Method and device for automatic timing in mass sporting events

• US 7,057,975 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Astra Gesellschaft Fur Asset Management mbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Astra Gesellschaft Fur Asset Management mbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Stobbe, Anatoli
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US10/465,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20030235116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/47, 368/107, 368276-278, 368/3, 368/110, 368/113, 340/323.R, 340/373.3
• US Class Current: 368/3
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders

Abstract

A method and device for automatic timing of mass sporting events is described.

Participants of the mass event each wear a transponder with an individual code, which is read after the finish and is associated with a recorded time. Upon finishing, an internal timer of the transponder is activated and its transponder time is evaluated with the determination of a finish time from the recorded time as the adjustment amount.

Claims

1. A method for automatic timing in a sporting event involving a plurality of participants comprising the steps of:

(a) providing each participant with a transponder, each transponder having an internal timer and an individual code;

(b) activating the internal timer of the transponder of a respective participant when the participant reaches a selected position, the timer being activated by an electromagnetic field;

(c) transmitting transponder data for the respective transponders sequentially to a reading device, the transponder data comprising the individual code and a timer activation time of the transponder, the transponder data being read by the reading device at a reading time; and

(d) determining a finish time of the respective participants from a respective evaluation of the timer activation time and the reading time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic field is produced at a goal or at an intermediate position.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transponder data is transmitted and read by means of the electromagnetic field.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the transponder data is read upon data collision with other transponders after performance of a separation method.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transponder data is transmitted and read by means of an activation field separate from the electromagentic field activating the internal timer of the transponder.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein by means of the internal timer, a continuous real-time or a continuous relative time or an externally determined discrete time designation are determined.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein by means of the internal timer, intermediate times are determined and stored in a storage medium.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a code serving for identification of intermediate positions or for validation is transmitted by means of an activation field to the transponder.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein as the reading time, the beginning of a data transmission from the transponder to the reading device that is later verified as error-free is evaluated.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein as the reading time, the end of a data transmission from the transponder to the reading device that is verified as error-free less the transmission time is evaluated.

11. An assembly for automatic timing in a sporting event involving a plurality of participants comprising:

(a) a plurality of transponders worn by the participants, each transponder having an internal timer and an individual code, the internal timer of the transponder of a respective participant being activated by an electromagnetic field when the participant reaches a selected position;

(b) a reading device for reading transponder data for the respective transponders sequentially, the transponder data comprising the individual code and a timer activation time of the transponder, the transponder data being read by the reading device at a reading time; and

(c) a controller for determining a finish time of the respective participants from a respective evaluation of the timer activation time and the reading time.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic field is produced at a goal.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein the transponder data is transmitted and read by means of the electromagnetic field.

14. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein the the transponder data is read upon data collision with other transponders after performance of a separation method.

15. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein the transponder data is transmitted and read by means of an activation field separate from the electromagentic field activating the internal timer of the transponder.

16. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the internal timer is formed as a continuous real-time clock or as a continuous relative timer or as a storage medium for externally transmitted discrete time designations.

17. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the internal timer includes a storage medium for storage of intermediate times.

18. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein a code serving for identification of intermediate positions or for validation is transmitted by means of an activation field to the transponder.

19. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein as the reading time, the beginning of a data transmission from the transponder to the reading device that is later verified as error-free is evaluated.

20. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein as the reading time, the end of a data transmission from the transponder to the reading device that is verified as error-free less the transmission time is evaluated.