Television – Image signal processing circuitry specific to television – Special effects
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-17
2001-06-26
Britton, Howard (Department: 2713)
Television
Image signal processing circuitry specific to television
Special effects
C348S591000, C348S592000, C348S601000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252632
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a system for enhancing a video presentation of an object.
2. Description of the Related Art
Because of the size and speed of some objects and the distance of the television camera from the playing field, some objects at a sporting event are hard to see on a television screen. One example of an object at a sporting event is the game object, which is defined as the article or thing which is the focus of the game, for example, a hockey puck, baseball, football, soccer ball, shotput, basketball, tennis ball, etc. To compensate for objects that are hard to see on television, broadcasters will use zoom lenses. However, the limited field of view of a zoomed camera prevents the object from being viewed in relation to the playing field and prevents the viewer from seeing other objects that are part of the sporting event. Additionally, even with zoom lenses some objects remain difficult to see on television.
For example, television viewing of a hockey game is hampered by poor visibility and distortion of the hockey puck. The puck is small, and is passed, shot and deflected at high speeds. A standard hockey puck is three inches in diameter and one inch high. A television viewer sees only a limited portion of the ice and the scene being viewed changes rapidly as the camera moves to follow the action. In order to be able to view all areas of the hockey rink, cameras must be located far from the playing surface. Thus, on a standard television screen a hockey puck tends to appear as a small dot or a smear, and sometimes the puck is not perceptible by a viewer. As a result, it is difficult to follow the puck from player to player, and it is especially difficult to follow the puck as it is shot toward the goal. For most viewers, recognizing that a goal has been scored probably comes after the fact when a signal light is turned on or the announcer informs the viewer that a goal has been scored. Because viewers cannot follow the puck, they do not sustain interest in the game. Although hockey is a popular sport, telecasts of hockey games would have wider appeal and be more fully enjoyed if the movement of the puck could be more closely followed.
In golf and baseball it is hard to see the ball when the ball is hit in the air for a long distance (e.g. a home run in baseball or a tee shot in golf). To compensate, cameras will zoom in on the baseball or golf ball which allows the viewers to see the ball against the sky. Such a view of the ball does not give the viewer a true perspective of the ball's path. That is, the viewer cannot determine how far the ball was hit or where the ball is in the relation to the playing field. At times a viewer of a baseball game cannot distinguish between a home run and a routine fly ball. One way to show a baseball or a golf ball in relation to the playing field is to zoom out and show the entire baseball field or golf course. However, such a zoom-out will make the ball difficult or impossible to see. Other sporting events present similar visibility problems.
Thus, there is a need for enhancing the television presentation of objects at sporting events. Previous attempts to enhance the presentation of an object have included superimposing graphics on a video signal. In some systems, however, the superimposed graphics can have the effect of hiding the actual image of the object which detracts from some viewer's enjoyment of the broadcast.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. Thus, the present invention provides for a system for enhancing the television presentation of an object by highlighting the object without significantly obscuring the image of the object. Highlighting the object means to do something to the video in order to call attention to the object. Highlighting can include, but is not limited to, adding another image and/or changing the image of the object.
The system, roughly described, receives a first video image, matches a second video image to a portion of the first video image, examines one or more sections of the portion of the first video image and combines the second video image with the first video image.
The system can receive the first video image from any of a wide range of sources including cameras and other sensors known in the art. In one embodiment, the systems matches the second video to the first video by knowing the position of the image of the target in the first video. Many different technologies known in the art can be used to determine the position of the image in a manner suitable for the present invention. One example of such a system would include the use of pattern recognition. Other examples use radar, infrared tracking, and/or other sensors (including combinations).
These and other advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in conjunction with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3580993 (1971-05-01), Sandorf et al.
patent: 3840699 (1974-10-01), Bowerman
patent: 3973239 (1976-08-01), Kakumoto et al.
patent: 4064528 (1977-12-01), Bowerman
patent: 4067015 (1978-01-01), Mogavero et al.
patent: 4084184 (1978-04-01), Crain
patent: 4179704 (1979-12-01), Moore et al.
patent: 4319266 (1982-03-01), Bannister
patent: 4386363 (1983-05-01), Morrison
patent: 4420770 (1983-12-01), Rahman
patent: 4521196 (1985-06-01), Briard et al.
patent: 4591897 (1986-05-01), Edelson
patent: 4612666 (1986-09-01), King
patent: 4674125 (1987-06-01), Carlson et al.
patent: 4700306 (1987-10-01), Wallmander
patent: 4811084 (1989-03-01), Belmares-Sarabia et al.
patent: 4817171 (1989-03-01), Stentiford
patent: 4924507 (1990-05-01), Chao et al.
patent: 4925308 (1990-05-01), Stern et al.
patent: 4950050 (1990-08-01), Pernick et al.
patent: 4970666 (1990-11-01), Welsh et al.
patent: 4975770 (1990-12-01), Troxell
patent: 4999709 (1991-03-01), Yamazaki et al.
patent: 5063603 (1991-11-01), Burt
patent: 5082263 (1992-01-01), Berger
patent: 5150895 (1992-09-01), Berger
patent: 5179421 (1993-01-01), Parker et al.
patent: 5184820 (1993-02-01), Keating et al.
patent: 5207720 (1993-05-01), Sheperd
patent: 5245432 (1993-09-01), Jaffray et al.
patent: 5249039 (1993-09-01), Chaplin
patent: 5264933 (1993-11-01), Rosser et al.
patent: 5270820 (1993-12-01), Fellinger
patent: 5274236 (1993-12-01), Pascale et al.
patent: 5305107 (1994-04-01), Gale et al.
patent: 5313304 (1994-05-01), Chaplin
patent: 5340108 (1994-08-01), Gerpheide et al.
patent: 5353392 (1994-10-01), Luquet et al.
patent: 5363297 (1994-11-01), Larson et al.
patent: 5392088 (1995-02-01), Abe et al.
patent: 5398075 (1995-03-01), Freytag et al.
patent: 5413345 (1995-05-01), Nauck
patent: 5436672 (1995-07-01), Medioni
patent: 5459793 (1995-10-01), Naoi et al.
patent: 5465308 (1995-11-01), Hutcheson et al.
patent: 5469536 (1995-11-01), Blank
patent: 5488675 (1996-01-01), Hanna
patent: 5491517 (1996-02-01), Kreitman et al.
patent: 5513854 (1996-05-01), Daver
patent: 5523783 (1996-06-01), Cho
patent: 5531520 (1996-07-01), Grimson et al.
patent: 5543856 (1996-08-01), Rosser et al.
patent: 5564698 (1996-10-01), Honey et al.
patent: 5566251 (1996-10-01), Hanna et al.
patent: 5592236 (1997-01-01), Rosenbaum et al.
patent: 5610653 (1997-03-01), Abecassis
patent: 5627915 (1997-05-01), Rosser et al.
patent: 5649706 (1997-07-01), Treat, Jr. et al.
patent: 5668629 (1997-09-01), Parker et al.
patent: 5677532 (1997-10-01), Duncan et al.
patent: 5692064 (1997-11-01), Takagi et al.
patent: 5699442 (1997-12-01), Fellinger
patent: 5808695 (1998-09-01), Rosser et al.
patent: 5892554 (1999-04-01), DiCicco et al.
patent: 5912700 (1999-06-01), Honey et al.
patent: 5917553 (1999-06-01), Honey et al.
patent: 5953076 (1999-09-01), Astle et al.
patent: 41 01 156 A1 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 1659078 A1 (1991-06-01), None
patent: WO 95/10915 (1995-04-01), None
patent: WO 95/10919 (1995-04-01), None
Replay 2000—The Ultimate Workstation for Sport Commentators and P
Britton Howard
Fliesler Dubb Meyer & Lovejoy LLP
Fox Sports Productions Inc.
LandOfFree
System for enhancing a video presentation does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System for enhancing a video presentation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for enhancing a video presentation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2497108