Methods Of Determining Performance Information For Individuals And Sports Objects

• US 20140266160A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: COZA, Aurel
• Granted Patent: US 9,500,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.11
• 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 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• 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 47/00 Devices for handling or treating balls , e.g. for holding or carrying balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/008 Devices for measuring or verifying ball characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/08 : involving use of the magnetic field of the earth
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 : Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 : specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0035 : Calibration of single magnetic sensors, e.g. integrated calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 : Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 : operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 : using computer methods

Abstract

Methods for determining performance information for an object located within an area include obtaining magnetic field information for the area, measuring first magnetic field data when the object is located at a first position within the area, and determining performance information for the object within the area based on the magnetic field information for the area and the first magnetic field data.

Claims

1. A method for determining performance information for an object located within an area, the method comprising:

obtaining magnetic field information for the area;

measuring first magnetic field data when the object is located at a first position within the area, wherein the first magnetic field data comprises one of magnetic field intensity data and magnetic field direction data; and

determining performance information for the object within the area based on the magnetic field information for the area and the first magnetic field data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field data comprises magnetic field intensity data and magnetic field direction data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field information for the area comprises magnetic field map data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining magnetic field information for the area comprises determining magnetic field map data for the area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining magnetic field information for the area comprises accessing previously determined magnetic field map data for the area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic field data is measured using a magnetometer coupled to the object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a person.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a piece of athletic equipment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the piece of athletic equipment comprises a ball.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance information determined for the object comprises a location of the first position of the object in the area.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance information determined for the object comprises a speed that the object was traveling when it was moving in the area.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the area comprises an indoor area.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the area comprises an area designed to host athletic activities.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring second magnetic field data when the object is located at a second position within the area, wherein determining the performance information for the object within the area is further based on the second magnetic field data.

15. A method for determining performance information for an object located within an athletic field area, the method comprising:

obtaining magnetic field map data for the athletic field area;

measuring magnetic field data when the object is located within the athletic field area;

filtering the measured magnetic field data; and

determining performance information for the object within the athletic field area based on the magnetic field map data and the filtered measured magnetic field data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field map data comprises data about a location of a field feature of the athletic field.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein filtering the measured magnetic field data comprises factoring in physical space constraints of the athletic field.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein filtering the measured magnetic field data comprises factoring in motion dynamics constraints of the object.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the object comprises a human and the motion dynamics constraints are based on human motion dynamics.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the object comprises a ball and the motion dynamics constraints are based on ball motion dynamics.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the measured magnetic field data comprises magnetic field intensity data and magnetic field direction data.

22. A method for determining a position of an object within an area at a given time, the method comprising:

obtaining magnetic field information for the area;

measuring first magnetic field data when the object is located at a first position within the area;

comparing the first magnetic field data with the magnetic field information for the area;

determining a set of possible locations of the first position of the object within the area based on the comparison of the first magnetic field data with the magnetic field information for the area;

measuring second magnetic field data when the object is located at a second position within the area;

comparing the second magnetic field data with the magnetic field information for the area;

applying constraints to the second magnetic field data to determine a possible location of the second position of the object based on the constraints and the comparison of the first magnetic field data and the second magnetic field data with the magnetic field information for the area; and

repeating the steps of measuring magnetic field data and applying constraints to determine the position of the object within the area at a given time.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the magnetic field information for the area comprises magnetic field map data for the area.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein applying constraints to the second magnetic field data to determine a possible location of the second position of the object comprises factoring in physical space constraints of the area.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein applying constraints to the second magnetic field data to determine a possible location of the second position of the object comprises factoring in motion dynamics constraints of the object.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the first magnetic field data and the second magnetic field data both comprise one of magnetic field intensity data and magnetic field direction data.

27-51. -51. (canceled)