Systems and methods for tracking basketball shots

• US 10,610,757 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2016
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pillar Vision Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pillar Vision Incorporated
• Inventors: Marty, Alan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhr, Justin L
• Application Number:
  US15/258,587
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/086 deflectable under excessive loads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 : Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 : for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 : for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 : Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 : Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30224 : Ball; Puck
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30241 : Trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 : Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 : Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80

Abstract

Methods and apparatus related to improving player performance for trajectory-based sports are described. In particular, sporting devices are described that can be utilized to improve player performance in basketball. The sporting devices can include a camera-based system configured to capture and analyze the trajectory of a shot taken by a player. The camera-based system can be configured to provide feedback that allows a player to optimize the trajectory mechanics associated with shooting a basketball. In one embodiment, the camera-based system can be used in conjunction with a training aid that is attached to a basketball rim. The training aid can be configured to improve the trajectory mechanics of individuals utilizing the modified basketball rim to practice their shooting.

Claims

1. A system for tracking basketball shots, comprising:

a first sensor coupled to a basketball;

a plurality of second sensors respectively worn by a plurality of users;

at least one communication interface configured to receive first sensor data wirelessly transmitted from the first sensor and second sensor data wirelessly transmitted from the plurality of second sensors;

at least one processor configured to track the basketball based on the first sensor data and to track the plurality of users based on the second sensor data, the at least one processor further configured to determine, based on at least one of the first sensor data and the second sensor data, when one of the plurality of users performs a plurality of basketball shots by shooting the basketball toward a basketball hoop, the at least one processor further configured to determine locations of the plurality of users based on the second sensor data and to identify the one user that performed the plurality of basketball shots based on the second sensor data, the at least one processor further configured to determine for each of the plurality of basketball shots an outcome and a shot location from which the respective basketball shot is initiated based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data and to provide feedback information indicative of a shooting percentage of the one user based on shot locations and outcomes for the plurality of basketball shots determined by the at least one processor; and

an output interface configured to output the feedback information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of second sensors is coupled to a shoe of the one user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of second sensors is attached to clothing worn by the one user.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to store in the memory shot data for one of the plurality of basketball shots, the shot data correlating the one user with the shot location and the outcome for the one basketball shot.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine which of the plurality of users performed one of the plurality of basketball shots by comparing the shot location for the one basketball shot to the determined locations of the plurality of users.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine, based on the first sensor data, a value indicative of a velocity of the basketball at a trajectory location of the basketball near the basketball hoop after the basketball enters the basketball hoop for one of the plurality of basketball shots, wherein the feedback information is based on the value.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the feedback information defines a map of shot locations for the plurality of basketball shots.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the feedback information for each of the shot locations for the plurality of basketball shots indicates a shot outcome for one of the plurality of basketball shots corresponding to the respective shot location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the output interface is configured to receive the feedback information from a wireless connection.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the output interface is configured to display the feedback information.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to divide the plurality of basketball shots into a plurality of subsets grouped by shot locations and to provide, for each subset of the plurality of subsets, feedback information indicative of a shooting percentage of the one user for the subset based on shot locations for the subset and corresponding outcomes for the plurality of basketball shots at the shot locations for the subset determined by the at least one processor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to provide, for each subset of the plurality of subsets, feedback information indicative of made shots and missed shots for the subset based on shot locations for the subset and corresponding outcomes for the plurality of basketball shots at the shot locations for the subset determined by the at least one processor.

13. A method for tracking basketball shots, comprising:

receiving first sensor data wirelessly transmitted from a first sensor coupled to a basketball;

receiving second sensor data wirelessly transmitted from a plurality of second sensors worn by a plurality of users;

tracking the basketball with at least one processor based on the first sensor data;

tracking the plurality of users based on the second sensor data;

determining with the at least one processor when the plurality of users perform a plurality of basketball shots by shooting the basketball toward a basketball hoop;

determining with the at least one processor locations of the plurality of users based on the second sensor data;

for each of the plurality of basketball shots, identifying with the at least one processor which of the plurality of users performed the respective basketball shot based on the second sensor data;

for each of the plurality of basketball shots, determining with the at least one processor an outcome and a shot location from which the respective basketball shot is initiated based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data; and

outputting feedback information with an output interface, the feedback information indicative of a shooting percentage for at least one of the users based on shot locations and outcomes for the plurality of basketball shots determined by the at least one processor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the outputting comprises displaying the feedback information with the output interface.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of second sensors is coupled to a shoe of one of the plurality of users.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of second sensors is attached to clothing worn by one of the plurality of users.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing, in memory, shot data for one of the plurality of basketball shots, the shot data correlating one of the plurality of users the performed the one basketball shot with a shot location and an outcome for the one basketball shot.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing one of the shot locations to the determined locations of the plurality of users, wherein the identifying is based on the comparing.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining with the at least one processor a value indicative of a velocity of the basketball at a trajectory location of the basketball near the basketball hoop after the basketball enters the basketball hoop for one of the plurality of basketball shots, wherein the feedback information is based on the value.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the feedback information defines a map of shot locations for the plurality of basketball shots.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the feedback information for each of the shot locations for the plurality of basketball shots indicates a shot outcome for one of the plurality of basketball shots corresponding to the respective shot location.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the feedback information to the output interface.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprises:

dividing the plurality of basketball shots into a plurality of subsets grouped by shot locations; and

providing, for each subset of the plurality of subsets, feedback information indicative of a shooting percentage of the one user for the subset based on shot locations for the subset and corresponding outcomes for the plurality of basketball shots at the shot locations for the subset.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the providing, for each subset of the plurality of subsets, feedback information indicative of a shooting percentage of the one user for the subset includes providing feedback information indicative of made shots and missed shots for the subset.