SYSTEMS METHODS FOR CAMERA CONTROL USING HISTORICAL OR PREDICTED EVENT DATA

• US 20130194427A1
• Filed: 01/27/2012
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Hunter, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,615,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/157
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

According to some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program code for controlling a video camera to capture video associated with an event are provided which use historical or predictive data. In some embodiments, historical event information and participant information is received. Video camera configuration and position data is received, as well as current event data. The current event data may be received substantially in real time from the event. Video camera control signals are generated based on at least one of the event information, the participant information, and the current event data. The control signals are transmitted to a video camera to control the operation of the video camera.

Claims

1. A method for creating a video feed of an event, comprising:

receiving event characteristic information about the event and participant information associated with one or more event participants;

receiving video camera configuration and position data from at least a first video camera;

receiving current event data substantially in real time from the event;

generating control signals based on at least one of the event characteristic information, the participant information, and the current event data; and

transmitting the control signals to the at least first video camera to control the operation of the at least first video camera.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signals cause the at least first video camera to adjust at least one of:

(i) a panning motion, (ii) a tilting motion, (iii) a focal change, and (iv) a zooming adjustment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least a second video camera, the method further comprising:

receiving video camera configuration and position data from the at least second video camera.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the generating control signals further comprises generating control signals based on the video camera configuration and position data from the first and second video cameras, the method further comprising:

transmitting the control signals to the first and at least second video cameras to control the operation of the first video camera and the at least second video camera.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the control signals cause the at least first and second video cameras to adjust at least one of:

(i) a panning motion, (ii) a tilting motion, (iii) a focal change, (iv) a zooming adjustment, and (v) transmission of a video feed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least first video camera is a robotic video camera adapted to receive the control signals over a communications link.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least first video camera is configured to transmit a video feed to a remote production facility.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic information includes data associated with the event for use by a camera control system to generate a predicted path and trajectory of the event.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the characteristic information includes information identifying at least one of (i) an event type, (ii) an event location, and (iii) an event name.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the participant information includes information identifying at least one of (i) a participant name, (ii) a participant event type, and (iii) expected performance data.

11. A video camera control system, comprising:

a robotic video camera outputting a video feed including a representation of an event and operative under control of camera control data; and

a camera control system transmitting camera control data to the robotic video camera, the camera control data generated based on information received about the event, including event characteristic data and event participation data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the camera control system receives current event data, wherein the camera control data is further generated based on the current event data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the current event data includes data identifying the start of the event.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the data identifying the start of the event is generated based on an automated detection of the start of the event.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the camera control system provides the camera control data to the robotic video camera automatically to provide substantially real-time control of the robotic video camera.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the camera control signals are used by the robotic video camera to cause at least one of:

(i) a panning motion, (ii) a tilting motion, (iii) a focal change, or (iv) a zooming adjustment.

17. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving event characteristic information about the event and participant information associated with one or more event participants;

receiving video camera configuration and position data from at least a first video camera;

receiving current event data substantially in real time from the event;

generating control signals based on at least one of the event characteristic information, the participant information, and the current event data; and

transmitting the control signals to the at least first video camera to control the operation of the at least first video camera.

18. The medium of claim 17, the characteristic information includes data associated with the event for use by a camera control system to generate a predicted path and trajectory of the event.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the characteristic information includes information identifying at least one of (i) an event type, (ii) an event location, and (iii) an event name.

20. The medium of claim 17, wherein the participant information includes information identifying at least one of (i) a participant name, (ii) a participant event type, and (iii) expected performance data.