System and method for dynamically tracking and indicating a path of an object

• US 9,934,581 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Casamona, David L., Guida, Jr., Frank C., Gay, Michael F., Bailey, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FUJITA, KATRINA R
• Application Number:
  US12/834,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20120008825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,822 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30224 Ball; Puck
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30241 Trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

A system for dynamically tracking and indicating a path of an object comprises an object position system for generating three-dimensional object position data comprising an object trajectory, a software element for receiving the three-dimensional object position data, the software element also for determining whether the three-dimensional object position data indicates that an object has exceeded a boundary, and a graphics system for displaying the object trajectory.

Claims

1. A system for dynamically tracking and indicating a path of an object, comprising:

an object position system that generates three-dimensional object position data and launch data, wherein the object position data comprises a trajectory of an object, and wherein the launch data comprises a spin velocity of the object;

a memory storing a software element;

a processor executing the software element to receive the three-dimensional object position data and launch data and determine, while the object is traveling along the trajectory, whether the three-dimensional object position data indicates that the object has exceeded a venue boundary, wherein the venue boundary is fixed and predetermined before the processor determines whether the object has exceeded the venue boundary, the software element further comprising a collision detection module to determine if the object has impacted within the venue and a tracking confidence analysis module that determines whether to abort displaying the trajectory,

wherein the processor determines when the object has landed and then postprocesses the trajectory to analyze the spin velocity and to provide a best-fit smoothed trajectory, and

wherein the best-fit smoothed trajectory is based on the spin velocity analysis; and

a graphics system that displays the trajectory and determines whether to display an indicia change of the trajectory, based on the trajectory with reference to the venue boundary, wherein the indicia change comprises an altered visual manner of depicting the full trajectory.

2. The system of claim 1, in which the collision detection module analyzes a plurality of positions on the trajectory to determine whether the object has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary.

3. The system of claim 1, in which the display of the trajectory comprises altering a visual indication of the trajectory.

4. The system of claim 3, in which the visual indication of the trajectory is altered before the object has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary.

5. The system of claim 3, in which the visual indication of the trajectory is altered after the object has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary.

6. The system of claim 1, in which the venue boundary corresponds to a three dimensional representation of a venue.

7. The system of claim 1, in which the predetermined and fixed venue boundary is a virtual wall within a venue.

8. A method for dynamically tracking and indicating a path of an object, comprising:

generating three-dimensional object position data comprising a trajectory of an object and launch data, wherein the object position data comprises a trajectory of an object, and wherein the launch data comprises a spin velocity of the object;

receiving the three-dimensional object position data and launch data;

determining, while the object is traveling along the trajectory, whether the three-dimensional object position data indicates that the object has exceeded a venue boundary, wherein the venue boundary is fixed and predetermined before the processor determines whether the object has exceeded the venue boundary, and whether the object has impacted within the venue;

determining whether to abort displaying the trajectory, and if not, displaying the trajectory, and determining whether to display an indicia change of the trajectory, based on the trajectory with reference to the venue boundary, wherein the indicia change comprises an altered visual manner of depicting the full trajectory; and

determining when the object has landed and then post-processing the trajectory to analyze the spin velocity and to provide a best-fit smoothed trajectory,

wherein the best-fit smoothed trajectory is based on the spin velocity analysis.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising analyzing a plurality of positions on the trajectory to determine whether the object has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising altering a visual indication of the trajectory.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising altering the visual indication of the trajectory before the object has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising altering the visual indication of the trajectory after the object has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary.

13. A system for dynamically tracking and indicating a path of a baseball, comprising:

an object position system that generates three-dimensional object position data and launch data, wherein the object position data comprises a trajectory of a baseball in flight, and wherein the launch data comprises a spin velocity of the baseball;

a memory storing a software element;

a processor executing the software element to receive the three-dimensional object position data and launch data and determine, while the baseball is traveling along the trajectory, whether the three-dimensional object position data indicates that the baseball has exceeded a venue boundary, wherein the venue boundary is fixed and predetermined before the processor determines whether the object has exceeded the venue boundary, the software element further comprising a collision detection module to determine if the baseball has impacted within the venue and a tracking confidence analysis module that determines whether to abort displaying the trajectory,

wherein the processor determines when the baseball has landed and then postprocesses the trajectory to analyze the spin velocity and to provide a best-fit smoothed trajectory, and

wherein the best-fit smoothed trajectory is based on the spin velocity analysis; and

a graphics system that displays the trajectory and determines whether to display an indicia change of the trajectory, based on the trajectory with reference to the venue boundary, wherein the indicia change comprises an altered visual manner of depicting the full trajectory.

14. The system of claim 13, in which the collision detection module analyzes a plurality of positions on the trajectory to determine whether the baseball has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary.

15. The system of claim 13, in which the display of the trajectory comprises altering a visual indication of the trajectory.

16. The system of claim 13, in which the visual indication of the trajectory is altered before the baseball has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary.

17. The system of claim 13, in which the visual indication of the trajectory is altered after the baseball has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary.