22 75

---

US007859597B2

(12) Ulllted States Patent

(10) Patent N0.:

Anderson, Jr. et a].

US 7,859,597 B2

(45) Date of Patent:

(54)

AUDIO/VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

(75)

Inventors: TazWell L. Anderson, Jr., Atlanta, GA (Us); Mark A- Wood, B0021 Raton, FL

4,486,897 A 4,504,861 A

Dec. 28, 2010

12/1984 Nagai 3/1985 Dougherty

4,572,323 A

2/1986 Randall

4,580,174 A 4,605,950 A

21/1936 Tokunaka 8/1986 Goldberg et al.

(US) (73) Assignee: Immersion Entertainment, LLC, Atlanta, GA (Us) (*)

Notice:

(Continued)

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 425 days.

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS / 2372892 9 2°02

GB

(21) App1.No.: 11/702,716 (22) Filed:

Feb. 5, 2007

(65)

(Continued) OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Prior Publication Data

Ron Glover; “Armchair Baseball From the WebiOr Your Stadium

Us 2007/0256107 A1

NOV’ 1’ 2007

Seat”; copyright 1998; The McGraW-Hill Companies, Inc.; 2 pgs.

Related US. Application Data (60)

(Continued)

Division of application No. 10/159,666, ?led on May

30, 2002, noW Pat. NO. 7,210,160, which is a continu-

.

.

ation-in-part of application No. 09/322,411, ?led on

(51)

i

gg?gofzamjegm pjflgfryjgl?llj sman The Small ey’

g

’

'

’

May 28, 1999, HOW Pat. NO. 6,578,203, and a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/386,613, ?led on

Patent Law Group 57

Aug. 31, 1999, noW Pat. No. 7,124,425, and a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/837,128, ?led on

( )

Apr. 18, 2001, noW abandoned.

The p re ferre d emb 0 d.1ment o f the p resent 1nvent1on . . p rov1.des

Int Cl

a system and method for programming and/ or charging one or

HOLIN ‘7/16 H04N 5/445 (52)

U 5 Cl

(58)

F: I'd 1e

S

ABSTRACT

(2006 01) (200601)

more audio/video devices such that the audio/video devices Will be programmed and charged to receive transmitted audio

'

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assl

1,

_

1on

348/725 725/132

and video signals associated With an event, allowing a user to

455/556 557

use the audio/video device to observe the sights and sounds of

""" earc

....... ..

i

_

e or Comp ete Seam

lstory'

References Cited

’

~

~

~

the event. A preferred embodlment of the present 1nvent1on

includes a cart With a docking port for each of a plurality of personal audio/video devices, a charger con?gured to charge

the poWer source of each personal audio/video display device, and programming logic con?gured to program each of the personal audio/video devices.

us PATENT DOCUMENTS 4,472,830 A 4,479,150 A

'

?l 1725/81’ 1141’ 340/1812115j69’ 825'72

ee app lcanon

(56)

ca

9/1984 Nagai 10/1984 Ilmer et a1.

33 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets

20

A/22

71

75 ‘

Receiver

;

Receiver

28 Receiver

25/

\

25

75

/

75

US 7,859,597 B2 Page 2 US. PATENT DOCUMENTS

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20010275101 W0 9411855 W0 9966670 W0 0054554 WO-2004/002130 A2

10/2001 5/1994 12/1999 9/2000 12/2003

QTHER PUBLICATIONS

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6,681,398 B1

1/2004 Verna ....................... .. 725/141

Superbowl; Bronoo8 v, Paokor8; 15 P88

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g/2004 8/2004 g/2004 g/2005 8/200 5

In-Seat Interactive Advertising Device Debuts; Nov. 19, 1999; Will iams; 2 Pg$~ Reality Check Studios Goes Broadband with Production for Choiceseat at Madison Square Garden; Dec. 1, 1999; 3 pgs. Press Release: Vela Research LP to Supply Encoding for ChoiceSeat

B1 B2 B1 B2 B2

Takeda Burg et a1. Usami e1 31‘ Forest Katayama

6,952,558 B2

10/2005 Hardacker ............... .. 455/3.06

at $11PorBoW1XXXII; Jan 13, 1998; 2 P88

6,961,430 B1

11/2005 Gaske e1 31,

Ruel’s Report: CholceSeat; ChoiceSeat makes Worldwide Debut at

7,006,164 B1 7,149,549 B1

2/2006 Morris 12/2006 Ortiz

the 1998 Super Bowl in San Diego California; Sep. 1, 1997; 9 pgs. San Dio8o MotroPolitan; Jan 1998; 29 P88

7,210,160 B2

4/2007 Anderson et a1, ___________ __ 72 5 /g 1

Stadium fans touch the futureiInternet Explorer and touch screens

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6/2007 Qawami e1 31, 9/2007 Yoshida

add interactivity to Super Bowl XXXII; Jan. 26, 1998; 2 pgs. Telephony online Intelligence for the Broadband Economy; Fans

7 ,448,()63 B2 2001/0016486 A1 2001/0030612 A1

1 1/2008 Freeman 61 31, 8/2001 K0 10/2001 Kerber et 31,

take to ChoiceSeats; Interactive technology, e-commerce expand to 8Portir18 ovont8; Jan, 10, 2000; 2 P88 Williams ChoiceSeat interactive network launches inaugural season

2001/0034734 2001/0039180 200 1/ 0039663 2001/0042105

10/2001 11/2001 1 1/ 2001 11/2001

With Tampa Bay Devil Rays; expands features for second season; Mar. 30, 1998; 2 pgs. Williams Communications; CholceSeatTM demonstrates the interac tive evolution of sports at Super BowlTM XXXIII; Jan. 20, 1999; 2

A1 A1 A1 A1

2001/0047516 A1

2002/0007490 2002/0014275 2002/0046405 2002/0052965 2002/0057365 2002/0063799 2002/0069416

A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1

Whitley et al. Sibley et al. Sibley Koehler et a1.

11/2001 Swain et a1.

1/2002 2/2002 4/2002 5/2002 5/2002 5/2002 6/2002

Jeffery Blatt et al. L?hf Dowling Brown Ortiz et al. ................ .. 348/559 Stlles

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ChoiceSeat The Premiere Provider of Interactive Event Entertain ment; 18 pgs.

Choice Seat, Speci?cation; Version 2.2; Ethernet Model; Williams Communications Group; Oct. 10, 1997; 13 pgs. ChoiceSeat Intellectual Property List; 3 pgs. CS1 Incorporated Draft; Schedule Aqp; Schedule of patents; 2 pgs‘

HK-388P/ PW Color Camera Operation Manual; vol. 2 Ikegami; 280 pgs' Eric Breier; Computer age comes to ballpark; Quallcomm is test site for ChoiceSeat’s sports television network; Aug. 1997; 2 pgs.

2002/0069419 A1

6/2002 Raverdy et al.

2002/0090217 A1 2002/0091723 A1

7/2002 Llmor et a1‘ 7/2002 Traner et al'

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Robert Carter; Web Technology: It’s in THE Game; SiteBuilder

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gigziacker 2002/ 0130967 A1

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20020138582 Al

9/2002 Chandra et a1‘

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10/2002 Anderson et a1‘

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1/2003

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Feuer et al.

ChoiceSeatTM Fact Sheet; Project: Super Bowl XXXII; Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif., USA; Jan. 25, 1998; 1 pg. Screen Shot-Super Bowl XXXII; Jan. 25, 1998; 1 pg. VYVX® cholceseat COVFT; 1 Pg‘ _

_

Welcome to the Interact1ve Evolut1on of Sports. Cho1ceSeatTM; Jan. 1998; 1Pg'

_

_ _

_

The Ult1mate Super Bowl Exper1ence! W1ll1ams Cho1ceSeatTM Jan.

2003/0005437 A1

1/2003 Feuer et al.

1998; 1 Pg;

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V2003 Faibish et 31‘

Bradley J. F1kes; Super Bowl XXXII; It’sJust bus1ness; For lucky 600

2003/0014275 2003/0023974 2003/0204630 2004/0034617 2004/0073437 2004/0207719 2004/0243922 2005/ 00763 87 2006/0174297 2007/ 0107028

A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1

1/2003 1/2003 10/2003 2/2004 4/2004 10/2004 12/2004 4/ 2005 8/2006 5/ 2007

Bearden, III et a1‘ Dagtas et al. Ng Kaku Halgas et a1, Tervo et al. sirota et a1, Feldmeier Anderson et al. Monroe

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS JP

10136277

5/1998

_

_

fans, there’ll be TV sets at the seats: San Diego-North County Times; 1a“ 1998; 1 Pg D.R. Stewart; Williams Interactive Video Gives Football Fans Choice; Tulsa World; Jan. 1998; tulsaworld.com; 2 pgs. ChoiceSeat Handout; Welcome to the Interactive Evolution of Sports, WWW-ohoioo8oatr1ot; 1 P8 Cyberscope; Just Call It Wired Bowl; Jan. 28, 1998; 1 pg. Ruel.Net Set-Top Page Interactive TV Top.Box.News; Ruel’s Report: ChoiceSeat; Fall 1998; 7 pgs. Williams ChoiceSeat interactive network launches inaugural season with Tampa Bay Devil Rays; expands features for second season with

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* cited by examiner

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Stadium and Up Close Camera Shots; New York; Mar. 22, 2002; 2

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2

AUDIO/VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

In addition, one or more of the audio signals, such as audio

signals de?ning the comments of radio commentators, are usually selected and modulated at a radio station to form a

radio signal. This radio signal is then transmitted as a Wireless signal so that users having radios can receive the signal via a

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

radio. The radio demodulates the signal and reproduces the sounds de?ned by the radio signal via speaker. HoWever, users vieWing and/or hearing the sights and

The present application is a divisional application of appli cation Ser. No. 10/159,666, ?led May 30, 2002 now US. Pat. No. 7,210,160 Which Was a continuation-in-part of and claims

sounds of the race or game via televisions and/or radios are

priority i) to non-provisional US. patent application entitled

not usually given the opportunity to select Which video and/or

“Audio/Video Signal Distribution System For Head Mounted

audio signals are modulated and transmitted to the television and/or radio. Therefore, the user is only able to receive the signals modulated and transmitted to the television and/or radio, even though the user may prefer to receive the other audio and/or video signals that are generated at the auto race

Displays,” assigned Ser. No. 09/322,411, and ?led May 28, 1999; now US. Pat. No. 6,578,203 to non-provisional US.

patent application entitled “Audio/Video System And Method Utilizing A Head Mounted Apparatus With Noise Attenuation,” assigned Ser. No. 09/386,613, and ?led Aug.

or game.

Spectators Who actually attend the sporting event are usu

31, 1999 now US. Pat. No. 7,124,425 and; iii) to non-provi sional US. patent application entitled “Electronic Handheld

Audio/Video Receiver And Listening/Viewing Device,” assigned Ser. No. 09/837,128, and ?led Apr. 18, 2001, noW

ally given more options to vieW and/or hear the sights and/or sounds of the sporting event from different perspectives. In 20

abandoned the complete and full subject matter of Which are

this regard, a plurality of monitors are usually located at particular locations in the stadium. As used herein, “stadium”

all expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entire

shall be de?ned to mean any non-movable structure having a

ties.

large number (i.e., thousands) of seats, Wherein an event BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

25

1. Field of the Invention

Certain embodiments of the present invention generally relate to video and audio signal processing techniques and, in particular, to a system and method for receiving video and audio signals from a plurality of sources and for providing a user With multiple combinations of these signals to select from. Certain embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an apparatus for processing video and/ or audio sig

nals and for displaying images and producing sounds based

30

35

on the processed video and/or audio signals. Certain embodi ments of the present invention generally relate to video and

charging one or more personal audio/video devices. 2. Related Art

40

Audio and video signals are generated from a plurality of sources during many events, For example, at an auto race, television creWs usually position cameras at various locations Within vieW of a racetrack. These cameras generate video

45

Accordingly, there also exists a need to alter or program the

55

receive the proper audio and video frequencies at each sta dium and event. Similarly, after each use, an audio/video device may need to be charged before its next use. Accord ingly, a need exists for providing and system and method for

ensure that one or more audio/video devices are able to

sporting event, television creWs usually position cameras and microphones at various locations in the stadium.

charging one or more audio/video device betWeen uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the video signals and one or more of the audio 60

The television demodulates the combined signal and displays ers. Therefore, the sights and sounds of the race can be vieWed and heard via the television.

The present invention overcomes the inadequacies and de?ciencies of the prior art as discussed hereinbefore. In accordance With certain embodiments, a system and method are provided for providing a user With a plurality of audio and

video signals de?ning different sounds and vieWs associated

an image de?ned by the video signal on a display screen and

reproduces the sounds de?ned by the audio signals via speak

ciation With an event. HoWever, stadiums have varying audio and video frequencies available for use in connection With various events. Different stadiums in different geographical locations Will also have different audio and video frequencies available for transmission in connection With the events.

audio and video frequencies used by audio/video devices to

close to television commentators to receive the comments of the commentators as they observe and comment on the race.

signals are usually selected and combined together at a tele vision station to form a combined video/ audio signal. This signal is then modulated and transmitted so that users having a television can receive the combined signal via the television.

Thus, a heretofore-unaddressed need exists in the industry for providing a system and method that enables a spectator to conveniently vieW an event from different perspectives. A Way to address this need is With personal audio/video

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participating in the race, and microphones may be located As another example, at a football game or other type of

often located in an inconvenient location for many of the spectators. In this regard, many of the spectators often must leave their seats (or other locations) in the stadium and go to a location Where the spectators, along With other spectators, can vieW the monitor displaying the desired perspective. The spectators vieWing the monitor often do not have control over

devices for use by spectators at an event or for use in asso

signals de?ning vieWs of the racetrack from various perspec tives. In addition, microphones positioned at various loca tions generate audio signals de?ning different sounds at the auto race. For example, microphones may be located close to the race track to receive sounds produced by the vehicles

mentioned video signals and displays an image de?ned by the received video signal to many of the spectators. HoWever, the monitor does not alWays display a desirable perspective With respect to each spectator in the stadium, and the monitor is

Which image is displayed by the monitor.

audio device programming, charging, and vending and, in particular, to a system and method for programming and

occurs at (i.e., Within a close proximity of) the seats such that spectators sitting in the seats can vieW the event. An “event” is any occurrence vieWed by a spectator. Each monitor Within the stadium receives one of the afore

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With an event. The system includes a handheld device having a video receiver, a virtual image display device, and one or

more speakers. The virtual image display device produces