System and method for enhancing display of a sporting event
First Claim
1. A system for enhancing display of a sporting event by tracking the path of a ball in a playing field of the sporting event while the ball is moving and generating successive overlaid video image frames that represent successive overlaid video images of the path of the ball in the playing field within an overhead large field of view over the playing field, the system comprising:
- a tracking video camera positioned over the playing field that generates successive tracking video image frames while the ball is moving that represent successive tracking video images of successive overhead small fields of view that contain the ball and are within the overhead large field of view;
a tracking processor that generates from the successive tracking video image frames successive determined position data sets that represent successive determined positions of the ball within the successive tracking video images;
a path prediction processor that generates from the successive determined position data sets successive predicted position data sets that represent successive predicted positions of the ball with respect to the tracking video camera so as to predict the path of the ball;
tracking camera orientation, zoom, and focus controllers that generate tracking orientation, zoom, and focus control signals from the successive predicted position data sets;
the tracking video camera adjusting its orientation, zoom, and focus in response to the tracking orientation, zoom, and focus control signals so as to be oriented toward, zoomed in on, and focused on the ball in the overhead small fields of view while the ball is moving so that the ball is tracked;
a background video camera that is positioned over the playing field and generates a background video image frame that represents a background video image of the playing field within the overhead large field of view; and
an overlay processor that (1) generates from the successive determined position data sets successive overlay video image frames that represent successive overlay video images of the path of the ball within the overhead large field of view but without the playing field in the background, and (2) combines the successive overlay video image frames with the background video image frame so as to generate the successive overlaid video image frames such that the successive overlaid video images comprise the successive overlay video images overlaid on the background video image.
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Abstract
A system and method for enhancing display of a sporting event. A background video image frame is recorded that represents a background video image of the playing field within the large field of view. The path of a ball in a playing field of the sporting event is tracked while the ball is moving. In response, successive overlay video image frames are generated that represent successive overlay video images of the path of the ball within the large field of view but without the playing field in the background. The successive overlay video image frames are combined with the background video image frame so as to generate successive overlaid video image frames. The overlaid video image frames represent successive overlaid video images of the path of the ball in the playing field within a large field of view and comprise the successive overlay video images overlaid on the background video image.
86 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for enhancing display of a sporting event by tracking the path of a ball in a playing field of the sporting event while the ball is moving and generating successive overlaid video image frames that represent successive overlaid video images of the path of the ball in the playing field within an overhead large field of view over the playing field, the system comprising:
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a tracking video camera positioned over the playing field that generates successive tracking video image frames while the ball is moving that represent successive tracking video images of successive overhead small fields of view that contain the ball and are within the overhead large field of view; a tracking processor that generates from the successive tracking video image frames successive determined position data sets that represent successive determined positions of the ball within the successive tracking video images; a path prediction processor that generates from the successive determined position data sets successive predicted position data sets that represent successive predicted positions of the ball with respect to the tracking video camera so as to predict the path of the ball; tracking camera orientation, zoom, and focus controllers that generate tracking orientation, zoom, and focus control signals from the successive predicted position data sets; the tracking video camera adjusting its orientation, zoom, and focus in response to the tracking orientation, zoom, and focus control signals so as to be oriented toward, zoomed in on, and focused on the ball in the overhead small fields of view while the ball is moving so that the ball is tracked; a background video camera that is positioned over the playing field and generates a background video image frame that represents a background video image of the playing field within the overhead large field of view; and an overlay processor that (1) generates from the successive determined position data sets successive overlay video image frames that represent successive overlay video images of the path of the ball within the overhead large field of view but without the playing field in the background, and (2) combines the successive overlay video image frames with the background video image frame so as to generate the successive overlaid video image frames such that the successive overlaid video images comprise the successive overlay video images overlaid on the background video image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for enhancing display of a sporting event by tracking the path of a ball in a playing field of the sporting event while the ball is moving and generating successive overlaid video image frames that represent successive overlaid video images of the path of the ball in the playing field within an overhead large field of view over the playing field, the method comprising:
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positioning a tracking video camera over the playing field; with the tracking video camera, generating successive tracking video image frames while the ball is moving that represent successive tracking video images of successive overhead small fields of view that contain the ball and are within the overhead large field of view; generating from the successive tracking video image frames successive determined position data sets that represent successive determined positions of the ball within the successive tracking video images; generating from the successive determined position data sets successive predicted position data sets that represent successive predicted positions of the ball with respect to the tracking video camera so as to predict the path of the ball; generating tracking orientation, zoom, and focus control signals from the successive predicted position data sets; adjusting the tracking video camera'"'"'s orientation, zoom, and focus in response to the tracking orientation, zoom, and focus control signals so that the tracking video camera is oriented toward, zoomed in on, and focused on the ball in the overhead small fields of view while the ball is moving so that the ball is tracked; positioning a background video camera over the playing field; with the background video camera, generating a background video image frame that represents a background video image of the playing field within the overhead large field of view; generating from the successive determined position data sets successive overlay video image frames that represent successive overlay video images of the path of the ball within the overhead large field of view but without the playing field in the background; and combining the successive overlay video image frames with the background video image frame so as to generate the successive overlaid video image frames such that the successive overlaid video images comprise the successive overlay video images overlaid on the background video image. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification