System providing location information in a sports game

• US 20050159252A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sports Tech As
• Original Assignee: Sports Tech As
• Inventors: Fergestad, Petter, Fergestad, Rune, Saxegaard, Tom
• Application Number:
  US11/061,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20050159252A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/471
• 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 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/20 using a comparison of transit time of synchronised signals transmitted from non-directional antennas or antenna systems spaced apart, i.e. path-difference systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/11 wherein the cooperating elements are pseudolites or satellite radio beacon positioning system signal repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications

Abstract

Method and system for providing information which may be used in games for judging the game according to the rules of the game and/or increasing the benefit of the viewer and observer of a reportage by provided statistics and/or visualization of events on e.g. sport arenas and utilization of the information. The system includes a local position system including at least three transmitter units (1) for transmitting of GPS-like signals, mobile units (3) for receiving of the GPS-like signals. At least one mobile unit (3) is mounted on the sport performer and/or sport equipment. The mobile units (3) include a data processor (8) for processing the GPS-like signals in known ways to provide position parameters.

Claims

1. A system for providing location information of mobile units in a sports game, comprising:

a central unit (20) comprising a central transceiver (9) and associated antenna;

plural fixed transmitters (1), each transmitter sending position signals at a first frequency in the 2.4 GHz band;

a transmitter antenna (2) attached to each transmitter, the transmitter antenna being fixed in an exact surveyed position;

plural mobile units (3), each mobile unit comprising

a receiver (13) for the receiving the position signals from fixed transmitters, the mobile units being mountable on sports game players and equipment,

a receiver antenna (4) attached to the receiver, the receiver and receiver antenna tuned to the first frequency,

a transceiver (6) and associated antenna (7), and

a data processor (8), operatively connected to the receiver (13) and the transceiver (6), to process one-way communication from fixed transmitters to the mobile unit and two-way communications between the central unit and the mobile unit, so that data from fixed transmitters to the mobile unit are processed in the data processor for determining for a position of the mobile unit relative to the fixed transmitters, and sending the relative position to the central unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central unit (20) further comprises output ports for connection to the internet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central unit (20) further comprises output ports for connection to television media.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein,

the central unit (20) further comprises a television transceiver (16), and

the system further comprises a controllable television camera unit wireless linked to the television transceiver,

the controllable television camera unit comprising

a television camera (17),

a servo control (19) connected to control the camera, and

a radio transceiver (18) connected to control the servo control by commands received from the television transceiver of the central unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each mobile unit transits at a power of less than 100 mW.

6. A location system providing location information of mobile units, comprising:

a central unit (20) with a central transceiver (9);

plural fixed transmitters (1), each fixed transmitter sending position signals in the 2.4 GHz band that identify the location of each fixed transmitter;

plural mobile units (3), each mobile unit comprising

a receiver (13) for the receiving the position signals from fixed transmitters,

a transceiver (6) for communication with the central transceiver of the central unit, and

a data processor (8), operatively connected to the receiver (13) and the transceiver (6),

the data processor directing one-way communications from fixed transmitters to the mobile unit and two-way communications between the central unit and the mobile unit, so that data contained in the position signal sent from fixed transmitters to the mobile unit are processed in the data processor for determining for a position of the mobile unit relative to the fixed transmitters, and sending the determined relative position to the central unit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the central unit (20) further comprises output ports for connection to the internet.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the central unit (20) further comprises output ports for connection to television media.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein,

the central unit (20) further comprises a television transceiver (16), and

the system further comprises a controllable television camera unit wireless linked to the television transceiver,

the controllable television camera unit comprising

a television camera (17),

a servo control (19) connected to control the camera, and

a radio transceiver (18) connected to control the servo control by commands received from the television transceiver of the central unit.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein each mobile unit transits at a power of less than 100 mW.