Method of distributing sports entertainment
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for distributing video images from a perspective of one or more participants in a racing event to at least one individual viewer, the method comprising the steps of:
- operating a first video camera attached to a first vehicle of a first of the one or more participants during the racing event to generate first information regarding video images reflecting the perspective of the first of the one or more participants, wherein the first video camera is directionally repositionable by at least one of the one or more participants or others during the racing event;
operating a second video camera attached to a second vehicle of a second of the one or more participants during the racing event to generate second information regarding video images reflecting the perspective of the second of the one or more participants, wherein the second video camera is directionally repositionable by at least one of the one or more participants or others during the racing event;
providing receiving and retransmission equipment adapted to receive the first information and the second information during the racing event, wherein the receiving and retransmission equipment is further adapted to direct the first information to a first channel of a distribution system and the second information to a second channel of the distribution system during the racing event, wherein the distribution system is a television distribution system, the Internet, or other network to which the at least one individual viewer has access;
receiving the first information and the second information at the receiving retransmission equipment during the racing event;
directing the first information to the first channel of the distribution system and the second information to the second channel of the distribution system during the racing event,whereby the at least one individual viewer is able to select from the first and second channels during the racing event and thereby view the video images of the racing event on a television screen or computer monitor screen; and
providing the first information to a display based on the at least one individual viewer'"'"'s selection of the first channel, such that the individual viewer views the racing event from the perspective of the first of the one or more participants.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for distributing sports entertainment includes the step of providing a plurality of video cameras positioned on vehicles or athletes that are participating in sporting events, transmitters for transmitting information from the plurality of cameras to a processing station, retransmission equipment for directing the camera feed from each of the plurality of cameras to separate channels for distribution and remote viewing at viewers'"'"' locations, and channel selectors that permit viewers to select from among the various channels, thereby allowing the viewers to select from the plurality of camera feeds. The cameras are simultaneously operated during the sporting event so as to generate a plurality of camera feeds during the event, each feed reflecting the perspective of an individual participant. The plurality of feeds is received by the retransmission equipment and retransmitted to selectable channels, each channel being associated with a respective camera feed. A viewer is thus allowed to select from the plurality of channels to thus enable his or her viewing of the sports event through the perspective of the participant of greatest interest to the viewer.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for distributing video images from a perspective of one or more participants in a racing event to at least one individual viewer, the method comprising the steps of:
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operating a first video camera attached to a first vehicle of a first of the one or more participants during the racing event to generate first information regarding video images reflecting the perspective of the first of the one or more participants, wherein the first video camera is directionally repositionable by at least one of the one or more participants or others during the racing event; operating a second video camera attached to a second vehicle of a second of the one or more participants during the racing event to generate second information regarding video images reflecting the perspective of the second of the one or more participants, wherein the second video camera is directionally repositionable by at least one of the one or more participants or others during the racing event; providing receiving and retransmission equipment adapted to receive the first information and the second information during the racing event, wherein the receiving and retransmission equipment is further adapted to direct the first information to a first channel of a distribution system and the second information to a second channel of the distribution system during the racing event, wherein the distribution system is a television distribution system, the Internet, or other network to which the at least one individual viewer has access; receiving the first information and the second information at the receiving retransmission equipment during the racing event; directing the first information to the first channel of the distribution system and the second information to the second channel of the distribution system during the racing event, whereby the at least one individual viewer is able to select from the first and second channels during the racing event and thereby view the video images of the racing event on a television screen or computer monitor screen; and providing the first information to a display based on the at least one individual viewer'"'"'s selection of the first channel, such that the individual viewer views the racing event from the perspective of the first of the one or more participants. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for distributing video images from a perspective of one or more participants in a racing event to at least one individual viewer, the system comprising:
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a first video camera attached to a first vehicle of a first of the one or more participants in the racing event and adapted to generate first information regarding video images reflecting the perspective of the first of the one or more participants during the racing event, the first video camera being directionally repositionable by at least one of the one or more participants or others during the racing event; a first transmitter disposed on the first vehicle and adapted to transmit the first information regarding the video images generated by the first video camera during the racing event; and receiving and retransmission equipment adapted to receive the first information transmitted from the first transmitter and second information transmitted from a second transmitter on a second vehicle during the racing event, the receiving and retransmission equipment being further adapted to direct the first information and the second information to first and second respective channels of a distribution system during the racing event for remote viewing by the at least one individual viewer on a television screen or computer monitor screen, wherein the distribution system is a television system, Internet, or other network to which the at least one individual viewer has access, wherein the at least one individual viewer is able to select from among the first channel and the second channel of the distribution system during the racing event and thereby view the video images of the racing event on the television screen or computer monitor screen. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A distribution system for distributing information about a racing event to at least one individual viewer, comprising:
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receiving equipment configured to; receive first information from a first transmitter associated with a first directionally repositionable video camera mounted on a first of two or more vehicles in the racing event, the first information including first video information reflecting images from the perspective of a first participant in the racing event; receive second information from a second transmitter associated with a second directionally repositionable video camera mounted on a second of the two or more vehicles in the racing event, the second information including second video information reflecting images from the perspective of a second participant in the racing event; and retransmission equipment configured to; direct the received first information and the received second information to a respective first channel and second channel of the distribution system during the racing event, so that the at least one individual viewer is able to select a channel of the distribution system to view at least part of the racing event from the perspective of the first participant, and at least part of the racing event from the perspective of the second participant. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification