  within the faux group image  46  or subset faux group image  56  defines an object-based faux group image format  32 , or an object-based subset faux group image style  64 . The free-form faux group image format  32  or free-form subset faux group image style  64  is a blank canvas for the operator to insert digital images  18  and/or biographical data elements  22  into faux group image  46  or subset faux group image  56 , where the operator manually positions subjects  14 . Combinations of all the aforementioned methods are also considered. One example includes combining the free-form and object-based faux group formats  32  to move digital images  18  within faux group image  46 . 
     Adjusting 
     Once faux group image  46 , or subset faux group image  56  is generated, the operator may need or want to adjust the subjects within the image. To do so, the operator moves a cursor or other pointing device over subject  14 , and then digitally drags subject  14  to a new location. This action automatically updates biographical data elements  22  for the moved subject  14  relative to the other subjects  14  and their associated biographical data elements  22 . Alternatively, the operator moves a cursor over biographical data elements  22  for subject  14 , and moves biographical data elements  22  to a new location. This action automatically updates the position of subject  14  in faux group image  46  or subset faux group image  56 , while adjusting biographical data elements  22  for the moved subject  14  relative to the other subjects  14  and their associated biographical data elements  22 . The same functions are repeated for any object  40  positioned and adjusted within faux group image  46  or subset faux group image  56 . 
     Automatic Generation and Finalizing 
     As part of the automatic generation of faux group image  46  and subset faux group image  56 , each subject  14  is proportionally sized relative to the other subjects  14  to replicate the natural effect of depth. The faux group image is automatically generated from the selected digital images, wherein each digital image is automatically proportionally sized relative to the other digital images based upon the position of the digital image within the faux group image. For example, each subject  14  on row  36  is proportionally sized relative to subject  14  immediately in front. The same is true proportional sizing occurs when the subjects are in other configurations. However, in this instance, the proportional sizing is based upon the position of subject  14  as subject  14  appears further back in the image. 
     Prior to finalizing faux group image  46  and subset faux group image  56 , a background is selected upon which faux group image  46  and subset faux group image  56  are superimposed. The desired background can be any background image desired by the operator or the customer purchasing the faux group image. Once the final image is ready with the chosen background, faux group image  46  and subset faux group image  56  are finalized. 
     Other embodiments of the current invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. Thus, the foregoing specification is considered merely exemplary of the current invention with the true scope thereof being defined by the following claims.

Technology Category: 3