MEDIA SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SYNCHRONIZED MULTIPLE STREAMING CAMERA SIGNALS OF AN EVENT

• US 20100208082A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Band Crashers, LLC
• Original Assignee: Band Crashers, LLC
• Inventors: Buchner, John, Jensen, James, Miller, Rod
• Application Number:
  US12/642,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20100208082A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/18 Arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A media system is provided having synchronized multiple camera signals of at least one event or activity for transmission over the internet to end users for selective display and/or manipulation. The media system may provide that end users are able to select and view and manipulate one or more of the multiple streaming video signals at will. The media system may be used in connection with a great variety of events or activities, including without limitation concerts, sports events, political events, sales events, movie premiers, public events, training events and religious events. A method is also provided having synchronized camera signals of at least one event or activity for transmission over the internet to end users for selective display and/or manipulation. The multiple camera signals are provided to end users for selective display and/or manipulation by end users. A media player is also provided for processing synchronized camera signals representing different views of at least one event or activity and providing end users of the media player the options of selectively displaying and/or manipulating at least one of the views at will.

Claims

1. A media system for providing synchronized multiple camera signals of at least one event or activity, comprising:

a plurality of cameras for simultaneously obtaining video images of at least one event or activity from a plurality of different perspectives and for transmitting video signals corresponding to each of the video images;

an internet server configured to receive each of the video signals and for simultaneously making each of the video signals available to at least one end user; and

an end user device connectable to the internet server and including a user interface configured to simultaneously receive the video signals and to simultaneously display each of the video images that correspond to the video signals to the at least one end user.

2. The media system of claim 1, wherein the user interface of the end user device enables the at least one end user to select a video image from a plurality of thumbnail video images for enlarged viewing.

3. The media system of claim 1, wherein the user interface of the end user device enables the at least one end user to manipulate at least one of the video images.

4. The media system of claim 1, wherein the end user device comprises at least one of a computer, a television receiver and television, and a cellular telephone.

5. The media system of claim 1, wherein the signals comprise streamed video signals.

6. The media system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one microphone for obtaining audio of the at least one event or activity and for transmitting an audio signal corresponding to the audio.

7. The media system of claim 6, wherein the internet server is further configured to receive the audio signal and the end user device is configured to receive the audio signal simultaneously with the video signals.

8. The media system of claim 6, wherein the audio signal is combined with at least one video signal.

9. The media system of claim 6, comprising a plurality of microphones.

10. The media system of claim 9, wherein at least two microphones of the plurality of microphones correspond to different cameras of the plurality of cameras.

11. The media system of claim 1, wherein the user interface displays other information simultaneously with the video images.

12. The media system of claim 1, wherein the user interface enables the end user to transmit information while displaying the video images.

13. An media player for enabling an end user to view multiple video images of an event or activity, the media player comprising:

a processing element;

a display element in communication with the processing element;

a user interface generated by the processing element for display by the display element, the user interface comprising a plurality of sections, each section configured to display a video image of one perspective of an event or activity, the plurality of sections configured to display video images of different perspectives of the same event or activity.

14. The media player of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sections of the user interface includes:

a large section for displaying an enlarged image of a video of a selected perspective of the perspectives provided by the video images; and

a plurality of thumbnail sections for displaying remaining video images.

15. The media player of claim 14, wherein the user interface further includes:

at least one section for displaying messages received by or sent from the media player.

16. The media player of claim 14, wherein the user interface further includes:

at least one section corresponding to a monetizing or merchandising website associated with the event or activity.

17. The media player of claim 14, wherein the user interface further includes:

at least one section for displaying an administrative website.

18. A method for transmitting a plurality of images of an event or activity, comprising:

obtaining video images of an event or activity from a plurality of perspectives; and

simultaneously streaming the video images over the internet to a website;

simultaneously presenting each of the video images on the website.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing an end user with access to the website.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

enabling the end user to selectively enlarge at least one of the video images.