US6154250A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for enhancing the television presentation of an object at a sporting event
Assignee: Sportsmedia Technology Corp
•
Filing: 1998-12-10
•
Granted: 2000-11-28
•
Expires: 2018-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A system for enhancing the television presentation of an object at a sporting event includes one or more sensors which are used to determine the location of the object. Based on the location of the object and the field of view of a broadcast camera, a processor determines the position of the object in a video frame of the broadcast camera. Once knowing where the object is positioned within the video frame, the television signal can be edited or augmented to enhance the presentation of the object.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley K. Honey
- 👤 Richard H. Cavallaro
- 👤 David Blyth Hill
- 👤 Andrew G. Setos
- 👤 Jerry Neil Gepner
- 👤 Timothy Paul Heidmann
- 👤 Patrick Wade Olsen
- 👤 Fred Judson Heinzmann
- 👤 Alan C. Phillips
- 👤 Harold Guthart
- 👤 Alan Alexander Burns
- 👤 Charles Lawrence Rino
- 👤 Philip Calvin Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:23
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/06; A63B71/0605; G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/16; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; A63B2220/00; A63B2220/80; A63B2220/806; A63B2225/00; A63B2225/30; A63B2225/50; A63B2225/54; A63B43/00; A63B67/00; A63B67/14; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for enhancing a video, comprising the steps of: receiving video during an event, said video including an image of a target area, said target area being at a first position in said video; receiving field of view data from one or more sensors that do not use image recognition; determining said first position in said video using said field of view data during said event; inserting nonvideo data into said video during said event, said nonvideo data indicates said first position in said video; transmitting said video, with said nonvideo data, to a remote location during said event receiving said video at said remote location; reading said nonvideo data at said remote location; receiving an indication from a user interface indicating whether to enhance or not to enhance; and enhancing said video based on said first position if said indication from said user interface indicates to enhance said step of enhancing being performed at said remote location during said event said remote location is not a television studio.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for enhancing a video, comprising the steps of: receiving video during an event, said video including an image of a target area, said target area being at a first position in said video; receiving field of view data from one or more sensors that do not use image recognition; determining said first position in said video using said field of view data during said event; inserting nonvideo data into said video during said event, said nonvideo data indicates said first position in said video; transmitting said video, with said nonvideo data, to a remote location during said event receiving said video at said remote location; reading said nonvideo data at said remote location; receiving an indication from a user interface indicating whether to enhance or not to enhance; and enhancing said video based on said first position if said indication from said user interface indicates to enhance said step of enhancing being performed at said remote location during said event said remote location is not a television studio.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1, further including the step of determining a three dimensional location of a target corresponding to said target area, said step of determining said first position uses said three dimensional location to determine said first position in said video.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein: said step of determining a three dimensional location of a target includes determining a three dimensional location of a moving object at said event.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein: said video includes a plurality of frames of video; said event is a live sporting event; said first position corresponds to a first frame of said plurality of frames of video; and said step of inserting nonvideo data into said video includes inserting said nonvideo data into a vertical blanking interval portion of said video.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein: said step of inserting nonvideo data into said video includes inserting said nonvideo data into a vertical blanking interval portion of a television signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein: said step of enhancing includes adding an image to said video at said first position.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for enhancing a live television presentation of an event, comprising the steps of: receiving a live broadcast television signal at a first location other than a television studio, said event being performed at a second location, said first location is remote from said second location, said television signal includes video data and nonvideo data, said video data includes images of said event, said images of said event include one or more images of a target area, said nonvideo data includes data indicating a position of said target area in at least one of said images of said event; receiving an indication from a viewer to enhance said television signal; reading said nonvideo data during said event; and enhancing said at least one of said images of said event based on said position of said target area, said step of enhancing being performed at said first location during said event, said step of enhancing being performed in response to said indication from said viewer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for enhancing a live television presentation of an event, comprising the steps of: receiving a live broadcast television signal at a first location other than a television studio, said event being performed at a second location, said first location is remote from said second location, said television signal includes video data and nonvideo data, said video data includes images of said event, said images of said event include one or more images of a target area, said nonvideo data includes data indicating a position of said target area in at least one of said images of said event; receiving an indication from a viewer to enhance said television signal; reading said nonvideo data during said event; and enhancing said at least one of said images of said event based on said position of said target area, said step of enhancing being performed at said first location during said event, said step of enhancing being performed in response to said indication from said viewer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein: said step of enhancing includes adding an additional image to said at least one of said images, said additional image is added at said position of said target area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein: said indication from said viewer indicates a choice of said additional image from a set of two or more enhancements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein: said data indicating said position is based on field of view data from one or more sensors that do not use pattern recognition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein: said indication from said viewer indicates a choice of a particular enhancement from a set of two or more enhancements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of: displaying said at least one of said images of said event on a computer monitor after said step of enhancing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of: displaying said at least one of said images of said event on a television after said step of enhancing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein: said live broadcast television signal includes a vertical blanking interval portion; and said data indicating a position of said target area is stored in said vertical blanking interval portion.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for enhancing a video of a sporting event, comprising the steps of: receiving video during said sporting event, said video including an image of a target area, said target area being at a first position in said video; determining said first position in said video during said sporting event; inserting nonvideo data into said video during said sporting event, said nonvideo data indicates said first position in said video; broadcasting said video to viewers during said sporting event; receiving said broadcasted video at a viewer location other than a television studio, said step of determining being performed at a location remote from said viewer location; reading said nonvideo data from said video, said step of reading includes reading said data indicating said first position; receiving an indication from a user interface to enhance said video; and in response to said step of receiving an indication, enhancing said video based on said first position, said step of enhancing being performed during said event at said viewer location.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for enhancing a video of a sporting event, comprising the steps of: receiving video during said sporting event, said video including an image of a target area, said target area being at a first position in said video; determining said first position in said video during said sporting event; inserting nonvideo data into said video during said sporting event, said nonvideo data indicates said first position in said video; broadcasting said video to viewers during said sporting event; receiving said broadcasted video at a viewer location other than a television studio, said step of determining being performed at a location remote from said viewer location; reading said nonvideo data from said video, said step of reading includes reading said data indicating said first position; receiving an indication from a user interface to enhance said video; and in response to said step of receiving an indication, enhancing said video based on said first position, said step of enhancing being performed during said event at said viewer location.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 15, further including the step of: receiving field of view data from one or more sensors that do not use image recognition, said step of determining said first position in said video uses said field of view data.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for enhancing a live television presentation of an event, comprising: means for receiving a broadcast television signal at a first location other than a television studio, said event being performed at a second location, said first location is remote from said second location, said television signal includes video data and nonvideo data, said video data includes images of said event, said images of said event include one or more images of a target area, said nonvideo data includes data indicating a position of said target area in at least one of said images of said event; means for receiving an indication from a viewer to enhance said television signal; means for reading said nonvideo data during said event; and means, in response to said indication from said viewer, for enhancing said at least one of said images of said event based on said position of said target area, said enhancing being performed at said first location during said event.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for enhancing a live television presentation of an event, comprising: means for receiving a broadcast television signal at a first location other than a television studio, said event being performed at a second location, said first location is remote from said second location, said television signal includes video data and nonvideo data, said video data includes images of said event, said images of said event include one or more images of a target area, said nonvideo data includes data indicating a position of said target area in at least one of said images of said event; means for receiving an indication from a viewer to enhance said television signal; means for reading said nonvideo data during said event; and means, in response to said indication from said viewer, for enhancing said at least one of said images of said event based on said position of said target area, said enhancing being performed at said first location during said event.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein: said indication from said viewer indicates a choice of a particular enhancement from a set of two or more enhancements.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein: said means for enhancing adds an additional image to said at least one of said images at said position of said target area.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for enhancing a live television presentation of an event, comprising: a decoder, said decoder receives a television signal at a first location other than a television studio, said event being performed at a second location, said first location is remote from said second location, said television signal includes video data and nonvideo data, said video data includes images of said event, said images of said event include one or more images of a target area, said nonvideo data includes data indicating a position of said target area in at least one of said images of said event, said decoder reads said nonvideo data; a display; an input device; and a processor in communication with said decoder, said display and said input device, said processor performs a method comprising the steps of: receiving said position of said target area, receiving an indication from a viewer to enhance said television signal, and enhancing said at least one of said images of said event based on said position of said target area, said step of enhancing being performed at said first location during said sporting event, said step of enhancing being performed in response to said indication from said viewer.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for enhancing a live television presentation of an event, comprising: a decoder, said decoder receives a television signal at a first location other than a television studio, said event being performed at a second location, said first location is remote from said second location, said television signal includes video data and nonvideo data, said video data includes images of said event, said images of said event include one or more images of a target area, said nonvideo data includes data indicating a position of said target area in at least one of said images of said event, said decoder reads said nonvideo data; a display; an input device; and a processor in communication with said decoder, said display and said input device, said processor performs a method comprising the steps of: receiving said position of said target area, receiving an indication from a viewer to enhance said television signal, and enhancing said at least one of said images of said event based on said position of said target area, said step of enhancing being performed at said first location during said sporting event, said step of enhancing being performed in response to said indication from said viewer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein: said indication from said viewer indicates a choice of a particular enhancement from a set of two or more enhancements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein: said step of enhancing adds an additional image to said at least one of said images at said position of said target area.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein: said decoder reads said nonvideo data from a vertical blanking interval portion of said television signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-28 | 2004-05-29 | 2004-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-28 | 2008-05-29 | 2008-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-28 | 2012-05-29 | 2012-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |