Instrumented sports paraphernalia system
First Claim
1. A system installed at a sporting venue for delivering audio and video of a sporting event, comprising:
- at least one of a fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and a dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object;
whereinsaid fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object, integrated into a playing area of the sporting venue, comprising;
integrated devices comprising at least one first video camera and at least one first microphone, anda bi-directional communication link configured to transmit first media content captured by said first video camera and said first microphone;
said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, different from the fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object, comprising;
a package assembly containing at least one second video camera and at least one second microphone, anda bi-directional communication link configured to transmit second media content captured by said second video camera and second microphone;
at least one antenna array relay junction configured for receiving at least one of said first media content and said second media content;
at least one base station configured to receive from at least one of said fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, via at least one of a wired communication link and wireless communication link through said antenna relay junction, at least one of said first media content and second media content,wherein said base station comprises;
processing circuitry configured to process at least one of said first media content and second media content to produce processed media content, wherein said base station is configured to transmit said processed media content to at least one of a live TV viewing audience and a steaming Internet audience, andwherein said base station is further configured to transmit command and control signals to at least one of the fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object to control functions associated with at least one of said first video camera and said second video camera;
wherein at least one of said first video camera and said second video camera comprises an image sensor chip comprised of a flat image sensor array of pixel elements disposed in a circular shape in the x-y image plane of said sensor chip centered around the optical z-axis of said first video camera and said second video camera for capturing at least one of said first media content and said second media content and enabling said base station to process upright images no matter what arbitrary direction is selected in the x-y plane for the image of an object in the playing area;
wherein the diameter of said circular shape is a predetermined value sufficient to cover the field of view of the playing area;
said image sensor'"'"'s circular shape eliminating the need for an electro-mechanical actuator to produce upright media content;
wherein when said fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object comprises at least four said first cameras, said base station is configured with software enabling selection of a first interpupillary distance by selecting a first camera pair comprising two of said four said first video cameras, wherein said first interpupillary distance, comprising the distance between the selected said first camera pair, is selected for increasing or decreasing the 3-D effects to the TV audience;
wherein when said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object comprises at least four said second cameras, said base station is configured with software enabling selection of a second interpupillary distance by selecting a second camera pair comprising two of said four said second video cameras, wherein said second interpupillary distance, comprising the distance between the selected said second camera pair, is selected for increasing or decreasing the 3-D effects to the TV audience;
wherein said package assembly further comprises a gyroscope transducer configured to obtain orientation information comprising pitch, roll, and yaw data related to the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, the package assembly further configured to encode and transmit said orientation information to said base station, wherein said base station utilizes said orientation information to stabilize said received second media content;
wherein said base station is configured for processing at least one of said first media content and said second media to produce stabilized upright images of the playing area;
wherein said base station is further configured to generate stabilized audio by processing audio signals received from said second microphone to remove effects of spin imparted on said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, said stabilized audio being fixed to a reference point that is the direction of forward motion of the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, and wherein said stabilized audio is combined with said processed media content and delivered to said live TV viewing audience and said streaming internet audience.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A real time system to both televise and stream sporting events from sports paraphernalia that are ordinarily used by the players on soccer playing fields, ice hockey rinks, tennis courts, baseball playing fields and football playing fields are disclosed. The sports paraphernalia are instrumented with a variety of TV cameras, microphones, and bi-directional communication electronics. Instrumented sports paraphernalia such as ice hockey goals, ice hockey pucks, soccer goals, tennis nets, tennis posts, baseball bases, baseball home plates, baseball pitcher'"'"'s rubbers and footballs are disclosed. Instrumentation is built into and contained internally within some of the instrumented sports paraphernalia. Instrumentation is mounted and attached onto some of the sports paraphernalia. The instrumented sports paraphernalia can both televise signals to a TV viewing audience, and simultaneously stream onto the internet.
27 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A system installed at a sporting venue for delivering audio and video of a sporting event, comprising:
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at least one of a fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and a dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object;
whereinsaid fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object, integrated into a playing area of the sporting venue, comprising; integrated devices comprising at least one first video camera and at least one first microphone, and a bi-directional communication link configured to transmit first media content captured by said first video camera and said first microphone; said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, different from the fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object, comprising; a package assembly containing at least one second video camera and at least one second microphone, and a bi-directional communication link configured to transmit second media content captured by said second video camera and second microphone; at least one antenna array relay junction configured for receiving at least one of said first media content and said second media content; at least one base station configured to receive from at least one of said fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, via at least one of a wired communication link and wireless communication link through said antenna relay junction, at least one of said first media content and second media content, wherein said base station comprises; processing circuitry configured to process at least one of said first media content and second media content to produce processed media content, wherein said base station is configured to transmit said processed media content to at least one of a live TV viewing audience and a steaming Internet audience, and wherein said base station is further configured to transmit command and control signals to at least one of the fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object to control functions associated with at least one of said first video camera and said second video camera; wherein at least one of said first video camera and said second video camera comprises an image sensor chip comprised of a flat image sensor array of pixel elements disposed in a circular shape in the x-y image plane of said sensor chip centered around the optical z-axis of said first video camera and said second video camera for capturing at least one of said first media content and said second media content and enabling said base station to process upright images no matter what arbitrary direction is selected in the x-y plane for the image of an object in the playing area;
wherein the diameter of said circular shape is a predetermined value sufficient to cover the field of view of the playing area;
said image sensor'"'"'s circular shape eliminating the need for an electro-mechanical actuator to produce upright media content;wherein when said fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object comprises at least four said first cameras, said base station is configured with software enabling selection of a first interpupillary distance by selecting a first camera pair comprising two of said four said first video cameras, wherein said first interpupillary distance, comprising the distance between the selected said first camera pair, is selected for increasing or decreasing the 3-D effects to the TV audience; wherein when said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object comprises at least four said second cameras, said base station is configured with software enabling selection of a second interpupillary distance by selecting a second camera pair comprising two of said four said second video cameras, wherein said second interpupillary distance, comprising the distance between the selected said second camera pair, is selected for increasing or decreasing the 3-D effects to the TV audience; wherein said package assembly further comprises a gyroscope transducer configured to obtain orientation information comprising pitch, roll, and yaw data related to the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, the package assembly further configured to encode and transmit said orientation information to said base station, wherein said base station utilizes said orientation information to stabilize said received second media content; wherein said base station is configured for processing at least one of said first media content and said second media to produce stabilized upright images of the playing area; wherein said base station is further configured to generate stabilized audio by processing audio signals received from said second microphone to remove effects of spin imparted on said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, said stabilized audio being fixed to a reference point that is the direction of forward motion of the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, and wherein said stabilized audio is combined with said processed media content and delivered to said live TV viewing audience and said streaming internet audience. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for delivering audio and video of a sporting event at a sporting venue comprising:
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capturing, by a fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object, first media content from a playing area of the sporting venue; capturing, by a dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, second media content from a playing area of the sporting venue wherein said fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object, integrated into said playing area of the sporting venue, comprises integrated devices comprising at least one first video camera and at least one first microphone, and a bi-directional communication link configured to transmit said first media content captured by said first video camera and said first microphone; wherein said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, different from the fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object, comprises a package assembly comprising at least one second video camera and at least one second microphone, and a bi-directional communication link configured to transmit said second media content captured by said second video camera and second microphone; receiving, by at least one antenna array relay junction at the sporting venue, at least one of a said first media content and a said second media content; transmitting to said antenna array relay junction at least one of said first media content and said second media content from at least one of a said fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and a said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object; receiving, by at least one base station at the sporting venue, at least one of said first media content and said second media content, from at least one of said fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, via said antenna array relay junction; receiving at said base station at least one of a said first media content and second media content via at least one of said antenna array relay junction; processing at the base station, using processing circuitry, at least one of a said first media content and second media content to produce processed media content; and transmitting said processed media content from the base station to at least one of a live TV viewing audience a steaming Internet audience, and transmitting, by said base station via said antenna array relay junction, command and control signals to at least one of the fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object to control functions associated with at least one of said first video camera and said second video camera; receiving at the base station feedback via said antenna array relay junction from at least one of the fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object with regard to the status of the control functions; obtaining, by a gyroscope transducer within said package assembly, orientation information comprising pitch, roll, and yaw data related to the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object; encoding, by said package assembly, said orientation information; and transmitting, by said package assembly, said encoded orientation information to said base station, wherein said base station utilizes said orientation information to stabilize said received second media content; receiving said orientation information at said base station via said antenna array relay junction; processing said orientation information at said base station to stabilize said received second media content; processing at least one of said first media content and said second media to produce stabilized upright images of the playing area; generating, by said base station, stabilized audio by processing audio signals received from said second microphone to remove effects of spin imparted on said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, said stabilized audio being fixed to a reference point that is the direction of forward motion of the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, and wherein said stabilized audio is combined with said processed media content and delivered to at least one of said live TV viewing audience and said streaming internet audience. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system installed at a sporting venue for delivering audio and video of a sporting event, comprising:
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at least one fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object, integrated into a playing area of the sporting venue, comprising; integrated devices comprising at least one first video camera and at least one first microphone, and a bi-directional communication link configured to transmit first media content captured by said first video camera and said first microphone; at least one dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, different from the fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object, comprising; a package assembly containing at least one second video camera and at least one second microphone, and a bi-directional communication link configured to transmit second media content captured by said second video camera and second microphone; at least one base station configured to receive from at least one of said fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, via at least one of a wired communication link and wireless communication link, at least one of said first media content and second media content, wherein said base station comprises processing circuitry configured to process at least one of said first media content and second media content to produce processed media content, wherein said base station is configured to transmit said processed media content to at least one of a live TV viewing audience and a steaming Internet audience, and wherein said base station is further configured to transmit command and control signals to at least one of the fixed instrumented sports paraphernalia object and the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object to control functions associated with at least one of said first video camera and said second video camera; wherein said package assembly further comprises a gyroscope transducer configured to obtain orientation information comprising pitch, roll, and yaw data related to the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, the package assembly further configured to encode and transmit said orientation information to said base station, wherein said base station utilizes said orientation information to stabilize said received second media content; wherein said base station is configured for processing at least one of said first media content and said second media to produce stabilized upright images of the playing area; wherein said base station is further configured to generate stabilized audio by processing audio signals received from said second microphone to remove effects of spin imparted on said dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, said stabilized audio being fixed to a reference point that is the direction of forward motion of the dynamic instrumented sports paraphernalia object, and wherein said stabilized audio is combined with said processed media content and delivered to said live TV viewing audience and said streaming internet audience; at least one antenna array relay junction configured for receiving at least one of a said first media content and a said second media content. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification