Systems and Methods for Image Capture and Distribution in Venues

• US 20150062334A1
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fanpix LLC
• Original Assignee: Fanpix LLC
• Inventors: Dickinson, William, Manulis, Misha
• Application Number:
  US14/308,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20150062334A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Systems and methods for capturing and distributing images in venues in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. In one embodiment, a venue image capture system includes a set of camera systems installed in a venue and a set of fan experience devices, wherein a camera system includes a camera and a camera controller, wherein a camera system in the set of camera systems is configured to obtain a piece of trigger data, capture a set of images in response to the trigger data, and transmit the set of images, and wherein a fan experience device is configured to determine fan experience device location data, obtain processed image data, wherein the processed image data includes image data and metadata identifying the location captured in the processed image data, and display the obtained processed image data.

Claims

1. A venue image capture system, comprising:

a set of camera systems installed in a venue; and

a set of fan experience devices;

wherein a camera system in the set of camera systems comprises;

a camera comprising an imager configured to capture image data; and

a camera controller configured to;

obtain trigger data; and

configure the camera to capture an image;

wherein a camera system in the set of camera systems is configured to;

obtain a piece of trigger data;

capture a set of images in response to the trigger data, where the set of images captures a sub-section of the venue; and

transmit the set of images; and

wherein a fan experience device comprises;

a processor; and

a memory connected to the processor and configured to store a fan experience application; and

wherein the fan experience application configures the processor to;

determine fan experience device location data;

obtain processed image data, wherein;

the processed image data comprises image data and metadata identifying the location captured in the processed image data; and

the location captured in the obtained processed image data corresponds to the determined fan experience device location data; and

display the obtained processed image data.

2. The venue image capture system of claim 1, wherein a camera system in the set of camera system further comprises calibration data that configures the camera controller to move the camera between a set of pre-defined positions during the capture of a set of images.

3. The venue image capture system of claim 2, wherein a camera system in the set of camera systems further comprises:

a mounting plate configured to attach the camera system to the venue;

a pan pulley configured to adjust the pan of the camera; and

a tilt pulley configured to adjust the tilt of the camera;

wherein the camera controller is configured to adjust the position of the camera using the pan pulley and the tilt pulley.

4. The venue image capture system of claim 2, wherein the camera controller is configured to obtain a second piece of trigger data indicating that the camera system should stop capturing images.

5. The venue image capture system of claim 4, wherein the camera controller is configured to:

store the last position of the camera in response to obtaining the second piece of trigger data;

stop capturing images in response to obtaining the second piece of trigger data; and

when the camera controller receives a third piece of trigger data, start capturing images beginning from the stored last position in the set of pre-defined positions.

6. The venue image capture system of claim 2, wherein the camera controller is configured to start capturing a set of images beginning from a roaming position in the set of pre-defined positions.

7. The venue image capture system of claim 2, wherein:

the camera system further comprises movement sensors configured to measure the movement of the camera; and

wherein the camera controller is configured to capture an image in the set of images when the movement of the camera is below a threshold value.

8. The venue image capture system of claim 2, wherein the camera system further comprises a gyroscope configured to stabilize the camera system.

9. The venue image capture system of claim 1, further comprising a venue manager server system, wherein:

each camera system is configured to transmit camera system health data to the venue manager server system; and

the venue manager server system is configured to generate an administrative interface based on the camera system health data.

10. The venue image capture system of claim 9, wherein the venue manager server system is further configured to:

identify when a camera system in the set of camera systems has failed;

determine a subset of the camera systems in the set of camera systems that can provide coverage of the failed camera system; and

reconfigure the subset of camera systems in the set of camera systems to cover the sub-section of the venue covered by the failed camera system.

11. The venue image capture system of claim 10, wherein the venue manager server system reconfigures a camera system by transmitting updated camera calibration data to each camera system in the subset of camera systems.

12. The venue image capture system of claim 11, wherein the venue manager server system is configured to dynamically generate the updated camera calibration data based on the camera system health data.

13. The venue image capture system of claim 9, wherein the venue manager server system is configured to:

obtain event metadata describing one or more moments during the event; and

transmit the event metadata to a venue image server system.

14. The venue image capture system of claim 9, wherein:

the camera systems are configured to transmit the captured image data to the venue manager server system; and

the venue manager server system is configured to transmit the captured image data to a venue image server system.

15. The venue image capture system of claim 1, wherein a camera system in the set of camera systems is configured to transmit the captured image data to a venue image server system.

16. The venue image capture system of claim 1, further comprising a venue image server system wherein:

the venue image server system comprises a venue image server processor and a venue image server memory configured to store a venue image processing application; and

the venue image processing application configures the venue image server processor to;

obtain captured image data, where the captured image data corresponds to a sub-section of the venue;

obtain event metadata;

process the captured image data to generate processed image data, where the processed image data comprises metadata describing the location of the seat associated with the processed image data; and

associate a portion of the event metadata with the processed image data.

17. The venue image capture system of claim 16, wherein the venue image processing application further configures the venue image server processor to:

obtain advertisement targeting data, wherein the advertisement targeting data configures a fan experience device to display a piece of advertising data; and

associate advertisement targeting data with the processed image data.

18. The venue image capture of claim 16, wherein the venue image processing application further configures the venue image server processor to:

associate a set of advertising data with the processed image data based on the advertising targeting data; and

transmit the set of advertising data with the processed image data.

19. The venue image capture system of claim 1, wherein the fan experience application configures the processor to:

obtain advertising targeting data;

request advertising data; and

display the requested advertising data.

20. The venue image capture system of claim 19, wherein the advertising data is requested from a third-party advertising system.

21. The venue image capture system of claim 19, wherein the advertising data is requested from a venue image server system.

22. The venue image capture system of claim 19, wherein:

the fan experience application configures the processor to obtain user data describing the fan associated with the fan experience device; and

the advertising targeting data is based on the obtained user data.

23. The venue image capture system of claim 19, wherein:

the fan experience application configures the processor to;

measure engagement with the requested advertising data; and

generate engagement data describing the measured engagement; and

the engagement data is utilized to refine the advertising targeting data.

24. The venue image capture system of claim 23, wherein the generated engagement data further describes engagement with the fan engagement device.

25. The venue image capture system of claim 1, wherein the fan experience application configures the processor to:

obtain a token issued for a particular online social network that can be utilized to access a portion of the user'"'"'s online social networking profile via an application programming interface provided by the online social network;

receive a request to share a processed image via the online social network; and

generate a post on the online social network using the token and the processed image.

26. The venue image capture system of claim 1, wherein the camera systems in the set of camera systems are configured to communicate in a peer-to-peer network.

27. A method for displaying image data captured during an event at a venue;

comprising;

determining fan experience device location data using a fan experience device, where the fan experience device location data identifies a location within the venue associated with the fan;

obtaining processed image data using the fan experience device, wherein;

the processed image data is generated based on captured image data captured using a camera system installed in the venue and configured to capture the sub-section of the venue that includes the location described by the fan experience device location data, where;

the camera system comprises;

a camera comprising an imager configured to capture image data; and

a camera controller configured to;

obtain trigger data; and

configure the camera to capture an image; and

the camera system is configured to;

obtain a piece of trigger data;

capture a set of images in response to the trigger data, where the set of images captures a sub-section of the venue; and

transmit the set of images;

the processed image data comprises image data and metadata identifying the location captured in the processed image data; and

the location captured in the obtained processed image data corresponds to the determined fan experience device location data; and

displaying the obtained processed image data using the fan experience device.