# US 7,607,843 B2 · Image system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,843 B2 - Document ID: US7607843B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/456,689 - Filed: 2006-07-11 - Published: 2006-11-16 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 1994-08-02 - Assignees: Media Technologies Licensing LLC - Inventors: Adrian Gluck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607843B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/00132: {in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering} - G03B 17/00: Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor (lens hoods or caps G03B11/04) - G03B 17/53: for automatically delivering a finished picture after a signal causing exposure has been given, e.g. by pushing a button, by inserting a coin - G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising - G11B 27/034: on discs (G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence) - H04N 1/00137: {Transmission} - H04N 1/00148: {Storage (information retrieval G06F16/00)} - H04N 1/00167: {Processing or editing (H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence)} - H04N 1/00172: {directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera (H04N1/0018 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00188: {Printing, e.g. prints or reprints (H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence)} - H04N 1/0019: {on souvenir-type products or the like, e.g. T-shirts or mugs} - H04N 1/00196: {Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum (H04N1/0019 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00244: {with a server, e.g. an internet server (fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract There are described herein systems and methods for producing and distributing personalized photographic souvenirs for spectators of an event. Equipment well-known in the art is used to take photographs of performers at the event, and to scan images or take photos of items representative of the event, for example a ticket stub, advertisement, or team names and logos. In addition, at least one pan-and-tilt camera system, also well-known in the art, is used to take an orderly, indexed series of photos of the spectators such that substantially every spectator will appear in at least one spectator photo. The spectator photos are indexed according to a predetermined mapping algorithm, which maps a particular location of the venue to a virtual sector. Individual souvenirs are then created at the venue in a centralized processing location, by organizing and combining a spectator photo with the other photos and/or scanned images. The souvenirs are then distributed to vendors who then present them to spectators in the sector or sectors from where the spectator photo was taken. The souvenirs may also be available to the spectator from the centralized processing location. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of producing images for spectators of a live action race comprising the steps of: obtaining images of various views of a race venue, said images including people and objects within said venue, at least one of said images being obtained by a remotely controlled mobile camera system; transferring and storing into a server said obtained images; indexing said obtained images according to specific identifiers known to said spectators; and making said obtained and indexed images available to said spectators by identifying one of said specific identifiers by which said obtained images are indexed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein said remotely controlled mobile camera system is a digital camera system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein said specific identifiers are alphanumeric identifiers known to said spectators. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of allowing said spectators to select an image they desire among the obtained and indexed images. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as in claim 4 further comprising the step of printing said desired image. ### Claim 6 A system for enabling images of a live action race within a race venue to be produced comprising: at least one remotely controlled mobile camera system for obtaining images of various views of said race venue including images of people and objects within said venue; a server into which the obtained images can be transferred, and by which said obtained images can be indexed according to specific identifiers known to a spectator of said live action race; and at least one viewing unit by which the obtained and indexed images can be made available by identifying one of said specific identifiers by which said images are indexed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A system as in claim 6 wherein said remotely controlled mobile camera system is a digital camera system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A system as in claim 6 wherein said server is located at a first location and said viewing unit is located at a second location, remote from said first location. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A system as in claim 6 further comprising means for selecting a desired image among the obtained and indexed images. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A system as in claim 9 further comprising a color printer for printing said desired image. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) A system as in claim 6 wherein said specific identifiers comprise alphanumeric identifiers known to said people spectators. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein said remotely controlled mobile camera system is a pan, tilt and zoom camera system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein said people include performers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein said people include spectators. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method as in claim 13, wherein said performers include race car drivers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein said objects include race cars. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) A method as in claim 6 wherein said remotely controlled mobile camera system is a pan, tilt and zoom camera system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) A method as in claim 6, wherein said people include performers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 6) A method as in claim 6 wherein said people include spectators. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A method as in claim 18, wherein said performers include race car drivers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 6) A method as in claim 6 wherein said objects include race cars.