GPS Based Spectator and Participant Sport System and Method

• US 20080198230A1
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spatial Reality LLC
• Original Assignee: Herb's Holdings LLC, Huston Family Trust
• Inventors: Huston, Charles D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,445,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/157
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A spectator sport system and method that displays different views of a sporting event and, in particular, uses a position selected by the spectator to assist in displaying a view from the selected position. The spectator, using an internet 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 (e.g. Driver of car #3 or Tiger Wood'"'"'s position). The starting position can be specified, as well as the target position or orientation from the starting position. Vital information on the sporting event or a participant can be appended to the view. In some forms, augmented reality or any geographic referenced datasets can be used and combined, such as 3D imagery or 3D renderings, to enhance the experience.

Claims

1. A system for observing a sporting event by a user comprising:

an internet communication connection operable for communicating a plurality of sport participants positions at the sporting event;

an internet device coupled to the communication connection for receiving participant positions and a graphics display selectable by the user to display different views of the sporting event, wherein the user can select the position of the source of a view.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user view selectable on the display is to a target from the spectator'"'"'s selected source position.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user view selectable on the display is an orientation of the view from the user'"'"'s selected source position.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said internet device includes a processor for receiving said participant positions and for comparing said participant positions with said user'"'"'s selected source position, and is coupled to said graphics display to generate said user view from the user'"'"'s selected source position to one or more participant positions.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said user view from the user'"'"'s selected source position is adjustable by the user to zoom in or out.

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

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said user'"'"'s selected source position is the position of one of the participants.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said user'"'"'s different views on said graphics display include a composition of geographic referenced datasets, including at least imagery and virtual renderings.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein one of said user'"'"'s different views includes geographic referenced positions of one or more participants overlaid said composition.

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 remote from the venue 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 an input mechanism for selecting a source location, one of the selectable points of view being from the selected source 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 spectator can select the target or orientation from the selected source location.

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

determining a source position for viewing the event;

receiving the positions of one or more participants at said sporting event in approximately real time;

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

viewing the graphical depiction from said source position; and

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

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said graphical depiction comprises a background composition of imagery, and virtual renderings with said one or more participant positions superimposed in geo-referenced relation.

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, the participants positions are received over the internet.

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.