Abstract:
A dynamically variable press conference backdrop is described. This backdrop may be part of a portable system which a sports team or the like might use to conduct press conferences after road games, or as a fixed system which would be used in an environment such as a pro-sports team&#39;s home stadium or the like. The dynamic backdrop provides a multitude of new sponsorship opportunities, team marketing opportunities, the ability to allow speakers to interact with the backdrop, for example, with video footage from the game preceding the press conference, and the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to improvements in backdrops, such as those used for press conferences, for example, where a sports figure, such as a coach or player, is interviewed after a sporting event. More particularly, the present invention relates to advantageous methods and apparatus for providing an interactive or dynamic backdrop with a real time variable display for displaying variable advertising content and the like.  
           [0002]    There are a wide variety of events in which the media is focused on a speaker or speakers. By way of example, sports press conferences follow almost all significant sporting events. Post-game interviews of coaches or starring players occur regularly after NCAA Final Four T™ games, professional football games, professional basketball games and the like. In such interviews, it is common for the person to be interviewed to be standing at a podium or sitting at a press table in front of a backdrop. With television cameras rolling and photographs being taken, it is common for this background to be camera friendly so that good quality video and photographs result. The backdrops can be formed from a variety of materials, such as a sheet of canvas, vinyl, or the like, or can be formed by a painted wall or some other more or less fixed background depending upon the media facilities at any given locale. All of these backgrounds, however are static and do not change during the course of an interview.  
           [0003]    While the level of media attention is highly variable depending upon various factors such as the team, its media market, the importance of the event, and the like, a marketing opportunity is created by the media attention. After the Super Bowl™ or some other major event, the eyes of the nation and of much of the world may be focused on a post-game press conference. On the other hand, after a preseason game, the level of interest may be much smaller and limited to a team&#39;s local media market. In recognition of the opportunity presented by such media focus, team or organization logos may be prepared in advance and may be part of any of the above described static backdrops. It has also been recognized that sponsor logos may be added to these static backdrops. Thus, for example, a coach of a professional football team may be interviewed in front of a green backdrop with a team logo fixed thereon and a sponsor logo, such as FedEx™ or the like, may also be fixed thereon.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention recognizes that such approaches do not take full advantage of the many and variable marketing opportunities presented by post-game conferences and the like. Further, static backdrops do not provide the ability to dynamically vary the backdrop in real time. By way of example, where two teams are being interviewed in the same press area after a game, with a static backdrop, they must either share the same backdrop or they must have their own backdrop made up in advance and then change it very quickly between interviews. Neither option is particularly appealing, and in either case, there is no opportunity to change the backdrop as an extended interview proceeds so that a potentially huge marketing opportunity is squandered.  
           [0005]    With a dynamically variable backdrop as taught by the present invention, a host of advantages not achievable with a static backdrop can be readily achieved. According to one aspect of the present invention, an interactive or dynamic backdrop is provided for press conferences. Interactive logos and messages can be displayed behind the person participating in the press conference. These messages can be varied throughout the press conference to provide different messages for different sponsoring companies, to highlight the logos of different teams or sponsors, or any other type of information may be dynamically displayed and changed as desired while the press conference is in progress.  
           [0006]    According to another aspect of the invention, a portable system is provided that can be transported easily from location to location on short notice. This system can take information from various inputs, such a computer, a digital video disk (DVD) player, a video cassette recorder (VCR), or the like.  
           [0007]    By way of example, with a dynamic backdrop in accordance with the present invention, a variable text message as controlled by a video controller, such as a personal computer (PC), can be displayed along with the logo of a sponsoring company. Additionally, both a PC driven display and an additional video display can be utilized together. Thus, in the case of the Washington Redskins who have a sponsorship program with Papa John&#39;s™ pizza in which a customer gets a dollar off on a pizza ordered after a Redskins&#39; game that the Redskins&#39; win or a dollar off for each Redskins&#39; touchdown, a logo for Papa John&#39;s™ pizza can be displayed along with a phone number or phone numbers to call to order pizza, as well as, a video replay of each of the Redskins&#39; touchdowns.  
           [0008]    Sponsorship opportunities can be subdivided on a time basis so that each sponsor is on the backdrop for two minutes, a minute, thirty seconds, or whatever time has been agreed upon. Alternatively, multiple sponsor logos can be displayed at the same time along with a team logo. A team&#39;s ticket information can also be displayed. Thus, where a team qualifies for the playoffs, timely ticket information including phone numbers, locations to obtain tickets, the cost of tickets, and when tickets will be available can be provided to a team&#39;s fans. The possibilities are myriad.  
           [0009]    These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the drawings and the Detailed Description which follows below. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of one embodiment of a portable interactive backdrop in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the interactive backdrop of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate details of a trunk for one of the stands for the plasma display of the interactive backdrop of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate details of a trunk suitable for transporting one of the plasma displays of the interactive backdrop in a portable system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing an interactive backdrop with real time variable advertising content in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a backdrop in accordance with the present invention for press conferences in a fixed location. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an interactive backdrop  100  in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, backdrop  100  includes a display  105 , supported by a movable stand  130  and a control computer  140 . In a presently preferred embodiment, the display  105  may be suitably embodied as two display monitors  110  and  120 . Exemplary monitors are the NEC Plasma Sync™ 61 inch plasma display monitors model number NCPX61 XM1A which are mounted on stand  130  so that their large dimension is vertically oriented. It will be recognized that while throughout this disclosure particular components for a prototype system in accordance with the present invention are described, other alternative components may also be employed. For example, as larger plasma screens are developed and become less expensive with time, it will be recognized that the two monitors  110  and  120  could be replaced by a single larger monitor. Alternatively, while two monitors are shown, it will be recognized that a larger number of monitors of the same size could be employed to make a larger backdrop. Similarly, while a plasma type display is presently preferred, it will be recognized that alternative types of displays may also be employed, and that will be particularly true if new display technologies are developed which surpass those presently in use.  
         [0017]    Returning to movable stand  130 , at present, it is preferred to form this stand from two Chief PTC-43 61 inch plasma monitor carts or stands model number CFPTC43 which are used as indicated above to mount the monitors in a vertical configuration. These carts have casters  131 ,  133 ,  135 ,  137  and  139 , as seen in the front view of FIG. 1, with additional casters  134  and  138 , as seen in the perspective view of FIG. 2. Each of the carts also includes two mounting poles  132  and  132 ′ or  134  and  134 ′ as also seen in FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    Computer  140  is connected to input panels  112  and  122  of monitors  110  and  120  by video input connectors  141  and  142 , respectively. An exemplary computer suitable for use as the computer  140  is the Sony Vaio™ video graphic laptop computer model number PCG-GR290K. The computer  140  is used to produce the image and any desired background color areas on the monitors  110  and  120 . The input panels of the NEC Plasma Sync™ monitors include connections allowing the user to connect signals from virtually any input source including a computer, any conventional video source, or an HDTV source. These monitors have split screen display capability allowing the simultaneous display of video from multiple input sources, such as a computer and a second additional video source. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a video source  150  supplies video signals which control the display of a portion of the screen of monitor  110  labeled Video and PC  140  supplies the signals driving the remainder of the screen of monitor  110 , the portion labeled PC. Thus, by way of example, the bulk of the PC portion of the screen might be driven by the input signals from PC  140  to provide a green backdrop for a coach or player doing a post-game interview in front of backdrop  100 . This PC portion might also display the logo of Papa John&#39;s™ pizza, text explaining a special product offer, such as one dollar off for each Redskins&#39; touchdown scored in the game, and a phone number or numbers. Simultaneously, the video portion might show replay footage of the Redskins&#39; touchdowns during the game.  
         [0019]    Alternatively, video footage in the Video portion of the display could be related to game highlights being addressed by interviewers at the press conference. The NEC Plasma Sync™ monitors include a remote control, such as remote control  160 , shown in FIG. 1. This remote control  160  can be connected to the monitor or operate wirelessly as desired by the user. Utilizing a pointer button  161 , a player or coach can activate a pointer on the display. Using a cursor adjuster button  163 , the pointer can be adjusted and using zoom in and zoom out buttons  165  and  167 , the action pointed to can be zoomed in on or out from, respectively. Such features, as well as others, are described in further detail in the NEC Technologies Plasma Sync™ 61 MP1 User&#39;s Manual which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The dynamic backdrop of the present invention makes possible a host of advantages not achievable by prior art static backdrops.  
         [0020]    The desired image or images to be displayed on the monitors  110  and  120  can be produced using a number of alternative software packages including, but not limited to, CD-RW/DVD, Microsoft PowerPoint™ software or the like. In addition, because the monitors are vertically mounted in an orientation also referred to as a portrait display mount, software to rotate the images is also preferably included. Suitable software is the Pivot™ software by Portrait Displays which allows the orientation of the image portrayed on the plasma monitors  110  and  120  to be rotated by varying degrees such as 90°, 180°, 270° and landscape. For the vertical mounting presently preferred, 90° rotation is advantageously utilized.  
         [0021]    The embodiment of the interactive backdrop  100  of FIGS. 1 and 2 is designed to be portable. Thus, it may be readily taken apart, packed for shipping or transport, and then reassembled. For example, an NFL football team could readily use the backdrop  100  for post-game press conferences when that team is traveling to an away game. To this end, it is presently preferred that a portable system in accordance with the present invention also includes protective shipping or transport containers for both the displays  110  and  120  and the stand  130 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 3A and 3B show different views of an exemplary trunk  300  for packing one of the two Chief PTC-43 mobile carts making up the presently preferred stand  130 . Thus, in an overall portable system, there would be two trunks  300 , one for each of the two carts. FIG. 3A shows a front perspective view of the trunk  300 . A presently preferred trunk is a Viking custom ATA case model number VKCUSTCHIEFPTC43. This case has a height of approximately 16½ inches, a width of approximately 68 inches and a depth of approximately 33 inches. The trunk  300  preferably includes a plurality of casters  343 ,  344  and  346  so it can be easily rolled. A fourth caster is not seen in the perspective view of FIG. 3A. Trunk  300  also includes latches  332  and  334  to secure the closure of the trunk. The casters  343 ,  344  and  346  are attached to the bottom of a base portion or trunk bottom  310  and a lift off lid  320  is attached in place by the latches  332  and  334 .  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3B shows a top inside view along section line AA of FIG. 3A illustrating the inside of the base portion  310 . Foam blocks  351 - 358  are attached in the corners of the base  310  so that poles  132  and  132 ′ or alternatively poles  134  and  134 ′ can be safely stowed crosswise in the trunk  300 . The interior of the trunk  300  is also preferably Ozite lined.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 4A and 4B show different views of an exemplary trunk  400  for packing one of the NEC Plasma Sync™ 61 inch monitors. Thus, in the overall portable system, there would be two trunks  400 , one for each of the displays. FIG. 4A shows a front perspective view of the trunk  400 . A presently preferred trunk is the Viking custom ATA case model number VKCUSTNECPX61XM1A. This case has a height of approximately 47 inches, a width of approximately 65 inches and a depth of approximately 10 inches. As was the case for the trunk  300 , trunk  400  preferably includes a plurality of casters  442 ,  444  and  446  with a fourth caster not seen in FIG. 4A. Trunk  400  also includes latches  432  and  434  to secure the closure of the trunk. The casters  442 ,  444  and  446  are attached to the bottom of a base portion or trunk bottom  410  and a lift off lid  420  is latched in place by the latches  432  and  434 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4B shows top inside views of bottom  410  and lift off lid  420  along section lines BB and CC of FIG. 4A, respectively. A two inch thick foam lining  451  and  452  lines much of the interior wall of the bottom  410  and the lid  420 , respectively. The interior bottom wall of bottom  410  and the interior top wall of lid  420  are also preferably lined with foam approximately five inches thick.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 shows a method of dynamically varying a press conference backdrop  500  in accordance with the present invention. In step  502 , a computer video controller, such as PC  140 , generates at a first time a first set of video control signals to drive a video display monitor or monitors utilized as a press conference backdrop, such as either or both of the display monitors  110  or  120 , to display both a backdrop background and a first marketing display, such as a logo, a text message or the like. The backdrop background will typically be a camera friendly solid color such as green, for example. In step  504 , the computer video controller generates at a second time a second set of video control signals to drive the video display monitor or monitors utilized as the press conference backdrop to display both the backdrop background color and a second marketing display differing from the first marketing display. By way of example, in an extended press conference, multiple sponsorship opportunities might be sold just as advertising is sold in blocks of thirty seconds, a minute, or longer, as desired.  
         [0027]    Thus, the first marketing display may be displayed for a first predetermined time determined by the computer video controller and then the second marketing display is displayed for its predetermined time. In step  506 , the display monitor is operated in a split screen mode and an additional video source is utilized to generate an additional set of video signals to drive a portion of the display monitor separately from the portion driven by the computer video controller. In step  508 , the additional video source is utilized to generate video signals causing a display on the monitor of a replay of a portion of a game which preceded the press conference. In step  510 , a person being interviewed during the press conference utilizes a controller to interact with the displayed video. For example, a pointer may be utilized by the interviewer, a zoom in or zoom out feature may be utilized, or some other interaction may be employed. In step  512 , the backdrop is disassembled after the press conference. In step  514 , the backdrop is packed for transport and in step  516 , the backdrop is transported.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a fixed interactive or dynamic backdrop  600  is employed. As shown in FIG. 6, two electronically controlled video displays  610  and  620  are built into a wall  630  behind a podium  640  at which a speaker to be interviewed in a press conference would stand. Podium  640  includes a microphone  642  and a display controller  645 .  
         [0029]    In addition, the backdrop  600  includes a matte or mask member  650  which might be a vinyl sheet attached to the wall  620  by Velcro™ fasteners or in some other manner. Mask member  650  is preferably the color desired for the backdrop, for example green, and accurately matches the backdrop color to be displayed by the monitors  610  and  620  during the press conference. The mask  650  includes cutouts dimensioned so that the mask  650  does not cover up the actual display portions of the monitors  610  and  620 , but so it will cover the portions of the housings of these monitors which surround the actual display area so that except for any marketing displays, video displays or the like, a uniform backdrop background color is presented. Thus, the backdrop  600  looks like a static backdrop except that dynamic display capability has been added. A video computer control, video source and the like not shown in FIG. 6 for ease of illustration, can be advantageously located in a control room behind wall  620 , for example. Operation of monitors  610  and  620  is similar to that of monitors  110  and  120  of FIG. 1. Similarly, although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for clarity of illustration, a matte, or mask member can be employed with system  100  so that both the monitor housing and mobile monitor carts are hidden from the view of those looking at the speaker.  
         [0030]    While the present invention has been described in the context of presently preferred embodiments, it will be recognized that a number of variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and that the present techniques may be readily adapted and applied to various environments consistent with the foregoing disclosure and the claims which follow.