Method and apparatus for effectively capturing and broadcasting a traditionally delivered classroom or a presentation

• US 8,831,505 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prasad Seshadri
• Original Assignee: Prasad Seshadri
• Inventors: Seshadri, Prasad
• Primary Examiner(s): Egloff, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/125,395
• Time in Patent Office: 2,301 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 715/230, 715/231, 348/211.8, 348/222.1, 348/14.11, 348/211.11, 434/322, 434/350, 434/353, 434/351, 434/365
• US Class Current: 434/351
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00

Abstract

A method and system for recording classroom Instruction/Presentation, comprising two or more video cameras, a first camera assigned to an Instructor/Presenter/presenter and a second camera assigned to the audience, wherein the cameras are pan, tilt, zoom(PTZ)-controllable over a network. The method and system includes a first microphone for the Instructor/Presenter, and a plurality of cell-phones or handheld wireless microphones configured to function as audience microphones. Additionally included is a production control computer connected to the cameras via a network, wherein the production control computer is operable by an operator who can control multiple cameras through a single production control user interface over a network, the production control computer is configured with user interface software and controls. Further, the system and method includes a content viewer user interface on which user content is delivered over the Internet.

Claims

1. A system for recording, broadcasting or webcasting a classroom lecture or presentation, event, court proceedings or black or whiteboard-based lecture, comprising:

a processing unit and a memory element, the memory element having instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions cause the processing unit to;

through a user interface, control via a network, two or more video cameras in a classroom or real-time event;

assign at least a first camera to capture at least one of a presenter and an instructional element selected from the group of;

black or whiteboard, an experiment, a dissection, a flipchart, a wall poster or projected computer screen; and

assign a second camera to capture an audience,

wherein the cameras are pan, tilt, zoom(PTZ)-controllable over the network, and wherein the first video camera is adapted to, through the user interface, follow the movement of the presenter or the instructional element, in real-time within the classroom or the event;

assign a first microphone to the presenter;

provide audio and video input selection and recording, control of classroom components, routing and encoding of audio and video streams, and temporary storage of content;

receive slides associated with a live presentation by a human from a presenter computer, combine the received slides with captured audio and video, and synchronize the combined content in a captured event session, wherein the receive, combine and synchronize steps are performed in real-time; and

broadcast the captured event session to an audience via a single or plurality of streaming servers,

wherein the captured event session comprises the captured audio and video and the received content pushed from the presenter computer, and is presented in a single webpage, wherein the captured event session is simultaneously recorded on a single or plurality of servers accessible for subsequent replay from a remote computer, and wherein the single or plurality of servers allow random access of portions of the content; and

cause a second plurality of audience controlled cell-phones or handheld wireless devices to function as audience-assigned microphones;

wherein the user interface is further configured to;

display video signals from the cameras and audio signals from the microphones;

display the slides associated with the live presentation by a human received from the presenter computers;

provide controls in the user interface to permit cuts between the video signals from the cameras, follow movement of the subjects and compose shots by exercising the Pan, Tilt and Zoom functions of the cameras;

provide a first status report window which displays events occurring in the presenter'"'"'s computer, as well as events during recording including change in camera selection and slides from the live presentation or other content being pushed from the presenter computer;

provide a second status report window which displays information on files being recorded or uploaded to the single or plurality of servers;

provide a microphone level indicator which displays the audio level of the signal being recorded;

provide a mixer controller to allow adjustment of the volume of the recording of the audio level; and

provide a plurality of camera angle views and controls for the cameras,

wherein the user interface displays the plurality of camera angles in a plurality of thumbnail views and in a magnified selected view when a thumbnail view is selected, wherein the selected magnified view is based on one of a contextual reference to the content being pushed from the presenter'"'"'s computer, and the presenter'"'"'s spoken words, and wherein the user interface provides for manual manipulation of cameras from the selected view and from the thumbnail view.