System and method for allowing a performer to control and interact with an on-stage display device
AssigneeSilicon Graphics, Inc.
InventorsRonald Albert Fischer, Shane Christian Cooper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A performance or show production system and method allows a performer to control and interact with an on-stage display or screen. The on-stage screen is used to create a virtual extension of the stage. Images displayed on the screen may include video playback and real-time generated, texture mapped graphics. The system includes a media production system for producing visual images, a display system for displaying the visual images, a tracking system for tracking the position of the performer on the stage and for producing a position indication, and a control system for controlling the production of visual images by the media system as a function of the position of the entertainer on the stage.
Claims31
A virtual stage system for integrating actions of a performer on a stage with visual images, the system comprising:
- media means for producing the visual images;
- display means for displaying the visual images;
- tracking means for tracking the position of the performer on the stage and producing a position indication;
- and
- control means for receiving said position indication from said tracking means and for controlling production of visual images by said media means as a function of the position of the entertainer on the stage such that the visual images produced by said media means move in a direction opposite of a direction of movement of the performer, wherein the visual effect of the performer being part of a virtual stage is attained.
A system for providing interaction between an entertainer and a display device on a stage, the system comprising:
- means for producing images to be displayed by said display device;
- means for tracking the position of the entertainer on the stage and providing a position indication for the entertainer;
- and
- means for receiving said position indication and for controlling the production of the images to be displayed as a function of the position of the entertainer on the stage such that the images move in a direction opposite of a direction of movement of the entertainer.
A method for visually simulating an interactive performance within a virtual environment having a plurality of scene images, the method comprising the following steps:
- displaying the scene images to an audience;
- tracking performance movements of an on-stage performer;
- and
- altering, in response to the performance movements of the on-stage performer, the scene images being displayed such that the scene images moves in a direction opposite of a direction of movement of said on-stage performer so that said performer appears to the audience to be interacting within the virtual environment.
A virtual stage system for integrating actions of a performer on a stage with visual images, the system comprising:
- media means for producing the visual images;
- display means for displaying the visual images;
- tracking means for tracking the position of the performer on the stage and producing a position indication;
- and
- control means for receiving said position indication from said tracking means and for controlling production of visual images by said media means as a function of the position of the entertainer on the stage, wherein the visual effect of the performer being part of a virtual stage is attained, said control means comprising:
- means for causing said visual images to change as the performer moves on the stage to give the illusion to an audience that the performer is moving about in a virtual scene which includes said display means, and
- means for initiating performer control of production of said visual images upon said performer entering a predetermined first portion of the stage.
A virtual stage system for integrating actions of a performer on a stage with visual images, the system comprising:
- media means for producing the visual images;
- display means for displaying the visual images;
- tracking means for tracking the position of the performer on the stage and producing a position indication;
- control means for receiving said position indication from said tracking means and for controlling production of visual images by said media means as a function of the position of the entertainer on the stage, wherein the visual effect of the performer being part of a virtual stage is attained;
- blue screen means for selectively integrating a video image of the performer into the visual image displayed on said display means to further enhance the visual effect of the performer being part of the virtual stage;
- and
- means for initiating performer control of said blue screen means upon said performer entering a predetermined portion of the stage.
A virtual stage system for integrating actions of a performer on a stage with visual images, the system comprising:
- media means for producing the visual images;
- display means for displaying the visual images;
- tracking means for tracking the position of the performer on the stage and producing a position indication;
- control means for receiving said position indication from said tracking means and for controlling production of visual images by said media means as a function of the position of the entertainer on the stage, wherein the visual effect of the performer being part of a virtual stage is attained;
- and
- mouse means, controlled by the performer, to allow the performer to select an item in said visual images, said mouse means comprising:
- pointer means for determining an orientation relative to said display means,
- means for determining a position of said pointer means relative to said display means,
- means for using said orientation and said position of said pointer means to determine a vector between said pointer means and an item in said visual images, and
- means for visually showing said vector in said visual images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.