Systems and Methods for Incorporating Two Dimensional Images Captured by a Moving Studio Camera with Actively Controlled Optics into a Virtual Three Dimensional Coordinate System

Abstract

A method for incorporating two dimensional images such as those captured by a video camera, which is moving and whose optics, particularly zoom and focus, are controlled by a human or by automatic means, into a virtual three dimensional coordinate system is provided In one embodiment the method acquires calibration data over the functional range of the studio camera optics, and then in operation dynamically performs the appropriate transformations needed to map the video stream to the virtual coordinate system, even as the acquiring studio camera moves, zooms, and changes focus.

1 . A method for incorporating two dimensional images captured by at least one moving studio camera with actively controlled optics into a virtual three dimensional coordinate system, said method comprising:
 encoding and accessing zoom and focus settings for the at least one studio camera,   identifying a marked calibration ruler,   locating a marked calibration right angle on the calibration ruler,   capturing calibration data over a functional range of the zoom and focus controls,   calculating the internal camera calibration parameters and applying the parameters during video production, and   tracking the moving studio camera.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining lens distortion parameters for the at least one studio camera over the functional range of the at least one studio camera zoom and focus controls 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a stationary lock method is applied to improve video stability. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the camera data is weighted by temporal contiguity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 tracking a subject; and   streaming tracking data to produce a real-time, interactive performance.   
     
     
         6 . A system for incorporating two dimensional images captured by at least one moving studio camera with actively controlled optics into a virtual three dimensional coordinate system, said system comprising:
 a device for encoding and accessing zoom and focus settings for the moving at least one studio camera;   a marked calibration ruler;   a marked calibration right angle;   a host module, said host module adapted to capture calibration data over a functional range of the zoom and focus controls from the moving at least one studio camera data;   a first logic processing module configured to receive and calculate internal camera calibration parameters and apply the parameters during video production, and   a tracking module configured to track the moving camera.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising, a second logic processing module configured to calculate lens distortion parameters for the at least one studio camera over the functional range of the studio camera zoom and focus controls.