Scene launcher system and method for weather report presentations and the like
First Claim
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, includinggenerating 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, andassociating 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, includingobtaining 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, andcombining 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, includingdisplaying 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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
18 Claims
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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:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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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:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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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:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification