Audio/video entertainment system and method

• US 8,253,865 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Immersion Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Immersion Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Anderson, Tazwell L. Jr., Wood, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos
• Application Number:
  US12/969,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20110083158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 348/725, 348/552, 348/553, 348/723, 725/132, 725/78, 725/80, 725/83, 725/85, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 455555-557
• US Class Current: 348/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/89 using three or more audio channels, e.g. triphonic or quadraphonic
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/027 Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads

Abstract

The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for programming and/or charging one or more audio/video devices such that the audio/video devices will be programmed and charged to receive transmitted audio and video signals associated with an event, allowing a user to use the audio/video device to observe the sights and sounds of the event. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a cart with a docking port for each of a plurality of personal audio/video devices, a charger configured to charge the power source of each personal audio/video display device, and programming logic configured to program each of the personal audio/video devices.

Claims

1. A method for providing video content related to an entertainment event to a user, the method comprising:

providing at least one of software and firmware configured to be transferred to a plurality of handheld devices having memory, programmable portable receivers and portable displays, the receivers programmed to communicate with a communications network;

formatting a plurality of video signals related to the entertainment event into video content, said video signals being produced by different cameras located at the entertainment event;

transmitting said video content wirelessly from a wireless transmitter of the communications network over a broadcast area encompassing at least a portion of the event, to said portable receivers located within the broadcast area, wherein the at least one of software and firmware enables the handheld device to allow users to select, at the corresponding individual handheld device, from said video content, and to display, via the corresponding individual portable display, an image defined by said video content selected by the individual corresponding user;

formatting a plurality of audio signals associated with the event into audio content; and

transmitting said audio content wirelessly over the broadcast area to the handheld devices, the handheld devices having speakers, the audio content being formatted in a manner that allows users to select the audio content to play over the speakers of the corresponding portable receiver, wherein the audio content is transmitted separately from the video content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said formatting separates said video content, prior to transmission, into at least first and second video channels that are selected by and transmitted to different corresponding first and second handheld devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting includes broadcasting the video content over the broadcast area encompassing the event to permit users to carry said handheld devices about the broadcast area and choose where the users would like to view the video content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is a car race and the video content selected by the spectator carries video signals associated with a desired in-car view.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating a plurality of cameras at the event to obtain the different views of the event produced as the video signals.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said video content includes first and second video signals associated with the event and said audio content includes first and second audio signals associated with the event, the first audio and video signals being transmitted to a first handheld device, the second audio and video signals being transmitted to a second handheld device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is a car race and said audio content includes dialogue between drivers and the driver'"'"'s pit crews.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio content and video content are wirelessly transmitted at different points in time during the event.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging usage fees before authorizing the handheld devices to display the video content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of software and firmware transferred to the handheld devices further comprising network related programming information for programming the portable receivers to a frequency range associated with a second communications network.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the at least one of software and firmware transferred to the handheld devices in memory of the handheld devices, the at least one of software and firmware including network related programming information identifying at least one frequency range associated with the communications network that carries the video content.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the formatting includes, within the video content, at least first and second video signals multiplexed over different unique first and second channels.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising wirelessly receiving, at the handheld devices, the at least one of software and firmware, which is stored in memory and used by signal processing logic in the handheld devices to condition the video content to be compatible with the display.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld device includes signal processing logic, the at least one of software and firmware transferred to the handheld device further comprising programming information that enables the signal processing logic to condition video content received by the receivers to be compatible with the displays.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one of software and firmware transferred to the handheld device further comprising programming information for programming the receiver to communicate with different communications networks.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio content includes an audio signal being generated from at least one of a microphone located close to a sideline of the event, a microphone located in a helmet of a player, a microphone located to pick up sounds from participants in the event, and a commentator microphone.

17. A programmable portable wireless handheld device to receive video content related to an entertainment event, the portable wireless handheld device comprising:

memory to store programming information;

a programmable receiver configured to receive video content transmitted wirelessly from a communications network, the network having at least one wireless transmitter with a broadcast area encompassing at least a portion of the entertainment event, said video content including video signals being produced by at least one camera from a plurality of cameras at said event, wherein said receiver is programmed, based on the programming information stored in the memory, to communicate with the communications network that carries said video content;

signal processing logic to condition the video content to be compatible with the display based on the programming information stored in the memory;

a display configured to display images based on said video signals; and

a user interface for selecting said video content for viewing by a user on said display.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said event occurs at a stadium and said handheld device is configured to operate at or away from said stadium.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein said receiver permits the user to roam away from the event while said display intermittently displays images defined by said video signal.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the receiver is programmed to multiple channels that carry audio content transmitted wirelessly to said receiver, said audio content being associated with the event, the device further comprising a speaker to play selected audio content that is carried over a channel selected at the user interface.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the programming information includes network related programming information that programs the receiver to at least first and second channels separately conveying first and second video signals associated with first and second views, respectively, of the entertainment event.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein the receiver is configured to wirelessly receive at least one of upgrades, updates, alterations and modifications to the programming information, which is stored in the memory and used by the signal processing logic to condition the video content to be compatible with the display.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the video content comprises at least two video signals produced by different cameras located at the event, the video signals defining different views of the event.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein the programming information includes content related programming information that enables the signal processing logic to condition the video content to be compatible with the display.

25. The device of claim 17, wherein the programming, information includes network related programming information that programs the receiver to a network frequency range associated with the communications network.

26. The device of claim 17, wherein the signal processing logic selects between first and second video signals produced by different cameras and corresponding to first and second views of the event, respectively, based on individual user selections at the user interface.

27. The device of claim 17, wherein the receiver is reprogrammable to different frequency ranges to communicate with different communications networks.