Method, system and apparatus for providing improved audience participation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016125242-A1
Application number	US-201514790812-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 2, 2015
Priority date	Nov 3, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for detecting placards in a captured image, comprising: input circuitry operable to receive the captured image; detector circuitry operable to detect placards in the captured image on a basis of a predetermined shape and/or colour of the placards, the detector circuitry being operable to detect placards of a plurality of different shapes and/or colours; and counter circuitry operable to count a number of detected placards of each different shape and/or colour.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for detecting placards in a captured image, comprising:
input circuitry operable to receive the captured image; detector circuitry operable to detect placards in the captured image on a basis of a predetermined shape and/or colour of the placards, the detector circuitry being operable to detect placards of a plurality of different shapes and/or colours; and counter circuitry operable to count a number of detected placards of each different shape and/or colour.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the detector circuitry comprises shape detector circuitry operable to detect objects in the captured image matching a predetermined placard shape, and colour detector circuitry operable to detect which of the objects detected by the shape detector circuitry match a predetermined placard colour, wherein an object detected by the colour detector circuitry is determined to be a detected placard.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein there is a single predetermined placard shape, and a plurality of different predetermined placard colours, wherein the counter circuitry is operable to count the number of detected placards of each different predetermined placard colour.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the single predetermined placard shape is a circle, oval or ellipse, and each predetermined placard colour is different coloured pattern, each coloured pattern comprising a central circular, oval or elliptical region in a first colour surrounded by a circular, oval or elliptical ring in a second, different colour.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:
a storage medium operable to store a reference image of the same scene as that of the captured image, wherein no placards are present in the reference image; and image subtraction unit circuitry operable to subtract the reference image from the captured image prior to detection of placards in the captured image by the detector circuitry.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the captured image is an image of seats in a stadium, and the apparatus comprises mapping circuitry operable to:
divide the captured image into a plurality of blocks, wherein each seat in the image corresponds to a respective block; for each block, determine whether or not a detected placard is positioned within the block; and for each block in which a detected placard is determined to be positioned, map the seat corresponding to the block to the shape and/or colour of the detected placard.

7 . A system comprising:
an apparatus according to claim 1 ; and a camera operable to capture an image and to transmit the captured image to the input circuitry of the apparatus.

8 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the camera is located at an event with an audience and is operable to capture an image of one or members of the audience each holding up a placard.

9 . The method for detecting placards in a captured image, comprising:
receiving the captured image; detecting placards in the captured image on a basis of a predetermined shape and/or colour of the placards, wherein placards of a plurality of different shapes and/or colours are detected; and counting a number of detected placards of each different shape and/or colour.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the detecting step comprises detecting objects in the captured image matching a predetermined placard shape, and detecting which of the detected objects matching a predetermined placard shape match a predetermined placard colour, wherein a detected object matching a predetermined placard colour is determined to be a detected placard.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein there is a single predetermined placard shape, and a plurality of different predetermined placard colours, wherein the counting step comprises counting the number of detected placards of each different predetermined placard colour.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the single predetermined placard shape is a circle, oval or ellipse, and each predetermined placard colour is different coloured pattern, each coloured pattern comprising a central circular, oval or elliptical region in a first colour surrounded by a circular, oval or elliptical ring in a second, different colour.

13 . The method according to claim 9 , comprising:
subtracting a reference image from the captured image prior to detection of placards in the captured image, wherein the reference image is an image of the same scene as that of the captured image, wherein no placards are present in the reference image.

14 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the captured image is an image of seats in a stadium, and the method comprises:
dividing the captured image into a plurality of blocks, wherein each seat in the image corresponds to a respective block; for each block, determining whether or not a detected placard is positioned within the block; and for each block in which a detected placard is determined to be positioned, mapping the seat corresponding to the block to the shape and/or colour of the detected placard.

15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer program instructions, which when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform the method of claim 9 .

Assignees

• Sony Corp
• Sony Europe Ltd

Inventors

• Hawkins Paul

Classifications

• G06V10/56 Primary

  relating to colour · CPC title

• G06T7/90

  Determination of colour characteristics · CPC title

• G06V10/44

  Local feature extraction by analysis of parts of the pattern, e.g. by detecting edges, contours, loops, corners, strokes or intersections; Connectivity analysis, e.g. of connected components · CPC title

• G06K9/4652

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06T2207/20021

  Dividing image into blocks, subimages or windows · CPC title