A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRACKING STORING AND SYNTHESIZING AN AQNIMATED VERSION OF OBJECT MOTION

The specification relates to a method and apparatus for tracking object position during active segments of motion monitored from a plurality of video cameras, repetitively sampling object position, representing various object trajectories during active segments as equations, and synthesizing an animated version of the motion of the object from the representative equations. The present description is described in the context of synthesis of an animated version of a tennis game, although a representation of object motion of any sort is equally applicable, if the object motion is capable of being reduced to the form of an equation or series of equations. In a further enhancement, player position, player extremities, and player controlled objects (such as a racquet) are also tracked and sampled and utilized to provide an animation more faithfully reproducing player position, player motion and other game parameters.