Systems and methods for tracking and tagging objects within a broadcast

• US 9,288,545 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• 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., Davies, Michael, Fields, Zachary, Shanks, David Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): MONTOYA, OSCHTA I
• Application Number:
  US14/804,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20150326932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 238 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 experts indications of desirable and undesirable locations for golf play;

wherein said desirable and undesirable locations are indicated as good and bad spots to land a ball from a preceding position;

wherein said preceding position comprises a tee shot;

wherein said indication by an expert takes into account objective and subjective factors; and

wherein said factors include expert opinion on places that might leave a player in a good or bad position in considering a following shot.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, 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.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said the position, size and shape of the indicated good and bad spots are generated prior to game play.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, 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.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, 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.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, 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.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, 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.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said indication is provided as an overlay utilizing red color for undesirable locations and green color for desirable locations.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, 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.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein said extraction window is configured to pan, scan or zoom in response to said tracking data.

11. 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 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 undesirable locations for golf play;

wherein said desirable and undesirable locations are indicated as good and bad spots to land a ball from a preceding position;

wherein said preceding position comprises a tee shot;

wherein said indication by an expert takes into account objective and subjective factors; and

wherein said factors include expert opinion on places that might leave a player in a good or bad position in considering a following shot.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11, 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.

13. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said the position, size and shape of the indicated good and bad spots are generated prior to game play.

14. A system in accordance with claim 11, 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.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14, 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.

16. A system in accordance with claim 11, 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.

17. A system in accordance with claim 11, 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.

18. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said indication is provided as an overlay utilizing red color for undesirable locations and green color for desirable locations.

19. A system in accordance with claim 11, 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.

20. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said extraction window is configured to pan, scan or zoom in response to said tracking data.