Providing multiple synchronized camera views for broadcast from a live venue activity to remote viewers

• US 7,796,162 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2003
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Front Row Technologies LLC (Ortiz & Lopez PLLC)
• Original Assignee: Front Row Technologies LLC (Ortiz & Lopez PLLC)
• Inventors: Ortiz, Luis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US10/620,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,619 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.8, 3482111-2113, 3482119-21111, 348/207.1, 348/157, 348/169, 348/208.14, 348/333.01, 348/376
• US Class Current: 348/211.8
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting and displaying venue-based synchronized camera views for live venue activities to remote views. A synchronized camera can include a main camera and at least one slave camera, wherein slave camera movement depends on movement by the main camera. Views captured by a slave camera can be of the same general target as those captured by the main camera. Remote viewers can be venue-based hand held devices or distant monitors. Remote viewers can include hand held devices and digital entertainment monitors (e.g., HDTV). Within a venue, the camera views can be processed and formatted for display on display screens associated with venue-based hand held device. A user can select from more than one view from the synchronized camera that the user wants displayed on the remote viewer, thereby enabling a user of the hand held device to view more than one camera view, at a time or simultaneously, through the remote viewer.

Claims

1. A method for capturing, transmitting and processing arena camera views in an entertainment arena as video entertainment offered to customers located within the entertainment venue and remote customers located away from the entertainment venue, said camera views provided over a data network for display on a display screen associated with at least one remote viewer used by a customer, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a performance platform as a focal point for live entertainment occurring before a live audience within said entertainment venue;

simultaneously capturing at least two arena camera views of a live entertainment activity in an arena using a primary camera located above and near the center of said performance platform and capturing images of live entertainment occurring on said performance platform from above said performance platform and at least one slave camera located proximate to the performance platform and capturing side views of images on said platform, wherein movement of the at least one slave camera is synchronized to movement of the primary camera enabling the primary camera and the at least one slave camera to remain focused on a similar target of interest in the arena and moving about said performance platform while simultaneously capturing the at least two arena camera views;

transmitting said at least two arena camera views provided from the primary camera and the at least one slave camera to a server connected to said data network;

processing said at least two arena camera views at said server for display on a display screen associated with at least one remote viewer; and

enabling display of at least one arena camera view on a display screen associated with at least one remote viewer in response to user selection of said at least one arena camera view from said at least two arena camera views at the at least one remote viewer, thereby enabling a user of the at least one remote viewer to view the at least one arena camera view through said display screen associated with the remote viewer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of configuring said primary camera and said at least one slave camera using a computer to enable movement of said at least one slave camera that is dependent on movement of said primary camera.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one remote viewer comprises a hand held device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one remote viewer comprises a digital entertainment device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of recording said at least one arena camera view in a memory associated with the at least one remote viewer in response to user input at the at least one remote viewer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said memory location comprises storage media.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said at least one arena camera view comprises an instant replay.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting said at least one arena camera view from said server to the at least one remote viewer for display on said display screen associated with the at least one remote viewer, wherein transmission of the at least one arena camera view from said is through a wireless communications network associated with said data network.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting said at least one arena camera view from said server to the at least one remote viewer for display on said display screen associated with the at least one remote viewer, wherein transmission of the at least one arena camera view from said server is through a data communications network associated with said server.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said wireless communications network further comprises a satellite communications network.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said data communications network comprises a digital cable television network.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said performance platform comprises at least one of:

a boxing arena, a wrestling arena, a football arena, a basketball arena, a concert venue.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein said performance platform within said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a concert stage.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a football field, a basketball court, a concert stage.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a football field, a basketball court, a concert stage.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a football field, a basketball court, a concert stage.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said arena comprises a sports venue.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of associating one primary camera with more than one synchronized camera.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of configuring said at least one primary camera to comprise at least on RF tag detector that is adapted to detect the location and direction of at least one RF tag associated with a target performing within said arena and wherein movement of said at least one slave camera is synchronized to movement of the primary camera based upon movement of said RF tag and the target.

20. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

locating a laser source at said at least one primary camera;

transmitting a laser beam from said laser source towards a moving target within said arena;

associating a laser light detector with said at least one slave camera, wherein said laser light detector identifies termination of a laser beam emanating from said laser source where the laser beam impinges on the moving target; and

automatically tracking the moving target within said arena based on the identification of the termination of the laser beam on the moving target via said laser light detector.

21. A system for processing and transmitting over a communications network more than one video perspective provided by synchronized cameras simultaneously capturing multiple views of an entertainment activity being performed on a performance platform located in an five entertainment arena for display at remote viewers held by customers located within the entertainment venue and remote customers located away from the entertainment venue, said camera views provided over a data network, said system comprising:

a performance platform provided as a focal point for live entertainment occurring before a live audience within said entertainment venue;

synchronized cameras including a primary camera located above and near the center of said performance platform and capturing images of live entertainment occurring on said performance platform from above said performance platform and at least one slave camera located proximate to the performance platform for capturing side views of entertainment occurring on said platform, wherein the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity can be transmitted from said synchronized cameras to a server connected to a data communications network, said server for processing the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity for display on a display screen associated with at least one remote viewer; and

a data communications network for transmitting the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity to at least one remote viewer for selective display of the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity on a display screen associated with said at least one remote viewer.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein movement of said at least one slave camera is dependent on a movement by said primary camera.

23. The system of claim 21 further comprising at least one remote viewer, wherein said at least one remote viewer comprises a hand held device.

24. The system of claim 21 further comprising at least one remote viewer, wherein said at least one remote viewer comprises a digital entertainment device.

25. The system of claim 21 further comprising a controller for transmitting the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity from said server to said at least one remote viewer in response to a request from an authorized user at said at least one remote viewer.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said request is provided to said server following user input at said at least one remote viewer.

27. The system of claim 21 further comprising said at least one remote viewer further comprising a recorder for recording the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity for replay at said at least one remote viewer.

28. The system of claim 21 said server further comprising a memory for storing the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity captured by the synchronized cameras in the arena, wherein the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity is accessible as recorded video data from the memory for selective display at said at least one remote viewer.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said recorded video data comprises an instant replay.

30. The system of claim 21 further comprising a communications module for transmitting the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity to remote viewers provided in the form of hand held devices located at the arena for display of the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity on said display screen associated with said at least one remote viewer.

31. The system of claim 30 further comprising a wireless transmission module for communicating the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity from said server through a cellular communications system and network to the remote viewers for selective display of the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity on a display screen associated with said remote viewers.

32. The system of claim 21 further comprising a communications network associated with said server, wherein the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity is communicated from said server through said communications network for display on a display screen associated with said remote viewers.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said communications network comprises a satellite communications network.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein said communications network comprises a digital cable television network.

35. The system of claim 21 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a football field, a basketball court, a concert stage.

36. The system of claim 25 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a football field, a basketball court, a concert stage.

37. The system of claim 27 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a football field, a basketball court, a concert stage.

38. The system of claim 28 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a football field, a basketball court, a concert stage.

39. The system of claim 30 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a football field, a basketball court, a concert stage.

40. The system of claim 31 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a football field, a basketball court, a concert stage.

41. The system of claim 32 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a football field, a basketball court, a concert stage.

42. The system of claim 22 further comprising at least one in-play camera.

43. The system of claim 21 further comprising at least one in-play camera associated with a participant moving within said arena.

44. The system of claim 21 wherein said at least one primary camera comprises at least on RF tag detector adapted to detect at least one RF tag associated with a participant moving within said arena.

45. The system of claim 21 wherein said at least one slave camera comprises at least on RF tag detector adapted to detect at least one RF tag associated with a participant moving within said arena.

46. The system of claim 44 further comprising a tracking module for tracking said participant utilizing said at least one RF tag associated with said participant moving within said arena.

47. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

a laser source located at said primary camera, wherein an optical light beam is transmittable from said laser source towards a performer within said arena;

a laser light detector associated with said at least one slave camera, wherein said laser light detector identifies termination of a laser beam emanating from said laser source where the laser beam impinges on the performer; and

a tracking module for automatically tracking the moving target within said arena based on the identification of the termination of the laser beam on the performer via said laser light detector.

48. A system for transmitting more than one video perspective provided by synchronized cameras simultaneously capturing multiple views of an entertainment activity at an arena for display on a display screen associated with at least one hand held device located in the arena, said system comprising:

a performance platform including at least one of a boxing ring, a wrestling ring, a football field, a basketball court, and a concert stage, said performance platform provided as a focal point for live entertainment occurring before a live audience within said entertainment venue;

synchronized cameras including a primary camera located above and near the center of said performance platform and capturing images of live entertainment occurring on said performance platform from above said performance platform and at least one slave camera located proximate to the performance platform for capturing side views of entertainment occurring on said platform, wherein the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity can be transmitted from said synchronized cameras to a server connected to a data communications network, said server for processing the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity for display on a display screen associated with at least one hand held device physically located in the arena; and

a data communications network associated with said server, wherein the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity can be communicated from said server through said data communications network to said at least one and held device;

wherein the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity is displayed on said at least one display screen in response to a user selection at the at least one hand held device, thereby enabling a user of said at least one hand held device to view at least one of the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity through said at least one hand held device.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said communications network comprises a wireless communications network.

50. The system of claim 48 wherein said communications network comprises a satellite communications network.

51. The system of claim 48 wherein said communications network comprises a digital cable television network.

52. The system of claim 48 said at least one hand held device further comprising a recorder for recording the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity for replay at the hand held device.

53. The system of claim 48 said server further comprising a memory for storing the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity captured by the synchronized cameras in the arena, wherein the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity is accessible as recorded video data from the memory for selective display at said at least one hand held device.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein said recorded video data comprises an instant replay.

55. The system of claim 48 further comprising a wireless transmission module for communicating the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity from said server through a cellular communications system and network to the remote viewers for selective display of the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity on said hand held devices.

56. The system of claim 48 further comprising a WiFi communications network associated with said server, wherein the more than one video perspective of entertainment activity is communicated from said server through said WiFi communications network for display on said hand held devices.

57. The system of claim 48 further comprising at least one in-play camera.

58. The system of claim 48 further comprising at least one in-play camera associated with a participant moving within said arena.

59. The system of claim 48 wherein said at least one primary camera comprises at least on RF tag detector adapted to detect at least one RF tag associated with a participant moving within said arena.

60. The system of claim 48 wherein said at least one slave camera comprises at least on RF tag detector adapted to detect at least one RF tag associated with a participant moving within said arena.

61. The system of claim 55 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing arena, a wrestling arena, a football arena, a basketball arena, a racing venue, a concert venue.

62. The system of claim 56 wherein said arena comprises at least one of:

a boxing arena, a wrestling arena, a football arena, a basketball arena, a racing venue, a concert venue.