WO2008029184A2

WO2008029184A2 - Leisure activity image capture system

Info

Publication number: WO2008029184A2
Application number: PCT/GB2007/050527
Authority: WO
Inventors: David K Martell
Original assignee: Teepix Plc
Priority date: 2006-09-08
Filing date: 2007-09-07
Publication date: 2008-03-13
Also published as: WO2008029184A3; GB0617532D0

Abstract

A leisure activity image capture system is disclosed comprising an electronic imaging apparatus, such as a digital camera, for directing towards the leisure activity and capturing an image; an image capture trigger, wherein the trigger detects an image trigger action and provides instructions for the electronic imaging apparatus to capture the image; and an electronic point of sale system, wherein the or each captured image is transmitted to the electronic point of sale, which is enabled to allow purchase of the or each captured image. The leisure activity may be golf in which the sound of a golf club striking a golf ball is used as the image capture trigger.

Description

Leisure activity image capture system

The present invention relates to a leisure activity image capture system for capturing images of a person performing an activity and particularly, but not exclusively, for capturing photographic images of a golfer as they are striking a golf ball.

In many leisure activities capturing photographic images of the event is an important aspect so that the moment can be preserved for posterity and to show to family and friends. In most activities, a human photographer is required to be present to ensure that the photograph is taken at the right time.

In some activities, such as golf, the presence of a human photographer can be distracting to the person taken part in the activity. Furthermore, it is down to the skill of the photographer to take the picture at the right moment. If any error is made, the dramatic nature of the picture may be reduced somewhat.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an leisure activity image capture system comprising: an electronic imaging apparatus for directing towards the leisure activity and capturing at least one image; an image capture trigger, wherein the trigger detects an image trigger action and provides instructions for the electronic imaging apparatus to capture the at least one image; and an electronic point of sale system, wherein the or each captured image is transmitted to the electronic point of sale, which is enabled to allow purchase of the or each captured image. Preferably, the system further comprises an image store, wherein the or each captured image is transmitted to the image store.

Preferably, the system further comprises an image processor, which is enabled to alter the or each captured image.

Preferably, the image capture trigger provides instructions to the electronic imaging apparatus by a first wireless means.

Preferably, the electronic imaging apparatus transmits the or each captured image to the image store by a second wireless means.

Preferably, the first and second wireless means are radio signals.

Preferably, the second wireless means is a cellular telephone transmission.

Preferably, the cellular telephone transmission is by General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).

Preferably, the electronic imaging apparatus is a digital camera.

Preferably, the electronic imaging apparatus is powered by solar power means.

Preferably, the image capture trigger comprises a deactivation means, wherein the image capture trigger is disabled when the deactivation means is set. Preferably, the image capture trigger comprises an activation means, wherein the image capture trigger is enabled when the activation means is activated.

Preferably, the image capture trigger comprises an indication means which indicates whether the image capture trigger is activated.

Preferably, the image capture trigger comprises a sound sensor and the image trigger action is a pre-defined sound.

Preferably, the image capture trigger comprises a housing for the sound sensor and the activation means comprises a switching means provided in the housing.

Preferably, the system includes a display for displaying an identification code at the location of the image capture.

Preferably, the EPOS system includes means for selecting the identifying code to allow viewing of the or each captured image.

Preferably, the leisure activity is golf.

Preferably, the pre-defined sound is a golf club to golf ball strike.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a leisure activity image capture system according to the present invention.

Referring to Fig.1 , a leisure activity image capture system 10 is shown, which in this example is a golf tee shot image capture system. The system comprises an electronic imaging apparatus 12, which, in this example, comprises a digital camera 14, a solar panel 16 for providing power to charge batteries for operating the electronic imaging apparatus 12, and a communication unit 18.

Furthermore the system comprises an image capture trigger 20, which in this example is a microphone trigger unit, a control centre 22 and an Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) Unit 24, typically situated in a location such a clubhouse remote from the location of the electronic imaging apparatus 12.

In use, the microphone trigger unit 20 is normally sited in the tee area approximately two to three metres from the location of the golf ball and tee, although the unit 20 may be able to operate at a much greater distance than this. The unit 20 can be battery powered and can consist of a piezoelectric device, or other microphone, and associated circuitry that responds to the "thud" of the golf club impacting, or striking, the golf ball. The circuit may be designed to enable the sensitivity in respect of pitch and volume to be preset or adjusted to minimise the likelihood of spurious triggers from other sounds.

Preferably, the unit 20 has low power consumption and is battery powered so that it can operate independently from the rest of the system and can be removed from the golf tee each night.

A switch (not shown) is incorporated in the unit 20 that may be activated by the golfer to temporarily pause the operation of the system, if he does not wish a photograph to be taken, or to activate the system, if it is currently inactive. Preferably, the switch is a plunger on top of the unit, which can be actuated by pressing with a golf club.

Furthermore, the unit 20 may incorporate a display, which provides information to the user. For example, a unique identifying code may be displayed which enables quick retrieval and viewing of the relevant captured images during later stages of the system.

The unit 20 also comprises a radio transmitter, which may operate on a licence free frequency, such as 433 MHz, that allows it to communicate with the communication unit 18 of the electronic imaging apparatus 12.

Upon detecting the "thud" of the golfer striking the golf ball the unit 20 initiates a radio signal generated by the radio transmitter that is sent to the communication unit 18, which in turn triggers the camera(s) 14 to capture at least one image of the golfer.

In the example shown in Fig. 1 , two electronic imaging apparatus 12 are shown, one to take a close up image of the golfer, illustrating the point of contact of the ball, and the second behind the golfer to take a landscape image of the impact of the golf ball with the scenery of the golf course in the background of the image. There may be just one camera or more than two depending on the location and situation. A single microphone trigger unit 20 can trigger multiple electronic imaging apparatus 12, but in some situations more than one unit 20 may be used.

The electronic imaging apparatus 12 would typically be powered by batteries charged by the solar panel 16. For most applications, the electronic imaging apparatus 12 would be housed in a water proof housing for use outdoors and the camera 14 would be a digital camera with a suitable telephoto lens.

The electronic imaging apparatus 12, using the communication unit 18, can also send a message to the control centre 22 in the event of low battery level and other fault conditions, such as misalignment.

The communication unit 18, in this example, communicates with the control centre 22 using a mobile cellular telephone modem using the General Radio Packet Service (GPRS) protocol. It should be appreciated that other radio telecommunication protocols could be used, as appropriate.

Once an image has been taken, the electronic imaging apparatus 12 transmits the captured image to the control centre 22. The control centre 22 comprises a second communication unit 26, for receiving captured images, and a computer 28. The computer 28 provides an image store for the captured images and also can have an image edit module 30.

The second communication unit 26, in this example, is a mobile cellular telephone modem, which received the GPRS transmissions via the cellular network from the electronic imaging apparatus 12. However, it is also possible for the communication unit 18 of the electronic imaging apparatus 12 to communicate directly over the internet. In this case, the second communication unit 26 can receive the captured images without a mobile cellular telephone modem but instead with an internet connection using, for example, a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server.

The control centre 22 may be located remote from the location of the electronic imaging apparatus 12 or the EPOS unit 24 and only requires that it can receive the communication from the electronic imaging apparatus 12. For example, the control centre 22 can be sited centrally away from the golf course and able to serve multiple golf courses.

The second communication unit 26 may further comprise an Internet connection, which is preferably a high-speed "broadband" Internet connection. The computer 28 transfers captured images to the EPOS unit, which is generally more local to the electronic imaging apparatus 12. The computer 28 may have the capability to monitor quality control of the images and also has the capability to sort and edit if required the images before transmission to the clubhouse EPOS

Alternatively, the system 10 may operate without a control centre 22 and in that instance the EPOS unit 24 will comprise second communication unit 26 and computer 28 and receives captured images directly from the electronic imaging apparatus 12.

The images can then be accessed by the EPOS unit 24 for display and sale to the user of the system. The EPOS unit 24 would typically be placed in the clubhouse of a golf club and, for example, entering the unique identifying code displayed by the image capture trigger 20 would bring up the relevant images for a user to purchase. The EPOS unit 24 may comprise a photographic printer, image email module and payment processing system to enable the user to pay for the service and obtain the pictures.

The EPOS unit 24 can arrange the captured images to be displayed, for example, as "thumbnail" images or as "slideshows" to golfers returning to the clubhouse after their game. The golfer may select an image and choose to purchase it by selecting that image over a touch screen, ordering the style and type of print and entering his credit card for payment. The EPOS unit 24 will then print the image through the printer and the photograph(s) will be delivered within a short period of time to the customer through a tray on the EPOS unit 24 housing.

Although the present invention has been described exclusively with reference to the sport of golf, other leisure activities could also benefit from the present invention. For example, runners of road races, which often reach tens of thousands of participants, could trigger the electronic imaging apparatus 12, using any appropriate presence detection sensor, in response to them crossing the finishing line. Bearing in mind that most running races use RFID tags on runners to record race times, the RFID tag could be used as the image capture trigger 20, thereby creating an identification of the runner in the photo, which would avoid painstaking examination of photos for running numbers.

Improvements and modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A leisure activity image capture system comprising: an electronic imaging apparatus for directing towards the leisure activity and capturing at least one image; an image capture trigger, wherein the trigger detects an image trigger action and provides instructions for the electronic imaging apparatus to capture the at least one image; and an electronic point of sale system, wherein the or each captured image is transmitted to the electronic point of sale, which is enabled to allow purchase of the or each captured image.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an image store, wherein the or each captured image is transmitted to the image store.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising an image processor, which is enabled to alter the or each captured image.

4. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image capture trigger provides instructions to the electronic imaging apparatus by a first wireless means.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first wireless means utilises radio signals.

6. A system as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the electronic imaging apparatus transmits the or each captured image to the image store by a second wireless means.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second wireless means utilises radio signals.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second wireless means is a cellular telephone transmission.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cellular telephone transmission is by General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).

10. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the electronic imaging apparatus is a digital camera.

11. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the electronic imaging apparatus is powered by solar power means.

12. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the image capture trigger comprises a deactivation means, wherein the image capture trigger is disabled when the deactivation means is set.

13. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the image capture trigger comprises an activation means, wherein the image capture trigger is enabled when the activation means is activated.

14. A system as claimed in claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the image capture trigger comprises an indication means which indicates whether the image capture trigger is activated or deactivated.

15. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the image capture trigger comprises a sound sensor and the image trigger action is a pre-defined sound.

16. A system as claimed claim 15, wherein the image capture trigger comprises a housing for the sound sensor and the activation means comprises a switching means provided in the housing.

17. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the system includes a display for displaying an identification code at the location of the image capture.

18. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the electronic point of sale system includes means for selecting the identifying code to allow viewing of the or each captured image.

19. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the leisure activity is golf.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pre-defined sound is a golf club to golf ball strike.