GPS Based Spectator and Participant Sport System and Method

• US 20070015586A1
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spatial Reality LLC
• Original Assignee: Charles D. Huston
• Inventors: Huston, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,855,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted

Abstract

A spectator sport system and method that displays different views of a sporting event and, in particular, uses the spectator'"'"'s GPS position to assist in displaying a view from the spectator'"'"'s position. The spectator, using a personal device, can zoom, pan, tilt and change the view, as well as change the view to another position, such as a finish line, goal, or a participant position. Vital information on the sporting event or a participant can be appended to the view. In some forms, augmented reality can be used, such as a finish line or goal, to enhance the experience. Additional service requests can be made from the personal device.

Claims

1. A system for observing a sporting event comprising:

a plurality of sport participants, each having a GPS receiver for determining a participant position and a radio for transmitting said position;

a base station for receiving said participant positions and having a radio for transmitting said participant positions; and

a plurality of handheld devices accompanying respective spectators, each handheld device including a radio for receiving participant positions and a graphics display selectable by the spectator to display different views of the sporting event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the spectator views selectable on the display is the view from the spectator'"'"'s position.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a number of said handheld devices includes a GPS receiver for determining the spectator'"'"'s position.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said number of handheld devices includes a processor for receiving said participant positions and for comparing said participant positions with said spectator'"'"'s position, and is coupled to said graphics display to generate said spectator view from the spectator'"'"'s position of one or more participant positions.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said spectator view from the spectator'"'"'s position is adjustable by the user to zoom in or out.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said spectator'"'"'s different views is an overhead view of the sporting venue.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said spectator'"'"'s different views is an enlarged zoom view.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said spectator'"'"'s different views is a horizontally shifted pan view.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said spectator'"'"'s different views is a vertically shifted tilt view.

10. A method for observing a sporting event comprising:

determining a position of one or more participants at the venue of the sporting event;

transmitting the determined position of each participant;

equipping one or more spectators with a device having a graphics display;

communicating the participant positions to the spectator'"'"'s devices; and

viewing on the graphics display of the device a depiction of the participant positions at said venue, whereby the spectator can selectively change the points of view.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said device includes a GPS receiver for determining a spectator'"'"'s location, one of the selectable points of view being from the spectator'"'"'s position.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein one of said points of view being an overhead view of said venue.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said participant position determining step comprises equipping a plurality of participants with a GPS receiver to determine participant position.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said participant positions are transmitted to a server, wherein said spectator'"'"'s device authenticates with said server, and wherein said server communicates said participant positions to authenticated devices.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said authenticated devices are remote from said venue, and said participant positions are communicated over a wide area network.

16. A method of viewing a sporting event by a spectator comprising:

determining the position of a spectator using a GPS receiver;

wirelessly receiving the positions of a number of participants at said sporting event;

rendering a graphical depiction of said participant positions at said sporting event;

viewing the graphical depiction from said spectator position; and

selectively changing the view point of said graphical depiction from said spectator position to another position.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein changing the view point of said graphical depiction comprises enlarging the depiction to a zoom view.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein changing the view point of said graphical depiction comprises rotating the depiction in a vertical axis to a tilt view.

19. The method of claim 16, including transmitting service requests from the spectator.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein changing the view point of said graphical depiction comprises changing the view point to the location of a participant.