System and method for creating and displaying interactive computer charcters on stadium video screens

• US 20040085334A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mark Reaney
• Original Assignee: Mark Reaney
• Inventors: Reaney, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/283,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085334A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/706
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/105 Synthesis of the lips movements from speech, e.g. for talking heads
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2224 related to virtual studio applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2723 Insertion of virtual advertisement; Replacing advertisements physical present in the scene by virtual advertisement data processing systems or methods specially adapted for marketing G06Q30/02

Abstract

A system and method are provided for creating and displaying interactive computer characters on sports stadium and arena video screens. A virtual character or avatar is create by a computer and controlled by the computer'"'"'s joystick and keyboard. Further control is provided by a voice activated device attached to the computer'"'"'s joystick. This device allows the operator to control specific-functions, such as moving the avatar'"'"'s mouth, by speaking into the microphone. The video output of the computer is then displayed on the extremely large video screen of a sports stadium or arena. The display of the avatar can be enhanced by superimposing it over a live video picture of fans in the venue, captured by a video camera.

Claims

1. A system and method for creating and displaying interactive computer characters on sports stadium and arena video screens comprising

a computer apparatus having a visual display device, manual input devices and a computer program wherein said computer program, when implemented on said computer,

displays on said display device a computer graphic character which can be manipulated by the manual operation of said input devices,

a sports stadium or arena video screen of sufficient size to be viewed simultaneously by a majority of the stadium or arena'"'"'s spectators to which the video output of said computer apparatus is connected and whereby said computer graphic character is displayed.

2. The system and method of claim 1 in which said manual input devices are comprised of a joystick, the moving of which causes said computer character to bend and gesture accordingly and a keyboard wherein the pressing of certain keys causes said computer character to move according to predefined actions, whereby the physical behavior of said compute character can be controlled spontaneously by a computer operator.

3. The system and method of claim 2 including a video camera and a video mixer wherein the video mixer superimposes the image of said computer character over a live video picture of sports fans captured by said video camera whereby said fans can view themselves in composite with said computer character on said stadium or arena video screen.

4. The system and method of claim 3 including an input device comprising a microphone and a circuit consisting of a voice-activated switch and a relay and connecting said microphone to said joystick, wherein said computer operator can speak into said microphone with the effect of pushing one of the control buttons of said joystick, whereby said computer operator can control one or more functions of said computer character by speaking into said microphone.