Systems and methods for analyzing event data

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for determining a target situation in an athletic event. Positional information including the relative positions of a group of selected participants is initially received from a tracking system, and the aggregate motion of the selected participants is detected in real-time using the positional information. The target situation may be determined to have occurred when a change in the aggregate motion occurs in accordance with a predetermined characteristic during an initial time interval.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A camera control method, comprising:
 periodically receiving real-time geographic positions of a plurality of objects in a sporting event;   processing the periodically-received positions to identify at least one condition that precedes a target situation involving the plurality of objects; and   controlling a robotic camera, in response to the at least one condition being identified, to capture at least one of the plurality of objects prior to, and during at least part of, the target situation.   
     
     
         2 . The camera control method of  claim 1 , the plurality of objects including at least some of a plurality of participants of the sporting event. 
     
     
         3 . The camera control method of  claim 1 , the plurality of objects including at least one piece of sports equipment used for the sporting event. 
     
     
         4 . The camera control method of  claim 1 , wherein said controlling the robotic camera includes controlling the robotic camera to track the at least one of the plurality of objects, based on the periodically-received positions, while the at least one of the plurality of objects moves during the target situation. 
     
     
         5 . The camera control method of  claim 1 , the sporting event being a football game, wherein:
 the at least one condition is players breaking from a huddle prior to a beginning of a play of the football game; and   said controlling the robotic camera includes controlling the robotic camera to capture the players prior to, and during the beginning of, the play.   
     
     
         6 . The camera control method of  claim 1 , the sporting event being a football game, wherein:
 the at least one condition is an occurrence of first and second formations on opposite sides of a line of scrimmage prior to a beginning of a play of the football game; and   said controlling the robotic camera includes controlling the robotic camera to capture the players in the first and second formations prior to, and during the beginning of, the play.   
     
     
         7 . The camera control method of  claim 1 , the at least one condition being identified from an aggregate motion determined from the periodically-received positions. 
     
     
         8 . The camera control method of  claim 7 , the sporting event being a football game, wherein:
 the at least one condition is a beginning of a play of the football game; and   said controlling the robotic camera includes controlling the robotic camera to capture a quarterback prior to, and during at least part of, a pass.   
     
     
         9 . The camera control method of  claim 7 , the sporting event being a football game, wherein:
 the at least one condition is a beginning of a play of the football game; and   said controlling the robotic camera includes controlling the robotic camera to capture a football prior to, and during at least part of, a pass.   
     
     
         10 . The camera control method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting, with a tracking system, the real-time geographic positions of the plurality of objects from at least one location unit attached to each of the plurality of objects. 
     
     
         11 . A camera control method, comprising:
 periodically receiving real-time geographic positions of a plurality of objects in a sporting event;   processing the periodically-received positions to identify at least one condition that precedes a target situation involving the plurality of objects; and   controlling a robotic camera, in response to the at least one condition being identified, to capture an area of interest prior to, and during at least part of, the target situation.   
     
     
         12 . The camera control method of  claim 11 , the area of interest being a scoreboard. 
     
     
         13 . The camera control method of  claim 11 , the sporting event being a football game, wherein:
 the target situation is a play of the football game; and   the area of interest is a line of scrimmage.   
     
     
         14 . A camera control system, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory communicable coupled with the processor and storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, direct the system to:
 periodically receive real-time geographic positions of a plurality of objects in a sporting event; 
 process the periodically-received positions to identify at least one condition that precedes a target situation involving the plurality of objects; and 
 control a robotic camera, in response to the at least one condition being identified, to capture at least one of the plurality of objects prior to, and during at least part of, the target situation. 
   
     
     
         15 . The camera control system of  claim 14 , wherein the machine-readable instructions that direct the system to control the robotic camera include machine-readable instructions that direct the system to control the robotic camera to track the at least one of the plurality of objects, based on the periodically-received positions, while the at least one of the plurality of objects moves during the target situation. 
     
     
         16 . The camera control system of  claim 14 , further comprising a tracking system configured to detect the real-time geographic positions of the participants. 
     
     
         17 . The camera control system of  claim 14 , wherein the machine-readable instructions that direct the system to process the periodically-received positions include machine-readable instructions that direct the system to identify the target situation from an aggregate motion determined from the periodically-received positions. 
     
     
         18 . A camera control system, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory communicable coupled with the processor and storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, direct the system to:
 periodically receive real-time geographic positions of a plurality of objects in a sporting event; 
 process the periodically-received positions to identify at least one condition that precedes a target situation involving the plurality of objects; and 
 control a robotic camera, in response to the at least one condition being identified, to capture an area of interest prior to, and during at least part of, the target situation. 
   
     
     
         19 . The camera control system of  claim 18 , further comprising a tracking system configured to detect the real-time geographic positions of the participants. 
     
     
         20 . The camera control system of  claim 18 , wherein the machine-readable instructions that direct the system to process the periodically-received positions include machine-readable instructions that direct the system to identify the target situation from an aggregate motion determined from the periodically-received positions.