SPORTS TELEMETRY SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING PERFORMANCE METRICS AND DATA

• US 20100283630A1
• Filed: 05/03/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sports Traxx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Technologies Group Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Alonso, Ramon A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,289,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/845 where the measuring is synchronized between sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Systems and methods for collecting sports data are disclosed, which include measuring, at one or more sensor modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on at least one sports participant, data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the at least one sports participant; broadcasting, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the at least one sports participant, signals carrying the data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the at least one sports participant; measuring, at one or more sensor modules mounted, affixed, or embedded in a sports object, data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the sports object; and broadcasting, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the sports object, signals carrying the data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the sports object. The systems and methods also include receiving the signals from the telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the at least one sports participant and the telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the sports object; and processing the received signals to calculate position information or movement information of a sports object or a sports participant in relation to a playing surface of a sports event.

Claims

1. A method for collecting sports data comprising the steps of:

measuring, at one or more sensor modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on at least one sports participant, data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of said at least one sports participant;

broadcasting, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on said at least one sports participant, signals carrying said data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of said at least one sports participant;

measuring, at one or more sensor modules mounted, affixed, or embedded in a sports object, data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of said sports object;

broadcasting, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on said sports object, signals carrying said data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of said sports object;

receiving said signals from said telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the at least one sports participant and the telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the sports object; and

processing the received signals to calculate position information or movement information of a sports object or a sports participant in relation to a playing surface of a sports event.

2. A method for collecting sports data comprising the steps of:

receiving, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on at least one sports participant, first signals carrying data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of said at least one sports participant;

receiving, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded in a sports object, second signals carrying data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of said sports object; and

processing the received first and second signals to calculate position information or movement information of a sports object or a sports participant in relation to a playing surface of a sports event.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps of receiving first and second signals comprises receiving said first and second signals at least at three different locations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of processing the received first and second signals to calculate position or movement information comprises calculating signal phase information.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the processing step comprises extracting global positioning information from said first and second signals.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising processing the received first and second signals to calculate statistical data related to movement, relative position, and condition of a sports participant or a sports object.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of processing the received first and second signals to calculate statistical data step is carried out in real-time during a sports event.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying said calculated position information or said calculated movement information to indicate the progressive movement of the sports participant or the sports object.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying said progressive movement as a sequence of three-dimensional images.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said sports event include a practice session.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein said condition comprises at least one of the following:

heart rate;

body temperature;

or

impact.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein said sports participant includes a sports official.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein said first and second signals are received over a wireless communications link.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein said first signal further comprises performance metrics data.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a live video signal from cameras recording the sports event;

processing said video signal to superimpose said performance metrics onto the video signal; and

displaying the video signal with the superimposed performance metrics.

17. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded in an object placed in a location where the sports event takes place, third signals carrying data corresponding proximity of the sports object or sports participant to said object placed in a location where the sports event takes place.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said performance metrics data comprises speed or burst data.

7. The method of step 2, wherein the processing step is carried out in real-time during a sports event.