Active player tracking
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for tracking sports objects in a playing area, comprising:
- (a) selecting a first radio receiver group, the first radio receiver group comprising a first subset of at least three radio receivers selected from a totality of radio receivers, the totality of radio receivers distributed about the playing area, wherein each region of the playing area is within a radio reception range of at least three radio receivers;
(b) selecting a second radio receiver group, the second radio receiver group comprising a second subset of at least three radio receivers selected from the totality of radio receivers, the second subset being different from the first subset;
(c) the first radio receiver group receiving signals from one or more transmitter tags attached to a sports object;
(d) the second radio receiver group receiving signals from the one or more transmitter tags attached to the sports object;
(e) estimating a position of the sports object in response to the signals received by both the first radio receiver group and the second radio receiver group; and
(f) repeatedly performing steps (a)-(e) to track movement of the sports object in the playing area over a time interval.
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Abstract
Sports objects, such as players and their equipment, are tracked by receiving signals transmitted by tags attached to the sports objects, and triangulating the signals to estimate the locations of the sports objects. One feature that promotes good signal reception is the use of different groups of three or more receivers. Another such feature is the use of two or more transmitter tags attached to different portions of the sports object. Still another such feature is the use of Ultra-Wideband signals.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for tracking sports objects in a playing area, comprising:
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(a) selecting a first radio receiver group, the first radio receiver group comprising a first subset of at least three radio receivers selected from a totality of radio receivers, the totality of radio receivers distributed about the playing area, wherein each region of the playing area is within a radio reception range of at least three radio receivers; (b) selecting a second radio receiver group, the second radio receiver group comprising a second subset of at least three radio receivers selected from the totality of radio receivers, the second subset being different from the first subset; (c) the first radio receiver group receiving signals from one or more transmitter tags attached to a sports object; (d) the second radio receiver group receiving signals from the one or more transmitter tags attached to the sports object; (e) estimating a position of the sports object in response to the signals received by both the first radio receiver group and the second radio receiver group; and (f) repeatedly performing steps (a)-(e) to track movement of the sports object in the playing area over a time interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for tracking sports objects in a playing area, comprising:
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one or more transmitter tags attachable to a sports object; a plurality of radio receivers collectively defining a totality of radio receivers, the totality of radio receivers distributable about the playing area, wherein each region of the playing area is within a radio reception range of at least three radio receivers; a controller that selects a plurality of radio receiver groups, each radio receiver group comprising a subset of at least three radio receivers selected from the totality of radio receivers, the subset of radio receivers of the selected radio receiver group being different from all other subsets of radio receivers of other selectable radio receiver groups, wherein each radio receiver of each selected radio receiver group receives signals from one or more transmitter tags attached to a sports object; and an estimator system that repeatedly estimates a position of the sports object in response to the signals received by each of the selected radio receiver groups to track movement of the sports object in the playing area over a time interval. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification