Abstract: The path and/or position of an object is tracked using two or more cameras which run asynchronously so there is need to provide a common timing signal to each camera. Captured images are analyzed to detect a position of the object in the image. Equations of motion for the object are then solved based on the detected positions and a transformation which relates the detected positions to a desired coordinate system in which the path is to be described. The position of an object can also be determined from a position which meets a distance metric relative to lines of position from three or more images. The images can be enhanced to depict the path and/or position of the object as a graphical element. Further, statistics such as maximum object speed and distance traveled can be obtained. Applications include tracking the position of a game object at a sports event.

Abstract: An object is detected in images of a live event by storing and indexing camera registration-related data from previous images. For example, the object may be a vehicle which repeatedly traverses a course. A first set of images of the live event is captured when the object is at different locations in the live event. The camera registration-related data for each image is obtained and stored. When the object again traverses the course, for each location, the stored camera registration-related data which is indexed to the location can be retrieved for use in estimating a position of a representation of the object in a current image, such as by defining a search area in the image. An actual position of the object in the image is determined, in response to which the camera registration-related data may be updated, such as for use in a subsequent traversal of the course.

Abstract: In one aspect, lines in image data of an event are automatically found and repaired. For example, the event may be a sporting event which is played on a field, and the line segment is a field line on the field which may be obscured by a player, game ball or other object. The line segment is automatically detected in a mask image, and a portion of the line segment which is occluded by the object is automatically determined, and the object is automatically removed. The line segment can also be repaired. Optionally, a virtual viewpoint of the event is provided from the image, with the line repaired and the object removed. In another aspect, an object in an image of an event is automatically located by detecting blobs in the image which meet at least one specified criterion, such as size, aspect ratio, density or color profile.

Abstract: Camera registration and/or sensor data is updated during a live event by determining a difference between an estimated position of an object in an image and an actual position of the object in the image. The estimated position of the object in the image can be based on an estimated position of the object in the live event, e.g., based on GPS or other location data. This position is transformed to the image space using current camera registration and/or sensor data. The actual position of the object in the image can be determined by template matching which accounts for an orientation of the object, a shape of the object, an estimated size of the representation of the object in the image, and the estimated position of the object in the image. The updated camera registration/sensor data can be used in detecting an object in a subsequent image.

Abstract: 3d textured objects are provided for virtual viewpoint animations. In one aspect, an image of an event is obtained from a camera and an object in the image is automatically detected. For example, the event may be a sports event and the object may be a stationary object which is detected based on a known location, color and shape. A 3d model of the object is combined with a textured 3d model of the event to depict a virtual viewpoint which differs from a viewpoint of the camera. The textured 3d model of the event has texture applied from an image of the event, while the 3d model of the object does not have such texture applied, in one approach. In another aspect, an object in the image such as a participant in a sporting event is represented in the virtual viewpoint by a textured 3d kinematics model.

Abstract: In one aspect, an image of an event is obtained from a camera, and an object is detected in the image. Data of a textured 3d model of the event and data from the object are combined to depict virtual viewpoints of the event which differ from a real viewpoint of the camera. The object is at least partially faded out at a virtual viewpoint which meets a specified criterion, such as a specified angular offset, or exceeding a specified difference from the viewpoint of the camera. The fading can occur over multiple virtual viewpoints, or over a time period in which the fading is otherwise apparent to a human viewer. In another aspect, an animation is provided in which one object is faded out at a specified virtual viewpoint so that it does not fully occlude another object. For instance, the objects can be participants in a sports event.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for three-dimensional rendering of a live event such as an automobile race over a client device such as a personal computer. Moving and stationary objects at the event may be rendered using computer-generated graphics of the moving and stationary objects and real time positional data giving the position of the moving objects over time. The positional data may be streamed to the client device and displayed in real time or substantially real time.

Abstract: A telestrator system is disclosed that allows a broadcaster to annotate video during or after an event. For example, while televising a sporting event, an announcer (or other user) can use the present invention to draw over the video of the event to highlight one or more actions, features, etc. In one embodiment, when the announcer draws over the video, it appears that the announcer is drawing on the field or location of the event. Such an appearance can be performed by mapping the pixels location from the user's drawing to three dimensional locations at the event. Other embodiments include drawing on the video without obscuring persons and/or other specified objects, and/or smoothing the drawings in real time.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that can find an image of a foreground object in a still image or video image. Finding the image of the foreground object can be used to reduce errors and reduce the time needed when creating morphs of an image. One implementation uses the detection of the image of the foreground object to create virtual camera movement, which is the illusion that a camera is moving around a scene that is frozen in time.

Abstract: A method used in broadcasts of events is disclosed for identifying the coordinates of an object in world space from a video frame, where the object is not on the geometric model of the environment. Once the world coordinates of the object are identified, a graphic may be added to a video replay showing the object. The method may also be expanded in a further embodiment to identify a trajectory of an object over time moving through world space from video images of the start and end of the trajectory, where the object is not on the geometric model of the environment. Once the trajectory of the object in world space is identified, a graphic may be added to a video replay showing the trajectory.

Abstract: A telestrator system is disclosed that allows a broadcaster to annotate video during or after an event. For example, while televising a sporting event, an announcer (or other user) can use the present invention to draw over the video of the event to highlight one or more actions, features, etc. In one embodiment, when the announcer draws over the video, it appears that the announcer is drawing on the field or location of the event. Such an appearance can be performed by mapping the pixels location from the user's drawing to three dimensional locations at the event. Other embodiments include drawing on the video without obscuring persons and/or other specified objects, and/or smoothing the drawings in real time.

Abstract: A telestrator system is disclosed that allows a broadcaster to annotate video during or after an event. For example, while televising a sporting event, an announcer (or other user) can use the present invention to draw over the video of the event to highlight one or more actions, features, etc. In one embodiment, when the announcer draws over the video, it appears that the announcer is drawing on the field or location of the event. Such an appearance can be performed by mapping the pixels location from the user's drawing to three dimensional locations at the event. Other embodiments include drawing on the video without obscuring persons and/or other specified objects, and/or smoothing the drawings in real time.

Abstract: A method used in broadcasts of events is disclosed for identifying the coordinates of an object in world space from a video frame, where the object is not on the geometric model of the environment. Once the world coordinates of the object are identified, a graphic may be added to a video replay showing the object. The method may also be expanded in a further embodiment to identify a trajectory of an object over time moving through world space from video images of the start and end of the trajectory, where the object is not on the geometric model of the environment. Once the trajectory of the object in world space is identified, a graphic may be added to a video replay showing the trajectory.

Abstract: A method used in broadcasts of events is disclosed for identifying the coordinates of an object in world space from a video frame, where the object is not on the geometric model of the environment. Once the world coordinates of the object are identified, a graphic may be added to a video replay showing the object. The method may also be expanded in a further embodiment to identify a trajectory of an object over time moving through world space from video images of the start and end of the trajectory, where the object is not on the geometric model of the environment. Once the trajectory of the object in world space is identified, a graphic may be added to a video replay showing the trajectory.

Abstract: Image data of an event is provided by updating a textured 3d model of the event. For example, in a sporting event, a model of a stadium can be periodically updated to reflect changes over time in lighting, advertisements, number of spectators in the stands and so forth. Different virtual viewpoints of the event can be depicted in an animation using the textured 3d model and image data from objects at the event such as participants in the sporting event. The same image from which object data is obtained can also be used to update the textured 3d model so that the model is current in the animation, resulting in greater realism. The updating can be based on an operator command or automatic detection of a specified event, such as change in lighting or passage of time. The animation can be provided in a broadcast television signal.

Abstract: In one aspect, an image of an event is obtained from a camera, and an object is detected in the image. Data of a textured 3d model of the event and data from the object are combined to depict virtual viewpoints of the event which differ from a real viewpoint of the camera. The object is at least partially faded out at a virtual viewpoint which meets a specified criterion, such as a specified angular offset, or exceeding a specified difference from the viewpoint of the camera. The fading can occur over multiple virtual viewpoints, or over a time period in which the fading is otherwise apparent to a human viewer. In another aspect, an animation is provided in which one object is faded out at a specified virtual viewpoint so that it does not fully occlude another object. For instance, the objects can be participants in a sports event.

Abstract: A system and method for repairing an object in image data of an event. An image of the event is obtained from a camera, and an object is detected in the image. For example, the event may be a sporting event in which the object is a participant. Moreover, a portion of the object is occluded in a viewpoint of the camera. For instance, a limb of the participant may be occluded by another participant. The object is repaired by providing a substitute for the occluded portion. A user may perform the repair via a user interface by selecting part of an image from an image library and positioning the selected portion relative to the object. A textured 3d model of the event is combined with data from the repaired object, to depict a realistic virtual viewpoint of the event which differs from a viewpoint of the camera.

Abstract: A telestrator system is disclosed that allows a broadcaster to annotate video during or after an event. For example, while televising a sporting event, an announcer (or other user) can use the present invention to draw over the video of the event to highlight one or more actions, features, etc. In one embodiment, when the announcer draws over the video, it appears that the announcer is drawing on the field or location of the event. Such an appearance can be performed by mapping the pixels location from the user's drawing to three dimensional locations at the event. Other embodiments include drawing on the video without obscuring persons and/or other specified objects, and/or smoothing the drawings in real time.

Abstract: A user such as a television viewer is provided with the capability to view an event from different virtual viewpoints which differ from the viewpoint of a camera. In one aspect, the user is informed of particular camera images from which a virtual viewpoint can be viewed. For example, a menu interface may provide thumbnail preview images of the one or more particular camera images. In another aspect, the use enters commands to manipulate a virtual viewpoint, such as by rotating around a point, moving a lookout point and zooming in or out. In response, a display is provided which includes a textured 3d model of the event combined with at least one textured object in the event. For instance, the event may be a sporting event and the at least one textured object may be a participant in the sporting event.

Abstract: In one aspect, images of an event are obtained from a first video camera and a second camera, where the second camera captures images at a higher resolution than the first video camera. A particular image of interest is identified from the images obtained by the first video camera, e.g., based on an operator's command. A corresponding image which has been obtained by the second camera is then identified. The second image is used to depict virtual viewpoints which differ from the real viewpoints of the first and second camera, such as by combining data from a textured 3d model of the event with data from the second image. In another aspect, a presentation includes images from a first camera, followed by an animation of different virtual viewpoints, followed by images from a second camera which has a different real viewpoint of the event than the first camera.