Pitching simulator systems and methods

• US 10,398,957 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InMotion Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: InMotion Systems LLC
• Inventors: Altshuler, Yury, Donfrancesco, Michael Anthony, Stepsis, Thomas George
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce, Damon J
• Application Number:
  US15/439,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20170157484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

Pitching simulator systems and methods are provided that are used to predict real-life outcomes for a real-life pitch. Predicted real-lift outcomes can be outcomes such as a hit (e.g., groundout, double, home run, etc.), strikeout, etc., and can be made in real-time. More specifically, the systems and methods can identify pitch metrics corresponding to the real-life pitch, cross-reference data in the form of system performance metrics that can related to data about batters, fielders, and/or an environment, and then calculate a virtual pitched ball outcome based on a combination of the pitch metrics and the system performance metrics. Computer programs capable of being used in such systems and methods, as well as other systems and methods, are also provided.

Claims

1. A pitching simulator system comprising:

a detector device operable to image a real-life pitch of a ball, and

a computerized device communicatively coupled to the detector device, the computerized device being operable to;

retrieve one or more system performance metrics from a compilation of data, the one or more system performance metrics relating to at least a virtual batter;

identify one or more pitch metrics corresponding to the real-life pitch;

calculate a virtual pitched ball outcome based on a combination of the one or more pitch metrics and the one or more system performance metrics; and

output the virtual pitched ball outcome via an output device,

wherein the one or more system performance metrics are retrieved prior to the real-life pitch of the ball,

wherein the one or more pitch metrics include one or more of location, speed, and spin of the ball during the real-life pitch, and

wherein the virtual pitched ball outcome is a predicted real-life outcome for the ball of the real-life pitch.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the real-life pitch comprises a sequence measured from at least a first instance to at least a second instance, and

wherein the first instance is a time when the ball is released by a pitcher, and the second instance is a time when the ball crosses a plate.

3. The system of claim 1,

wherein the real-life pitch comprises a sequence measured from at least a first instance to at least a second instance, and

wherein the first instance is a time when a pitcher initiates a wind-up motion for the real-life pitch, and the second instance is a time when the ball crosses a plate.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computerized device being operable to calculate a virtual pitched ball outcome further comprises the computerized device being operable to:

identify matching pitches from one or more databases;

determine one or more candidate outcomes based on the matching pitches;

calculate odds for each of the candidate outcomes;

select one of the candidate outcomes based on the respective odds; and

assign the selected one of the candidate outcomes to the virtual pitched ball outcome.

5. The system of claim 4,

wherein the matching pitches comprise stored entries of real-life pitches, and

wherein each of the entries comprises, for each of the respective matching pitches, one or more of:

(1) pitch metrics, (2) pitch outcome, (3) batter data, (4) fielder data, and (5) environmental factors.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more databases comprise one or more databases of real-life offensive and defensive data tracked from a baseball league.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system performance metrics of a virtual batter comprise metrics related to an ability of the virtual batter to hit the real-life pitch based on the one or more pitch metrics corresponding to the real-life pitch.

8. The system of claim 7,

wherein the one or more system performance metrics further relate to one or more virtual fielders and one or more environmental factors,

wherein the system performance metrics of the one or more virtual fielders comprise metrics related to an ability of a fielder to at least one of field the ball and throw the fielded ball, and

wherein the system performance metrics of the one or more environmental factors comprise attributes associated with at least one of a virtual playing field and virtual playing conditions.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more system performance metrics are calculated for the virtual batter, the one or more virtual fielders, the virtual playing field, and the virtual playing conditions based on real-life metrics of a real-life batter, a real-life fielder, a real-life playing field, and real-life playing conditions, respectively.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the system performance metrics of the virtual batter include system performance metrics of the virtual batter as a virtual base runner.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector device is configured to capture images of the ball during the real-life pitch at a frames per second rate exceeding a determined threshold.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the computerized device being operable to identify the one or more pitch metrics corresponding to the real-life pitch further comprises the computerized device being operable to identify the one or more pitch metrics based on images of the real-life pitch taken by the detector device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the computerized device being operable to identify the one or more pitch metrics corresponding to the real-life pitch further comprises the computerized device being operable to calculate attributes of the ball.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector device comprises one or more cameras.

15. A method for determining outcomes from pitched balls, comprising:

imaging a real-life pitch of a ball;

retrieving one or more system performance metrics from a compilation of data, the one or more system performance metrics relating to at least a virtual batter;

identifying one or more pitch metrics corresponding to the real-life pitch;

calculating a virtual pitched ball outcome based on a combination of the identified one or more pitch metrics and the one or more retrieved system performance metrics; and

outputting the virtual pitched ball outcome,

wherein the one or more system performance metrics are retrieved prior to the real-life pitch of the ball,

wherein the one or more pitch metrics include one or more of location, speed, and spin of the ball during the real-life pitch, and

wherein the virtual pitched ball outcome is a predicted real-life outcome for the ball of the real-life pitch.

16. The method of claim 15,

wherein the real-life pitch comprises a sequence measured from at least a first instance to at least a second instance, and

wherein the first instance is a time when the ball is released by a pitcher, and the second instance is a time when the ball crosses a plate.

17. The method of claim 15,

wherein the real-life pitch comprises a sequence measured from at least a first instance to at least a second instance, and

wherein the first instance is a time when a pitcher initiates a wind-up motion for the real-life pitch, and the second instance is a time when the ball crosses a plate.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein calculating the virtual pitched ball outcome includes:

identifying matching pitches from one or more databases;

determining one or more candidate outcomes based on the matching pitches;

calculating odds for each of the candidate outcomes;

selecting one of the candidate outcomes based on the respective odds; and

assigning the selected one of the candidate outcomes to the virtual pitched ball outcome.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein the matching pitches comprise stored entries of real-life pitches, and

wherein each of the entries comprises, for each of the respective matching pitches, one or more of:

(1) pitch metrics, (2) pitch outcome, (3) batter data, (4) fielder data, and (5) environmental factors.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more databases comprise one or more databases of real-life offensive and defensive data tracked from a baseball league.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the system performance metrics of a virtual batter comprise metrics related to an ability of the virtual batter to hit the real-life pitch based on the one or more pitch metrics corresponding to the real-life pitch.

22. The method of claim 21,

wherein the one or more system performance metrics further relate to one or more virtual fielders and one or more environmental factors,

wherein the system performance metrics of the one or more virtual fielders comprise metrics related to an ability of a fielder to at least one of field the ball and throw the fielded ball, and

wherein the system performance metrics of the one or more environmental factors comprise attributes associated with at least one of a virtual playing field and virtual playing conditions.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the one or more system performance metrics are calculated for the virtual batter, the one or more virtual fielders, the virtual playing field, and the virtual playing conditions based on real-life metrics of a real-life batter, a real-life fielder, a real-life playing field, and real-life playing conditions, respectively.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the system performance metrics of the virtual batter include system performance metrics of the virtual batter as a virtual base runner.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein imaging a real-life pitch of a ball further comprises capturing images of the ball during the real-life pitch at a frames per second rate that exceeds a determined threshold.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the one or more pitch metrics corresponding to the real-life pitch further comprises identifying the one or more pitch metrics based on the imaging of the real-life pitch.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the one or more pitch metrics corresponding to the real-life pitch further comprises calculating attributes of the ball.