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Representing sub-event with physical exertion actions

Representing sub-event with physical exertion actions description/claims

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/548,719 filed 13 Apr. 2000, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/871,713 filed 9 Jun. 1997, U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,862, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/660,891 filed 10 Jun. 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,347, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/920,355 filed 29 Jul. 1992, U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,479, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/641,716 filed 15 Jan. 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,630, and is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/542,990 filed 25 Jun. 1990, abandoned. The contents of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for broadcasting and viewing live events. In particular, the present invention utilizes computer simulation techniques to characterize the actions of a live event and broadcasts those computer characterizations to viewers who desire such information. The event is then simulated by the viewer's computer, utilizing the computer simulation characterizations of the actions of the event and known simulation techniques.

2. Related Art

The broadcasting of live events is well-known. Most commonly live events are broadcast as audio information or a combination of video and audio information utilizing either radio transmission techniques or television transmission techniques, respectively. There are limitations to both of these broadcasting techniques. Radio broadcasting provides no visual representation of the action being described. Video information of a television transmission is restricted by the angle of the television camera selected for transmission of a particular action within the event. In addition, unless the observer video tapes a television transmission or audio tapes a radio transmission, there is no possibility for replaying actions that occur within the event and there is no capability for the viewer to view or listen to only selected portions of the event, to review selected portions of the event, or to view the event at the viewer's leisure.

It is also well known to utilize computers to simulate activities. In particular, computer simulation techniques to represent the testing of the operation of devices is well known. Thus, computer programmers familiar with simulation techniques are familiar with programs required for simulating activities on a computer. However, such simulation techniques have not been utilized in conjunction with the broadcast of live events, which can be represented as a sequence of well-defined actions.

The present invention is directed to a method for broadcasting live events which overcomes the shortfalls of radio and television broadcasting. In particular, the present invention utilizes computer simulation techniques to characterize the actions of a live event, providing symbolic representations for the actions of the event rather than direct audio or visual signals. According to the method there is a broadcast of those characterizations. The live event can then be simulated at a remote location utilizing the characterizations or symbolic representations.

This broadcasting method has at least four advantages over other live broadcast techniques. First, the viewer may view the event at any time and may repeatedly view parts of the event. Secondly, the viewer can select a visual perspective for a given action within the event and can also choose to have information about the event displayed in graph or chart form rather than as visual images. Third, the user of the system is capable of monitoring a plurality of events simultaneously. Fourth, the method of the present invention results in using less bandwidth to broadcast a live event than is typically utilized for either radio or television broadcasts of such an event.

In a method according to the present invention, an event, is characterized as a sequence of sub-events constituted by a discrete number of actions selected from a finite set of action types which define the nature of the event. Each action is definable by its action type and from zero to possibly several parameters associated with that action type. The event may be observed by an observer who attends or watches the event and monitors each of the actions which occurs in the course of the event. The observer enters associated parameters for each action which takes place during the event. The event is thus represented by a sequence of sub-events each described by a sequence of characterizations of a plurality of actions in terms of parameters which are entered into an event file of a centralized data base computer which is accessible by the observer. The centralized data base computer may either be located at the site of the event or at a remote location and the information can be transmitted by the observer to the centralized data base computer. In either alternative, the observer, having access to a computer, encodes the event as a series of actions having associated therewith various parameters which define the actions that have taken place. Once the encoded description is transferred to an event file of the centralized data base computer, it is accessible by a viewer. Once accessed by a viewer these encoded descriptions of the actions of the event will then be utilized by the viewer's computer to reconstruct the actions of each sub-event of the selected event by using the parameter information associated with each action. The actions can be represented to the viewer either with visual images, audio images, or text, or some combination thereof.

The viewer will be able to select a perspective view for a visual image that is displayed on the display device associated with the viewer's computer. In addition, the viewer will be able to replay any portion of the event as already stored in an event file of a viewer data base at the viewer's computer. Furthermore, the viewer will be able to update the viewer computer data base with event information from the centralized data base computer at any time. In addition, the viewer's computer will be able to access the action information of a plurality of events from the centralized data base computer and store such information in a viewer file, permitting the viewer to select from any one of the plurality of events for view. The viewer will also be able to interrupt the display of the event on the viewer's computer at any time and return to any action within the event once it is stored in the viewer's computer data base.

One such typical event would be a sporting event such as a baseball game. It is also possible to utilize this system with such events as the activities involving a stock market, an election, an auction and any other event where a finite set of possible action types can be defined prior to the beginning of the event.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a transmission system utilizing the broadcast method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a textual representation of an event in accordance with the method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an algorithm usable by an observer in implementing the method of the present invention.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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