Timing system and method with integrated participant event image capture management services

Abstract

An automated system and method for managing a participant's participation in an event having a participant event management system (PEMS), a participant proximity detector, an image capture system and a timing system. The participant event management system (PEMS) receives a request for capturing an image of the participant during the event. The participant proximity detector detects the proximity of the participant to a detection point and receives the participant number. The image capture system receives an instruction for capturing an image of the participant, receives an indication that the participant has been detected, and captures an image of the participant. The timing system receives the preorder request from the PEMS, determines a time of passing of the detection point of the participant, associates the participant event number with the participant identifier number, generates the instruction for capturing the image of the participant, and receives the transmitted captured image.

1 .- 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . An automated system for capturing of an image of a participant that is participating in an event wherein the participant is automatically identified for automated image capture using a participant identifier having a unique participant identifier number, the system comprising:
 a participant proximity detector detecting the participant identifier when in proximity to the participant proximity detector at a detection point during the event and receiving the participant identifier number from the participant identifier, identifying a read time of the received participant identifier number, and transmitting the participant identifier number and the identified participant identifier read time over a detector data interface;   a timing system having a data communication interface, a memory and computer executable instructions, the timing system receiving the participant identifier number and the participant identifier read time from the detector data interface, and generating the instruction for capturing the image of the participant;   an image capture system with an image capture device and a capture system data interface receiving the generated instruction from the timing system for capturing an image of the participant, capturing at least one image of the participant responsive to the received generated instruction, said capturing being when the participant identifier of the participant is in proximity to the participant proximity detector, generating an image capture message including the captured at least one image, and transmitting the image capture message over the capture system data interface to the timing system; and   wherein the timing system is configured for receiving the transmitted image capture message from the image capture system, and storing in the memory the image of the image capture message in the memory associated with the participant identifier number.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the system receives a request for capturing an image of the participant, wherein the request includes a designation for the delivery of the captured image, wherein the automated system transmits the delivery designation and the timing system receiving the transmitted delivery designation, wherein the timing system transmits the received at least one captured image received within the image capture message over the data communication interface responsive to the received delivery designation. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the delivery designation is selected from the group consisting of a web page url, a web page url of the s automated system, a mobile phone address, an email address, a text message address, a social network wall url; and an interne address. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the request includes a designation for delivery of the captured image during or following the event, wherein such delivery designation includes one or more of the following:
 a) updating the participant's social network wall with the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 b) updating a third parties social network wall with the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 c) transmitting an email to an email address including the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 d) transmitting a text message to telephone number including the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 e) posting on a webpage the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 f) updating an application with the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 g) displaying on a coupled display the captured image and/or determined time of passing; and 
 h) updating a webpage or display or data file in the automated system with the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 and wherein the timing system is configured to transmit the at least one received captured image to the one or more delivery designation. 
 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the automated system includes a payment receipt interface for receiving a payment by the participant in response to the participant registration for the event and submitting the request for capturing an image of the participant during the event. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the automated system transmits a payment indicator reflecting the received payment and identifying services associated with said received payment, and wherein the timing system receives the payment indicator for the participant and stores the payment indicator and identifies the services associated with the payment in a data file associated with the participant, such as a bib number, a participant identifier number, a participant event number, or an RFID tag number of the participant. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the image capture system captures the image in an encrypted and/or compressed format and wherein the transmitted image capture message image includes an indicator that the included captured image is encrypted and/or compressed. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the automated system receives in the requests a request for tracking of the participant during the event;
 the automated system further comprising a location device associated with the participant identifier of the participant, the location device having a location data receiver for receiving location data from a location providing source, and a wireless communication interface, the location detection device receiving participant location information from the location providing source, time stamping each received participant location information, and transmitting participant location data including the participant location information over the wireless interface; 
 a location detection device in at least periodic wireless communication with the participant location device for receiving the transmitted participant location data, and transmitting the received participant location data to the timing system; 
 wherein the timing system receives the request from the automated system including the request for tracking of the participant and stores the received location data for the participant in a data file associated with the participant. 
 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the request includes a designation for the delivery of the tracking data during or following the event, wherein the automated system transmits the tracking delivery designation and the timing system receiving the transmitted tracking delivery designation, wherein the timing system transmits the received tracking data over the data communication interface responsive to the received tracking delivery designation. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the tracking delivery designation is selected from the group consisting of a web page url, a web page url of the automated system, a mobile phone address, an email address, a text message address, a social network wall url; and an internet address. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 59  wherein the request includes a designation for delivery of the tracking data of the participant during or following the event, wherein such tracking delivery designation includes one or more of the following:
 a) updating the participant's social network wall with the tracking data and/or determined time of passing; 
 b) updating a third parties social network wall with the tracking data and/or determined time of passing; 
 c) posting on a webpage the tracking data and/or determined time of passing 
 d) updating an application with the tracking data and/or determined time of passing; 
 e) displaying on a coupled display a map showing the location based on the tracking data for the participant; and 
 f) updating a webpage or display or data file in the automated system with the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 and wherein the timing system is configured for transmitting the tracking data to the one or more tracking delivery designation. 
 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the automated system hosts a webpage including a participant interface. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the participant identifier is an RFID tag having an RFID tag number as the participant identifier number and the participant proximity detector is an RFID tag reader. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the participant proximity detector includes a GPS receiver and wherein a plurality of GPS locations is transmitted by the participant proximity detector. 
     
     
         55 . An automated method for capturing of an image of a participant that is participating in an event wherein the participant is automatically identified for automated image capture using an participant identifier having a unique participant identifier number, the method comprising:
 a) in a participant proximity detector configured;
 detecting the participant identifier when in proximity to the participant proximity detector at a detection point during the event; 
 receiving the participant identifier number from the participant identifier; 
 identifying a read time of the received participant identifier read; and 
 transmitting the participant identifier number and the identified participant identifier read time to a timing system; 
   b) in an image capture system with an image capture device configured:
 receiving an instruction from the timing system for capturing an image of the participant associated with the participant identifier number, 
 capturing at least one image of the participant to the received instruction, generating an image capture message including the at least one captured image, and transmitting the image capture message; and 
   c) in a timing system:
 receiving the participant identifier number and the participant identifier read time from the participant proximity detector; 
 receiving the transmitted image capture message from the image capture system; and 
 storing in the memory the at least one image received within the received image capture message associated with the participant identifier number. 
   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising a request for capturing an image of the participant, wherein the request includes a designation for the delivery of the captured image, wherein transmitting the delivery designation and in the timing system receiving the transmitted delivery designation, transmitting the received at least one captured image received within the image capture message responsive to the received delivery designation. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the delivery designation is selected from the group consisting of a web page url, a web page url, a mobile phone address, an email address, a text message address, a social network wall url; and an internet address. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the request includes a designation for delivery of the captured image during or following the event, wherein such delivery designation includes one or more of the following processes and such process are responsively performed by the timing system:
 a) updating the participant's social network wall with the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 b) updating a third parties social network wall with the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 c) transmitting an email to an email address including the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 d) transmitting a text message to telephone number including the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 e) posting on a webpage the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 f) updating an application with the captured image and/or determined time of passing; 
 g) displaying on a coupled display the captured image and/or determined time of passing; and 
 h) updating a webpage or display or data file with the captured image and/or determined time of passing, 
 and wherein the timing system is configured for transmitting the at least one received captured image to the one or more delivery designation. 
 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56  wherein receiving a payment by the participant in response to the participant registering for the event and/or submitting the request for capturing an image of the participant during the event. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  wherein transmitting a payment indicator reflecting said payment and identifying services associated with said received payment, and wherein in the timing system receiving the payment indicator for the participant and storing the payment indicator and identifying the services associated with the payment in a data file associated with the participant, such as the bib number, participant identifier number, or an RFID tag number. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the method also includes encrypting and/or compressing the image that is transmitted and includes an indicator of such encryption or compression. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 56  wherein receives a request for tracking of the participant during the event, in a location device associated with the participant identifier of the participant; receiving location data from a location providing source, time stamping each received location information, and transmitting location data; and in a location detection device in at least periodic wireless communication with the location device for receiving the transmitted participant location data, and transmitting the received location data to the timing system, wherein in the timing system receiving the request including the request for tracking of the participant and storing the received location data for the participant in a data file associated with the participant. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62  wherein receives in the request a designation for the delivery of the tracking data during or following the event, transmits the tracking delivery designation in the request and in the timing system receiving the transmitted tracking delivery designation and transmitting the received tracking data responsive to the received tracking delivery designation. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the tracking delivery designation is selected from the group consisting of a web page url, a web page url, a mobile phone address, an email address, a text message address, a social network wall url; and an internet address. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the request includes a designation for delivery of the tracking data of the participant during or following the event, wherein such tracking delivery designation and the processes of the timing system include one or more of the following:
 a) updating the participant's social network wall with the tracking data and/or determined time of passing, 
 b) updating a third parties social network wall with the tracking data and/or determined time of passing, 
 c) posting on a webpage the tracking data and/or determined time of passing 
 d) updating an application with the tracking data and/or determined time of passing, 
 e) displaying on a coupled display a map showing the location based on the tracking data for the participant, and 
 f) updating a webpage or display or data file with the captured image and/or determined time of passing. 
 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65  further comprising hosting a webpage including a participant interface.