Video camera tracking system based on geoposition data feedback

• US 9,008,354 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shanks, David Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Liew, Alex
• Application Number:
  US12/026,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20080187176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,624 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/781 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7864 T.V. type tracking systems

Abstract

The present invention discloses systems for tracking objects. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises a positioning mechanism, a camera, coupled to the positioning mechanism, a controller, coupled to the positioning mechanism, and a position sensor, coupled to the controller, wherein the position sensor sends data related to a geolocation of the position sensor to the controller, and the controller moves the positioning mechanism based on the data related to the geolocation of the position sensor.

Claims

1. A system for tracking an object moving along a pathway, comprising:

a positioning mechanism;

a camera, mechanically coupled to the positioning mechanism;

a position sensor, coupled to the object, for generating geolocation data describing a geolocation of the position sensor;

a transmitter, for wirelessly transmitting at least a portion of the generated geolocation data; and

a controller, communicatively coupled to the positioning mechanism and located at a geolocation other than the object, the controller for controlling the positioning mechanism based on the at least a portion of the generated geolocation data such that a field of view of the camera moves according to the geolocation of the position sensor;

wherein the controller controls the positioning mechanism to direct the field of view of the camera to a plurality of known points along the pathway according to the at least a portion of the generated geolocation data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the position sensor is a satellite positioning system (SATPS) receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a television delivery system coupled to an output of the camera.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the television delivery system comprises a satellite television delivery system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of cameras and a plurality of positioning mechanisms, each camera in the plurality of cameras mechanically coupled to a positioning mechanism in the plurality of positioning mechanisms in a respective fashion, and a plurality of position sensors, wherein each camera tracks a unique position sensor out of the plurality of position sensors.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller receives position mechanism data associated with the plurality of known points along the pathway and controls the positioning mechanism to direct the field of view of the camera to the known points along the pathway according to the received position mechanism data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller controls the positioning mechanism to direct the field of view of the camera to the plurality of known points along the pathway and to direct the field of view of the camera by interpolating between the plurality of known points according to the at least a portion of the generated geolocation data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the geolocation data comprises data describing an elevation of the position sensor and the transmitted geolocation data excludes the data describing the elevation of the position sensor.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the transmitter wirelessly transmits the at least a portion of the generated geolocation data via a data link; and

the data link transmits other data substituted for the excluded data describing the elevation of the position sensor.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the pathway follows a racetrack.

6. A method for tracking an object moving along a predetermined circumscribed pathway, comprising:

wirelessly receiving, in a controller geolocation data generated by a position sensor coupled to the object, the geolocation data describing the geolocation of the position sensor;

controlling a positioning mechanism located at a geolocation other than the object and communicatively coupled to the positioning mechanism to direct a field of view of a camera mechanically coupled to the positioning mechanism to move according to the geolocation of the position sensor and direct the field of view of the camera to a plurality of known points along the predetermined circumscribed pathway according to the at least a portion of the received geolocation data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the position sensor is a satellite positioning system (SATPS) receiver.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a television delivery system is coupled to an output of the camera.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the television delivery system comprises a satellite television delivery system.

15. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of receiving position mechanism data associated with the plurality of known points along the predetermined circumscribed pathway and the position mechanism is controlled to direct the field of view of the camera to the known points along the predetermined circumscribed pathway according to the received position mechanism data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the positioning mechanism is further controlled to direct the field of view of the camera by interpolating between the plurality of known points according to the at least a portion of the generated geolocation data.

17. The method of claim 6, wherein the geolocation data comprises data describing an elevation of the position sensor and the received geolocation data excludes the data describing the elevation of the position sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the at least a portion of the generated geolocation data is wirelessly received via a data link;

the data link transmits other data substituted for the excluded data describing the elevation of the position sensor.

19. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined circumscribed pathway follows a racetrack.