Crain was awarded US Patent 4084184 "TV Object Locator and Image Identifier" on April 11, 1978.[CBS Television Network Letter from Robert McKinley to Dr. David Crain, June 29, 1979] At the time, the broadcast industry was not ready to use Crain's invention. The invention was brought to market 20 years later and was introduced on ESPN football telecasts in 1998 when signal processing technology had the speed to keep up with insertion of dynamic objects in the field of view.[{{Cite web |title=An Explanation of the Football 1st & Ten Line |url=https://www.symmetryelectronics.com/blog/an-explanation-of-the-football-1st-ten-line/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Symmetry Electronics |language=en}}] It is now widely used in network sports broadcasts of all types and is considered the foundation technology for augmented reality (AR) video applications.[{{Cite web |title=Sports and Training - Augmented Reality : Where We Will All Live |url=https://ebrary.net/123178/sociology/sports_training |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Ebrary}}] Table 1 below lists the top patents that reference Crain’s original invention.
| class="wikitable"
|+Table 1. Top Inventions Citing Crain's Patent
!Patent Number
!Date Awarded
!Patent Name
!Inventor |
US 4084184 A|4/11/1978
|TV Object locator and image identifier
|Crain; David W. |
US 4490742 A[{{Cite patent|number=US4490742A|title=Encoding apparatus for a closed circuit television system|gdate=1984-12-25|invent1=Wurtzinger|inventor1-first=Richard E.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4490742A/en?oq=US+4490742+A}}]
|12/25/1984
|Encoding apparatus for a closed-circuit television system
|Wurtzinger; Richard E. |
US 4855820 A[{{Cite patent|number=US4855820A|title=Down hole video tool apparatus and method for visual well bore recording|gdate=1989-08-08|invent1=Barbour|inventor1-first=Joel|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4855820A/en?oq=US+4855820+A}}]
|8/8/1989
|Down hole video tool apparatus and method for visual well bore recording
|Barbour; Joel |
US 4928175 A[{{Cite patent|number=US4928175A|title=Method for the three-dimensional surveillance of the object space|gdate=1990-05-22|invent1=Haggren|inventor1-first=Henrik|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4928175A/en?oq=US+4928175+A}}]
|5/22/1990
|Method for the three-dimensional surveillance of the object space
|Haggren; Henrik |
US 4963984 A[{{Cite patent|number=US4963984A|title=Optical projection camera alignment system and method|gdate=1990-10-16|invent1=Womack|inventor1-first=Kenneth H.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4963984A/en?oq=US+4963984+A}}]
|10/16/1990
|Optical projection camera alignment system and method
|Womack; Kenneth H. |
US 4985779 A[{{Cite patent|number=US4985779A|title=Improved method and apparatus for generating halftone images|gdate=1991-01-15|invent1=Gall|inventor1-first=Winrich|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4985779A/en?oq=US+4985779+A}}]
|1/15/1991
|Improved method and apparatus for generating halftone images
|Gall; Winrich |
US 5892554 A[{{Cite patent|number=US5892554A|title=System and method for inserting static and dynamic images into a live video broadcast|gdate=1999-04-06|invent1=DiCicco|invent2=Fant|inventor1-first=Darrell S.|inventor2-first=Karl|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5892554A/en?oq=US+5892554+A}}]
|4/6/1999
|System and method for inserting static and dynamic images into a live video broadcast
|DiCicco; Darrell S. et al. |
US 5808695 A[{{Cite patent|number=US5808695A|title=Method of tracking scene motion for live video insertion systems|gdate=1998-09-15|invent1=Rosser|invent2=Das|invent3=Tan|inventor1-first=Roy J.|inventor2-first=Subhodev|inventor3-first=Yi|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5808695A/en?oq=US+5808695+A}}]
|9/15/1998
|Method of tracking scene motion for live video insertion systems
|Rosser; Roy J. et al. |
US 5912700 A[{{Cite patent|number=US5912700A|title=System for enhancing the television presentation of an object at a sporting event|gdate=1999-06-15|invent1=Honey|invent2=Cavallaro|invent3=Hill|invent4=Setos|inventor1-first=Stanley K.|inventor2-first=Richard H.|inventor3-first=David Blyth|inventor4-first=Andrew G.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5912700A/en?oq=US+5912700+A}}]
|6/15/1999
|System for enhancing the television presentation of an object at a sporting event
|Honey; Stanley K. et al. |
US 5672820 A[{{Cite patent|number=US5672820A|title=Object location identification system for providing location data of an object being pointed at by a pointing device|gdate=1997-09-30|invent1=Rossi|invent2=Innocenzi|invent3=Goodfriend|invent4=Lowe|inventor1-first=John H.|inventor2-first=Mark E.|inventor3-first=Steven L.|inventor4-first=Douglas E.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5672820A/en?oq=US+5672820+A}}]
|9/30/1997
|Object location identification system for providing location data of an object being pointed at by a pointing device
|Rossi; John H. et al. |
US 5917553 A[{{Cite patent|number=US5917553A|title=Method and apparatus for enhancing the broadcast of a live event|gdate=1999-06-29|invent1=Honey|invent2=Cavallaro|invent3=Gepner|invent4=Goren|inventor1-first=Stanley K.|inventor2-first=Richard H.|inventor3-first=Jerry Neil|inventor4-first=Edward Gerald|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5917553A/en?oq=US+5917553+A}}]
|6/29/1999
|Method and apparatus for enhancing the broadcast of a live event
|Honey; Stanley K. et al. |
US 6252632 B1[{{Cite patent|number=US6252632B1|title=System for enhancing a video presentation|gdate=2001-06-26|invent1=Cavallaro|inventor1-first=Richard H.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6252632B1/en?oq=US+6252632+B1}}]
|6/26/2001
|System for enhancing a video presentation
|Cavallaro; Richard H. |
US 5953077 A[{{Cite patent|number=US5953077A|title=System for displaying an object that is not visible to a camera|gdate=1999-09-14|invent1=Honey|invent2=Cavallaro|invent3=O'Brien|invent4=Heidmann|inventor1-first=Stanley K.|inventor2-first=Richard H.|inventor3-first=Terence J.|inventor4-first=Timothy P.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5953077A/en?oq=US+5953077+A}}]
|9/14/1999
|System for displaying an object that is not visible to a camera
|Honey; Stanley K. et al. |
US 6195122 B1[{{Cite patent|number=US6195122B1|title=Spatial referenced photography|gdate=2001-02-27|invent1=Vincent|inventor1-first=Robert|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6195122B1/en?oq=US+6195122+B1}}]
|2/27/2001
|Spatial referenced photography
|Vincent; Robert |
US 6266100 B1[{{Cite patent|number=US6266100B1|title=System for enhancing a video presentation of a live event|gdate=2001-07-24|invent1=Gloudemans|invent2=Cavallaro|invent3=Gepner|invent4=Honey|inventor1-first=James R.|inventor2-first=Richard H.|inventor3-first=Jerry N.|inventor4-first=Stanley K.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6266100B1/en?oq=US+6266100+B1}}]
|7/24/2001
|System for enhancing a video presentation of a live event
|Gloudemans; James R. et al. |
US 6229550 B1[{{Cite patent|number=US6229550B1|title=Blending a graphic|gdate=2001-05-08|invent1=Gloudemans|invent2=Cavallaro|invent3=Honey|invent4=White|inventor1-first=James R.|inventor2-first=Richard H.|inventor3-first=Stanley K.|inventor4-first=Marvin S.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6229550B1/en?oq=US+6229550+B1}}]
|5/8/2001
|Blending a graphic
|Gloudemans; James R. et al. |
US 6100925 A[{{Cite patent|number=US6100925A|title=Image insertion in video streams using a combination of physical sensors and pattern recognition|gdate=2000-08-08|invent1=Rosser|invent2=Tan|invent3=Jr|invent4=Jeffers|inventor1-first=Roy J.|inventor2-first=Yi|inventor3-first=Howard J. Kennedy|inventor4-first=James L.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6100925A/en?oq=US+6100925+A}}]
|8/8/2000
|Image insertion in video streams using a combination of physical sensors and pattern recognition
|Rosser; Roy J. et al. |
US 6466275 B1[{{Cite patent|number=US6466275B1|title=Enhancing a video of an event at a remote location using data acquired at the event|gdate=2002-10-15|invent1=Honey|invent2=Cavallaro|invent3=Gepner|invent4=Gloudemans|inventor1-first=Stanley K.|inventor2-first=Richard H.|inventor3-first=Jerry N.|inventor4-first=James R.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6466275B1/en?oq=US+6466275+B1}}]
|10/15/2002
|Enhancing a video of an event at a remote location using data acquired at the event
|Honey; Stanley K. et al. |
US 7075556 B1[{{Cite patent|number=US7075556B1|title=Telestrator system|gdate=2006-07-11|invent1=Meier|invent2=Hsiao|invent3=Gloudemans|invent4=White|inventor1-first=Kevin R.|inventor2-first=Walter|inventor3-first=James R.|inventor4-first=Marvin S.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7075556B1/en?oq=US+7075556+B1}}]
|7/11/2006
|Telestrator system
|Meier; Kevin R. et al. |
US 6965397 B1[{{Cite patent|number=US6965397B1|title=Measuring camera attitude|gdate=2005-11-15|invent1=Honey|invent2=Cavallaro|invent3=White|invent4=O'Brien|inventor1-first=Stanley K.|inventor2-first=Richard H.|inventor3-first=Marvin S.|inventor4-first=Terence J.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6965397B1/en?oq=US+6965397+B1}}]
|11/15/2005
|Measuring camera attitude
|Honey; Stanley K. et al. |
US 7230653 B1[{{Cite patent|number=US7230653B1|title=Method and apparatus for real time insertion of images into video|gdate=2007-06-12|invent1=Overton|invent2=Muench|invent3=JR|invent4=Carmichael|inventor1-first=Kenneth J.|inventor2-first=Mark S.|inventor3-first=Charles H. Hayden|inventor4-first=Norman S.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7230653B1/en?oq=US+7230653+B1}}]
|6/12/2007
|Method and apparatus for real time insertion of images into video
|Overton; Kenneth J. et al. |
US 6909438 B1[{{Cite patent|number=US6909438B1|title=Video compositor|gdate=2005-06-21|invent1=White|invent2=Honey|invent3=Hsiao|invent4=Gloudemans|inventor1-first=Marvin S.|inventor2-first=Stanley K.|inventor3-first=Walter|inventor4-first=James R.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6909438B1/en?oq=US+6909438+B1}}]
|6/21/2005
|Video compositor
|White; Marvin S. et al. |
US 7206434 B2[{{Cite patent|number=US7206434B2|title=Method and system for measurement of the duration an area is included in an image stream|gdate=2007-04-17|invent1=Overton|invent2=Muench|invent3=JR|invent4=Carmichael|inventor1-first=Kenneth J.|inventor2-first=Mark S.|inventor3-first=Charles H. Hayden|inventor4-first=Norman S.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7206434B2/en?oq=US+7206434+B2}}]
|4/17/2007
|Method and system for measurement of the duration an area is included in an image stream
|Overton; Kenneth J. et al. |
US 7341530 B2[{{Cite patent|number=US7341530B2|title=Virtual strike zone|gdate=2008-03-11|invent1=Cavallaro|invent2=Steinberg|invent3=Gueziec|invent4=Mozes|inventor1-first=Richard H.|inventor2-first=Eric|inventor3-first=Andre|inventor4-first=Alon|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7341530B2/en?oq=US+7341530+B2}}]
|3/11/2008
|Virtual strike zone
|Cavallaro; Richard H. et al. |
US 20050001852 A1[{{Cite patent|number=US20050001852A1|title=System and method for inserting content into an image sequence|gdate=2005-01-06|invent1=Dengler|invent2=Garci|invent3=Cox|invent4=Tolman|inventor1-first=John|inventor2-first=Erik|inventor3-first=Brian|inventor4-first=Kenneth|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20050001852A1/en?oq=US+20050001852+A1}}]
|1/6/2005
|System and method for inserting content into an image sequence
|Dengler, John D. et al. |
US 8335345 B2[{{Cite patent|number=US8335345B2|title=Tracking an object with multiple asynchronous cameras|gdate=2012-12-18|invent1=White|invent2=Alt|inventor1-first=Marvin S.|inventor2-first=Alina|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US8335345B2/en?oq=US+8335345+B2}}]
|12/18/2012
|Tracking an object with multiple asynchronous cameras
|White; Marvin S. et al. |
US 8218002 B2[{{Cite patent|number=US8218002B2|title=Method and apparatus providing computer generated images over a network with a point of view corresponding to images acquired during navigation of an imaging device|gdate=2012-07-10|invent1=Jr|inventor1-first=Francis J. Maguire|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US8218002B2/en?oq=US+8218002+B2}}]
|7/10/2012
|Method and apparatus providing computer generated images over a network with a point of view corresponding to images acquired during navigation of an imaging device
|Maguire, Jr.; Francis J. |
US 8330812 B2[{{Cite patent|number=US8330812B2|title=Method and apparatus for producing and storing, on a resultant non-transitory storage medium, computer generated (CG) video in correspondence with images acquired by an image acquisition device tracked in motion with respect to a 3D reference frame|gdate=2012-12-11|invent1=Jr|inventor1-first=Francis J. Maguire|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US8330812B2/en?oq=US+8330812+B2}}]
|12/11/2012
|Method and apparatus for producing and storing, on a resultant non-transitory storage medium, computer generated (CG) video in correspondence with images acquired by an image acquisition device tracked in motion with respect to a 3D reference frame
|Maguire, Jr.; Francis J. |
US 8786415 B2[{{Cite patent|number=US8786415B2|title=Tracking system using proximity and/or presence|gdate=2014-07-22|invent1=Cavallaro|invent2=McGuffin|invent3=Borton|inventor1-first=Richard H.|inventor2-first=James Orville|inventor3-first=John Roy|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US8786415B2/en?oq=US+8786415+B2}}]
|7/22/2014
|Tracking system using proximity and/or presence
|Cavallaro; Richard H. et al. |
US 9215383 B2[{{Cite patent|number=US9215383B2|title=System for enhancing video from a mobile camera|gdate=2015-12-15|invent1=Milnes|invent2=Honey|invent3=McGuffin|invent4=Cavallaro|inventor1-first=Kenneth A.|inventor2-first=Stanley K.|inventor3-first=James O.|inventor4-first=Richard H.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US9215383B2/en?oq=US+9215383+B2}}]
|12/15/2015
|System for enhancing video from a mobile camera
|Milnes; Kenneth A. et al. |
US RE45062 E[{{Cite patent|number=USRE45062E1|title=Apparatus for inducing attitudinal head movements for passive virtual reality|gdate=2014-08-05|invent1=Jr|inventor1-first=Francis J. Maguire|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/USRE45062E1/en?oq=US+RE45062+E}}]
|8/5/2014
|Apparatus for inducing attitudinal head movements for passive virtual reality
|Maguire, Jr.; Francis J. |
US 10290119 B2[{{Cite patent|number=US10290119B2|title=Multi view camera registration|gdate=2019-05-14|invent1=White|invent2=Parker|invent3=Ramakrishnan|invent4=Gentry|inventor1-first=Marvin S.|inventor2-first=Radford|inventor3-first=Divya|inventor4-first=Louis|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US10290119B2/en?oq=US+10290119+B2}}]
|5/14/2019
|Multi view camera registration
|White; Marvin S. et al. |
