SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRACKING AND TAGGING OBJECTS WITHIN A BROADCAST

• US 20150326932A1
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fox Sports Productions, LLC (Fox Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fox Sports Productions, Inc. (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Hill, David B., Fields, Zachary, Shanks, David Eric, Davies, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,288,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring

Abstract

The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for tracking and tagging objects of interest in a broadcast, including expert indications of desirable and undesirable locations on golf course terrain.

Claims

1. A method for tracking and tagging objects of interest in a broadcast, comprising:

providing an indication of terrain of a golf course; and

rendering graphics in a broadcast over and relative to the terrain of said golf course, the graphics indicative of a golf expert'"'"'s indications of desirable and/or undesirable locations for golf play.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said graphics provide indication of desirable and undesirable locations for golf play.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said desirable and undesirable locations are indicated as good and bad spots to land a ball from a preceding position.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein said preceding position comprises a tee shot.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said indication by an expert takes into account objective and subjective factors.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said factors include expert opinion on places that might leave a player in a good or bad position in considering a following shot.

7. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the position, size or shape of the indicated good and bad spots vary according to one or more of:

the length of the preceding shot;

anticipated conditions of the terrain;

time of day;

lighting;

wind conditions;

physical capabilities of players;

contestant skill sets; and

unanticipated hazards.

8. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein said the position, size and shape of the indicated good and bad spots are generated prior to game play.

9. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein a position, size or shape of the indicated good or bad spots are changed prior to or during game play to reflect a change in at least one factor.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein said at least one factor comprises one or more of:

the length of the preceding shot;

anticipated conditions of the terrain;

time of day;

lighting;

wind conditions;

physical capabilities of players;

contestant skill sets; and

unanticipated hazards.

11. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said indication is provided by a user interface, comprising one or more of:

a computer terminal;

a tablet;

a touchscreen product; and

a mobile device.

12. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said indication is provided on a 3D rendering of golf course terrain relative to at least one pre-determined camera shot, which the indication overlaid relative to said terrain.

13. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said indication is provided as an overlay utilizing red color for undesirable locations and green color for desirable locations.

14. A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising providing a broadcast extraction window via a computer system, wherein said broadcast extraction window is configured to position in accordance with tracking data received by said computer system.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said extraction window is configured to pan, scan or zoom in response to said tracking data.

16. A system for tracking and tagging objects of interest in a broadcast, comprising:

a user interface configured to accept a golf expert'"'"'s indications of desirable and/or undesirable locations for golf play; and

a computer system, including a processor that is configured to render graphics in a broadcast over and relative to a golf course terrain, said graphics providing said indications of desirable and/or undesirable locations for golf play.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said graphics provide indication of desirable and undesirable locations for golf play.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said desirable and undesirable locations are indicated as good and bad spots to land a ball from a preceding position.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said preceding position comprises a tee shot.

20. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said indication by an expert takes into account objective and subjective factors.

21. A system in accordance with claim 20, wherein said factors include expert opinion on places that might leave a player in a good or bad position in considering a following shot.

22. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the position, size or shape of the indicated good and bad spots vary according to one or more of:

the length of the preceding shot;

anticipated conditions of the terrain;

time of day;

lighting;

wind conditions;

physical capabilities of players;

contestant skill sets; and

unanticipated hazards.

23. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said the position, size and shape of the indicated good and bad spots are generated prior to game play.

24. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein a position, size or shape of the indicated good or bad spots are changed prior to or during game play to reflect a change in at least one factor.

25. A system in accordance with claim 24, wherein said at least one factor comprises one or more of:

the length of the preceding shot;

anticipated conditions of the terrain;

time of day;

lighting;

wind conditions;

physical capabilities of players;

contestant skill sets; and

unanticipated hazards.

26. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said indication is provided by a user interface, comprising one or more of:

a computer terminal;

a tablet;

a touchscreen product; and

a mobile device.

27. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said indication is provided on a 3D rendering of golf course terrain relative to at least one pre-determined camera shot, which the indication overlaid relative to said terrain.

28. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said indication is provided as an overlay utilizing red color for undesirable locations and green color for desirable locations.

29. A system in accordance with claim 17, further comprising a broadcast extraction window provided by said computer system, wherein said broadcast extraction window is configured to position in accordance with tracking data received by said computer system.

30. A system in accordance with claim 29, wherein said extraction window is configured to pan, scan or zoom in response to said tracking data.