Scene launcher system and method for weather report presentations and the like

• US 7,800,582 B1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DTN, LLC (TBG AG)
• Original Assignee: Weather Central, Inc. (The Weather Co. LLC)
• Inventors: Marsh, Victor W., Moore, John S., Zimmerman, Benjamin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia; Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US11/110,356
• Time in Patent Office: 1,980 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345/9, 345175-183, 345/857, 345/862, 715/761, 715/823, 358/1.15, 348/746, 348/64, 382/291
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application

Abstract

A system and method for defining and presenting a presentation, e.g., a televised weather report presentation, including a plurality of computer or other generated scenes in which a live on-screen presenter appears as part of the presentation and controls scene sequence and timing in a non-linear manner. A plurality of launch areas are defined for scenes of the presentation. Each launch area has associated therewith a destination scene and, preferably, an indicator icon. During the presentation the location of a pointing element controlled by the on-screen presenter, e.g., the presenter'"'"'s hand, is tracked, and the indicator icon displayed when the pointing element is moved into a position in space corresponding to a defined launch area. With the pointing element thus positioned, the on-screen presenter operates a communication device to indicate that a new scene corresponding to the launch area is to be displayed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting weather information including a plurality of weather information video graphics that can be presented in an order determined by a presenter during the presentation, comprising:

(a) creating a weather information presentation including a plurality of weather information graphics, each graphic including at least one of static images, animations and video, wherein the weather information graphics can be displayed in an order determined by the presenter during the presentation through selection of a launch area, including

generating a first weather information graphic,

defining within the first weather information graphic a plurality of launch areas, each launch area being defined by launch area coordinates within the first weather information graphic, and

associating a launch area weather graphic with each of the plurality of defined launch areas;

(b) tracking a presenter during presentation of the weather information presentation to determine a location of the presenter'"'"'s hand, including

obtaining a video image of the presenter standing in front of a background of a uniform color,

tracking a location of the presenter'"'"'s hand against the background to determine background screen coordinates representing the location of the presenter'"'"'s hand, and

combining the video image of the presenter with the first weather information graphic such that the presenter appears in the first weather information graphic; and

(c) receiving a selection from the presenter during the presentation of the weather information presentation indicating a selection of one of the multiple launch area graphics to be displayed in place of the first weather information graphic, allowing the presenter to present the plurality of weather information graphics in any order, including

displaying a launch area graphic in place of the first weather information graphic when the presenter provides a scene change signal and the background screen coordinates of the tracked location of the presenter'"'"'s hand are within the launch area coordinates of the launch area associated with the launch area graphic.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the presentation is a weather report presentation and wherein the first weather information graphic is a geographic area scene upon which weather information is presented.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first weather information graphic is a computer generated scene.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein combining the video image of the presenter with the first weather information graphic includes replacing picture elements of the video image of the presenter having the background color with corresponding picture elements of the first weather information graphic.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking a location of the presenter'"'"'s hand includes analyzing the video image of the presenter to determine the location of the presenter'"'"'s hand therein.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising additionally associating an indicator with each defined launch area and displaying the indicator associated with a launch area to the presenter when the presenter positions their hand within a location corresponding to the launch area.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising defining within at least one of the launch area weather graphics a plurality of launch areas and associating launch area weather graphics with each launch area defined in the at least one launch area weather graphics.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenter provides the scene change signal using a hand held communication device.

9. A system for presenting weather information including a plurality of weather information video graphics that can be presented in an order determined by a presenter during the presentation, comprising:

(a) a video camera adapted to obtain a video image of a presenter standing in front of a background of a uniform color;

(b) a hand held communication device adapted to provide a scene change signal when operated by the presenter; and

(c) a computer system coupled to the video camera to receive the video image of the presenter therefrom and to the hand held communication device to receive the scene change signal therefrom and adapted to

receive a video image of the presenter combined with a first weather information graphic such that the presenter appears in the first weather information graphic, the first weather information graphic including at least one of static images, animations and video,

define a plurality of launch areas selectable by the presenter during the presentation of the first weather information graphic in any order, each launch area being defined by launch area coordinates within the first weather information graphic and being associated with a launch area graphic,

analyze the video image of the presenter to track a location of the presenter'"'"'s hand against the background to determine background screen coordinates representing the location of the presenter'"'"'s hand, and

display a launch area graphic in place of the first weather information graphic when the presenter provides a scene change signal and the background screen coordinates of the tracked location of the presenter'"'"'s hand are within the launch area coordinates of the launch area associated with the launch area graphic.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the presentation is a weather report presentation and wherein the first weather information graphic is a geographic area scene upon which weather information is presented.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the first weather information graphic is a computer generated scene.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the computer system is adapted to combine the video image of the presenter with the first weather information graphic by replacing picture elements of the video image of the presenter having the background color with corresponding picture elements of the first weather information graphic.

13. The system of claim 9 comprising additionally a monitor coupled to the computer system, wherein an indicator is associated with each launch area defined in the first weather information graphic, and wherein the computer system is adapted to display the indicator associated with a launch area to the presenter on the monitor when the presenter controls the location of the pointing element to a location corresponding to the launch area.

14. A method of presenting a weather report presentation including a plurality of weather information video graphics that can be presented in an order determined by a presenter during the presentation, comprising:

(a) obtaining a video image of the presenter standing in front of a background of a uniform color;

(b) combining the video image of the presenter with a first weather information graphic scene of a geographic area upon which weather information is presented such that the presenter appears in the first weather information graphic, the first weather information graphic including

at least one of static images, animations and video and and a plurality of launch areas selectable by the presenter during the presentation of the first weather information graphic in any order, each launch area being defined by launch area coordinates within the first weather information graphic and being associated with a launch area graphic;

(c) analyzing the video image of the presenter to track a location of the presenter'"'"'s hand against the background to determine background screen coordinates representing the location of the presenter'"'"'s hand; and

(d) displaying a launch area graphic in place of the first weather information graphic when the presenter provides a scene change signal and the background screen coordinates of the tracked location of the presenter'"'"'s hand are within the launch area coordinates of the launch area associated with the launch area graphic.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first weather information display is a computer generated scene.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein combining the video image of the presenter with the first weather information display includes replacing picture elements of the video image of the presenter having the background color with corresponding picture elements of the first weather information display.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein an indicator is associated with each defined launch area and comprising additionally displaying the indicator associated with a launch area to the presenter when the presenter positions their hand within a location corresponding to the launch area.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the presenter provides the scene change signal using a hand held communication device.