UHF TIMING SYSTEM FOR PARTICIPATORY ATHLETIC EVENTS

• US 20090184806A1
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chronotrack Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Arash Kia
• Inventors: Kia, Arash
• Granted Patent: US 8,179,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.520
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 10/00 Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/47 using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A participatory athletic event timing system based on backscattering modulation in the UHF band and including wirelessly encoding writable data tags with participant'"'"'s bib numbers or a calculated derivative thereof for timing participants in a participative athletic event, and attaching the data tags to the participant'"'"'s bibs for distribution of the bibs and data tags to participants so as to eliminate the need for matching data tags with bibs and maintaining the sequenced order of the matched data tags and bibs. In a preferred embodiment, when participants register for the event, they are assigned an ID number and a bib printed with that number and having attached to the bib one or more data tag encoded in the tags memory the ID number or a calculated derivative thereof. Before the start of the event, the athlete pulls the data tag from the bib and attaches it to their shoe. Antennas suitably designed and adapted for use with the data tags in participative athletic events are used to communicate with the data tags.

Claims

1. A method of using wireless data tags in a participatory athletic event timing system, the unordered method steps comprising:

wirelessly encoding at least one wirelessly writable and wirelessly readable data tag with information uniquely associating said at least one data tag with at least one participant bib; and

attaching said at least one data tag to said at least one participant bib.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one data tag is both readily detachable from said at least one participant bib and operably reattachable in a location other than on said at least one participant bib for use during a participatory athletic event using said participatory athletic event timing system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said wirelessly encoding comprises wirelessly writing to said at least one data tag a bib number or bib identifier corresponding to said at least one participant bib.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unordered steps further include:

printing on said at least one participant bib a bib number or bib identifier corresponding to said at least one participant bib.

5. A method of using wireless data tags in a participatory athletic event timing system, the method comprising:

distributing to at least one participant of a participatory athletic event at least one wirelessly writable and wirelessly readable data tag, said data tag encoded with information uniquely associating said at least one data tag with at least one participant bib, and said data tag attached to said at least one participant bib.

6. A participant bib with a wirelessly writable and wirelessly readable data tag attached thereto, the participant bib with attached data tag for distribution of said participant bib and said data tag to a participant in a participatory athletic event and for use with a participatory athletic timing system.

7. The participant bib of claim 6, wherein said data tag is encoded with a bib number or bib identifier printed on said participant bib.

8. The participant bib of claim 6, wherein said data tag is both readily detachable from said participant bib and operably reattachable in a location other than on said participant bib for use during said participatory athletic event using said participatory athletic event timing system.

9. The participant bib of claim 8, wherein said data tag is capable of reattachment to a shoe or ankle bracelet for use during said participatory athletic event.

10. The participant bib of claim 9, wherein said data tag is a Class 1 Gen 2 data tag capable of operating in UHF frequencies.

11. A method of using wireless data tags in a participatory athletic event timing system, the method comprising:

encoding wireless data tags with identifiers that correspond mathematically to participant bib numbers so that for any particular bib or data tag either the identifier can be used to determine the bib number or the bib number can be used to determine the identifier, without the use of a lookup table or database for cross-referencing bib numbers and identifiers.

12. A method of preparing one of a plurality of participant bibs for use with a participative athletic event timing system, the unordered method steps comprising:

providing a participant bib;

printing a bib number on said participant bib;

encoding a writable wireless data tag with said bib number; and

attaching said data tag to said participate bib.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

distributing to a participant in a participative athletic event said participant bib, said participant bib having said encoded data tag attached thereto.

14. A method of collecting information from participants in a participative athletic event, the method comprising:

receiving information from a plurality of wireless data tags; and

determining participant bib numbers corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of wireless data tags using only said information received from said plurality of data tags or mathematical calculations therefrom.

15. A method of using a participatory event timing system, the method comprising:

receiving a participant bib with a wirelessly writable and wirelessly readable data tag attached thereto;

detaching said data tag from said participant bib; and

reattaching said data tag to a shoe or ankle bracelet for use during a participatory athletic event.

16. A wirelessly encodable data tag adapted for use in a participatory athletic event timing system, said wirelessly encodable data tag comprising:

a writable memory;

circuitry for UHF wireless communications;

a paper-like form factor;

at least one adhesive portion for attaching said data tag to a participant bib; and

features for securing said data tag to a shoe.

17. A participatory athletic event timing system based on backscattering modulation in the UHF band, the system comprising:

one or more antennas adapted for use in a participatory athletic event and capable of radiating at UHF frequencies for communications with devices tuned to such frequencies, and suitably designed so as to provide uniformly distributed radiated energy along a participant'"'"'s path of travel in a participatory athletic event and to provide sharp drop offs in radiated energy perpendicular to said participant'"'"'s path of travel for minimizing interference with other adjacently positioned ones of said one or more antennas.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

wirelessly writable and wirelessly readable data tags capable of receiving and transmitting information at UHF frequencies and being attached to said participant in said participatory athletic event.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said one or more antennas include casing material that extends in a width of field direction perpendicular to said participant'"'"'s path of travel ending where radiated energy drops off so that casing material of adjacently positioned antennas may be positioned end to end without spaces therebetween.