Patent Application
20180213127
The invention relates to special effects in general and more specifically a system and a method for overlaying real physical world items into a virtual simulated world, interactions between the worlds and protocols for efficient communication between these and third party participants.
From prior art one should refer to green screen technology wherein persons and items in a studio typically having green background colour (chrome key) is overlaid onto a background that can be synthetic. The problem is that the participants in the studio have no direct interaction with the background image. Also such solutions mean that there is limited scope for data compression to third party participants or plain viewers.
From prior art one should refer to the following documents:
From prior art one should further refer to the following documents:
Therefore, a main objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method that overcomes the limitations in prior art. It is an object of the invention to overcome real world physical limitations in studios. It is also an object of the invention to be able to improve data compression for transmitted multimedia. It is also an object of the invention to enable interaction of third party participants.
The objective is achieved according to the invention by a system for overlaying real physical world items into a virtual simulated world and a participating site as defined in the preamble of the independent claims, having the features of the characterising portion of said independent claims.
A number of non-exhaustive embodiments, variants or alternatives of the invention are defined by the dependent claims.
The present invention attains the above-described objective by a studio site for having real life items and a primary game engine for simulating at least some of said real life items, wherein the primary game engine receives motion and position data from said studio and generates visualisation of said items, wherein the visualisation is overlaid studio images using a keyer function.
In a preferred embodiment the system is further provided with at least one participating game engine for simulation of participating units, wherein the participating game engine receives motion and position data from the studio and generates visualisation of said items, wherein the visualisation is overlaid studio images using a keyer function.
In a more preferred embodiment the at least one participating game engine is further operable to receive data from the primary game engine.
In a further preferred embodiment the primary game engine is further operable to receive data from the at least one participating game engine
The technical differences over prior art using chrome key is that items and participants in the studio can interact with a background that no longer has to remain static.
These effects provide in turn several further advantageous effects:
The use of a participating game engine provides further advantages:
When a participating game engine receives data from the primary game engine the participant will also be able to see and optionally interact also with simulated items.
When the primary game engine is further operable to receive data from the at least one participating game engine the overall system can bring interaction from participants into the studio and make participant actions visible to each other.
The above and further features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims and together with advantages thereof will become clearer from consideration of the following detailed description of an [exemplary] embodiment of the invention given with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The invention will be further described below in connection with exemplary embodiments which are schematically shown in the drawings, wherein:
The following reference numbers and signs refer to the drawings:
Various aspects of the disclosure are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein, whether implemented independently of or combined with any other aspect of the disclosure. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover such an apparatus or method which is practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than the various aspects of the disclosure set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of a claim.
This description uses certain terms and expressions throughout the document.
Studio: a studio site and related equipment such as a primary game engine and keyer.
Studio site: a site in real life for use with physical items with means for recording such as camera and sound recording system. Preferably there is lighting and chroma key equipment.
Game engine: a physics engine that interacts with a graphics engine to visualise simulated objects in a simulated reality.
Keyer: a device that combines visual representation of physical items in a studio with visual representation of simulated items in a game engine.
The invention will be further described in connection with exemplary embodiments which are schematically shown in the drawings, wherein
Central to the invention is the separation of real and simulated items that are integrated before presentation.
The embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention shown in
The studio 2000 is typically comprises facilities for production of programs, shows or games. Amongst the facilities are the production site 2200 and means for producing graphical effects.
The studio site 2200 is a physical site or location in real world for use with physical items and objects with means for recording such as camera and sound recording system.
It comprises a physical location 2210 such as a scene, preferably a studio scene but can also be a location in nature or other type of on site location. The location has geometrical parameters such as a position, orientation and scaling. It is preferred that the site is provided with equipment for motion capture and thus preferably a device to record position and orientation for recording means such as camera, video and audio equipment. Data from these recording means are transmitted as physical location motion data 2110.
Related to the location there are physical items and objects 2220. These can be active objects such as humans as well as passive objects such as chairs and tables. Objects are preferably provided with means for recording and positioning of the objects, typically similarly as used in motion capture systems. Data from these recording means are transmitted as physical object motion data 2120.
Recording means 2230 record the visual and audio appearances of the objects 2220 in the studio location 2210 and generates image data 2130. Such recording means can be traditional recording means such as studio cameras and microphones. Preferably said recording means are provided with means for recording their positions with respect to the studio site so that a proper 3D representation of the scene can be determined. Note that not all objects or parts of the physical location have to be visible or recorded at all time.
Image data is transmitted to a keyer 2170 typically located in the studio 2000. The keyer is operable to overlay images from elsewhere using chroma keying. Such chroma keying is typically performed using green screens in the studio site and can be applied to the site and objects, in parts or in full.
The primary game engine 2300 provides a virtual world with simulated objects controlled by simulated physics.
The virtual world is represented by a virtual location 2310 having a location. Said location does not have to be identical with that of the physical location 2210.
The game engine receives physical location motion data 2110 so that a relationship between the positions of the real and virtual worlds can be established.
Related to the virtual world there are virtual items and objects 2320. These can be either fully virtual and simulated by the game engine, or can be simulated based on data from a physical object 2220 based on physical object motion data 2120. Such simulated object will behave similarly as the corresponding physical object when simulated using real life parameters such as mass, gravity and friction.
The game engine comprises a physics engine that handles the virtual world and related physics and simulation. The representation of the virtual world with the virtual location and the objects are rendered by a graphics engine 2330 that is also part of the game engine.
A keyer 2170 typically located in the studio receives image results 2240 from the studio site 2200 and image results 2340 from the primary game engine 2300 and combines these to a combined result 2180 that can be transmitted to viewers.
In typical use there is first a setup-phase where the positions of the real and virtual world are aligned using physical location motion data 2110. The real world scene is populated with objects whose parameters are transferred to the virtual world using physical objects motion data 2120. Cameras and other recording equipment are also objects and data about these are also transferred so that the virtual world remains in sync with the real world as cameras move, pan and zoom. Space is allocated for virtual objects, typically using green screen so that virtual objects can be overlaid into this area.
Also objects can be covered in green screen so that their visual representation can be replaced using the keyer.
Typically during the recording phase human actors move around the scene and their position is correspondingly updated in the virtual world using data 2110, 2120. The technical effect of the invention is illustrated when a human actor manipulates an object by for instance kicking a box. The box is provided with a green screen and is made invisible by the keyer. Data is however transferred to the game engine which simulates the motion of the box and replaces the real world behaviour with a rendering of a virtual box simulated with cartoon like effects such as shattering of the box and ejecting it at exaggerated velocity using appropriate visual and audio effects.
In a preferred embodiment the system further comprises a viewer at a participant site 3000 provided with at least one participating game engine 3300 for simulation of participating virtual units and objects 3320, wherein the participating game engine receives motion and position data 2110, 2120 from the studio 2200 site and generates visualisation of said items, wherein the visualisation is overlaid studio images using a keyer function.
In typical use there is first a setup-phase where the positions of the real and participating virtual world are aligned using physical location motion data 2110. The real world scene is populated with objects whose parameters are transferred to the virtual world using physical objects motion data 2120. Cameras and other recording equipment are also objects and data about these are also transferred so that the virtual world remains in sync with the real world as cameras move, pan and zoom. Space is allocated for virtual objects, typically using green screen so that virtual objects can be overlaid into this area.
Typically during the viewing phase the participating game engine receives image data and positional data from the studio system 2000 and uses these to combine image data with image results from the participating game engine in a keyer 3170 located at the participating site. This has the advantage of reducing bandwidth since image data for simulated objects can be created locally from low bandwidth motion data 2110, 2120. This also allows for local adjustment of for instance colours to improve visibility to visually impaired viewers. Locally generated image data have more bandwidth available than broadcasting systems and can therefore render images and sound in higher quality and with finer details.
In a more preferred embodiment the at least one participating game engine is further operable to receive data from the primary game engine.
In a more preferred embodiment the participant site 3000 is provided with an input device 3150 such as buttons, joysticks, keyboards, microphone and other means for entering data into the game engine 3300. This lets a viewer participate locally in a game show without relying on a centralised system that would require bandwidth for incoming user data traffic. This in turn allows for scaling up of the system.
In a further preferred embodiment the primary game engine is further operable to receive data from the at least one participating game engine. This could be motion data alone in order to conserve bandwidth while still reading in the results from participants, a solution that does not pose, the same demands of low latency as for a system where all calculations took place centrally.
In some embodiments at least some participant data can be re-broadcasted to other participants.
In other embodiments participant data could be shared between group of participants without being routed centrally, for instance by the studio.
It is preferred to direct data flows through a database system 4000 that direct the appropriate data to each participant. Such dataflow can be fata streams from studio site 4010 and data streams from primary game engine 4020.
A number of variations on the above can be envisaged. For instance the studio can produce data for recording rather than live transmission.
Similarly the participant site can use recorded data rather than reception of live data. This will have the previously mentioned advantages of improved data compression.
The participant site can operate in one of several modes:
Online receive mode: wherein the participant passively views what happens in the studio,
Virtual online participation mode: wherein the participant interacts or plays with the system using the participant games engine using preferably preloaded data from the studio. This has the effect of appearing to be online without the bandwidth demand of real online and with no or limited lag. The results of the interaction are typically returned to the studio.
Full online participation mode: wherein the participant is in real time connected to the primary game engine, typically for a select few participant, Typically the system transitions from virtual participation online mode to full online participation mode for those participants doing exceptionally well and will be of a wider interest.
Playback mode: wherein the participant operates on fully preloaded data. Said data can also be the result of one of the three modes above.
The invention according to the application finds use in recording, transmission, distribution and viewing of multimedia and for viewer participation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140637 | May 2014 | NO | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NO2015/050085 | 5/20/2015 | WO | 00 |
