Sporting event image capture, processing and publication

Abstract

Systems, methods and software are disclosed for capturing and/or importing and processing media items such as digital images or video ( 202 ) associated with a sporting event such as a marathon or bicycle race (FIG. 3 ). The media items are processed, including bib number or facial recognition if necessary ( 204, 206, 504 ), to associate them with an individual participant. Other input sources may include spectator uploads ( 506 ), external web sites and media sharing ( 508 ) or social networking ( 510 ) services. The system ( 500 ) aggregates, organizes and generates content, and distributes it ( 580 ) via various output channels, which may include event web sites ( 256 ), personal feeds ( 250 ), and other output channels ( 260, 254, 252 , FIG. 4 ). Preferably, selected content is associated with at least one individual participant in the event, and that content is automatically distributed to channels that are associated with that individual participant.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 electronically registering a participant for a selected event, including storing the participant's registration data in a memory, wherein the participant's registration data includes credentials for posting digital media items to at least one of the participant's personal web site, the participant's personal space at a social networking site and the participant's personal feed;   in an automated server process, searching social networking or media item sharing services and websites on the Internet so as to identify sites that have digital media items associated with the selected event;   electronically importing digital media items from at least one of the identified sites, and storing the media items in a database; wherein the media items comprise digital audio, video, and or photo media items;   associating each of the stored media items with at least one registered participant in the selected event;   identifying at least one of the stored media items as being associated with a selected participant in the selected event;   aggregating the identified media items to form output content associated with the selected participant; and   electronically distributing the aggregated content to an Internet output channel that is associated with the selected participant.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein:
 the output channel comprises the selected participant's personal web site, personal web page, personal space at a social networking website, or personal feed; 
 the distributing operation includes applying the participant's login credentials for accessing the participant's personal web site, personal web page, personal space at a social networking website, or personal outbound syndication feed; and then 
 automatically posting the aggregated content to the selected participant's personal web site, personal web page, personal space at a social networking website, or personal feed, on behalf of the selected participant, so as to enable third parties to access and view the posted aggregated content without action by the selected participant. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein:
 the distributed aggregated content includes at least one of data, text, graphics, media items and URL link types of content. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the distributing operation includes posting media items on behalf of a selected participant in the event to a remote server that implements a digital media item sharing service. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein electronically importing digital media items includes:
 crawling the web to identify web sites that have content associated with the event; and 
 importing media items associated with the event from at least one of the identified web sites. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the system implements an API to enable a user to search for or browse images based on a combination of any one or more parameters including without limitation participant bib number, participant name, elapsed time, course location, and distances. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said electronically importing digital media items includes:
 providing a spectator interface and a web site interface, for importing digital media items and data associated with the event; 
 the spectator interface arranged to receive digital media items associated with the event uploaded by a user other than the participant; and 
 the web site interface arranged to receive digital media items associated with the event imported from a remote web site. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the database comprises an event database, the event database storing registration data for each registered participant in the event, wherein the registration data for each participant includes personal identifying data and a bib number that is unique for the event.