WO2003005256A1

WO2003005256A1 - A method of displaying a representation of a view from a predetermined location

Info

Publication number: WO2003005256A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/002995
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Kevin Mcguckin; Michael Paul Prentice
Original assignee: Insite Environments Limited
Priority date: 2001-06-30
Filing date: 2002-06-28
Publication date: 2003-01-16
Also published as: GB2377150B; GB0116129D0; GB2377150A

Abstract

A method of displaying a representation of a view from a predetermined location such as a seat at a venue such as a sports stadium by means of 3-dimensional imaging software is described. From a venue plan displayed on screen a user can select a block of seats and a plan view of the selected block is displayed. The display of the block plan shows, in a schematic form, each seat in the block along with an indication as to whether that seat is available for purchase or not. Once a seat is selected and reserved, spatial coordinates of the viewing position from the seat in question are calculated relative to a fixed position and are passed to the 3-dimensional viewing or virtual reality software. The virtual reality software is able to display a representation of the view obtained from the seat selected. It is then possible to display a view from an adjacent seat in any direction.

Description

A METHOD OF DISPLAYING A REPRESENTATION OF A VIEW FROM A

PREDETERMINED LOCATION

The present invention relates to a method of displaying a representation of a view from a predetermined location, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a method of displaying, on a computer display device, the view from a seat at a venue as part of a ticket purchasing system.

With an increase in commerce on the Internet, it is at present quite common to book seats for a concert, a performance at a theatre or a sporting event without visiting the venue at which the event is to take place. As a result, the view obtained from the seat in question is not known at the time of purchase, and may prove disappointing upon arrival at the venue.

US Patent No 5333257 seeks to address this problem by storing a representation of a view, for example a computer generated view or a photograph of a view, from a preselected number of seats, termed proxy seats, on a computer. Whilst ordering a ticket for an event at such a venue, the view from the nearest proxy seat to the seat of interest to the purchaser can be downloaded and displayed.

Such a system requires the downloading of large quantities of data for each image and the view for each proxy seat must be downloaded. As a result, trying the views from a number of seats can be a time consuming process for the potential purchaser. Furthermore, the view from the proxy seat may not be representative of the view from the seat purchased and therefore the disappointment of a less desirable view is not eliminated by such a system. For example, i^'f the view from a seat is restricted by an obstruction, such as a pillar, it is unlikely that such a seat would be selected by the ticketing/venue operator as a proxy seat since it would create a bad impression for all of the adjacent seats. However, this seat would not be realistically represented by a proxy seat without such a restricted view. In order to overcome such a problem it would be necessary to provide views from all of the seats in a venue. However, for the use of photographic images it would be a time consuming process taking photographs from each seat in, for instance, a 60,000 seat stadium, and for computer generated images there would still be a large storage capacity required to accommodate the large number of images stored. Furthermore, for venues which may be used for different events, such as a sports arena which is also used as a concert venue, a second set of images may be required. This is due to the area of interest for a sports event being the sports field whereas at a concert it is the stage that is of interest, and this may be of a different size and in a different location to the sports field.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome the above described disadvantages of the prior art .

According to the present invention there is provided a method of displaying, on a display device connected to a computer, a representation of a view from a predetermined location at a venue by means of 3 -dimensional imaging software, the method comprising the steps of : -

(i) receiving data indicating at least one location selected from a plurality of predetermined viewing locations;

(ii) generating data representing a spatial position of the or each selected location;

(iii) inputting said data into the 3 -dimensional imaging software; and

(iv) displaying on the display device, a representation of the view from a said selected location. By providing the above described method the advantage is provided that a representation of the view from every seat in a venue can be provided without the need to store an image for each of the locations which are potentially to be displayed. Furthermore, the movement from one seat to another does not require the image from each seat to be downloaded and therefore it is possible to quickly and easily jump from one seat to another, testing the view from each. Most 3 -dimensional imaging software or virtual reality software is provided with a facility for viewing from a limited number of different predetermined viewing locations. As a result, it would not be possible to use such software to display a representation of the view from all of the seats at anything but the smallest venue and it would still be necessary to create a link between each seat and the predetermined viewing location. At a venue which holds more than one type of event it is also possible to provide a representation of the views expected at the different events without having to store an entirely new set of images. The majority of the data required by the 3 -dimensional imaging software would be the same, i.e. the major structural features of the venue, and only more detailed items such as the introduction of a stage and the viewing angle would alter. Similarly the images provided by the present invention could be altered depending upon the time of day of the event, i.e. night-time events could be made to look different from day-time events with very little alteration of the venue data.

In a preferred embodiment the computer is a client computer in a client/server network.

In another preferred embodiment the or each selected location is selected from at least one representation of a 2 -dimensional plan view of at least one of the predetermined locations at the venue .

By providing a 2 -dimensional plan view of the seating at the venue, the process of selection of the seat from which the view is required is simplified. Furthermore, this seat selection can be used without using the 3 -dimensional imaging software thus allowing quicker access to a ticket booking system if a 3 -dimensional view is not required. Furthermore, the 2 -dimensional plan view may be a minor adaptation to an existing seat booking system.

In a preferred embodiment, the selection of the or each location from the or each representation of a 2 -dimensional view further comprises the steps of : -

(i) selecting a block location from a representation of a first 2 -dimensional plan view showing blocks of the predetermined locations; and

(ii) selecting the or each location from a representation of a second 2 -dimensional plan view of the predetermined locations from within said block.

In a preferred embodiment the method further comprises the steps of selecting a further viewing location.

In a preferred embodiment the further viewing location is adjacent the selected viewing location.

By selecting a further viewing location the advantage is provided that it is possible to shift the view from one viewing location to another until a satisfactory viewing location has been found whilst constantly maintaining a view of the representation of the venue. This is done without the need to download any more information from the server once an initial view has been displayed and it is therefore possible to jump from one seat to another within the model whilst working offline, that is when the client and server are not linked. In a preferred embodiment said spatial position is generated by calculation of the spatial position relative to a fixed location by at least one algorithm.

By using an algorithm to generate the spatial position of each viewing location the advantage is provided that for many seats in a venue little computer memory is required to calculate the spatial position of a large number of viewing locations. This is in particular the case for the venues which have taken advantage of modular design and system building techniques, where the number of algorithms ^' required to calculate the position of each seat is quite small . As a result the quantities of data which are transferred between server and client, and the memory required on the computer, are small. Furthermore for many blocks of seats a single algorithm may be used since the block is laid out identically to another block.

In a preferred embodiment said fixed location is a viewing location.

In another preferred embodiment said algorithm is specific to the venue .

In a further preferred embodiment the algorithm is specific to a block within the venue.

In a preferred embodiment the client/server network is a wireless network.

The present invention has particular advantages for a wireless network, such as the Internet accessed via a mobile phone, since it considerably reduces the quantity of data which must pass between client and server. Wireless networks are not as quick as other networks and the time spent online is also more expensive. Because the above described system can run off line, once data is loaded this will benefit wireless network , users . In a preferred embodiment the representation of the view is calibrated to represent a photograph taken from the viewing location by a person using a single lens reflex camera having a lens thereon with a 50 mm focal length.

A representation viewed as though it were a photograph taken by a 50 mm lens on an SLR camera provides the advantage of a consistent view which can readily be understood by most users of the software. Thus the software can include an explanation that the view represented is equivalent to a photograph being taken by a standard camera. This type of lens is generally agreed to most closely represent the view perceived by the human eye. Furthermore this calibration is the standard used when virtual reality software is used to investigate visual impact assessment .

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the further step of purchasing a ticket for the or each selected viewing location for an event at the venue .

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -

Figure 1 is a flow diagram showing the steps taken in using the invention on a client/server network; and

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the software and data elements embodying the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, in which is described a method 10 of displaying on a display device connected to a client computer 12 in a network with a server 14, a representation of a view from a predetermined location at a venue by means of 3 -dimensional imaging software. Such a network would typically be the Internet for people purchasing tickets at home, or a wireless network, or a local area network for a booking office at a venue or an automatic ticket dispensing machine.

In the case of using the Internet, after a suitable log-in screen (not shown) is passed, a web page, with a list of events is downloaded at step 16 from server 14. The user of the client computer 12 can then choose the date and type of event of interest at step 18, which in turn causes the server 14 to download a plan view of the venue for that event at step 20.

From this venue plan the user of the client computer 12 can select a block of seats, at step 22, from which to select a seat. The server 14 will then download a plan view of the selected block, at step 24, to display on the client computer 12. The display of the block plan shows, in a schematic form, each seat in the block along with an indication as to whether that seat is available for purchase or not. For instance, available seats may be coloured green whereas unavailable seats may be marked with a cross. The user of the client computer 12 then selects . a seat, at step 26. Once a seat is selected on the client computer 12 the server 14 then indicates that seat as a reserved seat, which may be by the use of the colour amber, at step 28. As a result any further users attempting to purchase that seat will be unable to until such time as the seat is no longer reserved and is therefore free for purchase again.

At step 30 the user of client 12 is asked whether they wish to view the 3 -dimensional representation of the view from the seat they have reserved. If the user of client computer 12 indicates yes the client computer must check whether the software, which is standard to viewing any venue, is available on client computer 12 at step 32. If this is not the case, at step 34, the non-venue specific software and data is downloaded. At step 36 the client computer 12 checks whether the appropriate venue data and software is on the client computer 12 for the venue in question. If not at step 38 this venue specific data and software is downloaded from server 14 to client computer 12. In the case of a regular visitor to a particular venue the software and venue data will in all likelihood be resident on their client computer's 12 hard disk after an initial visit.

As an alternative to the downloading steps 34 and 38 a recorded media, such as a CD-Rom, could be provided by the venue owners containing the general and venue specific software and data. In this instance the venue specific data could be of a more detailed nature. For example, at a sports stadium it would be possible to include details of parking, public transport and orientation information helping the user to reach their seat. The system could also include other more detailed visual information such as advertising hoardings. While the latter may have no ticketing related advantage to the user of client computer 12, advertisers at the venue would achieve increased public exposure to their advertising displays. Furthermore, a more detailed representation of the view is a desirable objective for the method presently being described. It is also possible that the advertising hoardings could provide a link to Internet sites of the advertisers by clicking on the representation of the hoarding.

Once all software and data is resident on client computer 12, the data representing the seat, which has been selected at step 26 and reserved at step 28, can be used at step 40 to calculate the spatial coordinates of the viewing position from the seat in question. These coordinates are calculated relative to a fixed position and are passed to the 3 -dimensional viewing or virtual reality software at step 42. At step 44 the virtual reality software is able to display a representation of the view obtained from the seat selected at step 26 on the display device of client computer 12. At step 46 it is possible to display a view from another seat. In other words a control device for client computer 12, such as a keyboard, mouse or touch sensitive screen can be used to allow the viewing position to be altered to an adjacent seat. Thus the user of client computer 12 is able to shift from one seat to another in the stadium displayed by the virtual reality software so as to find a seat with the most acceptable view. If another seat is selected at step 46 the coordinates of the newly selected seat are calculated at step 40 and the remainder of the steps 42 and 44 are carried out. Alternatively it is possible for the user of the client computer 12 to return to the 2 -dimensional display and select another seat to be viewed.

If the user of client computer 12 does not wish to select another seat, there is an option at step 48 to buy a ticket. If the user of client computer 12 wishes to buy a ticket, ticket purchasing software on server 14 is activated at step 50.

If the user of client computer 12 is not interested in purchasing a ticket, they can exit the software at step 52 or return to the 2 -dimensional seats selection part of the software at step 26. On selecting another seat, the process can continue as described above.

If a ticket is purchased the seat is marked on the 2-dimensional plan with a cross. If the ticket is not purchased the seat becomes unreserved returning from an amber colour to green on the 2-dimensional plan. In order to keep track of which seats are reserved or have been purchased, when the client computer is on-line with the server, this information is downloaded to the client and updated on the 2-dimensional plan at set intervals, for examples every 5 minutes .

If at step 30 the user of client computer 12 is not interested in generating a representation of a view from the seat reserved at step 28 they can circumvent all of steps 32 to 46 and buy a ticket at steps 48 and 50 using the 2-dimensional block plan of seats as a guide to availability. The system therefore allows for quick purchasing for persons familiar with the venue or for purchasing of tickets from computers unable to support the 3- dimensional software or by persons not wishing to spend the time downloading the software at steps 34 and 38.

Figure 1 also shows that for the loop between steps 40 to 46, that is where a seat has been selected and all software and venue data are available on client computer 12, it is possible to move from one seat to another (step 46) within the display of the stadium without any interaction between client 12 and server 14. Thus it is possible to find the most desirable seat whilst working offline before linking to the server to determine specific availability and to purchase tickets. This has particular advantages for networks with high on-line charges, such as wireless networks.

Figure 2 shows a portion of the method 10 broken into two sections: first the section marked 70 indicates the software and data which is standard irrespective of the venue of interest; and second, in the section marked 72 the data and software which is specific to the venue is shown. The steps in Figure 2 are approximately equivalent to the loop of steps 36 to 42 in Figure 1.

Once a seat has been selected at step 74, the control software 76, which is standard to all venues provides the data indicating the seat number 78 of the selected seat to the venue specific algorithm 80. From the data indicating the seat number selected 78 the algorithm calculates the spatial coordinates 82 of the seat within the venue. The control software 76 passes the spatial coordinates 82 to 3 -dimensional imaging or virtual reality software 84 which retrieves the venue specific virtual reality data 86. Virtual reality software 84 is therefore able to display a picture 88 representing the view from ,the seat selected at step 74.

In the download step 34 on Figure 1 it is the control software 76 and the virtual reality software 84 which are downloaded. In the download step 38 it is the venue specific algorithms 80 and the venue specific virtual reality data 86 which are downloaded. Thus once the download of the control software 78 and virtual reality software 84 has occurred, it is only the venue specific algorithms 80 and venue specific virtual reality data 86 that must be downloaded for different venues. The control software 76 and virtual reality software 84 are different software packages and accordingly indicated separately.

For the purposes of consistency the representation of the view is provided as though it were a photograph taken by a person sitting in the seat in question using a single lens reflex (SLR) camera using a lens with a focal length of 50mm. Thus the view from each seat is realistic in that a seat close to the pitch in a football stadium will show a smaller portion of the pitch with a given field of view than a seat at the back of the stadium. Software which zooms in on the area of interest for a seat a long way from that area will give an unrealistic representation of the view which can be expected.

In the initial stages of setting up the software for a particular venue, the venue data must be collected and converted into a form for use by the visual representation software. Where a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system has been used to design a venue or as part of designing an alteration to a venue the CAD data can be converted into data usable by the visual representation software.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims .

Claims

1. A method of displaying, on a display device connected to a computer, a representation of a view from a predetermined location at a venue by means of 3-dimensional imaging software, the method comprising the steps of : -

receiving data indicating at least one location selected from a plurality of predetermined viewing locations;

generating data representing a spatial position of the or each selected location;

inputting said data into the 3 -dimensional imaging software; and

displaying on the display device, a representation of the view from a said selected location.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the computer is a client computer in a client/server network.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the or each selected location is selected from at least one representation of a 2-dimensional plan view of at least one of the predetermined locations at the venue.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the selection of the or each location from the or each representation of a 2- dimensional view further comprises the steps of : -

selecting a block location from a representation of a first 2- dimensional plan view showing blocks of the predetermined locations; and selecting the or each location from a representation of a second 2-dimensional plan view of the predetermined locations from within said block.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises the steps of selecting a further viewing location.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the further viewing location is adjacent the selected viewing location.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said spatial position is generated by calculation of the spatial position relative to a fixed location by at least one algorithm.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said fixed location is a viewing location.

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said algorithm is specific to the venue.

10. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the algorithm is specific to a block within the venue.

11. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the client/ server network is a wireless network.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the representation of the view is calibrated to represent a photograph taken from the viewing location by a person using a single lens reflex camera having a lens thereon with a 50 mm focal length.

13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising the further step of purchasing a ticket for the or each selected viewing location for an event at the venue.

14. A method of displaying, on a display device connected to a computer, a representation of a view from a predetermined location at a venue by means of 3-dimensional imaging software substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.