Tracking of handheld sporting implements using computer vision
First Claim
1. A method for tracking a sporting implement during a sporting event, comprising:
- providing at least two cameras constructed and configured for network communication with at least one processor, wherein the at least two cameras are located at different positions in a sporting event facility;
the at least two cameras capturing at least two different sets of images of the sporting implement;
the at least one processor receiving the at least two different sets of images of the sporting implement from the at least two cameras;
the at least one processor identifying at least one motion region in the at least two different sets of images;
the at least one processor identifying a first location of at least one portion of the sporting implement within the at least one motion region;
the at least one processor identifying a second location of the at least one portion of the sporting implement based on the first location; and
the at least one processor identifying at least one combination of candidate locations of the at least one portion of the sporting implement, determining a corresponding line of position in 3D space for each candidate location in each combination of candidate locations, and determining a location from which distances to at least two of a multiplicity of lines of position are at a minimum as a probable location in 3D space of the at least one portion of the sporting implement;
wherein the first location comprises at least one candidate location, and wherein the second location comprises at least one probable location.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A path and/or orientation of object approaching an athlete is tracked using two or more cameras. At least two sets of images of the object are obtained using at least two different cameras having different positions. Motion regions within images are identified, and candidate locations in 2D space of the object are identified within the motion region(s). Based thereon, a probable location in 3D space of the identifiable portion is identified, for each of a plurality of instants during which the object was approaching. A piecewise 3D trajectory of at least the identifiable portion of the object is approximated from the probable locations in 3D space of the object for multiple instants during which the object was approaching the athlete. A graphical representation of the 3D trajectory of the object is incorporated into at least one of the sets of images.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for tracking a sporting implement during a sporting event, comprising:
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providing at least two cameras constructed and configured for network communication with at least one processor, wherein the at least two cameras are located at different positions in a sporting event facility; the at least two cameras capturing at least two different sets of images of the sporting implement; the at least one processor receiving the at least two different sets of images of the sporting implement from the at least two cameras; the at least one processor identifying at least one motion region in the at least two different sets of images; the at least one processor identifying a first location of at least one portion of the sporting implement within the at least one motion region; the at least one processor identifying a second location of the at least one portion of the sporting implement based on the first location; and the at least one processor identifying at least one combination of candidate locations of the at least one portion of the sporting implement, determining a corresponding line of position in 3D space for each candidate location in each combination of candidate locations, and determining a location from which distances to at least two of a multiplicity of lines of position are at a minimum as a probable location in 3D space of the at least one portion of the sporting implement; wherein the first location comprises at least one candidate location, and wherein the second location comprises at least one probable location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for tracking a sporting implement during a sporting event, comprising:
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at least two cameras constructed and configured for network communication with at least one processor; wherein the at least two cameras are located at different positions in a sporting event facility; wherein the at least two cameras are configured to capture at least two different sets of images of the sporting implement; wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the at least two different sets of images of the sporting implement from the at least two cameras, identify at least one motion region in the at least two different sets of images, identify a first location of at least one portion of the sporting implement within the at least one motion region, and identify a second location of the at least one portion of the sporting implement based on the first location; wherein the at least one processor is further configured to approximate a trajectory of the sporting implement based on a multiplicity of second locations of the at least one portion of the sporting implement identified for a multiplicity of instants; and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to superimpose a graphical representation of the trajectory of the sporting implement over at least one of the at least two different sets of images, and wherein the at least one processor comprises a user interface display configured to display the graphical representation of the trajectory of the sporting implement. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A system for tracking a sporting implement during a sporting event, comprising:
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at least two cameras constructed and configured for network communication with at least one processor; wherein the at least two cameras are located at different positions in a sporting event facility; wherein the at least two cameras are configured to capture at least two different sets of images of the sporting implement; wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the at least two different sets of images of the sporting implement from the at least two cameras, identify at least one motion region in the at least two different sets of images, identify at least one two-dimensional (2D) candidate location of at least one portion of the sporting implement within the at least one motion region, identify a three-dimensional (3D) probable location of the at least one portion of the sporting implement based on the at least one 2D candidate location, and approximate a 3D trajectory of the sporting implement based on a multiplicity of probable locations of the at least one portion of the sporting implement identified for a multiplicity of instants; and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to superimpose a graphical representation of the 3D trajectory of the sporting implement over at least one of the at least two different sets of images. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification