System, method and computer program product for measuring basketball player performance characteristics during instant replay of video and live sports games

• US 7,899,307 B1
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walter Hughes
• Original Assignee: Walter Hughes
• Inventors: Hughes, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier; Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/006,713
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 386/343, 386/344, 386/350, 386/353, 386/200, 386/264
• US Class Current: 386/343
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration

Abstract

An instant replay system for determining player performance characteristics during a televised basketball game includes a user interface, a viewing device for receiving a broadcast signal from a television station, a signal interface electrically coupled directly to the viewing device for segmenting the broadcast signal into a plurality of first signals, a processor electrically coupled directly to the signal interface and the user interface respectively, and a graphical user interface electrically coupled directly to the processor. The system further includes a display screen, a memory, and a database.

Claims

1. An instant replay system for determining player performance characteristics during a televised basketball game, said instant replay system comprising:

a user interface;

a viewing device for receiving a broadcast signal from a television station;

a signal interface electrically coupled to said viewing device for segmenting said broadcast signal into a plurality of first signals;

a processor electrically coupled to said signal interface and said user interface respectively;

a graphical user interface electrically coupled to said processor;

a display screen electrically coupled to said graphical user interface for displaying said player performance characteristics in a categorized format according to player data; and

a memory electrically coupled directly to said processor, said memory including software instructions that causes said instant replay system to calculate;

a quantity of force exerted on a basketball rim when a player slam dunks a basketball,

a quantity of hang time a player achieves while jumping in air and shooting the basketball,

a quantity and efficiency of passes made between two or more players on the basketball playing surface,

an amount of arc a player puts on the basketball during shooting and passing procedures, and

a player'"'"'s leaping ability that is measured by a distance between a ground surface and a highest point of reference.

2. The instant replay system of claim 1, wherein said software instructions determine said player performance characteristics by executing a control logic algorithm including the steps of:

receiving said first signals conveying data representative of said player performance characteristics;

deciphering said first signals;

displaying said resulting deciphered first signals on said display screen that is being viewed by a user of the present invention;

identifying a number of said player performance characteristics displayed in said first signals as events to be evaluated;

receiving a plurality of second signals categorizing for each player desired ones of said player performance characteristics being currently shown;

deciphering said plurality of second signals; and

permitting visualization of said desired ones of said player performance characteristics according to said player performance characteristics selected from a number of players to be reviewed and a content of said deciphered second signals respectively.

3. The instant replay system of claim 2, wherein said display screen comprises:

a plurality of implanted electronic sensors which identify a point of contact and impact velocities of a player and a basketball associated therewith, each of said sensors being associated with a plurality of target regions and further transmitting output signals corresponding to impact forces during an event at said target regions.

4. The instant replay system of claim 1, wherein said display screen further comprises:

a plurality of transducers and a plurality of LED arrays disposed adjacent to said sensors respectively, wherein each of said LED arrays being illuminated when a basketball strikes within a certain distance of said sensors.

5. The instant replay system of claim 4, wherein each of said transducers picks up wave patterns created by the basketball when striking the basketball rim or the basketball playing surface, said transducers generating and transmitting corresponding ones of said second signals to said processor for detecting a time and a magnitude of said wave patterns such that each one of said transducers picks up and compares times between different ones of said transducers to determine an originating point of impact of the basketball on the basketball rim or the basketball playing surface.

6. The instant replay system of claim 1, further comprising:

a database connected to said processor for storing and categorizing said player performance characteristics in a variety of formats to be reviewed and queried at a later time by alternate users of said instant replay system.

7. The instant replay system of claim 2, further comprising:

an analog to digital converter directly and electrically coupled to said display screen; and

a parallel to serial converter electrically coupled directly to said analog to digital converter;

wherein said analog to digital converter receives and converts said second signals to a digital format and thereafter transmits said digital second signals to said parallel to serial converter which transmits said second signals to said processor.

8. An instant replay system for determining player performance characteristics during a televised basketball game, said instant replay system comprising:

a user interface;

a viewing device for receiving a broadcast signal from a television station;

a signal interface electrically coupled directly to said viewing device for segmenting said broadcast signal into a plurality of first signals;

a processor electrically coupled directly to said signal interface and said user interface respectively;

a graphical user interface electrically coupled directly to said processor;

a display screen electrically coupled to said graphical user interface for displaying said player performance characteristics in a categorized format according to player data; and

a memory electrically coupled directly to said processor, said memory including software instructions that causes said instant replay system to calculate;

a quantity of force exerted on a basketball rim when a player slam dunks a basketball,

a quantity of hang time a player achieves while jumping in air and shooting the basketball,

a quantity and efficiency of passes made between two or more players on the basketball playing surface,

an amount of arc a player puts on the basketball during shooting and passing procedures, and

a player'"'"'s leaping ability that is measured by a distance between a ground surface and a highest point of reference.

9. The instant replay system of claim 8, wherein said software instructions determine said player performance characteristics by executing a control logic algorithm including the steps of:

receiving said first signals conveying data representative of said player performance characteristics;

deciphering said first signals;

displaying said resulting deciphered first signals on said display screen that is being viewed by a user of the present invention;

identifying a number of said player performance characteristics displayed in said first signals as events to be evaluated;

receiving a plurality of second signals categorizing for each player desired ones of said player performance characteristics being currently shown;

deciphering said plurality of second signals; and

permitting visualization of said desired ones of said player performance characteristics according to said player performance characteristics selected from a number of players to be reviewed and a content of said deciphered second signals respectively.

10. The instant replay system of claim 9, wherein said display screen comprises:

a plurality of implanted electronic sensors which identify a point of contact and impact velocities of a player and a basketball associated therewith, each of said sensors being associated with a plurality of target regions and further transmitting output signals corresponding to impact forces during an event at said target regions.

11. The instant replay system of claim 10, wherein said display screen further comprises:

a plurality of transducers and a plurality of LED arrays disposed adjacent to said sensors respectively, wherein each of said LED arrays being illuminated when a basketball strikes within a certain distance of said sensors.

12. The instant replay system of claim 11, wherein each of said transducers picks up wave patterns created by the basketball when striking the basketball rim or the basketball playing surface, said transducers generating and transmitting corresponding ones of said second signals to said processor for detecting a time and a magnitude of said wave patterns such that each one of said transducers picks up and compares times between different ones of said transducers to determine an originating point of impact of the basketball on the basketball rim or the basketball playing surface.

13. The instant replay system of claim 12, further comprising:

a database connected to said processor for storing and categorizing said player performance characteristics in a variety of formats to be reviewed and queried at a later time by alternate users of said instant replay system.

14. The instant replay system of claim 8, further comprising:

an analog to digital converter directly and electrically coupled to said display screen; and

a parallel to serial converter electrically coupled directly to said analog to digital converter;

wherein said analog to digital converter receives and converts said second signals to a digital format and thereafter transmits said digital second signals to said parallel to serial converter which transmits said second signals to said processor.

15. A method for determining player performance characteristics during a televised basketball game, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a user interface;

b) providing a viewing device;

c) said viewing device receiving a broadcast signal from a television station;

d) providing a signal interface electrically coupled directly to said viewing device;

e) said signal interface segmenting said broadcast signal into a plurality of first signals;

f) providing a processor electrically coupled directly to said signal interface and said user interface respectively;

g) providing a graphical user interface electrically coupled directly to said processor;

h) providing a display screen electrically coupled to said graphical user interface;

i) said display screen displaying said player performance characteristics in a categorized format according to player data; and

j) providing a memory electrically coupled directly to said processor, said memory including software instructions that causes said instant replay system to calculate;

i. a quantity of force exerted on a basketball rim when a player slam dunks a basketball,

ii. a quantity of hang time a player achieves while jumping in air and shooting the basketball,

iii. a quantity and efficiency of passes made between two or more players on the basketball playing surface,

iv. an amount of arc a player puts on the basketball during shooting and passing procedures, and

v. a player'"'"'s leaping ability that is measured by a distance between a ground surface and a highest point of reference.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said software instructions determine said player performance characteristics by executing a control logic algorithm including the steps of:

receiving said first signals conveying data representative of said player performance characteristics;

deciphering said first signals;

displaying said resulting deciphered first signals on said display screen that is being viewed by a user of the present invention;

identifying a number of said player performance characteristics displayed in said first signals as events to be evaluated;

receiving a plurality of second signals categorizing for each player desired ones of said player performance characteristics being currently shown;

deciphering said plurality of second signals; and

permitting visualization of said desired ones of said player performance characteristics according to said player performance characteristics selected from a number of players to be reviewed and a content of said deciphered second signals respectively.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step i. comprises the steps of:

providing a plurality of implanted electronic sensors;

said sensors identifying a point of contact and impact velocities of a player and a basketball associated therewith;

associating each of said sensors with a plurality of target regions; and

transmitting output signals corresponding to impact forces during an event at said target regions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein step i. further comprises the steps of:

providing a plurality of transducers and a plurality of LED arrays disposed adjacent to said sensors respectively; and

illuminating each of said LED arrays when a basketball strikes within a certain distance of said sensors.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

each of said transducers picking up wave patterns created by the basketball when striking the basketball rim or the basketball playing surface;

each of said transducers generating and transmitting corresponding ones of said second signals to said processor for detecting a time and a magnitude of said wave patterns; and

each of said transducers picking up and comparing times between different ones of said transducers and determining an originating point of impact of the basketball on the basketball rim or the basketball playing surface.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

providing a database connected to said processor; and

said database storing and categorizing said player performance characteristics in a variety of formats to be reviewed and queried at a later time by alternate users of said instant replay system.