Controlling Movements of Pointing Devices According to Movements of Objects

• US 20140192204A1
• Filed: 01/04/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yariv Glazer
• Original Assignee: Yariv Glazer
• Inventors: Glazer, Yariv
• Granted Patent: US 9,551,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/169
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7864 T.V. type tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling pointing devices such as cameras according to the movements of an objects, such as balls or selected players of interest by attaching to the object, an RFID which, when triggered, transmits the identification of the object and detecting the transmitted identification at of different locations to define the instantaneous space location of the object. The detected identifications are inputted into an RTLP (Real-Time Location Processor) to produce tracking signals which cause the pointing device to track the movements of the object in a real-time manner. Another signal, is also derived from the RTLP defining another instantaneous condition of the object, and is also fed to the pointing device to control another parameter, such as the magnification or the displayed field-of-view, of the pointing device in a real-time manner.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a pointing device according to the movements of an object of interest in a monitored field, comprising:

attaching to the object, an RFID (Radio Frequency identification Device) which, when triggered, transmits the identification of the object;

detecting the transmitted identification at a plurality of different locations sufficient to define the instantaneous space location of the object in the monitored field;

inputting the detected identifications into an RTLP (Real-Time Location Processor);

deriving from the RTLP a tracking signal defining the real-time movements of the object within the monitored field;

and feeding the tracking signal to the pointing device to cause it to track the movements of said object in a real-time manner;

characterized in that another signal, in addition to said tracking signal, is also derived from said RTLP defining another instantaneous condition of the object, and is also fed to the pointing device to control another parameter of the pointing device in a real-time manner.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said pointing device is a camera displaying the real-time movements of the object of interest.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said object of interest is or includes a ball or puck involved in playing a game.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said another real-time condition of the ball or puck is its distance from a specified reference point or line.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said other parameter of the pointing device is the field-of-view of a camera, which is decreased to thereby increase the magnification of the ball or puck displayed, when the ball or puck is within a specified distance from a specified reference point or line.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said other parameter of the pointing device is the highlighting of its display by a camera when the ball or puck is within a specified distance from a specified reference point or line.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein said another real-time condition of the ball or puck is its horizontal velocity, and said another parameter of the pointing device is the field-of-view of a camera which is decreased, and thereby the magnification of the ball or puck displayed is increased, when the horizontal velocity of the ball or puck is relatively low.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein said another real-time condition of the ball or puck is its vertical acceleration, and said another parameter of the pointing device is the field-of-view of a camera which is decreased, and thereby the magnification of the ball or puck displayed is increased, when the vertical acceleration of the ball or puck is relatively high.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said object of interest is or include a specified person in the monitored field, and said another parameter of the pointing device is highlighting of the display of that person by a camera when within a specified distance from a reference point or line.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said pointing device is a spot-light, and said another parameter of the pointing device is the actuation of the spot-light to illuminate the respective object.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said object of interest is or include a specified person, said pointing device is a directional microphone or other audio receiver having a variable focal point, and said another parameter of the pointing device is the focal point of the audio receiver.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said object of interest is or include a specified person within a specified region, said pointing device is a directional speaker or other audio transmitter having a variable focal point, and said other parameter of the pointing device is the focal point of the audio transmitter.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of pointing devices selectively controlled by said another signal from said derivative processor.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of objects of interest and a plurality of pointing devices, each being controlled to track the movements and said another parameter of a selected object of interest according to the instantaneous condition of the respective object.

15. Apparatus for controlling a pointing device according to the movements of an object of interest in a monitored field, comprising:

an RFID (Radio Frequency identification Device) which is attached to the object, and which when triggered, transmits the identification of the object;

detectors for detecting the transmitted identification at a plurality of different locations sufficient to define the instantaneous space location of the object in the monitored field;

an RTLP (Real-Time Location Processor) coupled to the RTLP for deriving therefrom a tracking signal defining the real-time movements of the object within the monitored field;

and a pointing device controlled by said RTLP to track the movements of said object in a real-time manner;

characterized in that said RTLP derives another signal, in addition to said tracking signal, defining another instantaneous condition of the object, which another signal is also fed to the pointing device to control another parameter of the pointing device in a real-time manner.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said pointing device is a camera displaying the real-time movements of the object of interest.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said object of interest is or includes a ball or puck involved in playing a game.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said another real-time condition of the ball or puck is its distance from a specified reference point or line.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said another parameter of the pointing device is the field-of-view of a camera, which is decreased to thereby increase the magnification of the ball or puck displayed by the camera, when the ball or puck is within a specified distance from a specified reference point or line.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said other parameter of the pointing device is the highlighting of its display by a camera when the ball or puck is within a specified distance from a specified reference point or line.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said another real-time condition of the ball or puck is its horizontal velocity, and said another parameter of the pointing device is the field-of-view of a camera which is decreased, and thereby the magnification of the ball or puck displayed is increased, when the horizontal velocity of the ball or puck is relatively low.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said another real-time condition of the ball or puck is its vertical acceleration, and said another parameter of the pointing device is the field-of-view of a camera, which is decreased, and thereby the magnification of the ball or puck displayed is increased, when the vertical acceleration of the ball or puck is relatively high.

23. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said object of interest is or include a specified person in the monitored field, and said another parameter of the pointing device is highlighting of the display of that person by a camera when within a specified distance from a reference point or line.

24. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said pointing device is a spot-light and said another parameter of the pointing device is the actuation of the spot-light to illuminate the respective object.

25. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said object of interest is or include a specified person within a specified region, said pointing device is a directional microphone or other audio receiver having a variable focal point, and said another parameter of the pointing device is the focal point of the audio receiver.

26. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said object of interest is or include a specified person within a specified region, said pointing device is a directional speaker or other audio transmitter having a variable focal point, and said other parameter of the pointing device is the focal point of the audio transmitter.

27. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein there are a plurality of pointing devices selectively controlled by said another signal from said derivative processor.

28. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein there are a plurality of objects of interest and a plurality of pointing devices each being controlled to track the movements, and said another parameter of selected object of interest according to the instantaneous condition of the respective object.