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Live concert/event video system and methodRelated Patent Categories: Television Signal Processing For Dynamic Recording Or Reproducing, Processing Of Television Signal For Dynamic Recording Or ReproducingLive concert/event video system and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060104600, Live concert/event video system and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to concerts or other live events and more particularly to a video system and method. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] At some live events including, for example concerts, video of the live event is presented on a screen to participants. This video often allows attendees of the live event to get a better view of the event as it is occurring than they would otherwise have. For example, if the attendee is far away from the stage where the live event is occurring, the video picture may provide a closer view than the attendee has from his or her seating location. Unfortunately, however, the choice of what content is displayed on the screen at such an event rests with the operator of the screen or persons controlling the event rather than with the viewer of the event. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] One aspect of the invention is a method of providing video to attendees of a live concert. Video of different views of the live concert is captured. A plurality of video streams are provided to attendees of the live concert while the live concert is occurring. The plurality of digital video streams enable an attendee of the live concert to select which of the plurality of digital video streams to view using a portable digital device associated with that attendee such that the attendee may choose from among the different views of the live concert. The invention could be used for any live event. [0004] The invention has several important technical advantages. Embodiments of the invention may have none, one, some, or all of these advantages without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention allows an attendee at a live event with a poor seating location to obtain a better view of the event. The invention may enrich the viewing experience of an attendee at a live event. By giving the attendee control over the particular video images that he or she views at a live event, the attendee may come away with a more favorable view of the event than if the attendee is merely presented with video chosen by the party putting on the event. The invention may also enhance the reputation of a party performing at the live event by enhancing an attendee's overall experience at the event. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a general purpose computer that may be used in accordance with the present invention; [0007] FIG. 2 illustrates an example architecture of a system that may be used to provide video of a live event in accordance with the present invention; and [0008] FIG. 3 illustrates a method of operating a portable digital device to obtain video of a live event in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0009] The preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. [0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a general purpose computer 10 that may be used in connection with one or more of the pieces of software employed by the present invention. General purpose computer 10 may be adapted to execute any of the well-known OS2, Unix, Mac-OS, Linux, and Windows operating systems or other operating systems. General purpose computer 10 comprises processor 12, random access memory (RAM) 14, read-only memory (ROM) 16, mouse 18, keyboard 20 and input/output devices such as printer 24, disk drives 22, display 26 and communications link 28. The present invention may include programs that may be stored in RAM 14, ROM 16, removable storage, PRAM, NV-RAM, or disk drives 22 and may be executed by processor 12. Communications link 28 may be connected to a computer network but could be connected to a telephone line, an antenna, a gateway, a wireless local area or wide area network, or any other type of communication link. Disk drives 22 may include a variety of types of storage media such as, for example, floppy disk drives, hard disk drives, DVD-ROM drives, RAM disks, compact flash card, memory stick, CD ROM/RAM/RW or DVD ROM/RAM/RW drives or magnetic tape drives. Although this embodiment employs a plurality of disk drives 22, a single disk drive 22 could be used without departing from the scope of the invention. FIG. 1 provides one example of a computer that may be used with the invention. The invention could be used with computers other than general purpose computers as well as general purpose computers without conventional operating systems. [0011] The invention includes logic contained with a medium. In this example, the logic comprises computer software executable on a general purpose computer. The media may include one or more storage devices associated with general purpose computer 10. The invention may be implemented with computer software, computer hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The logic may also be embedded within any other medium without departing from the scope of the invention. [0012] The invention may employ multiple general purpose computers 10 networked together in a computer network. Most commonly, general purpose computers 10 may be networked through the Internet, and/or in a client server network. The invention may also be used with a combination of separate computer networks each linked together by a private, virtual private, or public network. [0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an architecture of one system comprising an embodiment of the present invention. The system comprises cameras 50, encoders 52, video mixing board 54, main encoder 56, venue server 58, venue display 60, streaming server 62, application server 64, application distribution server 66, SMS/MMS gateway 68, SMTP server 70, event marketing system 72, ticketing system 74, review workstation 75, publishing workstation 77, video distribution system 59, and wireless devices 76. The function of each of these devices in the context of the invention will be discussed in more detail below. It should be noted that various embodiments of the invention will have more or less components without departing from the scope of the invention. The functions of the various devices illustrated in FIG. 2 may be combined such that the functions of multiple devices are performed by a single device. Alternatively, in other embodiments, functions performed by a single device in the system illustrated in FIG. 2 will be performed by multiple and/or redundant devices in alternative embodiments. [0014] Among other functions that will discussed more fully herein, the system illustrated in FIG. 2 allows an attendee of a live event (or another person able to receive the required signals) to select one of a plurality of video streams of the live event. Each video stream may comprise a video signal received from a different camera which is creating video of the event from a different viewpoint. Thus, the invention allows the user to view the event from various perspectives and to select which perspective the viewer wishes to view the event from at a particular time period. The term video signal is meant to refer broadly to any analog or digital video representation. It is not limited to any particular type of video signal. [0015] The invention can be used at various types of live events. Examples of live events at which the invention may be used include concerts, sporting events, speeches, plays, operas, dance shows, and the circus. However, the invention is not limited to use for these types of live events and could be used with any type of live event. [0016] Below, the functions of the various components of the system illustrated in FIG. 2 are described in more detail. In addition to the ability of the system to provide user-selected video of a live event as it is occurring, the system in FIG. 2 may also provide various other features which will also be described below. [0017] The invention may be particularly useful at live concerts or live sporting events. In these types of events, attendees often scramble to buy tickets for the "best" locations from which to view the event. The invention may allow more attendees at such events to obtain "better" views of the event by viewing various videos of the event taken from "better" locations than the location from which the attendee's tickets allow him or her to view the event. This may increase the number of "good" tickets and may allow charging of a higher ticket price. [0018] The system of FIG. 2 includes a plurality of cameras 50. Cameras 50 may be placed at various locations around a venue hosting a live event so as to provide multiple viewpoints from which an attendee can view video of the live event. Cameras 50 may provide far away views, medium views and/or close up views. Cameras 50 may be operated by a videographer, by remote control, or may capture video without a human controlling them. Cameras 50 may capture video in digital or analog form without departing from the scope of the invention. If video is captured in analog form, it may be converted to digital form inside cameras 50, in encoder 52, or using other hardware (not explicitly shown). Any number of cameras 50 may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. The cameras 50 may also, optionally, have the capability to take still photos of the live event as it is occurring. The still photos may be provided either to venue display 60 or to wireless devices 76 (or other devices) on a periodic basis (e.g. every ten seconds) or on a random basis. If cameras 50 do not have the built-in capability to take still photos, then a full frame (for example, comprised of one or two frames of interlaced video or one frame of progressive video) of video may be used to provide such a snapshot feature. [0019] Simply because video is "captured" by cameras 50 does not mean that the captured video is recorded such that a copy of the live event is created. As further described below, in some embodiments, the captured video may be streamed to end users without recording the video. In such embodiments, video may only be captured for a period of time long enough to rebroadcast the video in accordance with the invention. Continue reading about Live concert/event video system and method... Full patent description for Live concert/event video system and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Live concert/event video system and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Live concert/event video system and method or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Three constraint joint Next Patent Application: Method and apparatus for programming the storage of video information Industry Class: Television signal processing for dynamic recording or reproducing ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Live concert/event video system and method patent info. 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