Apparatus for capturing an image

US7027623B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Upper Deck Company · US

Inventors

• Richard Peter McWilliam · Irvine, US
• G. Lynn Hagen · Flagstaff, US
• Robert G. Andrews · San Diego, US
• Matthew Hoerr · Poway, US
• Adam Christianson · San Diego, US
• Brenton Demko · San Diego, US
• William B. Abrahams · San Diego, US
• Richard Sutherland · Welford-on-Avon, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: May 21, 2003
• Grant date: Apr 11, 2006
• Expiry date: Jun 1, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G09F3/00
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for providing owners, potential buyers and other users of autographed items such as sports and other entertainment memorabilia visual evidence for verifying the authenticity of the autograph are described. A method of the present invention involves capturing an image of the signature as it is being placed on the item. The image so captured is then stored on a computer readable medium. In addition to the item itself, the owner of the item may be provided with a computer readable medium containing computer readable instructions for accessing the image and other information about the item, the signing process, the autographer, etc. The image may be captured by a camera mounted on a pen or other writing instrument.