Switching camera angles during interactive events
Multiple camera angles of an interactive event are simultaneously transmitted as part of a broadcast. The simultaneous distribution of multiple synchronized streams of audio and/or visual information enables switching between cameras to be made by the audience members without interruption of the presentation of the event. In one embodiment, a performance studio might send out multiple synchronized concurrent streams. For example, a performance studio might transmit four distinct camera angles or streams, each at varying quality levels, such as the illustrated high-bandwidth and low-bandwidth encodings. Selection of the stream may also direct interactive feedback portions generated by the selecting audience member towards the selected object/individual. Alternatively, interactive feedback generated by the audience member may be directed globally to the producers of the event and selectively to the performers and other audience members of the event.
1. A method for participation in interactive online events, comprising:
at an interactive client of the interactive online event,
receiving multiple streams of an event from an event performance studio;
selecting a stream from the multiple streams;
displaying the selected stream of the event for user observation; and
transmitting user initiated feedback messages to an object of the selected stream and not to objects of non-selected streams.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein selection of the stream may include selection of a camera angle of the event.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the user initiated feedback messages are transmitted globally to producers of the event.
4. A interactive event system comprising:
a performance studio having at least two interactive displays and configured to produce two or more streams of an interactive event;
a production center for producing the interactive event based on event material received from the performance studio; and
at least two interactive clients, at least one of the interactive clients having i) a stream selector, and ii) at least one interactive display, wherein selection of a stream using the stream selector causes event feedback generated at a respective one of the interactive clients to be transmitted to an object of the selected stream and not to objects of non-selected streams.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein transmitting the user initiated feedback messages to the object of the selected stream comprises displaying the user initiated feedback messages on a screen viewable by the object of the selected stream.