Method, system and apparatus for providing improved audience participation

1. An apparatus for detecting placards in a captured image, comprising:

input circuitry configured to receive the captured image;

detector circuitry configured to detect placards in the captured image matching a predetermined placard shape and detect which of the detected placards match each of a plurality of different predetermined placard colors; and

counter circuitry operable to count a number of detected placards of each different predetermined placard color.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined placard shape is a circle, oval or ellipse, and each different predetermined placard colour is a different colored pattern, each colored pattern comprising a central circular, oval or elliptical region in a first color surrounded by a circular, oval or elliptical ring in a second, different color.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:

a storage medium configured 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 circuitry configured to subtract the reference image from the captured image prior to detection of placards in the captured image by the detector circuitry.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the captured image is an image of seats in a stadium, and the apparatus comprises mapping circuitry configured 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 color of the detected placard.

5. A system comprising:

an apparatus according to claim 1 ; and

a camera configured to capture an image and to transmit the captured image to the input circuitry of the apparatus.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the camera is located at an event with an audience and is configured to capture an image of one or members of the audience each holding up a placard.

7. The method for detecting placards in a captured image, comprising:

receiving the captured image;

detecting placards in the captured image matching a predetermined placard shape;

detecting which of the detected placards match each of a plurality of different predetermined placard colors; and

counting a number of detected placards of each different predetermined placard color.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the predetermined placard shape is a circle, oval or ellipse, and each different predetermined placard colour is a different colored pattern, each colored pattern comprising a central circular, oval or elliptical region in a first color surrounded by a circular, oval or elliptical ring in a second, different color.

9. The method according to claim 7 , 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.

10. The method according to claim 7 , 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 color the detected placard.

11. 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 7 .