Modification of turf TV participant decorations based on multiple real-time factors

• US 9,327,178 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Grigsby, Travis M., Miller, Steven M., Seacat, Lisa A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Allen C
• Application Number:
  US13/490,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20120242699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 348/157, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/815.4, 345/419, 463/30
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 : American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6692 : using special effects, generally involving post-processing, e.g. blooming
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 : Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 : Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 : PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

A method, system and compute program product for modifying sporting event participant decorations displayed on a fiber optic “Turf TV” playing surface. A utility calculates a direction of movement of a player or object in proximity to the playing surface, which is configured to display images, during a live sporting event. The utility adds a graphical aura to a real-time graphical image displayed in proximity to the player on the playing surface. The utility animates the aura in response to wind and/or noise in proximity to the playing surface. The utility modifies the aura based on pre-defined custom attributes, penalties, errors, and/or player status. If the player moves, the utility adds a graphical player trail to the image. The utility also adds a graphical object trail that includes previous locations of an object. The object trail may also include spin and a visual appearance corresponding to an object height.

Claims

1. A method for modifying sporting event participant decorations, the method comprising:

identifying, by a processor, a player in proximity to a playing surface during a sporting event, wherein said playing surface includes a plurality of optical fibers configured to display one or more images;

adding, by said processor, a graphical aura in proximity to said player to a real-time graphical image displayed on said playing surface during said sporting event;

calculating a direction of movement of said player;

adding a graphical player trail to said real-time graphical image displayed on said playing surface during said sporting event in response to said player moving with respect to said playing surface, wherein said graphical player trail comprises a graphical indication of at least one previous location of said player and a current location of said player; and

modifying said aura to include one or more pre-defined custom attributes in response to a determination that said player corresponds to said one or more pre-defined custom attributes.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said identifying of said player further comprises at least one of:

detecting a signal from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in proximity to said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said RFID tag is attached to equipment used by said player;

detecting a location of a global positioning system (GPS) transmitter in proximity to said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said GPS transmitter is attached to equipment used by said player;

detecting a signal from a radio frequency (RF) device in proximity to said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said RF device is attached to equipment used by said player, and wherein said RF device comprises a Bluetooth transmitter; and

detecting a shape of said player in a live video image of said sporting event.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said adding of said graphical aura further comprises at least one of:

changing a visual appearance of said aura in response to said player committing a penalty;

changing said visual appearance of said aura in response to one or more opposing players no longer being eligible to interact with said player; and

changing said visual appearance of said aura in response to one or more real-time statistical performance levels of said player exceeding one or more pre-defined performance levels.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said adding of said graphical aura further comprises animating said graphical aura in response to a speed of wind detected in proximity to said playing surface.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said adding of said graphical aura further comprises animating said aura in response to a level of noise detected in proximity to said playing surface.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

identifying an object included in said sporting event; and

adding a graphical object trail to said real-time graphical image displayed on said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said graphical object trail comprises a graphical indication of at least one previous location of said object and a current location of said object.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said adding of said graphical object trail further comprises at least one of:

modifying said graphical object trail to depict a spin of the object in response to a movement of said object including said spin; and

changing a visual appearance of said graphical object trail to correspond to a height of said object with respect to said playing surface in response to a movement of said object in a vertical direction relative to said playing surface.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a system memory coupled to said processor;

a playing surface having a plurality of optical fibers configured to display one or more images;

one or more detecting devices in proximity to the playing surface, and used for detecting wireless signals and environmental conditions; and

an application program within said system memory that provides the functions of;

identifying a player in proximity to said playing surface during a sporting event;

adding a graphical aura in proximity to said player to a real-time graphical image displayed on said playing surface during said sporting event;

calculating a direction of movement of said player;

adding a graphical player trail to said real-time graphical image displayed on said playing surface during said sporting event in response to said player moving with respect to said playing surface, wherein said graphical player trail comprises a graphical indication of at least one previous location of said player and a current location of said player; and

modifying said aura to include one or more pre-defined custom attributes in response to a determination that said player corresponds to said one or more pre-defined custom attributes.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said one or more detecting devices comprise a camera, a noise monitor, a Bluetooth receiver, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver, and wherein identifying said player further comprises means for at least one of:

detecting a signal from a RFID tag in proximity to said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said RFID tag is attached to equipment used by said player;

detecting a location of a GPS transmitter in proximity to said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said GPS transmitter is attached to equipment used by said player;

detecting a signal from a radio frequency (RF) device in proximity to said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said RF device is attached to equipment used by said player, and wherein said RF device comprises a Bluetooth transmitter; and

detecting a shape of said player in a live video image of said sporting event.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said adding of said graphical aura further comprises means for at least one of:

changing a visual appearance of said aura in response to said player committing a penalty;

changing said visual appearance of said aura in response to one or more opposing players no longer being eligible to interact with said player; and

changing said visual appearance of said aura in response to one or more real-time statistical performance levels of said player exceeding one or more pre-defined performance levels.

11. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said adding of said graphical aura further comprises means for animating said graphical aura in response to a speed of wind detected in proximity to said playing surface.

12. The system as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

a decibel meter that provides means for animating said aura in response to a level of noise detected in proximity to said playing surface.

13. The system as recited in claim 8 further comprising means for:

identifying an object included in said sporting event; and

adding a graphical object trail to said real-time graphical image displayed on said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said graphical object trail comprises a graphical indication of at least one previous location of said object and a current location of said object.

14. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer storage medium; and

program code on said non-transitory computer storage medium that that when executed provides the functions of;

identifying a player in proximity to a playing surface during a sporting event, wherein said playing surface includes a plurality of optical fibers configured to display one or more images;

calculating a direction of movement of said player;

adding a graphical aura in proximity to said player to a real-time graphical image displayed on said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said aura comprises a generally circular colored graphical image;

adding a graphical player trail to said real-time graphical image displayed on said playing surface during said sporting event in response to said player moving with respect to said playing surface, wherein said graphical player trail comprises a graphical indication of at least one previous location of said player and a current location of said player; and

modifying said aura to include one or more pre-defined custom attributes in response to a determination that said player corresponds to said one or more pre-defined custom attributes.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 14 further comprising code for:

detecting a signal from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in proximity to said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said RFID tag is attached to equipment used by said player;

detecting a location of a global positioning system (GPS) transmitter in proximity to said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said GPS transmitter is attached to equipment used by said player;

detecting a signal from a radio frequency (RF) device in proximity to said playing surface during said sporting event, wherein said RF device is attached to equipment used by said player, and wherein said RF device comprises a Bluetooth transmitter; and

detecting a shape of said player in a live video image of said sporting event.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein said code for adding said graphical aura further comprises code for:

changing a visual appearance of said aura in response to said player committing a penalty;

changing said visual appearance of said aura in response to one or more opposing players no longer being eligible to interact with said player; and

changing said visual appearance of said aura in response to one or more real-time statistical performance levels of said player exceeding one or more pre-defined performance levels.