Automated Camera Path Generation for Volumetric Replay

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual selection of camera paths in immersive sports media systems is costly, non-scalable, and introduces latency, negatively impacting the user viewing experience during the playback of 3D video recordings of live games.

Innovation Solution

An automated method for generating camera paths using camera calibration data and trajectory data associated with projectiles in a game, which determines pre-highlight, post-highlight, and intermediate camera angles to create a 360-degree volumetric content replay, reducing latency and enhancing scalability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual selection of camera paths is used, then the quality of camera path selection can be maintained, but the cost increases and scalability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera path selection qualityVSAvoidcost effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated camera path selection that operates independently without manual intervention. The processor automatically determines camera paths by analyzing game data, player positions, and trajectory information, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for human operators to select camera paths manually.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of camera path selection with an automated computational system. The processor uses algorithms to analyze game state data, calculate optimal camera angles, and generate camera paths automatically, substituting human decision-making with machine-based computational analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If manual selection of camera paths is used, then the quality of camera path selection can be maintained, but the scalability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera path selection qualityVSAvoidscalability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The automated system performs camera path selection independently without requiring human operators, enabling the system to handle multiple game feeds and highlight moments simultaneously. This self-service capability allows the system to scale from single-game to multi-game operations without proportionally increasing manual labor requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The automated camera path selection system is designed to handle multiple types of sports games, different camera configurations, and various highlight moment types uniformly. The same processing algorithms can be applied across different game scenarios, making the system versatile and easily scalable to different applications without requiring game-specific manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If manual selection of camera paths is used, then the camera path quality can be maintained, but latency is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera path selection qualityVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of game data, player positions, and trajectory information in advance to pre-determine optimal camera paths. By preparing camera path options beforehand based on anticipated highlight moments and player movements, the system reduces the time required for real-time camera path selection during actual highlight events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The automated computational system replaces manual camera path selection with algorithm-based determination that operates at machine speed. The processor can evaluate multiple camera path options and select the optimal path in milliseconds, eliminating the time delay inherent in human decision-making while maintaining or improving path selection quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If automated generation of camera paths is used, then latency is reduced and scalability is enhanced, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses camera calibration data and pre-stored game data as intermediary information layers between the raw game feed and the final camera path selection. These intermediary data structures organize and pre-process information in a standardized format, simplifying the automated decision-making process and reducing the computational complexity required for real-time camera path determination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11451757B2Automated generation of camera paths

Publication Date: 2022.09.20 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Methods, systems and apparatuses may provide for technology that automatically determines, based on camera calibration data and trajectory data associated with a projectile in a game, a plurality of camera angles. The technology may also automatically generate, based on the plurality of camera angles, a camera path for a volumetric content replay of a three-dimensional (3D) region of interest around a highlight moment in the game.