U.S. patent number 6,195,090 [Application Number 09/028,439] was granted by the patent office on 2001-02-27 for interactive sporting-event monitoring system.
Invention is credited to A. Stephen Riggins, III.
United States Patent |
6,195,090 |
Riggins, III |
February 27, 2001 |
Interactive sporting-event monitoring system
Abstract
An interactive sporting event monitoring system includes a
determiner for determining whether video blanking interval data is
present in a selected television channel, and a decoder for
decoding video blanking interval data from the selected television
channel. The video blanking interval data from the selected
television channel comprises a number of channels of sporting-event
audio information, and the decoder associates each of the plurality
of channels of sporting-event audio information with a
corresponding channel identifier. Each channel identifier
distinguishes a corresponding channel of sporting-event audio
information from other channels of sporting-event audio
information. The interactive sporting event monitoring system
further includes a user input for accepting a user-specified
channel identifier from a user, and a monitor for placing the
channel of sporting-event audio information that the user desires
to monitor in a format to facilitate monitoring thereof by a user.
The video blanking interval data may further include telemetry
data.
Inventors: |
Riggins, III; A. Stephen
(Mission Viejo, CA) |
Family
ID: |
26703695 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/028,439 |
Filed: |
February 24, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/139;
455/67.13; 455/67.11; 725/37; 340/870.03; 340/870.07; 348/478;
340/870.11; 348/E7.031; 348/E5.105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
21/435 (20130101); H04N 21/4383 (20130101); H04N
21/47 (20130101); H04N 21/235 (20130101); H04N
21/482 (20130101); H04N 21/4221 (20130101); H04N
7/088 (20130101); H04N 5/44543 (20130101); H04N
21/4622 (20130101); H04N 21/8106 (20130101); H04N
21/2187 (20130101); H04N 21/4263 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
7/088 (20060101); H04N 7/087 (20060101); H04N
5/445 (20060101); G06F 003/00 (); H04N 007/10 ();
H04N 001/02 (); G08C 015/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;348/476,478,6,9,1,10
;455/66,2,6.3,6.2,3.1 ;345/327
;340/870.01,870.02,870.03,870.07,870.11 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Miller; John W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins,
LLP Stout; Donald E.
Parent Case Text
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
No. 60/039,268, filed Feb. 28, 1997, which is commonly owned and
the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by
reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An interactive sporting event monitoring system for facilitating
monitoring of a live sporting event wherein spectators at the
sporting event can identify one or more contestants by contestant
identifiers, each of a plurality of the one or more contestants
having a radio transmitter on a distinct transmitting frequency for
transmitting audio information to a data receiving station, the
data receiving station comprising a plurality of radio receivers
wherein each radio receiver is tuned to a corresponding
contestant's radio transmitter, wherein each radio receiver's audio
output is digitized and digitally tagged with the corresponding
contestant identifier, the interactive sporting event monitoring
system comprising:
tuning means for selecting a television channel, the television
channel comprising one or more channels of sporting-event audio
information, wherein each of the one or more channels of
sporting-event audio information is encoded with a corresponding
channel identifier distinguishing that channel from other
channels;
detecting means for detecting the one or more channels of
sporting-event audio information on the television channel, the
detecting means being for associating each of the one or more
channels of sporting-event audio information with its corresponding
channel identifier, each channel identifier including a
corresponding contestant identifier and each of the one or more
channels of sporting-event audio information including audio
information of the contestant identified by the corresponding
contestant identifier;
a user input adapted to accept a user-specified channel identifier
from a user, the user-specified channel identifier specifying a
channel of sporting-event audio information that the user desires
to monitor; and
monitoring means for placing the channel of sporting-event audio
information that the user desires to monitor in a format to
facilitate monitoring thereof by a user.
2. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 1, wherein the monitoring means comprises display means for
visually displaying information relating to a plurality of channels
of sporting-event audio information.
3. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 2, wherein the display means visually displays channel
identifiers that have had transmission activity.
4. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 3, wherein the display means displays the contestant
identifier associated with each channel identifier being
displayed.
5. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 3, wherein the display means displays, in a visually
distinctive format relative to other channel identifiers being
displayed, those channel identifiers that currently have
transmission activity.
6. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 5, wherein the display means displays only the channel
identifiers that have had transmission activity since the user
began monitoring the sporting event.
7. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 6, wherein the display means displays the contestant
identifier associated with each channel identifier being
displayed.
8. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 7, wherein the display means displays the contestant
identifier as the channel identifier, for each channel identifier
being displayed by the display means.
9. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 8, wherein the user input is a remote control.
10. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 2, wherein the monitoring means comprises means for visually
indicating the channel of sporting-event audio information that the
user desires to monitor in a format that is visually distinctive
over the information relating to the plurality of channels on the
display means.
11. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 1, wherein:
the television channel selected by the tuning means comprises a
first television channel; and
the tuning means comprises means for simultaneously selecting a
second television channel, the second television channel comprising
a standard commercial video and audio broadcast of the sporting
event.
12. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 1, wherein the user input is a remote control.
13. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 1, wherein the display means visually displays channel
identifiers that have had transmission activity.
14. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claims 1, wherein the monitoring means is adapted to display
information to allow the user to select among audio and telemetry
modes.
15. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 1, wherein
the television channel comprises a video blanking interval; and
the video blanking interval comprises at least one of the one or
more channels of sporting event audio information.
16. An interactive sporting event monitoring system for
facilitating monitoring of a sporting event wherein spectators at
the sporting event can identify contestants by contestant
identifiers, the interactive sporting event monitoring system
comprising:
tuning means for selecting a television channel, the television
channel comprising a plurality of channels of telemetry
information, wherein each of the plurality of channels of telemetry
information is encoded with a corresponding channel identifier
distinguishing that channel from other channels;
detecting means for detecting the plurality of channels of
telemetry information on the television channel, the detecting
means being adapted to associate each of the plurality of channels
of telemetry information with its corresponding channel identifier,
each channel identifier including a corresponding contestant
identifier and each of the plurality of channels of telemetry
information including telemetry information of the contestant
identified by the corresponding contestant identifier;
a user input adapted to accept a user-specified channel identifier
from a user, the user-specified channel identifier specifying a
channel of telemetry information that the user desires to monitor;
and
monitoring means for placing the channel of telemetry information
that the user desires to monitor in a format to facilitate
monitoring thereof by a user.
17. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of telemetry data channels
comprises at least one of speed data, position data, magnetic
heading data, engine revolutions per minute (RPM) data, lateral
acceleration data, throttle position data, brake on/off data, and
gear data that corresponds to the particular contestant.
18. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 16, wherein the monitoring means comprises means for
constructing a virtual reality sporting-event environment and for
generating a virtual-reality contestant within the virtual reality
sporting-event environment, the monitoring means generating the
virtual-reality contestant based upon at least one of the data,
position data, magnetic heading data, engine revolutions per minute
(RPM) data, lateral acceleration data, throttle position data,
brake on/off data, and gear data that corresponds to a particular
contestant.
19. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 18, wherein the monitoring means is adapted to display
information to allow the user to view, from within the virtual
reality sporting-event environment, the sporting event from any
vantage point on or above the field of play.
20. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 19, wherein the monitoring means is adapted to display
information to allow the user to view, from within the virtual
reality sporting-event environment, the sporting event from a
vantage of any participant of the sporting event.
21. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 18, wherein the interactive sporting event monitoring system
is adapted to store telemetry data to provide instant replays,
using the virtual reality sporting-event environment, from any
angle and position on or above the field of play.
22. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 16, wherein the user input is a remote control.
23. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 16, wherein the monitoring means comprises display means for
visually displaying information relating to a plurality of channels
of telemetry information, and further comprises means for visually
indicating the channel of telemetry information that the user
desires to monitor in a format that is visually distinctive over
the information relating to the plurality of channels on the
display means.
24. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 23, wherein the display means visually displays channel
identifiers that have had transmission activity.
25. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 24, wherein the display means displays the contestant
identifier associated with each channel identifier being
displayed.
26. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 25, wherein the display means displays, in a visually
distinctive format relative to other channel identifiers being
displayed, those channel identifiers that currently have
transmission activity.
27. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 26, wherein the display means displays only the channel
identifiers that have had transmission activity since the user
began monitoring the sporting event.
28. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 27, wherein the display means displays the contestant
identifier associated with each channel identifier being
displayed.
29. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 28, wherein the display means displays the contestant
identifier as the channel identifier, for each channel identifier
being displayed by the display means.
30. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 29, wherein the user input is a remote control.
31. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 18, wherein the interactive sporting event monitoring system
is adapted to generate and display real-time statistics for
contestants in the sporting event.
32. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 16, wherein the interactive sporting event monitoring system
is adapted to allow the user to insert himself or herself into a
virtual reality of the sporting event to participate with the
actual competitors in real time.
33. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 16, wherein the interactive sporting event monitoring system
is adapted to allow the user to insert himself or herself into a
virtual reality of the sporting event to participate with the
actual competitors in a virtual re-creation of the sporting event
alter the sporting event has concluded.
34. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 16, wherein
the television channel comprises a video blanking interval; and
the video blanking interval comprises at least one of the plurality
channels of telemetry information.
35. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 16, wherein the monitoring means comprises means for
constructing a virtual reality sporting-event environment
comprising virtual contestants, wherein movement of the virtual
contestants are based on telemetry data streams transmitted from
the live sporting event and wherein the user can enter the virtual
reality sporting-event environment and participate in the virtual
sporting event.
36. The interactive sporting event monitoring system as recited in
claim 1 or 16, wherein the interactive sporting event monitoring
system is adapted to allow regular broadcast video and audio
programming to be viewed in conjunction with over-laid or
picture-in-picture graphics and over-laid audio from the real-time
sporting event contestant audio and telemetry data streams.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to television broadcasts
systems and, more particularly, to interactive sporting-event
broadcast and monitoring systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Automobile racing has become a very popular spectator sport in both
the United States and overseas. The increase in popularity of
automobile racing can be attributed in part to the coverage
provided by broadcast television stations, which have brought the
thrill and excitement of live automobile racing events into the
homes of racing enthusiasts.
In a typical automobile racing event, the driver of each racing
automobile is radio linked to his or her corresponding crew.
Spectators at the actual sporting event commonly carry hand-held
programmable UHF scanner radio receivers, for monitoring the UHF
radio audio transmissions between the various drivers and crews.
Each race team typically communicates on a specific UHF radio
channel. The spectator programs the various UHF radio channels on
his or her hand-held programmable UHF scanner radio receiver. The
spectator can monitor all of the UHF radio channels sequentially in
a scan mode or, alternatively, can hold on a single UHF radio
channel. The spectator at the automobile racing event is thus able
to determine the monitoring format according to his or her
individual preferences.
By monitoring these UHF radio transmissions, the spectator
attending the event can follow particular teams closely, get an
appreciation for race strategy and, in general, get more involved
in the automobile racing event. The monitoring of the UHF radio
transmissions by the spectator adds another dimension to the
automobile racing event, as compared to merely watching the event,
by providing additional information to the spectator. Monitoring of
the UHF radio transmissions by the spectator allows the spectator
to become actively involved with the automobile racing event and
the race strategy associated therewith.
In addition to the UHF radio audio transmissions, which generally
comprise communications between the driver and his or her crew,
race teams also commonly receive telemetry data from the driver's
race car. Telemetry data is transmitted on UHF radio channels in a
real-time format from the race car to the crew to enable analysis
of machine and driver performance. The telemetry data typically
comprises key information including, speed, engine
revolutions-per-minute (rpm), lateral acceleration, brake movement,
and throttle movement information corresponding to a particular
automobile.
A television broadcasting team will commonly operate on-site at a
sporting event to facilitate broadcasting of the sporting event.
The television broadcasting team receives and monitors the UHF
radio audio transmissions. Occasionally, the television
broadcasting team will simultaneously broadcast a UHF radio audio
transmission with the video broadcast for the home viewer.
Additionally, telemetry data on UHF radio channels is occasionally
presented in graphical format by the television broadcasting team
to allow the television viewers to monitor real-time speeds, engine
rpm, lateral acceleration, brake movements, and throttle movements
of a particular driver on their television sets.
The infrequent forwarding of UHF radio audio information to the
television viewers at home is no substitute for the hand-held
programmable UHF radio scanner radio receivers used by spectators
at the sporting event. Nor is the infrequent, limited forwarding of
telemetry data to the television viewer adequate to provide the
viewer with an optimal interactive experience. Although the
television viewer may occasionally receive a small exposure to the
UHF radio audio and/or telemetry data transmissions corresponding
to a driver, the television viewer is unable to select between and
continuously monitor these transmissions and, further, is unable to
monitor transmissions corresponding to more than one driver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The interactive monitoring system of the present invention receives
UHF radio audio transmissions corresponding to all of the
automobile drivers at the automobile racing event, and displays
information relating to each UHF radio audio transmission on a
viewer's television. The viewer can scan, hold or directly select
any one of the UHF radio audio transmissions at any time, in
accordance with the user's individual preferences. Thus, according
to the present invention, the UHF radio audio transmissions are
available to the viewer in the same way in which they are available
to the spectator attending the automobile racing event.
The interactive monitoring system of the present invention also
receives telemetry data corresponding to all of the transmitting
teams at the racing event. The telemetry data is graphically
depicted in real-time on the viewer's television, and the user can
select between the telemetry data corresponding to the different
drivers. The user can scan, hold, or directly select any telemetry
display for viewing. Similarly, and at the same time, the user can
scan, hold, or directly select any UHF radio audio transmission for
audio monitoring. The viewer can, for example, listen to a UHF
radio audio transmission corresponding to a first race team and, at
the same time, display telemetry data corresponding to a second
race team.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a data collection
station comprises a first plurality of UHF radio receivers for
continuously and simultaneously receiving audio data from a
corresponding plurality of UHF radio transmitters, and a second
plurality of telemetry data receivers for continuously and
simultaneously receiving telemetry data from a corresponding
plurality of telemetry data transmitters. The data collection
station further comprises a data router operatively coupled to both
the first plurality of UHF radio receivers and the second plurality
of telemetry data receivers. The data router continuously receives
both the audio data (from the UHF radios) and the telemetry data
from the first plurality of UHF radio receivers and the second
plurality of telemetry data receivers. The data router continuously
routes the audio data and the telemetry data to a broadcasting
facility. The data collection station is for use at a sporting
event having a plurality of contestants, and the number of UHF
radio receivers and the number of telemetry data receivers is each
equal to the number of contestants in the sporting event.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a data
collection station is for use at a sporting event having a
plurality of contestants. The data collection station comprises a
plurality of telemetry data receivers corresponding to the
plurality of contestants at the sporting event. All of the
telemetry data receivers continuously and simultaneously receive
telemetry data from a corresponding plurality of telemetry data
transmitters corresponding in number to the plurality of
contestants. A local global positioning system transmitter is
positioned near the sporting event to enable Higher Precision
Global positioning system information. The data router receives the
telemetry data, codes it to the particular race car, digitizes,
multiplexes all the individual race car signals and routes the
telemetry data to a broadcasting facility. A global positioning
system receiver on board each race car, receives global positioning
system information from satellites and from a local global
positioning system transmitter. The telemetry data comprises speed
data, position data, magnetic heading data, engine rpm data,
lateral acceleration data, throttle position data, brake on/off
data, and gear data.
An interactive sporting event monitoring system (at home decoder
unit) of the present invention includes tuning means for selecting
a television channel from a broad-band cable television signal, and
determining means for determining whether relevant video blanking
interval data is present in the selected television signal. The
interactive sporting event monitoring system further includes
decoding means for decoding video blanking interval data from the
selected television signal. The video blanking interval data
includes a plurality of channels of audio information, and the
decoding means associates each of the plurality of channels of
audio information with a corresponding channel identifier (that
relates to the race car number). Each channel identifier
distinguishes a corresponding channel of audio information from
other channels of audio information of the plurality of channels of
audio information. The interactive sporting event monitoring system
further includes a user input for accepting a user-specified
channel identifier from a user, and monitoring means for placing
the channel of audio information that the user desires to monitor
in a format to facilitate monitoring thereof by a user. The tuning
means can be for selecting a single television channel from a
broad-band cable television signal or can be for selecting both a
first television channel and a second television channel from a
broad-band cable television signal, or satellite signal.
In another aspect of the present invention, an interactive sporting
event monitoring system includes determining means for determining
whether video blanking interval data is present in a selected
television channel, and decoding means for decoding video blanking
interval data from the selected television channel. The video
blanking interval data from the selected television channel
comprises a plurality of channels of sporting-event audio
information, and the decoding means associates each of the
plurality of channels of sporting-event audio information with a
corresponding channel identifier. Each channel identifier
distinguishes a corresponding channel of sporting-event audio
information from other channels of sporting-event audio
information. The interactive sporting event monitoring system
further includes a user input for accepting a user-specified
channel identifier from a user, and monitoring means for placing
the channel of sporting-event audio information that the user
desires to monitor in a format to facilitate monitoring thereof by
a user. The video blanking interval data may further include
telemetry data. The television channel selected by the tuning means
comprises a first television channel, and the tuning means can
comprise means for selecting a second television channel from the
broad-band cable television signal or satellite input. At least one
of the first television channel and the second television channel
can comprise telemetry data.
These and other aspects of the present invention are apparent in
the following detailed description and claims, particularly when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which
like parts bear like reference numerals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the interactive
sporting-event broadcast and monitoring system of the presently
preferred embodiment;
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the interactive
sporting-event broadcast and monitoring system of the presently
preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the data collection station
of the presently preferred embodiment;
FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of the telemetry acquiring and
transmitting device of the presently preferred embodiment;
FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the television-top decoder of
the presently preferred embodiment;
FIG. 6a illustrates a side-elevational view of the display side of
the television-top decoder device in accordance with the presently
preferred embodiment;
FIG. 6b illustrates a side-elevational view of the connection side
of the television-top decoder device in accordance with the
presently preferred embodiment;
FIG. 6c illustrates a top-elevational view of a remote control for
use with the television-top decoder device in accordance with the
presently preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 7 illustrates a side elevation view of a television screen
display generated by the interactive sporting-event broadcast and
monitoring system of the presently preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a
schematic diagram of the interactive monitoring system 15 of the
presently preferred embodiment. The interactive monitoring system
15 comprises a data collection station 17, which receives radio
transmissions from an event participant 20. In the presently
preferred embodiment, the radio transmissions comprise UHF radio
transmissions and the event participant 20 comprises a driver and a
racing automobile. Other radio transmissions may be used such as,
for example, VHF radio transmissions. Although the present
invention is described in the specific context of an
automobile-racing sporting event, the present invention can be
applied to and encompasses virtually any sporting event having
multiple contestants wherein each contestant comprises a
radio-linked team, or any sporting event in which radios can be
attached to the multiple contestants. According to one broad aspect
of the present invention, the term "radio" is intended to encompass
any device for transmitting and/or receiving information. For
example, a micro-transmitter can be placed in the helmet of every
football player in a professional football game or in the golf bag
of a golfer in a golf tournament. The micro-transmitter may
comprise transmitting and receiving capabilities or, alternatively,
may comprise only transmitting capabilities. The radio
transmissions comprise audio information and/or telemetry data,
which may be transmitted and received between each player and the
data collection station 17. In the case of each contestant having a
radio-linked team, audio information and/or telemetry data is also
transmitted and/or received between the player and his or her
radio-linked team.
The audio information preferably comprises voice communications
between the driver and his or her crew, and the telemetry data
preferably comprises data transmitted in a real-time format from
the automobile to the crew in order to enable analysis of machine
and driver performance. The telemetry data preferably comprises key
information including position information, speed information,
engine revolutions-per-minute (rpm) information, lateral
acceleration information, brake movement information, and throttle
movement information corresponding to a particular racing
automobile. In sporting events where event participants do not have
radio-linked teams, the UHF radio transmissions can occur between
one event participant and another event participant, or can
comprise only sounds occurring in the immediate vicinity of the
event participant during the event. Similarly, in sporting events
where event participants do not have radio-linked teams, the
telemetry data transmissions can occur between one event
participant and another event participant, or can comprise only
images or information seen or perceivable by the event participant
during the sporting event.
In the presently preferred embodiment wherein telemetry data is
transmitted and wherein the telemetry data comprises position
information, a local global positioning satellite transmitter 19
can be incorporated for greater position accuracy. The local global
positioning satellite transmitter 19 transmits local global
positioning satellite information to each event participant 20.
Global positioning satellite position information can still be
generated by each event participant in the absence of the local
global positioning satellite transmitter 19, but the position
information is not as accurate. In embodiments where telemetry data
is not transmitted or when accuracy is not required, the local
global positioning satellite transmitter 19 can be omitted.
Audio information from each preferred embodiment 20 and/or audio
information from the crew of each preferred embodiment 20 is
formatted and forwarded to a television broadcasting facility 21.
The television broadcasting facility 21 formats the data for
broadcasting to a satellite 23. The satellite 23 forwards the data
to a local cable television provider 25(or to a home satellite
receiver dish).
Cable service is provided from the local cable television provider
25 to cable subscribers. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, cable
service is provided to a subscriber's television set 27 and to a
television-top decoder 29 via line 31. The television-top decoder
29 receives the audio information and/or telemetry data from the
line 31 and processes the audio information and/or telemetry data
for monitoring by a user on the television set 27. An optional
personal computer 33 can be connected to the television-top decoder
29 via line 36 for further processing of the audio information
and/or telemetry data.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the interactive monitoring
system 15. The preferred embodiment 20 comprises an audio receiving
and transmitting device 38 and a telemetry acquiring and
transmitting device 41. The audio receiving and transmitting device
38 receives audio communications from the crew of the event
participant and transmits audio communications to the crew of the
event participant. The telemetry acquiring and transmitting device
41 acquires and generates telemetry data, and transmits this
telemetry data to the crew of the event participant. The data
collection station 17 is shown in FIG. 2 comprising an audio
receiver 43 and a telemetry receiver 45. As presently embodied, the
data collection station 17 comprises an audio receiver 43 and a
telemetry receiver 45 for each event participant. In an embodiment
where telemetry data is not used, the telemetry acquiring and
transmitting device 41 and the telemetry receiver 45 can be omitted
for each event participant. Data from the audio receiver 43 and the
telemetry receiver 45 is transmitted to the television broadcasting
facility 21 and, subsequently, broadcast to a satellite 23 (FIG.
1). The local cable television provider 25 sends the audio
information and/or the telemetry data to the television set 27 and
television-top decoder 29 of a cable subscriber.
The block diagram of FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary configuration
of the data collection station 17. The data collection station 17
is illustrated comprising 36 audio receivers and 36 telemetry
receivers. Although 36 receivers are presently preferred, a greater
or smaller number of receivers and corresponding components may be
incorporated according to design parameters. The first of the 36
audio receivers is shown with the reference number 43, and the last
of the 36 audio receivers is shown with the reference number 43a.
Similarly, the first of the 36 telemetry receivers is shown with
the reference number 45, and the last of the 36 telemetry receivers
is shown with the reference number 45a. The audio information and
the telemetry data from 36 event participants are simultaneously
received into the data collection station 17 and, subsequently, fed
into a corresponding bank of analog-to-digital converters within
the data collection station 17. Audio information from the audio
receiver 43 is fed to an analog-to-digital converter 50, and audio
information from the audio receiver 43a is fed to an
analog-to-digital converter 50a. Similarly, telemetry data from the
telemetry receiver 45 is fed to an analog-to-digital converter 52,
and telemetry data from the telemetry receiver 45a is fed to an
analog-to-digital converter 52a.
The streams of digitized information, corresponding to the 36
channels of audio information and the 36 channels of telemetry
data, are next fed to tagging circuits. The audio-information
tagging circuits, such as shown at 55 and 55a, and the
telemetry-data tagging circuits, such as shown at 57 and 57a, tag
the corresponding streams of digitized information with the
television-top attention prefix and a channel identifier. In the
presently before embodiment, the channel identifier for each of the
audio information streams comprises a number between 000 and 099,
and the channel identifier for each of the telemetry data streams
comprises a number between 100 and 199.
In addition to these 72 channels of audio information and telemetry
data, corresponding to the 72 streams of digitized information, an
additional channel (not shown) for computer-generated digital data
streams is provided in accordance with the present invention for a
variety of additional coded data to be supplied for real-time
custom programming of the television-top decoder 29. Additionally,
the channel for computer-generated data streams carries custom
programming information and, further, can carry additional graphic
data to be displayed on the television set 27. As presently
embodied, the channel identifier number for the computer channel is
the number 999. The 72 channels and the one computer channel are
all fed to the multiplexer 60. Subsequently, data compression can
be performed by the data compressor 64, if required. A transmitter
66 receives the multiplexed data from the multiplexer 60 and,
optionally, to the data compressor 64. The resulting digital
information is transmitted to the television broadcasting facility
21 by the transmitter 66.
The television broadcasting facility 21 receives the digital
information from the transmitter 66 of the data collection station
17. The received digital information is transmitted by the
television broadcasting facility 21 by insertion of the digital
information into a video blanking interval of a television channel
within a broad-band cable television signal. Conventional
technology can be used to insert the digital information into the
video blanking interval. Such conventional technology exists in the
area of inserting closed-caption information into video blanking
intervals of television channels. A first portion of the digital
information of the present invention is preferably inserted into
the video blanking interval of a television channel, which is
currently carrying the broadcast of the sporting event, in any
conventional format. The second portion of the digital information
is preferably inserted into a secondary television channel of the
broad-band cable television signal, that is dedicated exclusively
for digital data transmission. In an alternative embodiment, only
active digital information is transmitted and, accordingly, the
secondary television channel is not required. According to this
alternative embodiment, only 8, for example, of the 36 audio
information channels may be active at any given time so that only
the eight active channels are transmitted. Moreover, according to
this alternative embodiment, sporting events having fewer than 36
contestants do not require transmission of all of the 72
channels.
FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of the telemetry acquiring and
transmitting device 41, which was described above with reference to
FIG. 2. The telemetry acquiring and transmitting device 41
comprises a plurality of sensors 71 for collecting local global
positioning satellite data including latitude, longitudinal, and
altitude from global positioning satellites and from an optional
local global positioning satellite transmitter. The plurality of
sensors 71 also collect data relating to speed, magnetic heading,
lateral acceleration, engine revolutions per minute, throttle
position, break position, gear selected, and option parameter. The
plurality of sensors 71 convert any analog data to digital form and
output the digital data in parallel form to a digital multiplexer
74. The digital multiplexer 74 preferably multiplexes the data two
times per second. Multiplexed data from the digital multiplexer 74
is output to the radio transmitter 77, which preferably
continuously transmits data via either VHF or UHF radio.
FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the television-top decoder 29
of the presently preferred embodiment. The television-top decoder
29 can be programmed remotely by digital information included in
the video blanking interval portion of a television channel. The
programming information for programming the television-top decoder
29 can be used to configure the television-top decoder 29 in
various ways to accompany various types of television programming,
sporting events and monitoring protocols. Alternatively, the
television-top decoder 29 can be programmed remotely by digital
information included in the secondary television channel. The
television-top decoder 29 can be remotely programmed, for example,
at the beginning of a program, updated during the program or
re-programmed many times during the program, according to the
preferences of the television programming personnel. The
television-top decoder 29 can also be programmed by using optional
PCMCIA cards, for example.
A cable television input 82 receives a broad-band cable television
signal from the line 31 (FIG. 1). The cable television input 82
outputs the broad-band cable television signal to a first
television tuner 84 and to a second television tuner 86. The first
television tuner 84 selects a first television channel from the
broad-band cable television signal, and the second television tuner
86 selects a second television channel from the broad-band cable
television signal or satellite signal. The first television channel
is preferably the same television channel to which the event is
being broadcasted in order to allow simultaneous viewing of the
broadcast sporting event program and monitoring of video blanking
interval digital information.
The first television tuner 84 determines the first television
channel to be selected (the video broadcast) and the second
television tuner 86 determines the second television channel to be
selected (additional digital data is required). The user inputs
information relating to the first television channel and the second
television channel into the television-top decoder 29 by using a
remote control 88 (FIG. 6c). In the presently preferred embodiment,
all user-controllable functions of the television-top decoder 29
will be controlled by a user with the remote control 88. The
infrared remote control sensor 90 receives the user instructions
from the remote control 88 and forwards the user instructions to
the microprocessor 92 via a data bus 95. The microprocessor 92
instructs the first television tuner 84 via line 98 to select the
first television channel, and instructs the second television tuner
86 via line 101 to select the second television channel. The second
television tuner 86 is not required in embodiments where additional
digital information is not carried on the second television
channel.
The broad-band cable television signal is passed from the first TV
tuner 84 in an unmodified state to the video mixer 103 via line
105. Additionally, the first television channel, selected by the
first television tuner 84, is forwarded in an unmodified state both
to the video mixer 103 via line 108 and to the video switch 110 via
line 112. The second television tuner 86 forwards the second
television channel to the video switch 110 via line 113. The video
blanking interval data decoder 115 receives the first television
channel and the second television channel from the video switch 10.
The video blanking interval data decoder 115 determines whether
encoded data is present in lines 10 through 20 of the video
blanking interval of the first television channel, as presently
embodied. In the presently preferred embodiment, the encoded data
that would need to be present in lines 10 through 20 of the video
blanking interval comprises a television-top attention prefix,
which was previously discussed above. If the television-top
attention prefix is present in the video blanking interval, then
the microprocessor 92 processes the digital information in the
video blanking interval using default mode settings, user-modified
mode settings, or real-time reprogrammed mode settings. The video
blanking interval data decoder 115 decompresses the video blanking
interval data, if required and, additionally, passes the video
blanking interval data to the serial output 120 for optional
additional processing. The video blanking interval data decoder 115
processes digital information in the second television channel in a
similar manner, when the second television channel is used. The
serial output 120 connects the television-top decoder 29 to the
personal computer 33 via line 36 (FIG. 1).
Streams of digitized information having the television-top
attention prefix and having a channel identifier between 000 and
099 are treated by the VBI data decoder 115 as audio information
streams. The television-top decoder 29 is operable in several
modes, including a scan mode, a hold mode, and a mute mode. In the
scan mode, the video blinking interval data decoder 115 sends a
first active channel of audio information, corresponding to a first
sporting-event contestant, to the digital-to-analog converter 122
via the data bus 95. If the first channel of audio information is
inactive, then the video blanking interval data decoder 115 instead
determines whether the second channel of audio information,
corresponding to a second sporting-event contestant, is active. A
channel of audio information is active when audio communications
between the corresponding sporting event contestant and his or her
crew are occurring on the channel of audio information. If the
second channel of audio information is active, then the video
blanking interval data decoder 115 sends the second channel of
audio information to the digital-to-analog converter 122. Channels
of audio information sent to the digital-to-analog converter 122
are converted to analog signals and, subsequently, passed to the
audio amplifier 127. The audio amplifier 127 outputs amplified
analog signals to both the audio output 129 and the headphone
output 131. The level of volume at the audio output 129 and/or the
headphone output 131 can be adjusted by the remote control 88 (FIG.
6c).
The amplified analog signals are also passed to the video mixer 103
via line 134. When the amplified analog signals are passed to the
video mixer 103, the amplified analog signals replace the broadcast
audio on the first television channel. The broadcast audio on the
first television channel corresponds to the audio which the
television set 27 would normally use in the absence of the
television-top decoder 29. In the scan mode, the video blanking
interval data decoder 115 consecutively scans the first through
thirty-sixth channels of audio information for active channels and
sequentially forwards each active channel of audio information to
the digital-to-analog converter 122. The amplified analog signals
do not replace the broadcast audio on the first television channel
when the television-top decoder 29 is in the mute mode, which can
be selected using the remote control 88. When the channel of audio
information being amplified by the audio amplifier 127 is inactive
for greater than one second, the microprocessor 92 routes the next
highest active channel of audio information to the
digital-to-analog converter 122, unless the user has selected the
hold mode. The audio event channel selector, which displays the
channel of audio information currently being amplified by the audio
amplifier 127, resets to 000 after incremitting past 099. If at
anytime the user directly enters a number corresponding to a
channel of audio information that the user desires to monitor
(audio entry mode), the microprocessor 92 immediately passes the
corresponding channel of audio information to the digital-to-analog
converter 122 and holds on that channel of audio information.
Streams of digitized information having the television-top
attention prefix and having a channel identifier between 100 and
199 are treated by the video blanking interval data decoder 115 as
telemetry data streams. Telemetry data includes parametric data
from automobile engines, contestants, etc. The parametric data is
forwarded from the video blanking interval data decoder 115 to the
microprocessor 92 via the data bus 95, and is processed by the
microprocessor 92. The parametric data processed by the
microprocessor 92 is forwarded to the video generator 140.
Processed parametric data from the microprocessor 92 is displayed
on the television set 27 (FIG. 1) in a format, which is dictated by
either (1) real-time custom programming information from a computer
channel having a television-top attention prefix and a channel
identifier number of 999, (2) PCMCIA programming information, or
(3) default mode settings. Telemetry data can be treated as either
alpha-numeric information or graphic information. Additionally,
telemetry data can be treated as another video source and overlayed
onto the television picture, similarly to picture-in-picture
technology. Video overlays are generated from the telemetry data by
the video generator 140 for display over the broadcast video of the
first television channel. The video overlays are placed over the
broadcast video of the first television channel in such a way that
the broadcast video operates as a background for the video overlays
on the television set 27. The video overlays are generated by the
video generator 140 under the supervision and control of the
microprocessor 92. The video overlays from the video generator 140
are passed to the video mixer 103 and are subsequently output to
the television set 27 via the output 104.
In the default mode, the telemetry data is not displayed over the
broadcast video of the first television channel. A user can select
the telemetry mode in order to display the telemetry data over the
broadcast video of the first television channel. The telemetry data
can be viewed in a scan mode, a hold mode, and a direct channel
mode, similarly to the monitoring modes provided for monitoring of
the audio information.
Streams of digitized information having the television-top
attention prefix and having a channel identifier of 999 are treated
by the video blanking interval data decoder 115 as custom
programming information streams. The custom programming information
can operate to reconfigure or reprogram the television-top decoder
29 to process audio information and telemetry data in a way
tailored to a particular TV program or sporting event being
broadcast or a particular segment of a sporting event being
broadcast. Custom programming information may also be facilitated
by other means such as a PCMCIA hardware module 150, for example.
The PCMCIA hardware module can provide customized personality
configurations and can provide additional hardware functionality
for future applications and program adaptions. The customized
personality configurations of the PCMCIA cards can include
deciphering routines for security measures and for preventing
software theft.
The infrared remote control sensor 90 receives instructions from
the remote control 88 (FIG. 6c) and passes the received
instructions to the microprocessor 92 via the data bus 95.
Instructions received by the infrared remote control sensor 90 are
handled by the microprocessor 92 as interrupts and processed
immediately. The status light emitting diodes and channel
indicators 152 are controlled by the microprocessor 92.
The television-top decoder 29 of the present invention can extract
digital and analog information from the video blanking interval
portion of the first television channel and from the second
television channel; can decompress the digital data; can perform
error handling on the digital data; and can de-multiplex
simultaneous channels of information while maintaining channel
number identity of each stream of channel information corresponding
to each event participant. The television-top decoder 29 can allow
for sequential scanning of all channels of information, similarly
to a UHF scanner radio positioned to at the sporting event, and can
allow for random direct access to any specific channel. The
television-top decoder 29 can further treat coded portions of the
first television channel or the second television channel as sound
and convert the coded portions from digital to analog for
subsequent audio monitoring by a user. The television-top decoder
29 provides the user with an option of muting the audio associated
with the broadcast television channel covering the sporting event
and, instead, using audio from audio information on either the
video blanking interval of the first television channel or the
second television channel. The audio associated with the broadcast
television channel is unaffected when neither the video blanking
interval of the first television channel nor the second television
channel contains audio information.
FIG. 6a illustrates a side-elevational view of the display side of
the television-top decoder device, and FIG. 6b illustrates a
side-elevational view of the connection side of the television-top
decoder device of the presently preferred embodiment. When a user
initially presses the on button, the microprocessor 92 will boot-up
using instructions stored in the boot-up ROM 160 (FIG. 5). If a
PCMCIA card is in place, the microprocessor 92 will determine the
nature of the card and determine if any additional software
instructions are contained on the card and incorporate them into
the logic of the software function. Upon boot up, all of the
hardware in the television-top decoder 29 will be initialized with
default mode settings. All of the status light emitting diode's
will be turned on until the boot up and self test is complete. If a
fault occurs, the fault code will flash on and off on the status
light emitting diodes.
FIG. 7 illustrates a television display overlay displayed on a
viewing screen of the television set 27. The microprocessor 92, in
conjunction with the video generator 140, dictates the nature of
the television display overlay. The television display overlay can
be modified by user inputs from the remote control 88 shown in FIG.
6c. In the presently preferred embodiment, all overlays appear over
the broadcast video picture. In the initial default mode of the
television overlay display, three items of mode information appear
in the top left-hand quarter of the television screen. These three
items of mode information include (1) the event channel select mode
which can be either audio, telemetry, or other; (2) the active
event channel and the mode selected; and (3) the scan or hold
mode.
The side elevation view of the television screen display shown in
FIG. 7 is generated in real-time by the interactive sporting-event
broadcast and monitoring system of the presently prefered
embodiment. By pressing the audio toggle button 165 on the remote
control 88 (FIG. 6c), all of the channel numbers that have had any
transmission activity will be displayed on the left-hand side of
the television screen. This information will be updated once every
second. Any channel that is currently active in the audio spectrum
will be color coded and underlined. Any channel that is active in
the telemetry spectrum will be surrounded by a square. This feature
allows the user to direct access channels of interest when they are
active, versus having to wait for the scan mode to pick up the
activity. The position of this display can be changed by pressing
the audio toggle button 165 on the remote control 88. The toggle
sequence for the audio toggle button 65 is as follows: mode status
on top left of screen (default); channel activity and mode status
on left side of screen; channel activity and mode status on bottom
of screen; and mode status and channel activity display off. By
pressing the telemetry toggle button 168 on the remote control 88
for the first time, telemetry data for the selected telemetry event
channel will be displayed graphically in the upper right hand
corner of the screen. The position of this display can be changed
by pressing the telemetry toggle button on the remote control 88.
The toggle sequence is as follows: telemetry display on for
selected telemetry channel in upper right hand comer of the screen;
telemetry display on for selected telemetry channel in lower right
hand corner of the screen (will move audio channel data to left
side of the screen if located at the bottom); and the default is
telemetry display off.
The serial output 120 of the television-top decoder 29 can
facilitate simultaneous display of all of the telemetry data from
all of the broadcasting race teams. In the presently preferred
embodiment, all video blanking interval decoded digital data and
any decoded digital data from the second television channel are
passed to the serial output 120 for external computer processing.
The serial output 120 preferably comprises an RS-232 serial port.
Real-time fastest lap times and speeds and a large quantity of
real-time race statistics can be generated and displayed. A near
video quality three-dimensional model of the actual racetrack and
all of the competing vehicles can be generated using the telemetry
data and a commercially available personal computer racing
simulation software package. Using the real-time telemetry data
from the television-top decoder 29 and the racing simulation
software, a real-time virtual reality of the actual sporting event
can be generated. The virtual reality simulation of the sporting
event can be viewed by the user from any vantage point above or
level with the racetrack. Using the computer racing simulation
software, a user can insert himself or herself into the virtual
reality of the sporting event to participate with the actual
competitors in real-time. All of the telemetry data can be saved,
and a user can perform simulations and conduct the event again with
a different vehicle or strategy at a later time. The user can
perform instant replays using the personal-computer based near
video quality virtual reality from any position on or above the
racetrack, at any angle, and from any event participant as many
times as desired immediately after a particular incident or after
the event has been completed.
While this invention has been described with respect to various
specific examples and embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited thereto and that it can be variously
practiced within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *