Video and motion event integration system

• US 9,235,765 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newlight Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blast Motion Incorporated
• Inventors: Bentley, Michael, Kaps, Ryan, Bose, Bhaskar
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US14/549,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20150154452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30221 Sports video; Sports image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/40 in video content extracting overlay text G06V20/62; video retrieval G06F16/70; processing of video elementary streams in video servers H04N21/234; processing of video elementary streams in video clients H04N21/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/44 Event detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/022 Electronic editing of analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/17 using electrical sensing means see provisionally also G11B27/13
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• 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

Enables intelligent synchronization and transfer of generally concise event videos synchronized with motion data from motion capture sensor(s) coupled with a user or piece of equipment. Greatly saves storage and increases upload speed by uploading event videos and avoiding upload of non-pertinent portions of large videos. Provides intelligent selection of multiple videos from multiple cameras covering an event at a given time, for example selecting one with least shake. Enables near real-time alteration of camera parameters during an event determined by the motion capture sensor, and alteration of playback parameters and special effects for synchronized event videos. Creates highlight reels filtered by metrics and can sort by metric. Integrates with multiple sensors to save event data even if other sensors do not detect the event. Also enables analysis or comparison of movement associated with the same user, other user, historical user or group of users.

Claims

1. A video and motion event integration system comprising:

at least one motion capture element configured to couple with a user or piece of equipment or mobile device coupled with the user, wherein said at least one motion capture element comprises

a sensor memory;

a sensor configured to capture one or more values associated with an orientation, position, velocity and acceleration of said at least one motion capture element;

a first communication interface;

a microcontroller coupled with said sensor memory, said sensor and said first communication interface, wherein said microcontroller is configured to

collect data that comprises sensor values from said sensor;

store said data in said sensor memory;

optionally analyze said data and recognize an event within said data to determine event data;

transmit said data or said event data associated with said event or both said data and said event data via said first communication interface;

said microcontroller configured to transmit said data or said event data to a computer comprising

a memory;

a second communication interface configured to

communicate with said first communication interface to obtain said data or said event data associated with said event or both said data and said event data;

wherein said computer is coupled with said memory and is coupled with said second communication interface, wherein said computer is configured to

receive

 

said data from said second communication interface and

 

analyze said data and recognize an event within said data to determine event data

 

or

 

said event data from said second communication interface

 

or

 

both said data and said event data from said second communication interface;

analyze said event data to form motion analysis data;

store said event data, or said motion analysis data, or both said event data and said motion analysis data in said memory;

obtain an event start time and an event stop time from said event data;

obtain at least one video start time and at least one video stop time associated with at least one video;

synchronize said event data, said motion analysis data or any combination thereof with said at least one video based on

 

a first time associated with said data or said event data obtained from said at least one motion capture element coupled with said user or said piece of equipment or said mobile device coupled with the user and

 

at least one time associated said at least one video to create at least one synchronized event video;

obtain a subset of said at least one video comprising said at least one synchronized event video captured at least during a timespan from within said event start time to said event stop time without at least a portion of said at least one video that occurs outside of said timespan from within said event start time to said event stop time to said another computer.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to

display a synchronized event video comprising both of

said event data, said motion analysis data or any combination thereof that occurs during said timespan from said event start time to said event stop time and

said video captured during said timespan from said event start time to said event stop time.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to discard or instruct said another computer coupled with a camera to discard at least a portion of said at least one video outside of said event start time to said event stop time.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer comprises at least one computer that is within a mobile device, a camera, a desktop computer, a server computer or any combination of any number of said mobile device, said camera, said desktop computer and said server computer.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to

accept a metric associated with said at least one synchronized event video;

display a plurality of synchronized event videos or plurality of corresponding thumbnails thereof along with a value associated with said metric for each of said plurality of synchronized event videos or said plurality of corresponding thumbnails.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said computer is further configured to

accept a selection criteria for said metric;

display only those synchronized event videos or said thumbnails thereof that pass said selection criteria.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said computer is further configured to

order said only those synchronized event videos or said thumbnails thereof according to a value of said metric.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said computer is further configured to

generate a highlight reel of said plurality of synchronized event videos that pass said selection criteria.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to

select a first synchronized event video to display from said at least one synchronized event video for a particular time span that are associated with different cameras based on image analysis.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to

select a first synchronized event video to display from said at least one synchronized event video for a particular time span that are associated with different cameras based on image analysis wherein said image analysis comprises minimal shake detection.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to

send a control message local to said computer or external to said computer to at least one camera to modify video recording parameters of said at least one video based on said data or said event data or said motion analysis data.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said video recording parameters comprise one or more of frame rate, resolution, color depth, color or grayscale, compression method, compression quality, and recording on or off.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to

accept a sound track;

analyze said sound track to determine time points of high audio amplitude associated with beats;

synchronize said beats with said event.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is configured to

display said at least one synchronized event video;

and to

modify playback characteristics of said at least one synchronized event video based on said event data, said motion analysis data, or both,

wherein said modifications to playback characteristics may occur one or more times throughout the playback of said at least one synchronized event video.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said modifications to playback characteristics comprise one or more of changes to playback speed, image brightness, image colors, image focus, image resolution, flashing special effects, use of graphic overlays or borders.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said modifications to playback characteristics comprise slower motion playback as said event video approaches a sub-event of interest or as said event video approaches a peak value of a selected metric associated with said motion analysis data or said event data or both.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer is further configured to

accept a sound track;

analyze said sound track to determine time points of high audio amplitude associated with beats;

play said sound track along with said at least one synchronized event video;

synchronize said beats with said event; and

,

wherein said modifications to playback characteristics comprise one or more of modifying one or more of the volume, tempo, tone, or audio special effects of said sound track.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured while a communication link is open between said at least one motion capture element and said computer to discard at least a portion of said video outside of said event start time to said event stop time and save said video from said event start time to said event stop time with said motion analysis data that occurs from said event start time to said event stop time.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured while a communication link is not open between said at least one motion capture element and said computer to save video and after said event is received after said communication link is open, then discard at least a portion of said video outside of said event start time to said event stop time and save said video from said event start time to said event stop time with said motion analysis data that occurs from said event start time to said event stop time.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to synchronize said motion analysis data with said video based on image analysis to more accurately determine a start event frame or stop event frame in said video or both, that is most closely associated with said event start time or said event stop time or both.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to generate a metric from an object within said at least one synchronized event video based on image analysis.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to

access previously stored event data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment;

display information comprising a presentation of said event data associated with said at least one user on a display based on

said event data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment

and

said previously stored event data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller in said at least one motion capture element is configured to transmit said event to at least one other motion capture element or said computer or any combination thereof, and wherein said at least one other motion capture element or said at least one other mobile device or any combination thereof is configured to save data or transmit data or both save data and transmit data associated with said event even if said at least one other motion capture element has not detected said event.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to request or broadcast a request for camera locations proximal to said event or oriented to view said event or both proximal to and oriented to view said event.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to request said video from said at least one camera proximal to said event wherein said video contains said event.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein the microcontroller is coupled with a temperature sensor and wherein said microcontroller is configured to transmit a temperature obtained from the temperature sensor as a temperature event.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to obtain sensor values from sensors proximal to said event and wherein said sensors comprise any combination of temperature, humidity, wind, elevation, light, sound and physiological sensors and save said sensor values that occur within said timespan from said event start time and event stop time with said event data.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein said event comprises

motion associated with said at least one motion capture element coupled with any combination of said user, or said piece of equipment or said mobile device

or

motion indicative of standing, walking, falling, heat stroke, a seizure, violent shaking, a concussion, a collision, abnormal gait, abnormal or non-existent breathing

or

any combination thereof.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to

access previously stored event data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment;

display information comprising a presentation of said event data associated with said at least one user on a display based on

said event data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment

and

said previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data that is associated with at least one other user or other piece of equipment.