U.S. patent application number 11/061505 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-21 for system providing location information in a sports game.
This patent application is currently assigned to SPORTS TECH AS. Invention is credited to Fergestad, Petter, Fergestad, Rune, Saxegaard, Tom.
Application Number | 20050159252 11/061505 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26648990 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050159252 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fergestad, Rune ; et
al. |
July 21, 2005 |
System providing location information in a sports game
Abstract
Method and system for providing information which may be used in
games for judging the game according to the rules of the game
and/or increasing the benefit of the viewer and observer of a
reportage by provided statistics and/or visualization of events on
e.g. sport arenas and utilization of the information. The system
includes a local position system including at least three
transmitter units (1) for transmitting of GPS-like signals, mobile
units (3) for receiving of the GPS-like signals. At least one
mobile unit (3) is mounted on the sport performer and/or sport
equipment. The mobile units (3) include a data processor (8) for
processing the GPS-like signals in known ways to provide position
parameters.
Inventors: |
Fergestad, Rune; (Drammen,
NO) ; Saxegaard, Tom; (Drammen, NO) ;
Fergestad, Petter; (Drammen, NO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET
2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
SPORTS TECH AS
DRAMMEN
NO
|
Family ID: |
26648990 |
Appl. No.: |
11/061505 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11061505 |
Feb 22, 2005 |
|
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10049059 |
May 10, 2002 |
|
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10049059 |
May 10, 2002 |
|
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PCT/NO00/00259 |
Aug 8, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/471 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 24/0021 20130101;
A63B 2225/50 20130101; A63B 2024/0025 20130101; G01S 1/20 20130101;
A63B 2220/836 20130101; G01S 19/11 20130101; A63B 71/0605 20130101;
G01S 19/19 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/471 |
International
Class: |
A63B 067/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 9, 1999 |
NO |
19993830 |
Feb 29, 2000 |
NO |
20001024 |
Claims
1. A system for providing location information of mobile units in a
sports game, comprising: a central unit (20) comprising a central
transceiver (9) and associated antenna; plural fixed transmitters
(1), each transmitter sending position signals at a first frequency
in the 2.4 GHz band; a transmitter antenna (2) attached to each
transmitter, the transmitter antenna being fixed in an exact
surveyed position; plural mobile units (3), each mobile unit
comprising a receiver (13) for the receiving the position signals
from fixed transmitters, the mobile units being mountable on sports
game players and equipment, a receiver antenna (4) attached to the
receiver, the receiver and receiver antenna tuned to the first
frequency, a transceiver (6) and associated antenna (7), and a data
processor (8), operatively connected to the receiver (13) and the
transceiver (6), to process one-way communication from fixed
transmitters to the mobile unit and two-way communications between
the central unit and the mobile unit, so that data from fixed
transmitters to the mobile unit are processed in the data processor
for determining for a position of the mobile unit relative to the
fixed transmitters, and sending the relative position to the
central unit.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central unit (20) further
comprises output ports for connection to the internet.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central unit (20) further
comprises output ports for connection to television media.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein, the central unit (20) further
comprises a television transceiver (16), and the system further
comprises a controllable television camera unit wireless linked to
the television transceiver, the controllable television camera unit
comprising a television camera (17), a servo control (19) connected
to control the camera, and a radio transceiver (18) connected to
control the servo control by commands received from the television
transceiver of the central unit.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein each mobile unit transits at a
power of less than 100 mW.
6. A location system providing location information of mobile
units, comprising: a central unit (20) with a central transceiver
(9); plural fixed transmitters (1), each fixed transmitter sending
position signals in the 2.4 GHz band that identify the location of
each fixed transmitter; plural mobile units (3), each mobile unit
comprising a receiver (13) for the receiving the position signals
from fixed transmitters, a transceiver (6) for communication with
the central transceiver of the central unit, and a data processor
(8), operatively connected to the receiver (13) and the transceiver
(6), the data processor directing one-way communications from fixed
transmitters to the mobile unit and two-way communications between
the central unit and the mobile unit, so that data contained in the
position signal sent from fixed transmitters to the mobile unit are
processed in the data processor for determining for a position of
the mobile unit relative to the fixed transmitters, and sending the
determined relative position to the central unit.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the central unit (20) further
comprises output ports for connection to the internet.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the central unit (20) further
comprises output ports for connection to television media.
9. The system of claim 6, wherein, the central unit (20) further
comprises a television transceiver (16), and the system further
comprises a controllable television camera unit wireless linked to
the television transceiver, the controllable television camera unit
comprising a television camera (17), a servo control (19) connected
to control the camera, and a radio transceiver (18) connected to
control the servo control by commands received from the television
transceiver of the central unit.
10. The system of claim 6, wherein each mobile unit transits at a
power of less than 100 mW.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending application
Ser. No. 10/049,059, filed May 10, 2002, which is the National
Phase of PCT/NO00/00259, filed Aug. 8, 2000, which claims priority
of Norwegian application No. 19993830, filed Aug. 9, 1999 and No.
20001024, filed Feb. 29, 2000. The entire contents of each of the
above-identified applications are hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention concerns a method and system for integrated
and interactive presentation of sports events in media in order to
give media, viewers, audiences and coaches more information and
insight in the performance of teams and individuals, and further
improves the quality of the referees calls through digitalization
of sports events via sensors which register the position of people
and sports objects and via appropriate software for data processing
and media visualization, more specifically the invention concerns a
method for production of information as specified in the
introduction to claim 1 and further a system for execution of a
method for providing information as specified below.
[0003] Sports reporting on radio, TV and the press have great
attention in all countries. Such reporting may be in real time or
posterity. In addition to visual presentations of sports events the
reports contain information about crucial events such as, in
soccer: number of goals, who scored, time of the goal etc. Some of
these data are targets for betting and money games with huge
turnover and where the profit among other things also provides
funding for social institutions as well as for the sports itself.
Interactive TV is for time being none existing in Norway, but
available in some foreign TV channels. It is here employed several
employees sitting in the stands making notes, manually of game data
as for instance number of passes, faulty passes, shots etc. Viewers
may then subsequently call up this statistics interactively.
Similarly, viewers may interactively choose which manually operated
camera they wish to see the game from. They may also choose to view
previous highlights if they are late starting to watch the
game.
[0004] The standing and attention of a sport depends, among other
things, on a perceived fairness in uphold and execution of the
rules of the game, such as for instance offside in soccer. To
determine if a situation is offside, the three referees in
principle need to watch two simultaneous occurrences, i.e.:
determine the exact moment a pass is made to an attacker closer to
the defending teams goal and determine this attackers exact
position relative to the defending teams players at the moment the
pass is made. As the sports develop and the plays become
increasingly faster, teams are quicker in their collective
movements and passes become longer and more precise. This increases
the need for the referees to make quicker decisions and with
smaller margins. The high rate of wrong call we are seeing today in
soccer gives riser to controversies that is damaging for the sports
status, as well as causing unfair distribution of profit for the
teams, should a wrong call upset the fair result of a match and
appoint the wrong winner. Methods for improved judging of offside
in soccer accordingly has high priority within the responsible
soccer organizations, and FIFAs target is to solve this problem
within the next 10-year period. Another crucial judgment is to
decide whether the ball has been over the goal line. This is again
left to the referees's visual impression and may be problematic in
a situation where many players are crowding the ball in the goal
yard. A further situation that may sometimes be difficult is the
judgment of hands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention is intended to enable the production of
equipment and software which may be integrated to establish, with
high precision, a digital version of sports events and where the
digital data through appropriate processing and presentation gives
easy access to significantly more information and increases the
entertainment value in sports reporting and provides coaches with
more complete and significantly faster tools for analyzing sports
events. In the following we are primarily referring to soccer and
sports in general but the invention may of course also be used in
other areas where it is desirable to acquire information about
moving objects within a limited area.
[0006] The invention is further intended to enable the production
of equipment and software which may be integrated to improve
real-time recording of fouls, such as for instance off-side in
soccer.
[0007] The invention is further intended to enable the production
of equipment and software which may be integrated to give automatic
guidance input and control of TV-cameras positioned around the
sports arena in order for the cameras to track specified targets
such as for instance a soccer ball or they may be instructed to
track selected individuals.
[0008] To provide the above, it is necessary to determine the
position of players and ball. It is previously known to install
equipment on people or objects for the purpose of determining their
position. It is thus known to make such determination using various
forms of electromagnetic waves. A well established and highly
successful such system is satellite navigation, GPS (Global
Positioning System).
[0009] This system is developed and maintained by the US Department
Of Defense (DOD) and consists of 24 satellites in orbit around
planet earth sending coded signals which may be received by
GPS-receivers on earth. A position assessment with an accuracy of
2-5 meters in azimuth and about twice that may be obtained using
so-called differential GPS (DGPS) and by appropriate signal
processing. Impressive as this may be as a global accuracy, it is
still too inaccurate to decide whether a an off-side situation has
occurred, or to determine whether a player has touched the ball
with his head or with his left foot or with his right foot, or
decide a hands or decide a goal. The GPS/DGPS inaccuracy is
primarily caused by wave penetration through the
ionosphere-/troposphere, deviation in the satellite's orbit
parameters (ephemeris) and multi path. Higher accuracy (down to a
few millimeters) is achievable, but this requires more advanced,
more power consuming, heavier and more expensive receiver/antenna
systems unsuited for miniature battery operation and installation
on people and small objects such as for the present purpose. 5-7
years ago even the simplest GPS-receivers were too large to be
considered for the present use. The last 3-4 years have however
brought about a miniaturization where chip-based production
technology has opened new areas of use.
[0010] This miniaturization has not focused on high precision
receivers. Simpler versions are however now available in miniature
format and at a reasonable cost. The GPS/DGPS system requires line
of sight between receiver and satellite and can therefore not be
used in-doors. The DODs ownership to the system gives them right to
make the GPS-signals unavailable in emergency situations.
[0011] It is further known and described, for instance in soccer, a
system for installing radio transmitters on sports players and ball
and have a number of direction sensitive antennas installed around
the arena to receive the transmitted signals. The players' and the
balls position are then determined by calculating the angles
between transmitter and receivers. In this respect is referred to
WO 93/01867. The accuracy of this method is limited mainly by the
directivity of the receiver antennas and the dynamics in the
measurements. It is very difficult, with antennas of practically
realizable size to get a better angular accuracy than a couple of
degrees. To acquire information in 3 dimensions, even this accuracy
is very difficult to achieve. With base-lines in the order of
100-150 meters, the 3-D position accuracy with this system is of
the same order of magnitude as that of DGPS, i.e. about 5 meters.
This is insufficient for the present purpose as outlined above.
[0012] It is further known in soccer to use video-takes for closer
analysis of the performance of the team and the individual player
based on records from a number of TV-cameras giving selective
sectorwise coverage of the game. Such video-analyses are manual and
accordingly time consuming even with aid of computers with
dedicated and known software. As an example, a thorough analysis of
a soccer game, performed with today's state-of-the-art technology,
will take 7-8 hours for a trained individual. The analysis will
only contain the parameters available from the video screen, in the
limited cut out of the picture that is visible at any time. The
analysis with known technology can accordingly not contain
important parameters as for instance running-/walking-/jogging-di-
stance for every player, how fast he has run, how hard he has shot,
collective team movements etc.
[0013] Known equipment for the coverage guidance and control of
TV/video cameras during recording of sports events is manual. This
makes it difficult to have close-ups recordings and at the same
time quickly turn the camera to follow the ball and the movements
of the play. This requires several operating personnel and several
cameras.
[0014] Known methods to detect and register offside has the
inherent weakness that they are based on the referees' visual
impressions and the decisions are consequently very often
inaccurate and controversial. In order to determine an offside the
referees must in principle observe two simultaneous events: it must
be observed the exact moment a player makes a pass to a fellow team
mate attacker closer to the defending teams goal and the exact
position of this attacker relative to the defending teams players
at the moment the ball is played.
[0015] The time required for the referee to shift the focus of his
attention from the position where the ball is passed to where it is
to be received is sufficient for the relative position between
attacker and defender to have changed with more than 5 meters in
the meantime. It is further known to use various forms of visual
markings to assist in the judgment of offside. Such visual aids may
be cross-field markings or focused light beams near the ground.
These systems do not attribute to an improved analysis of the game
neither do they contribute significantly to ensure the quality
offside calls since the main problem for the referees is of a
dynamic nature: to judge the simultaneous occurrence of a pass in
one location of the arena and the position of players in another
location on the arena. The known visually based systems have
marginal ability to assist with this dynamics.
[0016] The intention of the present invention is to devise a
provide a method and a system for execution of the method for
integrated and interactive presentation of sports events on the
media to overcome the weaknesses as described for known systems, so
that determination of position for sports players and objects may
be achieved with equipment having lower weight and an order of
magnitude higher precision than known miniature DGPS-systems or
known radio wave based goniometric systems and so that such
position determination may be achieved not only outdoors as is
known with the present DGPS systems but also on in-door arenas in
such a way that the access to satellite signals, as with GPS, is no
longer a limiting factor and that such equipment is integrated with
software to enable data processing and presentation of game
analysis in near real-time encompassing significantly more
parameters contrary to known systems which require 7-8 hours of
processing and so that corresponding parameters may be integrated
and visualized interactively in media such as TV, Internet and
analysis software for coaches in real-time as well as post game
analysis.
[0017] The present invention employs the best from the most modern
positioning technology (DGPS) have today, but replaces the
satellites with a number of local transmitters at the sports arena.
The transmitters send GPS-like signals that are captured by
receivers, functioning after the same principle as modern
GPS-receivers. The receivers may be fixed on the arena and the
transmitters may be installed on the sports players and objects. Or
alternatively vice versa. The mobile units contain one or more
receivers each integrated with its radio transmitter reporting
position back to a central unit on the arena, where a processor in
each fixed transmitter and a miniature processor integrated in each
mobile unit communicate via radio-transceiver with a more powerful
processor in a central unit. The central units data processor has
software, which among other things may calculate a more exact
position based on the information from the network of stationary
transmitters and mobile receivers. In this way is position accuracy
improved corresponding in principle to a so-called inverse GPS in a
standard DGPS-system.
[0018] The fixed stationary GPS-like transmitters may also, in
addition to their primary function, assume the role of reference
stations in a standard DGPS-system, thereby eliminating the need
for additional reference stations to achieve DGPS-quality. In the
preceding description it is assumed that the transmitters of
GPS-like signals are stationary and that the receiver unit for
these signals are installed on sports players and objects. The
described utilization of the inventions DGPS-like technology in
sports applications is however also achievable after the opposite
principle; i.e. the transmitters of GPS-like signals are installed
on sports players and objects, and the receivers for these signals
are fixed installed on the sports arena.
[0019] The described network of transmitters and receivers is
operated in a similar way as a GPS-system but instead of operating
in the regular GPS band around 1.5 GHz, the system according to the
invention operates in frequency bands which are generally free on a
global basis (f. ex. 2.4 GHz) assuming transmitted power less than
100 mW. The same band is used in the necessary radio communication
in the network consisting of the central unit and the fixed and
mobile units. Use of this higher frequency band further facilitates
the use of smaller antennas; an important factor for the design of
the mobile units where weight and volume of the equipment is
critical and must be miniaturized without jeopardizing accuracy and
integrity. Further, possible conflict and interference with the 1.5
GHz GPS-band is avoided.
[0020] The procedure and system according to the invention have a
number of advantages: The proposed GPS-like technology to be used
in transmitters/receivers ensures that we take advantage of the
advances in the most accurate of known positioning systems: DGPS.
We are improving further on its accuracy by removing the DGPS
systems most significant error sources; i.e. those due to signal
penetration of ionosphere/troposphere and uncertainty in
determining the exact satellite orbit parameters. Also
multi-path-error is reduced with the local area operation avoiding
the long signal path from space, since percentual differences of
direct and reflected waves becomes bigger and therefore easier to
eliminate in software. Further, signal/noise ratio is greatly
increased and optimal geometry is assured when defining the
intersection point for the lines between the GPS-like transmitters
and the receivers (i.e. low DOP-value in GPS terminology). Through
this, dynamic decimeter-accuracy is achieved with simple receivers
operating after the GPS-principle. This is 20 to 50 times better
than other known systems of a similar size and for similar
application. Decimeter accuracy is otherwise only achieved in
GPS-systems based on 2-frequency technology, which is power
consuming, heavy and expensive. The execution according to the
invention makes use of miniaturized equipment for the mobile units
weighing less than 20 gram, which is less than 10% of a 2-frequency
receiver and costs in the order of 5% of a 2-frequency receiver. It
is a condition in order to achieve the specified dynamic accuracy
that positions may be sampled with minimum 20 Hz in sports with
rapid movements such as soccer.
[0021] As the equipment becomes so light and yet so accurate,
several units may be installed on each player in order to cover the
need for information from the different body parts. In soccer for
instances 3-5 units per player may be installed, one on each
leg/foot (to register which leg was used in a shot or pass), one on
the head area (to see if the player headed) and possibly one on
each arm (to register hands). In addition to this, a similar unit
is installed on the ball or other sports objects. All report
signals to the central unit may be encrypted to prevent pirate
listening at the arena. The signal strength is so low that the
signals will be undetectable beyond a couple of hundred meters from
the arena. Emitted energy is so low that there is no danger of
hazardous radiation for the players and the audience. Necessary
effect is, for the sake of comparison, 1-10% of a cellular
phone.
[0022] The huge reduction in distance between transmitters and
receivers as compared to a traditional GPS system results in a much
higher signal/noise-ratio compared with traditional GPS, even
though radiated power are lower. This, and the increased frequency,
simplifies antenna design. The antennas for the GPS-like signals as
well as the radio signals may be integrated with the players
clothing and and/or protective equipment and/or sports objects. A
unit will be installed inside the ball with the antenna(s)
distributed and attached inside as appropriate.
[0023] No other known technology is accurate enough for the
detailed logging of body movements and ball as described in the
present invention. This accuracy is however necessary in order for
the system to report for example offside and hands.
[0024] The positions are sampled at a optional rate up to at least
20 Hz. In order to reduce the amount of transferred data to the
central unit software may be applied to integrated processor of the
mobile units, which from the change of position of the last sample
estimate the need of reporting the position to the central unit.
For example if the player stands still, fewer data may be
transmitted than when he runs.
[0025] Software is installed on the central unit to perform a
number of necessary functions. In the first step position data is
read. These data are received via radio signals from the GPS-like,
fixed transmitters and mobile units in a receiver on the central
unit. The radio receiver may be connected to for example the RS-232
port of the central units. The software for reading the incoming
data may be written in a known protocol format such as for example
TestPoint or LabView. In the next step position accuracy may
improved by for example using known software similar to that which
is used in inverse DGPS calculation. This position improvement may
however alternatively be done in the on-board processor on the
mobile units. For use within soccer for example, it is necessary to
decide if a player has touched the ball and with which foot or
head. This may be determined in software by judging the momentary
distances between ball and body parts and the balls acceleration.
This determination may be done in software exclusively by position
data input, or in combination with input to the central unit from
sensors reporting ball acceleration. It may be used the same type
of radio transmitter and frequency band as the one used for the
position determination.
[0026] In the preceding has been described a method and a system
for providing of information which may be used in a game to judge
the game in accordance with the rules of the game, and/or to
increase viewers and observers interest and fascination by offering
statistics and/or visualization of events such as from a sports
arena. The registered positions may also however be used for
visualization in a virtual environment.
[0027] One intention with these additional features is to provide
an opportunity to show a new and more realistic interaction between
living creatures, primarily humans, and virtual environments. Each
of the sensors may to a certain extent be described as functional
development of the data-mouse. While the mouse represents a
one-sided two-dimensional interface between human and data program,
the sensor system represents a dramatically expanded 3-dimensional
and multi faceted interface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] In the following the invention is described in further
detail with reference to the drawings where:
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of the system
according to the present invention.
[0030] With reference to FIG. 1, the system is shown as an example
for use in soccer without thereby limiting the use to exclude also
other sports applications. The fundamental functioning of the
procedure according to the invention may be the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] The main elements in the equipment is a number of
transmitters 1 (for example 4) sending GPS-like signals in the 2.4
GHz band. The transmitters have antennas 2 fixed in exact surveyed
positions at the arena. Further a number of mobile units 3 with
receivers 13 for the GPS-like signals are installed on players and
ball. For example 3 such receivers 13 with antennas 4 and batteries
5 may for example be mounted on each player and one on the ball.
The transmitter 6 with antenna 7 in the mobile unit 3 may be a
radio transceiver for approximately the same frequency band as
indicated above and be connected with a miniature data processor
8.
[0032] In the use of transceivers, two-way communication may be
performed between fixed units 1, mobile units 3 and central unit 20
so that data from the mobile units 3 are processed in the data
processor 8 for determining for example position parameters before
these data are transferred to the central unit 20 and possible
signals are sent from the central unit 20 to the mobile units 3 for
acquisition of such and other information. Subsequent correction of
position data from the mobile units 3 and position data from the
fixed units 1 may be done in a data processor 11 in the central
unit 20. Antennas 4 and 7 may be combined in one.
[0033] The central unit 20 is installed in an appropriate place on
the arena for reception of GPS-like data (position and other
relevant parameters) from the fixed and mobile units 3 via
integrated transceiver or transmitter 6. The central unit 20
receives these data through a multi channel radio transceiver 9 via
an antenna 10. The central unit's 20 transceiver 9 may have output
facilities connected to appropriate data input facilities 12, for
example RS-232 port, on the central unit, possibly via a
multiplexer whereupon the data are read into the data processor 11
for further processing, storage and presentation.
[0034] From the central unit 20 processed data, in the form of
statistics, visualisations etc, be transferred to media such as for
example TV 14 for integration in TV-broadcasts visualized in an
appropriate form and overlaid the TV-images. With interactive TV,
the viewer may do the various statistics and visualizations
interactively.
[0035] Further, similar data may be transferred from the central
unit 20 to Internet 15 where appropriate visualizations and
statistics may be made available.
[0036] Further, data from the central unit 20 may be used as basic
parameters for analysis program 21, which visualizes the required
parameters for coaches and players.
[0037] Further, data from the central unit, using dedicated
software, may form the basis in a digital visual presentation of
players and ball in a 3-dimensional environment in order to provide
total coverage of the game over the whole arena and with optional
angle of view. This is an improvement over today's technology,
which allows only sector coverage assuming a reasonable number of
TV-cameras.
[0038] Further, data from the central unit, using dedicated
software, may form the basis for a simulation of alternative game
proceedings with a starting point in any chosen registered
situation or event.
[0039] Further, the central unit, using dedicated software, may via
a transceiver 16, give guidance information to cameras 17 with
radio transceiver 18, camera sight and servo control 19 so that the
cameras may be automatically guided, using position data, to track
chosen events, individuals or objects. In soccer one may typically
choose to track the ball since this is the center of focus for the
game. Criteria for zoom and interactive choice of which camera one
wishes to project (if there are several) may be a software feature.
With interactive TV, the viewers may do such choice of camera
interactively.
[0040] In the preceding has been described a system for providing
information which may be used in a game to judge the game in
accordance with the rules of the game, and/or to increase viewers
and observers interest and fascination by offering statistics
and/or visualization of events such as from a sports arena. In the
following a further possibility is going to be described with
visualization and use by applying the determination of position
according to the invention.
[0041] One intention with these additional features is to provide
an opportunity to show a new and more realistic interaction between
living creatures, primarily humans, and virtual environments
created in software. Each of the sensors may to a certain extent be
described as functional development of the data-mouse. While the
mouse represents a one-sided two-dimensional interface between
human and data program, the sensor system represents a dramatically
expanded 3-dimensional and multi faceted interface.
[0042] This is achieved by installation of miniature sensors (of
the kind described in the preceding) on people's
hands/fingers/torso/limbs. The sensors may primarily register the
exact position of the limbs in a 3 dimensional environment, but
also register other data such as pulse, temperature, level of
stress etc and report this to stationary receivers in a system of
the kind mentioned in the preceding.
[0043] The virtual environment may contain creatures, objects and
surroundings, generated on a data processor by 2D/3D-graphics and
visualized on a suitable monitor. Some specific applications are
described in the following:
[0044] a. Virtual Studios
[0045] It is known to use a neutral physical background (for
example blue) during recording and broadcasts in studio for
subsequent overlay of a virtual background and props generated and
visualized with computer graphics. This graphics is seen by the TV
viewers but not in the studio. Since the people participating in
the broadcasts do not see the graphics directly (except on a
TV-monitor in the studio) people and cameras are placed in
predetermined positions in order to fit together with the created
virtual elements. One example is TV weather forecasts where the
forecaster does not see the background map but indicate to map
locations with hand movements by experience and side looks on a TV
monitor in the studio.
[0046] The present invention may be used to significantly improve
today's system. In a confined location like a studio, the sensors
are expected to have position accuracy better than 1 cm (compared
to 10 cm on a sports arena). Placing high precision position
sensors on cameras and people (torso/hands/feet) and having
receivers installed in the studio according to the invention as
described, makes it possible to integrate virtual objects and
physical people in the picture which is visualized on the monitor,
and which may be transmitted to the viewers, in a manner which is
much more flexible and advanced than today. The participants will
have full freedom of movement within their surroundings and not be
bound to designated positions as the case is today. Further,
objects and props may be integrated in a way that has so far not
been possible.
[0047] In combination with computer graphics one may for
example:
[0048] Place a virtual object, generated by means of 3D-graphics,
in the hand of a person since information is made available by
sensors on fingers/hands about their exact x,y,z positions. Two or
more persons equipped with such sensors may then perform
interactions in a virtual environment. Among typical objects that
may be integrated with a person's hand are: sports object (tennis
racket, boxing gloves, ball etc), musical instruments (piano,
drums, etc), medical/surgical instruments etc. With these virtual
objects, people may carry out corresponding actions such as:
[0049] "Surgery" on virtual people created by 3D-graphics. "The
surgeon" has sensors on his fingers/hands and may see his virtual
patient and his own hands on a monitor
[0050] "Game-shows" and computer games where the participants
compete in reaction or motoric inspired competitions. This may be
to catch or manipulate virtual objects with their hands. The
participants carry sensors on their fingers/hands and relate to
virtual objects as they are seen on a monitor, where they also see
themselves.
[0051] Wide ranges of other applications are of course possible in
a studio environment; within entertainment as well as
education.
[0052] b. Virtual Sports Arenas
[0053] Various forms of computer games are known and exist where,
using a mouse or other physical interface, interaction is possible
between the player in front of the computer and virtual objects on
the computer screen.
[0054] Such games may with the system according to the present
invention gain new realism and new applications as the player in
his home environment carries sensors on his hands/feet/head/torso
and alternatively, but not necessarily, sensors are attached to
sports objects as a tennis racket etc. depending on what may be
relevant for the game in question. The signals from the sensors are
communicated to, and processed in, a computer according to the
present invention where they are integrated into the appropriate
game software. This assumes a priori surveying of a position
network in the player's home environment. A wide range of sports
relations may be carried out in this application according to the
invention, such as:
[0055] Generating game situations where the player in front of the
monitor or super screen/projector may attempt to return a serve
from Pete Sampras, play as an attacker during for Manchester
United, make a ski jump in Oberstdorf, etc. The players carry
sensors as appropriate for the sport in question and relate to
virtual objects as they are seen on the monitor. The relations may
also be carried out via Internet.
[0056] c. Virtual Advertisement
[0057] It is known to install advertisement board around sports
arenas so that TV viewers and spectators may read their
advertisement message. Such boards and posters may be mechanically
rotated to show for example 3 different advertisements sequentially
in the same arena location. It is further known to overlay computer
generated virtual advertisement at agreed spots on the sports
arena. This overlaid advertisements is not seen by the spectators,
but will be seen by TV viewers.
[0058] This concept may be significantly improved with the aid of
the system according to the present invention, as this makes it
possible to interconnect the objects or symbols on the
advertisement and peoples or animals limbs.
[0059] Generate virtual advertisement where the advertisements
objects, products or symbols may be integrated with people
and/animals.
[0060] The advertisement may in a known manner be animated. It may
further be made selectively available, for instance with relation
to language, and distributed selectively on a geographic basis.
[0061] 2. Spotlights and Cameras
[0062] In the preceding, automatic guidance of cameras in a sports
arena is described. This principle according to the present
invention may also be applied for example stage shows, studio
recordings, or other forms of performances and in addition to
cameras also include spotlights.
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