Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-24
2001-02-27
Miller, John W. (Department: 2711)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C348S086000, C348S014160, C348S478000, C455S001000, C455S001000, C455S066100, C340S870030, C340S870070, C340S870110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195090
ABSTRACT:
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
Miller John W.
Stout Donald E.
Stout, Uxa Buyan & Mullins, LLP
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