System and method for providing virtual pan-tilt-zoom, ptz, video functionality to a plurality of users over a data network

Abstract

A system for providing virtual pan-tilt-zoom, PTZ, video functionality video to a plurality of users (-) over a data network () is provided. The system () comprises one or more network video cameras (-) positioned to make a video recording of a real-world target field (), or a respective subarea thereof, and output a respective raw video segment onto the data network (), a back-end camera calibration unit () which is adapted to obtain a relative position and orientation of the respective network video camera (-) with respect to a three dimensional world space for the target field (), and to save the obtained relative position and orientation as metadata for the respective network video camera (-), a back-end video processing unit (), connected to the data network () and adapted to receive the respective raw video segment(s) recorded by the network video camera(s) (-), and to store or buffer video contents of the respective raw video segment(s) in a back-end video storage (), a back-end video streaming unit () adapted to stream the stored or buffered video contents and the saved metadata for the respective network video camera (-) onto the data network (), a plurality of client devices (-) for use by the plurality of users (-). Each client device (-) is adapted to receive the streamed video contents and the metadata, determine a chosen virtual pan-tilt-zoom value and present, on a display (-) of the client device, the video contents by projecting directions, in the three dimensional world space, onto the display (-) based on the chosen virtual pan-tilt-zoom value and the metadata.