System and methods for enhancing the experience of spectators attending a live sporting event, with bookmark setting capability

• US 8,432,489 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FanVision Entertainment, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kangaroo Media Incorporated (Game Day Entertainment LLC)
• Inventors: Arseneau, Marc, Charette, Alain, Arseneau, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Trang U
• Application Number:
  US11/459,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20070019069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,475 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/460, 348552-555, 348/473, 348563-569, 348/725, 348/461, 348/468, 348/157, 348/74, 348/38, 725/100, 725/131, 725/139, 725/151, 725/112, 725/135, 725/109, 725/105, 725/141, 725/37, 725/207.99, 725/333.01
• US Class Current: 348/461
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/04 from field pickup units [FPU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 : characterised by processes or methods for the generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/15 : on receiving information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 : on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/22 : per use
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 : using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 : Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/48 : for recognising items expressed in broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/70 : using geographical information, e.g. maps, charts or atlases
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/71 : using meteorological information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 : located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 : enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 : Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 : by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234354 : by altering signal-to-noise ratio parameters, e.g. requantization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 : by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 : involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 : involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 : for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 : Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 : Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 : PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 : involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 : providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 : environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 : involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 : OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 : Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 : Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4728 : for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 : for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 : Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 : Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 : Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 : for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 : by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 : involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 : involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A handheld electronic device for use at a venue hosting a live sporting event, having a receiver for receiving a wireless RF transmission conveying a plurality of video streams derived from video cameras filming the live sporting event, a display and a user interface for selecting a video stream among the plurality of video streams to be displayed on the display. The handheld electronic device is capable to acquire a locked mode of operation and an unlocked mode of operation, in the locked mode of operation the handheld electronic device being precluded from displaying the video streams to a spectator, in the unlocked mode of operation the handheld electronic device being enabled to display the video streams to the spectator, the handheld electronic device capable to acquire the unlocked mode of operation in response to reception of authentication data wirelessly transmitted to the handheld electronic device.

Claims

1. A portable device, comprising:

a receiver, said receiver receives a wireless transmission, said wireless transmission includes a plurality of live feeds and a first bookmark, said plurality of live feeds includes a first live feed and a second live feed different from said first live feed, said plurality of live feeds conveys information of a live event as said live event occurs, said first bookmark marks a first location in a first portion of said first live feed that has already been received by said portable device associated with an occurrence of a particular event at said live event;

a memory, said memory concurrently buffers said first portion of said first live feed and a first portion of said second live feed in a circular buffer, said circular buffer is segmented into a plurality of memory areas associated with said plurality of live feeds, said plurality of memory areas includes a first memory area associated with said first portion of said first live feed, said first bookmark is received at said portable device at a point in time after said occurrence of said particular event, said first bookmark is received at said portable device after said first portion of said first live feed is received at said portable device; and

a user interface, said user interface allows an end user of said portable device to play said first portion of said first live feed on said portable device starting at said first location in response to a selection of said first bookmark by said end user.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein:

said first live feed includes a first video stream, said second live feed includes a second video stream, said first bookmark corresponds with a first location in said first video stream, said first location in said first video stream represents a point in time after the beginning of said first video stream, said first video stream and said second video steam are concurrently buffered in said circular buffer without any input from said end user of said portable device to buffer or display said plurality of live feeds.

3. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising:

copying said first memory area from said circular buffer to a removable storage medium, said copying includes determining whether a bookmark points to video content within said first memory area and copying said bookmark to said removable storage medium in response to determining that said bookmark points to said video content within said first memory area.

4. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising:

copying said first memory area from said circular buffer to a removable storage medium, said copying includes automatically transferring said first bookmark to said removable storage medium in response to said copying.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving bookmarking information at said portable device after said first portion of said first live feed is received at said portable device, said bookmarking information identifies that said first bookmark is associated with said first portion of said first live feed stored in said memory.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein:

said first live feed includes a first audio stream, said first bookmark corresponds with a first location in said first audio stream, said first location in said first video stream and said first location in said first audio stream correspond to substantially the same point in time.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein:

said first video stream derives from a first camera filming said live event;

said first bookmark is determined by one or more individuals managing a head end; and

said first bookmark is outputted from said head end after a portion of said first video stream is outputted from said head end.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein:

said wireless transmission includes a second bookmark, said second bookmark corresponds with a second location in said first video stream, said first location in said first video stream and said second location in said second video stream correspond to different points in time.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein:

said wireless transmission includes a second video stream and a second bookmark, said second bookmark corresponds with a first location in said second video stream; and

said user interface allows said end user using said portable device to play a portion of said second video stream starting at said first location in said second video stream in response to said second bookmark.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said first live feed includes an audio stream, said first bookmark corresponds with a location in said audio stream, said location in said audio stream represents a point in time after the beginning of said audio stream.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said end user is a spectator at said live event;

said user interface informs said end user using said portable device that said first bookmark is associated with said occurrence of said particular event; and

said user interface allows said end user using said portable device to store said first portion of said first live feed in a non-volatile memory.

12. A method for operating a portable device, comprising:

receiving a wireless transmission at said portable device, said wireless transmission includes a plurality of live feeds and a first bookmark, said plurality of live feeds includes a first live feed and a second live feed different from said first live feed, said plurality of live feeds conveys, information of a live event as said live event occurs, said first bookmark marks a first location in a first portion of said first live feed associated with an occurrence of a particular event at said live event;

concurrently buffering said first portion of said first live feed and a first portion of said second live feed in a circular buffer, said circular buffer is segmented into a plurality of memory areas associated with said plurality of live feeds, said plurality of memory areas includes a first memory area associated with said first portion of said first live feed and a second memory area associated with said first portion of said second live feed, said first bookmark is received at said portable device at a point in time after said occurrence of said particular event, said first bookmark is received at said portable device after said first portion of said first live feed is received at said portable device;

receiving a request from an end user of said portable device to copy said first portion of said first live feed to a removable storage medium;

copying said first portion of said first live feed to said removable storage medium, said copying includes automatically transferring said first bookmark to said removable storage medium in response to said copying; and

playing said first portion of said first live feed on said portable device starting at said first location in response to a selection of said first bookmark by said end user.