Method of distributing sports entertainment

• US 8,638,368 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2013
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: U'R There Sport and Intellectual Property, LLC
• Original Assignee: U'R There Entertainment, Ltd.
• Inventors: Frederick, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALLEN C
• Application Number:
  US13/856,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20130286209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/148, 348/157
• US Class Current: 348/157
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

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.

Claims

1. A system for distributing, to at least one individual viewer, video images from a perspective of one or more participants in a sporting event, the system comprising:

a first video camera positioned on or adjacent to a first participant of the one or more participants in the sporting event and configured to generate first information regarding video images reflecting the perspective of the first participant of the one or more participants during the sporting event;

a first transmitter positioned on or adjacent to the first participant and configured to transmit the first information regarding the video images generated by the first video camera during the sporting event; and

receiving and retransmission equipment configured to receive the first information transmitted from the first transmitter and receive second information transmitted from a second transmitter positioned on or adjacent to a second participant during the sporting event, the receiving and retransmission equipment being further configured to direct the first information and the second information to first and second respective channels of a distribution system during the sporting event, the distribution system enabling remote viewing by the at least one individual viewer on an electronic device;

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 sporting event and thereby view the video images of the sporting event on the electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first channel provides the first information as well as standard viewing program information, such that the at least one individual viewer is able to simultaneously view, on a split-screen, the video images of the sporting event both from the perspective of the first of the one or more participants and as a standard viewing program of the sporting event.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first information includes audio information reflecting the perspective of the first of the one or more participants.

4. The system of claim 1, further including:

one or more additional video cameras positioned on or adjacent to one or more additional respective participants in the sporting event, each additional video camera adapted to generate additional information regarding video images reflecting the perspective of the respective additional participant during the sporting event; and

one or more additional respective transmitters, each positioned on or adjacent to a respective additional participant and configured to transmit the additional information regarding video images generated by a respective additional video camera during the sporting event;

wherein the receiving and retransmission equipment is configured to receive the additional information from each of the one or more additional transmitters and direct the additional information to one or more additional channels of the distribution system during the sporting event for remote viewing by the at least one individual viewer; and

wherein the at least one individual viewer is able to select from the first channel, the second channel, and the one or more additional channels of the distribution system during the sporting event.

5. A distribution system for distributing information about a sporting event to at least one individual viewer, the system comprising:

receiving equipment configured to;

receive first information from a first transmitter operatively coupled to a first video camera positioned on or adjacent to a first of two or more participants in a sporting event, the first information including first video information reflecting images from the perspective of the first participant in the sporting event;

receive second information from a second transmitter operatively coupled to a second video camera positioned on or adjacent to a second of the two or more participants in the sporting event, the second information including second video information reflecting images from the perspective of the second participant in the sporting 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 sporting event, for enabling the at least one individual viewer to select a channel of the distribution system to view at least part of the sporting event from the perspective of the first participant, and at least part of the sporting event from the perspective of the second participant.

6. The distribution system of claim 5, wherein:

the receiving equipment is configured to receive continuous feeds from each of the first transmitter and second transmitter, as well as from additional transmitters operatively coupled to additional video cameras positioned on or adjacent to additional participants in the sporting event; and

the feeds available for viewing are configured to change during the sporting event based on the level of interest in particular participants.

7. The distribution system of claim 6, wherein:

the feeds available for viewing are determined based on the actions of a plurality of viewers during the sporting event.

8. The distribution system of claim 5, wherein:

the first channel provides the first information as well as standard viewing program information, such that the at least one individual viewer is able to simultaneously view, on a split-screen, the video images of the sporting event both from the perspective of the first participant and as a standard viewing program of the sporting event.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the first information includes audio information reflecting the perspective of the first participant.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the receiving equipment is further configured to receive additional information from one or more additional transmitters operatively coupled to one or more respective video cameras positioned on or adjacent to one or more respective additional participants in the sporting event, the additional information including additional video information reflecting images from the perspective of a respective participant in the sporting event; and

the retransmission equipment is further configured to direct the received additional information to one or more additional respective channels of the distribution system during the sporting event.

11. A method for distributing, to at least one individual viewer, video images from a perspective of one or more participants in a sporting event, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving first information generated by a first video camera positioned on or adjacent to a first of the one or more participants during the sporting event, the first information including video images reflecting the perspective of the first participant of the one or more participants;

receiving second information generated by a second video camera positioned on or adjacent to a second participant of the one or more participants during the sporting event, the second information including video images reflecting the perspective of the second participant of the one or more participants;

directing 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 sporting event;

enabling at least one individual viewer to select from the first and second channels during the sporting event and thereby view the video images of the sporting event on an electronic device; and

providing the first information to an electronic device based on the at least one individual viewer'"'"'s selection of the first channel, such that the individual viewer views the sporting event from the perspective of the first participant of the one or more participants.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating, via a device positioned on or adjacent the first participant of the one or more participants, audio signals reflecting the perspective of the first participant of the one or more participants;

wherein the first information includes the audio signals.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the distribution system is a television distribution system configured to permit the at least one individual viewer to select from the first and second channels of the television distribution system during the sporting event, wherein each of the first and second channels includes video information reflecting the perspective of a respective one of the one or more participants for displaying on an electronic device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the distribution system is the Internet, whereby the at least one individual viewer is able to select from the first and second channels during the sporting event by operating keys or a mouse of a computer and thereby view the video images reflecting the perspective of the one or more respective participants on an electronic device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first information and second information reflects video images from the perspective of a respective first and second participant of the plurality of participants and the distribution system provides a split-screen option, whereby the at least one individual viewer is able to simultaneously view the video images of the sporting event from the perspective of a plurality of participants on a split screen.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the distribution system provides a split-screen option, whereby the at least one individual viewer is able to simultaneously view, on a split-screen, the video images of the sporting event both from the perspective of one of the one or more participants and as a standard viewing program of the sporting event.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising

adding advertising information to at least one of the first information and the second information regarding video images reflecting the perspective of the one or more participants, whereby the at least one individual viewer views the advertising information along with the video images of the sporting event.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising

including information about the sporting event or the one or more participants within the advertising information.

19. A distribution system for distributing information about a sporting event to at least one individual viewer, the system comprising:

receiving equipment configured to;

receive first information from a first transmitter operatively coupled to a first video camera positioned on or adjacent to a first of two or more competitors in the sporting event, the first information including first video information reflecting images from the perspective of the first competitor in the sporting event;

receive second information from a second transmitter operatively coupled to a second video camera positioned on or adjacent to a second of the two or more competitors in the sporting event, the second information including second video information reflecting images from the perspective of the second competitor in the sporting 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 sporting event, for enabling the at least one individual viewer to select a channel of the distribution system to view at least part of the sporting event from the perspective of the first competitor, and at least part of the sporting event from the perspective of the second competitor.

20. The distribution system of claim 19, wherein:

the receiving equipment is configured to receive continuous feeds from each of the first transmitter and second transmitter, as well as from additional transmitters operatively coupled to additional video cameras positioned on or adjacent to additional competitors in the sporting event; and

the feeds available for viewing are configured to change during the sporting event based on the level of interest in particular competitor.

21. A system for distributing, to at least one individual viewer, video images from a perspective of one or more participants in a racing event, the system comprising:

a first video camera attached to a first vehicle of a first of the one or more participants in the racing event and configured to generate first information regarding video images reflecting the perspective of the first of the one or more participants during the racing event;

a first transmitter disposed on the first vehicle and configured to transmit the first information regarding the video images generated by the first video camera during the racing event; and

receiving and retransmission equipment configured to receive the first information transmitted from the first transmitter and receive second information transmitted from a second transmitter on a second vehicle during the racing event, the receiving and retransmission equipment being further configured to direct the first information and the second information to first and second respective channels of a distribution system during the racing event, the distribution system enabling remote viewing by the at least one individual viewer on an electronic device;

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 electronic device.

22. A system for distributing, to at least one individual viewer, video images from a racing event, the system comprising:

a first video camera attached to a first vehicle in the racing event and configured to generate first information regarding video images reflecting the racing event;

a first transmitter disposed on the first vehicle and configured to transmit the first information regarding the video images generated by the first video camera during the racing event; and

receiving and retransmission equipment configured to receive the first information transmitted from the first transmitter and receive second information transmitted from a second transmitter on a second vehicle during the racing event, the receiving and retransmission equipment being further configured to direct the first information and the second information to first and second respective channels of a distribution system during the racing event, the distribution system enabling remote viewing by the at least one individual viewer on an electronic device;

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 electronic device.

23. A distribution system for distributing information about a racing event to at least one individual viewer, the system comprising:

receiving equipment configured to;

receive first information from a first transmitter operatively coupled to a first 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 operatively coupled to a second 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, for enabling the at least one individual viewer 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.

24. A distribution system for distributing information about a racing event to at east one individual viewer, the system comprising:

receiving equipment configured to;

receive first information from a first transmitter operatively coupled to a first 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 racing event;

receive second information from a second transmitter operatively coupled to a second 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 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, for enabling the at least one individual viewer to select a channel of the distribution system to view the first and second information.