SPORTS MATCH REFEREEING SYSTEM

• US 20160045810A1
• Filed: 07/24/2013
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fb-Mm Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zvi Minkovitch
• Inventors: MINKOVITCH, Zvi
• Granted Patent: US 9,889,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0666 worn on the head or face, e.g. combined with goggles or glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0677 Input by image recognition, e.g. video signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/20 Cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 Volleyball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/102 Boxing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 : Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 : Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 : associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles

Abstract

A system for refereeing a sports match including a portable processing device for compiling data associated with the sports match and eyeglasses including data display means for displaying the data associated with the sports match to a wearer of the eyeglasses.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A device for interaction with a person for monitoring or managing an event, the device comprising:

a tactile surface responsive to the person touch or press;

a first camera for capturing or imaging a visual image;

a microphone configured and mounted for capturing the person originated voice;

a second camera configured and mounted for capturing or imaging the person eye or eyes;

a first display configured and mounted for providing first visual data to the person;

a sound transducer consisting of, or comprising, a loudspeaker, headphone, or earphone, that is configured and mounted for providing auditory data to the person;

an antenna and a wireless transceiver coupled the antenna for wirelessly receiving first data and for wirelessly transmitting second data, the wireless transceiver is coupled to the first display and to the sound transducer, respectively for the first visual data and the auditory data to be responsive to, include, or to be is based on the first data, and the wireless transceiver is coupled to the tactile surface, the first camera, the microphone, and the second camera for the second data that is respectively responsive to, include, or is based on the person touch or press, the visual image, the person originated voice, and the person eye or eyes;

a software and a processor for executing the software, the processor coupled to control, receive data from, or transmit data to, the tactile surface, the first and second cameras, the microphone, the first display, and the sound transducer; and

a wearable eyewear frame configured for mounting or attaching thereon the processor, the antenna, the tactile surface, the first and second cameras, the microphone, and the first display.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein the wireless transceiver consists of, or comprises, a modem (modulator/demodulator) using RF (Radio-Frequency) based Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), or Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), and wherein the device is configured to, and shaped as, an eyewear device.

35. The device according to claim 34, wherein the WLAN is according to, or based on, Wi-Fi standard, wherein the WPAN is according to, or based on, Bluetooth or ZigBee standard, wherein the WWAN is based on cellular or satellite communication, and wherein the device is addressable in the wireless network, and wherein the device is configured to, and shaped for, attach to an optical eye-glasses or sun-glasses.

36. The device according to claim 33, further comprising a range finder for measuring a distance coupled to the first display for displaying the measured distance, and wherein the wireless communication is according to, is based on, or is using, a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), the antenna is a WPAN antenna, and the wireless transceiver is a WPAN transceiver.

37. The device according to claim 36, wherein the WPAN is Bluetooth®

, and wherein the range finder is integrated with the first camera.

38. The device according to claim 33, wherein the first visual data on the first display is responsive to the person eye movement capture by the second camera, to the person voice sensed by the microphone, or to the person touch or press sensed by the tactile surface, and the device further comprising a memory coupled to the processor and to the first camera for storing a first image, and the device further operative to compare the first image with the visual image captured by the first camera.

39. The device according to claim 38, wherein the first image comprises a first human image and the visual image comprises a second human image, and the first and second human images are compared for determining to include the same person.

40. The device according to claim 33, further comprising a memory coupled to the processor and to the microphone for storing the person originated voice, and wherein the sound transducer is coupled to the memory for playing the stored person originated voice, and wherein the first or second data is responsive to the person eye movement capture by the second camera, to the person voice sensed by the microphone, or to the person touch or press sensed by the tactile surface.

41. The device according to claim 33, wherein the auditory data to the person is responsive to the person eye movement capture by the second camera, to the person voice sensed by the microphone, or to the person touch or press sensed by the tactile surface.

42. The device according to claim 33, for use with a data server comprising a storage for storing data, wherein the device is operative to communicate with the data server over a communication network via the antenna and the wireless transceiver, and the device is operative to receive the first data from the data server over the communication network, and to transmit the second data to the data server over the communication network, and wherein the event is a sport match, the person is a referee in the sport match, and the device is configured for supporting the managing, monitoring, and refereeing of the sport match.

43. The device according to claim 42, wherein the communication network is a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) that consists of, comprises, or uses, WiMAX, cellular network, or a satellite network;

or a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and the antenna is respectively a WWAN or WLAN antenna, and the wireless transceiver is respectively WWAN or WLAN wireless transceiver, and wherein the sport match is a baseball match, football match, soccer match, basketball match, hockey match, volleyball match, cricket match, or boxing match.

44. The device according to claim 33, further comprising a memory, wherein the first camera is a video camera for capturing video data, and the memory is coupled to the first camera for storing the video data, and the first display is coupled to the memory for displaying the video data, and wherein the sound transducer is coupled to the wireless transceiver and to the processor, and the device is operative to vocalize at least part of the first data.

45. The device according to claim 33, wherein the first visual data, the first data, or the second data, consists of, is responsive to, or is based on, an input from the person or according to a predetermined criterion.

46. The device according to claim 33, wherein the first visual data, consists of, is responsive to, or is based on, the first data or the image captured by the first camera.

47. The device according to claim 46, wherein the event is a sport event that is a match between first and second teams, each of the teams is associated with a team name, team players, and a team coach, and the match is managed by a referee team headed by a primary referee, and wherein the first visual data, the first data, or the second data, comprises pre-sport event information known before the sport event initiation, and sport event occurrences occurring during the sport event duration.

48. The device according to claim 47, wherein the pre-sport event information comprising at least two items out of a group of items consisting of the sport field identification, the sport field location, the match date, the scheduled game duration, the first team name, the second team name, the first team players names, the second team players names, the first team coach name, the second team coach name, the primary referee name, and the referee team members names.

49. The device according to claim 48, wherein sport event occurrences comprising the occurrences, or the time of the occurrences during the match, of least two items out of a group of items consisting of:

a flip coin result, a flip coin win team name, an actual start time of the match, an actual game duration, a time addition to the planned game duration, a goal score, a number of yellow card warnings of the first team, a number of yellow card warnings of the second team, a number of yellow card warnings of each player of the teams, a goal score, a number of red cards of the first team, a number of red cards of the second team, a red card of each player of the teams, a penalty, a player substitution, a penalty kick, and a distance measurement.

50. The device according to claim 46, wherein the first visual data further comprises substantially equally spaced vertical lines for improved detecting by the person the relative distance between objects.

51. The device according to claim 50, wherein the objects are human players in a soccer match, and wherein the vertical lines are used for detecting an ‘

offside’

occurrence.

52. The device according to claim 33, further comprising a second display configured for providing second visual data, the second display is mounted on the wearable eyewear frame.

53. The device according to claim 52, wherein the second display is mounted on the wearable eyewear frame so that the screen image is not interfering with the person binocular vision when wearing the device.

54. The device according to claim 52, wherein the second display is enclosed in a single enclosure distinct from the wearable eyewear frame, and wherein the single enclosure is attachable, movable, or replaceable, with the wearable eyewear frame.

55. The device according to claim 52, wherein the second display is configured to project the second visual data on a surface that is a human skin or the person hand.

56. The device according to claim 52, wherein the second visual data on the second display is responsive to the person eye movement capture by the second camera, to the person voice sensed by the microphone, or to the person touch or press sensed by the tactile surface.

57. A system comprising first and second devices each according to claim 33, wherein the first device operative to transmit the visual image captured by the camera of the first device via the wireless transceiver of the first device, and the second device operative to receive the visual image via the wireless transceiver of the second device and to display the received visual image on the first display of the second device.

58. The system according to claim 57, wherein the event is a sport match, and the first and second devices are further configured for use by first and second referees for managing or monitoring the sport match.

59. A system comprising first and second devices each according to claim 33, wherein the first device operative to transmit the person originated voice captured by the microphone of the first device via the wireless transceiver of the first device, and the second device operative to receive the person originated voice via the wireless transceiver of the second device and to play the received person originated voice by the sound transducer of the second device.

60. The system according to claim 59, wherein the event is a sport match, and the first and second devices are further configured for use by first and second referees for managing or monitoring the sport match.

61. A system for interaction with the person for monitoring or managing the event comprising a first device according to claim 33 and a second device, the second device comprising:

a software and a processor for executing the software, the software including an operating system;

a memory storing the software coupled to the processor;

an input component, consisting of or comprising a keyboard or a tactile surface coupled to the processor for capturing input from a person;

a display coupled to the processor for presenting visual information to the person;

an antenna and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor for wirelessly communicating with the first device; and

a hand held enclosure for housing the processor, the memory, the input component, the wireless transmitter, and the display,

wherein the second device is operative to receive the first data from the person using the input component, to store the first data in the memory, to display the first data on the display, and to transmit the first data via the wireless transceiver to the first device, and wherein the second device is operative to wirelessly receive the second data from the first device, to store the first data in the memory, to display the first data on the display.

62. The system according to claim 61, wherein the first device or the second device is further operative to store in the memory the first data or the second data, and wherein the second device consists of, or is part of, a smartphone or a tablet.

63. The system according to claim 61, wherein the second device further comprising a distance measuring meter coupled to the processor for measuring a distance and displaying the measured distance on the display, wherein the distance measuring meter is based on light, laser, sound, ultrasonic sound, or optics.

64. The system according to claim 61, further comprising a random number generator coupled to, or part of, the processor, for generating a random number.

65. The system according to claim 61, further comprising a third device, the third device comprising:

a software and a processor for executing the software, the software including an operating system;

a display screen coupled to the processor for presenting visual information to a person;

an antenna and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor for wirelessly communicating with the second device; and

a hand held enclosure for housing the processor, the wireless transmitter, and the display screen,

wherein the third device is operative to wirelessly receive via the third device wireless transceiver a third data from the second device, and to display the third data on the display screen.

66. The system according to claim 65, wherein the third device is further operative to display yellow or red background color on the display screen in response to the third data, and wherein the third device further comprising a second display screen coupled to the processor, wherein the third device enclosure comprises two opposed first and second exterior surfaces, and wherein the first display screen is attached to the first exterior surface and the second display is attached to the second exterior surface.

67. A system comprising a plurality of three or more devices, each according to claim 33, the devices communicating with each other over a communication network via the respective antennas and wireless transceivers, where the second data of one of the plurality of devices is received as the first data by all other devices of the plurality of devices.

68. The system according to claim 67, wherein the communication network is a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) or a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and each of the antennas is respectively a WWAN or WLAN antenna, and each of the wireless transceivers is respectively WWAN or WLAN wireless transceiver.

69. The system according to claim 67, further comprising a unit communicating with the plurality of devices over the communication network, the unit operative to receive and display the second data from the one of the plurality of devices, and wherein the unit is a personal computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, or a mobile phone.

70. The device according to claim 33, wherein the device is configured to, and shaped as, an eyewear device.

71. The device according to claim 33, wherein the sound transducer is coupled to the wireless transceiver and to the processor, and the device is operative to vocalize at least part of the first data.

72. The device according to claim 33, further comprising a range finder for measuring a distance coupled to the first display for displaying the measured distance.