Abstract:
A system for broadcasting a sporting event related to one or more moving objects (such as race cars) includes a plurality of stations disposed along the objects&#39; trajectory. Each station includes an automated camera unit. A central command post receives the location of each object and sends commands to the respective cameras to cover the objects as they move. The signals from the cameras is then mixed automatically at the central control post and used to generate several video signals. The programs are transmitted directly to broadcasters, or are distributed via the Internet.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. Nos. 60/215,228 and 60/215,266 filed Jun. 30, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A. Field of Invention  
           [0003]    This invention pertains to a system for collecting video images (as used in this application the term video pictures also includes images as well as sounds) and data associated with a broadcasting event at a central location, processing the images and data and then transmitting or broadcasting the images and data to various locations. The system can be advantageously be used to broadcast sporting events involving fast-moving motor vehicles, such as a car race.  
           [0004]    B. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Sporting events are very popular with TV audiences throughout the world. People like to watch many different types of sporting events associated with their favorite teams, favorite sports, or just because they find these types of programs entertaining. As a result, in most viewing areas, one may watch sporting events on TV at anytime, day or night.  
           [0006]    In order to maintain viewer interest and enhance the experience of watching a sporting event, it is important that the event be captured in a manner that helps the viewer identify with, and thus, at least vicariously, participate in the event. It has been found that the closer a viewer can identify with the actual participants or players of a sporting event, the more popular is the broadcast. The best way of providing such an intimate coverage of a sporting event is by presenting the event as it is sensed through the eyes and ears (and in the future, even other senses) of the players.  
           [0007]    In order to achieve these goals, presently a sporting event program provider makes use of several crews for capturing the sporting event. Each crew consists of at least one cameraman and a video camera. The video pictures from each camera are then sent to a director who picks and chooses which shots are being broadcast. (To including data relevant to the sporting event is not common.) this type of arrangement is expensive and inaccurate, since it relies on the cameraman to be able to capture the action. Moreover, typically, using this arrangement, one can generate only a single broadcast.  
         OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In view of the abovementioned disadvantages of the prior art, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a system that can collect video pictures and data of a particular sports event from different locations, automatically.  
           [0009]    A further objective is to provide a system that is capable of providing a live video program of a high-speed sports event using automated cameras controlled from a central location.  
           [0010]    Yet another objective is to provide a system wherein a moving object, such as race car, can be automatically tracked by several strategically placed video cameras, wherein each video camera can capture the images of a moving object based on information received by the camera regarding the location and velocity of the object.  
           [0011]    A further objective is to provide a system capable of capturing the positions of several moving objects, transmitting video signals of each object and data associated with the object to a central location and then broadcast several programs from the central location, each program being associated with a specific moving object.  
           [0012]    Other objectives and advantages of the invention shall become apparent from the following description of the invention. Briefly, the system constructed in accordance with this invention for generating a broadcast of an event related to one or more moving objects includes a plurality of stations positioned along the trajectory of the objects. Each station includes at least one automated video camera, which can receive commands and can be operated to cover an object as it moves in and around the event. A central command post receives data descriptive of the position of the objects relative to the stations, using for instances GPS systems. A processor at the central command post determines which station is most suited for covering each object. Preferably, several cameras are provided at each station, each camera being assigned to a particular objects. The objects may be provided with a fine-tuning transmitters such as infrared or pixel recognition and the stations may be provided with fine-tuning receivers. These fine-tuning elements may be used to confirm that the position of a particular has been properly detected.  
           [0013]    Video signals from the camera units that are collected at the central command post are automatically mixed and used to generate several programs simultaneously. A different program may be generated in this manner for each object participating in the event. In addition, each object can be provided with its own additional camera unit, object sensors for detecting parameters related to the object such as its speed and other operational or mechanical parameters. If a driver or operator is involved, then additional sensors may be used to sense the physical condition of the driver. The video signals from the additional camera unit, and information from the sensors can be added to the programs for additional entertainment value. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a racetrack with objects (i.e., race cars) running around a track and various elements of the system constructed in accordance with this invention to automatically broadcast the race;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2A shows a somewhat diagrammatic representation of a typical station disposed on the track with a plurality of camera units;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2B shows a block diagram of a typical camera unit on one of the stations of FIG. 2A;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 shows the equipment disposed in one of the objects running around the track of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the components of the central control post of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 shows a flow chart for the acquisition of video signals for a particular car; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 shows a block diagram for the system of FIGS.  1 - 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 shows somewhat diagrammatically a racetrack with a broadcasting system constructed in accordance with this invention. On this Figure, there is shown an oval track  10  on which there are a plurality of moving objects, such as race cars  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d ,  12   e  running around in the counterclockwise direction. Also part of the track is a pit  14  used to service one or more of the cars  12 , and a stand  16  for the spectators.  
         [0022]    The system for broadcasting this race includes a plurality of automated camera stations  18  disposed about the track and consisting of several video cameras arranged and constructed to capture video images of the racing cars  12 A-E, as discussed in more detail below in conjunction with FIGS. 2A and 2B. Additional auxiliary camera stations  20  may also be provided to capture video images of the activities in the pit  14 , stand  16  and any other actions of interest to viewers. The number of camera stations  18  and  20  depends on the size of the track, the number of cars  12 , and so on. The video signals from the video cameras are collected by a central control post (CCP)  22 . The CCP  22  also receives data from the racing cars  12  as well as other outside sources such as race management. At the CCP all this data is collected, processed and used to generate broadcasts that may be stored, or transmitted to commercial TV studios or other entities by a transmitter station  24  over standard communication lines  26  and/or via the Internet over a high speed wired or wireless digital communication channel  28 .  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic side elevation view of a typical camera station  18 . The camera station includes a support  30  on which there are mounted a group of seven camera units  32 A- 32 G and a GPS receiver  34 . As seen in FIG. 2A, each camera unit (generically identified by the numeral  32 ) includes a video camera  40 , a controller  42 , a data receiver  44  and a control receiver  46 . The video camera receives control signals P, T, Z, F (pan, tilt, zoom, focus) from the controller  42  that are used to control the operation of the video camera  40 . In response, the video camera generates video signals either in a continuous stream on video out line  48  or as segmented video on line  50 . Each camera may also be provided with a fine-tuning receiver  43  adapted to detect a fine-tuning source within a very narrow angle of view. The fine tuning receiver  43  may be coupled to the video camera  40  so that the two devices have identical (or at least similar) fields of view.  
         [0024]    Referring now to FIG. 3, inside each of the racing cars  12  there is provided a GPS receiver  60 , a crash sensor  62 , a G-sensor  64  and a speed sensor  66 . Optionally, other sensors may be provided as well, such as one or more physiological sensors  67  used to monitor the heart rate, blood pressure, temperature of the driver, and mechanical sensors  71  designed to sense various operational parameters of the car  12 , such as oil pressure, engine speed, torque, water temperature, etc. The data from these sensors is combined by a data combine unit or multiplexer  68 . In order to insure a secure transmission, two data transmitters  70 ,  72  are also provided for transmitting the data from the unit  68  to the cameras and the CCP  22  simultaneously. The operation of the car unit is controlled in through control data received from the CCP  22  via control receiver  74 . Preferably receiver  74  is adapted to be coupled to the CCP  22  by two communication channels for the sake of redundancy. The control receiver  46  in the camera units  46  also uses two communication channels to communicate with the CCP. Also provided within the car  12  is a camera unit  76  which operates in response to control signals from the control receiver  74  and generates video signals transmitted to the CCP  22 . This camera unit  76  operates in response to control signals from the control receiver  74  and generates video signals transmitted to the CCP  22 . Finally a fine-tuning source  69  may be provided as well for the purposes described below.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 shows the elements of the CCP  22 . The CCP  22  includes a data receiver  80  that receives the data from cars via transmitters  70  or  72 . This data is handled by a terminal server  82 . The video signals from the camera units  32 , the cameras at stations  20  and the camera units  76  from the racing cars are received by a video multiplexer  84 . The multiplexer  84  may also receive audio signals from various external sources as well. These signals are transmitted to an editing table  86  where they are edited. The editing table  86  may also receive video signals from other sources  88 . The signals to be transmitted to the viewers are then sent to transmitter  24 .  
         [0026]    The control signals to the camera units and the cars are transmitted through terminal server  90  and transmitter  92 . Manual override control signals (discussed in more detail below) are transmitted from a transmitter  94 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 shows a real time race computer  96  used to track the progress of each of the cars  12  around the track using this data the race computer  96  switches automatically between the cameras covering the assigned car  12 . It also compiles various other information such as time, average speed, position, etc. Based on this data a racecar display  98  may be used to generate a display indicating the positions of the cars in a manner similar to the one shown in FIG. 1. In addition, various other controls may be provide to assist directors in selecting and controlling various cameras and other apparatus, for example through a joystick  100 .  
         [0028]    The operation of the system is now described in conjunction with the drawings. Essentially the broadcasting of a car race is accomplished in three phases. First, video pictures (as used in this application the term video pictures also includes images as well as sounds) are taken by the various camera units, and data is collected from car, driver and outside sources Second, the video pictures and data are collected and processed at the CCP  22 . Third, broadcast programs composed of the video signals and data are transmitted to commercial broadcasters or other entities.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 shows a flow chart illustrating a preliminary phase during which the equipment is positioned around the track, as well as details of how video pictures are captured by the system. In step  200  the CCP is set up and the camera stations with the groups of cameras are positioned along the track  10 . Next, in step  202  each of the camera units  32  is tested to insure that it is operational. Moreover camera units  32 A-F are assigned to at least one of the racing cars. If there are more cars then some of the camera units may be assigned to cover more than one car. The camera assignment can be changed in the middle of the race by the CCP  22 . Camera unit  32 G is not assigned but is kept as a spare in case one of the other camera units fails or to cover other action. During this test, the position of each station is also determined from the signals generated by the GPS receivers  34 .  
         [0030]    In step  204  one or more test cars run the track  10  and the system  10  is tested to insure that all the equipment is functioning together. Any equipment that is not running properly is fixed, adjusted or replaced as required. The control scheme for following each car with designated camera units is also tested.  
         [0031]    When the race starts, the participant cars  12 A run around the track  10  and come into the field of view of at least one camera of each of the groups or stations. As the cars pass the stations, each camera unit  32  locates the car assigned to it and follows around the track. More particularly, in step  206 , the current position of each car and its speed are obtained from GPS receiver  60  and sensor  66 . It is desirable to obtain the speed in addition to the position of each car because there is some delay between the time that this data is obtained and the time that each camera unit  32  is moved or pointed toward the desired car. Since this delay is known, the expected position of the car can be estimated. This data processing is performed at the CCP  22 .  
         [0032]    Once the position of each car is known, in step  208  a determination is made as to which camera station  18  should be handling the car. This determination is based on the position of each station  18 . In step  210 , instructions are sent to the proper camera unit of the designated station including commands for orienting the respective camera unit in the direction of the car.  
         [0033]    Sufficient information is provided to the camera units so that they can be pointed at the proper cars. However, if a further level of assurance is required, the orientation of each camera can be fine-tuned. For this purpose, in step  212  the fine tuning receiver  43  is activated to sense fine-tuning signals from the fine-tuning source  69 . The signals from the fine-tuning source may be coded so that the fine tuning receiver  43  can recognize a received signal as the fine-tuning signal from the car that has been designated to the respective camera unit.  
         [0034]    Thus, in step  212 , a test is perform to find the designated car with the fine tuning receiver of the respective camera unit. If the car is not found that the camera is repositioned in step  214 .  
         [0035]    In step  216  a check is performed to determine if the designated car has been in an accident. This information is obtained from the crash sensor  62  (which may measure transversal or lateral speed and velocity) and/or G-sensor  64  that measures acceleration in either the longitudinal or vertical directions. If an accident is sensed., the respective camera unit  32  is zoomed in toward the car if necessary and the position of the camera unit is frozen (step  218 ).  
         [0036]    If no accident is detected in step  216  then in step  220  the current video images are collected from the respective camera unit. In step  222  a check is performed to determine if the car is still in the range of the respective camera unit. If the car is still in range, the collection of the video signals continues. If the car goes out of range, the car is switched or handed off to the designated camera of the next station (Step  224 ).  
         [0037]    In this manner images are collected from the cameras of each station  18 . The signals are then fed to the multiplexer  84 . The multiplexer then feeds these signals to the editing table  86  (FIG. 4). The editing table assembles the video signals and data in such a manner as to generate simultaneously n different programs (e.g. six programs), each program preferably consisting of a substantially continuous stream of video signals and data from a single car, or, alternatively a sequence of cars as designated by the director. In addition, the director may insert in any video stream, video signals and data from other sources  88  coupled for example to the race car display  98 , or any of the other cameras, such as cameras  20  monitoring a pit  14  or the stand  16 , or the video cameras unit  76  disposed in the car.  
         [0038]    When special events occur, the spare camera of that sector of circuit automatically locks on to the car involved in the special event. the director can take control of the spare camera  32 G at any of the stations  18  or even any of the other cameras  32 A-G and point it in any direction using the joy stick control  100 .  
         [0039]    To summarize, the present invention provides a system which allows generating continuous video signals and data of a sporting event such as car race using a plurality of automated stations, each having several camera units controlled remotely. This automated process provides a better, richer and cheaper way of filming fast moving events. As part of the automated process, the participant cars are equipped with a GPS receiver which provides the geographical location of the car, and a speed sensor. These signals are transmitted to a central control post and cameras for analysis. Since the central post and cameras receives the GPS signals at a delay, the position of the car can be extrapolated using the signal from the speed sensor.  
         [0040]    The position of the camera is known from a GPS unit disposed at the camera station. From the relative positions of the camera and the respective car, the azimuth direction pan and tilt movements are calculated and transmitted to the camera unit to point the camera unit at the car as the car moves along the track.  
         [0041]    If the car suddenly changes direction or changes its speed from a normal rate, is monitored by an accident sensor and the video signals are handled accordingly.  
         [0042]    Fine-tuning of the car position may be achieved with a fine tuning transmitter on the car and a fine tuning receiver a the video camera unit. By using the signal from the fine tuning receiver, the camera unit can adjust itself so that the car is positioned at the center of video frame being transmitted.  
         [0043]    A block diagram for the system is shown in FIG. 6. As can be seen in this figure, CCP  22  is the nerve center of the system because it controls all its various elements. provided in FIG. 6, in which various modules are provided for the control and monitoring of the various elements of the subject system. The CCP  22  is provided with a control board having a power switch  300  and several modules that can access the other elements of the system and either collect data there from or provide control signals thereto. These modules include a position system module  302  that receives the position and speed of the cars and generates the control signals for the video camera units, including tilt, pan, zoom etc. Another module is the override module  306  that allows the director to override the operation of any of the elements and send his own control signals thereto, for example, through the joystick  100 . The preset view module  304  generates standard default images for the programs while the camera units are off line.  
         [0044]    As discussed above, the edit table  86  generates several programs, each program having predetermined content. For example, each program may provide streaming video signals of a particular car as the race progresses. The signals can be transmitted either to the TV broadcast stations, or to other customers by other means, such over the Internet through an Internet service provider  308 .  
         [0045]    In the description provided above, the system  10  described which is set up only temporarily. Hence the various components of the system must be positioned and tested before a race. Moreover, since the position of the stations  18  must be known precisely, each station is provided with its own GPS system, or alternatively the positions of each station must be determined by some other means. Of course, the system can also be set up permanently, in which case the positions of at least stations  18  can be determined only once.  
         [0046]    Obviously numerous modifications may be made to this invention without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims.