SYSTEM FOR CAPTURING TENNIS MATCH DATA

• US 20100279800A1
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kitris AG
• Original Assignee: Kitris AG
• Inventors: Züger, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/459
• 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 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/06 Squash
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• 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 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0064 in which functions not related to time can be displayed digital output to display devices of digital computers G06F3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and a method for gathering ball game data and in particular tennis match data in real time. To this end the system comprises a hands-free voice receiving means (4) adapted to receive words spoken by the player (2) wearing the receiving means. The words are then analyzed by an analyzing means adapted to analyze a dedicated ball game vocabulary used by the player. The analysis of the spoken words translates these words into digital match data. This data can be displayed, at least as score of the game by a display (10). More elaborate match data information can be gathered. Such data may be fed to an expert system giving back advice to the player.

Claims

1. A system for capturing personal ball game data of a player and in particular personal tennis match data of a tennis player comprising:

a voice receiving device comprising a microphone adapted to record words spoken by said player or tennis player, respectively, during a tennis match,

a dedicated ball game vocabulary or tennis match vocabulary, respectively, adapted to describe game or tennis match action,

a voice analyzing device adapted to analyze said words received by said voice receiving device and spoken in said dedicated game vocabulary or tennis match vocabulary, respectively, and

at least one display device for displaying at least the current score of said ball game, and tennis match score in particular, depending on the output of said voice analyzing device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said voice receiving device comprises a housing adapted to be worn on the body of said player or to be worn on the clothes of said player.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said voice receiving device comprises a wristwatch like housing.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said voice receiving device comprises a voice receiving device fixed to or incorporated within the racket of said tennis player.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said voice receiving device communicates wirelessly or by wire with said voice analyzing device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said voice analyzing device comprises a portable battery driven base station adapted to connect to said voice receiving device and adapted to connect to said display device.

7. The system according to claim 1 comprising a portable display device adapted for data communication with said voice analyzing device.

8. The system according to claim 1 comprising a GPS device detecting the position of the player.

9. The system according to claim 1 comprising a sensor adapted to detect the hit of a ball.

10. The system according to claim 1 comprising a data connection device adapted to connect said system to a computer running a tennis match coaching software and adapted to receive coaching advice data from said computer and to display said coaching advice data on at least one display of said system, in particular on a display worn by the player.

11. A method for capturing personal tennis match data of a tennis player, or for capturing ball game action of another ball game player, comprising the steps of:

audibly describing tennis match action, or other ball game action, by said tennis player or ball game player in a dedicated tennis match vocabulary or ball game vocabulary, respectively, adapted to describe tennis match or ball game action,

receiving the voice of said tennis player or other ball game player during the play by a voice receiving device comprising a microphone,

analyzing said words received by said voice receiving device and spoken in said dedicated vocabulary, in particular tennis match vocabulary, by a voice analyzing device adapted to identify and analyze said vocabulary, and

displaying at least the current score of said tennis match or other game, respectively, by at least one display device depending on the output of said voice analyzing device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said voice receiving device comprises a housing adapted to be worn on the body of said player or to be worn on the clothes of said player.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said voice receiving device comprises a wristwatch like housing.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said voice receiving device comprises a voice receiving device fixed to or incorporated within the racket of said tennis player.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said voice receiving device communicates wirelessly or by wire with said voice analyzing device.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein said voice analyzing device comprises a portable battery driven base station adapted to connect to said voice receiving device and adapted to connect to said display device.

17. The method according to claim 11, comprising a portable display device adapted for data communication with said voice analyzing device.

18. The system according to claim 11, comprising a GPS device detecting the position of the player.

19. The method according to claim 11, comprising a sensor adapted to detect the hit of a ball.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein a computer running a tennis match coaching software connects to the system for interpreting match data gathered by the system and for sending coaching information to the system, which is then displayed by the system, preferably on a display worn by the player during the play.

21. A system for capturing personal tennis match data of a tennis player comprising:

a voice receiving device comprising a microphone adapted to record words spoken by said tennis player during a tennis match,

a dedicated tennis match vocabulary adapted to describe tennis match action,

a voice analyzing device adapted to analyze said words received by said voice receiving device and spoken in said tennis match vocabulary, and

at least one display device for displaying at least the current tennis match score depending on the output of said voice analyzing device.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said voice receiving device communicates wirelessly with said voice analyzing device and wherein said voice analyzing device comprises a portable battery driven base station adapted to connect to said voice receiving device and adapted to connect to said display device.

25. The system according to claim 21 comprising a data connection device adapted to connect said system to a computer running a tennis match coaching software and adapted to receive coaching advice data from said computer and to display said coaching advice data on a display worn by the player.

22. A system for capturing personal tennis match data of a tennis player comprising:

a voice receiving device comprising a microphone adapted to record words spoken by said tennis player during a tennis match,

a dedicated tennis match vocabulary adapted to describe tennis match action,

a voice analyzing device adapted to analyze said words received by said voice receiving device and spoken in said tennis match vocabulary,

at least one display device for displaying at least the current tennis match score depending on the output of said voice analyzing device,

and wherein said voice receiving device comprises a wristwatch like housing adapted to be worn on the body of said player.

23. A system for capturing personal tennis match data of a tennis player comprising:

a voice receiving device comprising a microphone adapted to record words spoken by said tennis player during a tennis match,

a dedicated tennis match vocabulary adapted to describe tennis match action,

a voice analyzing device adapted to analyze said words received by said voice receiving device and spoken in said tennis match vocabulary,

at least one display device for displaying at least the current tennis match score depending on the output of said voice analyzing device,

and wherein said voice receiving device is fixed to or incorporated within the racket of said tennis player.