Method and apparatus for analyzing a pitched ball
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions thereon for performing analysis of a pitched ball from a pitcher to a batter that are separated by a first distance, the computer executable instructions including instructions configured to operate one or more computer devices to perform the steps of:
- processing a measured first speed of the ball thrown over the first distance;
processing a destination of the ball within a region proximate to the batter; and
determining a second speed of the ball calculated from the first speed of the ball and the destination;
wherein the processing a destination involves dividing the region into an array of subregions, and selecting the subregion intersected by the ball; and
wherein the determining further comprises;
calculating a time unit over which the ball travels a second distance;
determining a time period during which the ball travels the first distance;
calculating a modified pitch speed according to a ratio of the first distance to the time period incremented by the time unit;
calculating a velocity adjustment unit according to a difference between the first speed and the modified pitch speed;
assigning multiplier values to the subregions, the multiplier values calculated so as to facilitate a contact of the ball by the batter;
selecting from the multiplier values the multiplier value assigned to the selected subregion; and
calculating the second speed according to the sum of the first speed and the product of the selected multiplier value and the velocity adjustment unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Analysis of pitches to determine both their velocity and the location at which they arrive at the batter. The speed of the pitch is adjusted according to an adjustment value whose magnitude is a function of the location of the pitch relative to the batter. For example, high outside pitches would have a different adjustment value than low inside pitches. These adjustment values are calculated to take into account the fact that hitters must swing at different pitches at different times. That is, they must swing at some pitches earlier than others, depending on the location of the pitch. The adjusted speed, or “effective velocity,” of the pitch is thus a function of both the pitch'"'"'s velocity and its location relative to the batter, making it a more useful metric than velocity or location alone.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions thereon for performing analysis of a pitched ball from a pitcher to a batter that are separated by a first distance, the computer executable instructions including instructions configured to operate one or more computer devices to perform the steps of:
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processing a measured first speed of the ball thrown over the first distance; processing a destination of the ball within a region proximate to the batter; and determining a second speed of the ball calculated from the first speed of the ball and the destination; wherein the processing a destination involves dividing the region into an array of subregions, and selecting the subregion intersected by the ball; and wherein the determining further comprises; calculating a time unit over which the ball travels a second distance; determining a time period during which the ball travels the first distance; calculating a modified pitch speed according to a ratio of the first distance to the time period incremented by the time unit; calculating a velocity adjustment unit according to a difference between the first speed and the modified pitch speed; assigning multiplier values to the subregions, the multiplier values calculated so as to facilitate a contact of the ball by the batter; selecting from the multiplier values the multiplier value assigned to the selected subregion; and calculating the second speed according to the sum of the first speed and the product of the selected multiplier value and the velocity adjustment unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system configured to analyze a pitched ball, the system comprising:
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a computer; one or more computer readable media associated with the computer, the computer readable media having computer executable instructions thereon for performing analysis of the pitched ball from a pitcher to a batter that are separated by a first distance, the computer executable instructions including instructions operable in connection with the computer to perform the steps of; processing a measured a first speed of the ball thrown over the first distance; processing a destination of the ball within a region proximate to the batter; and determining a second speed of the ball calculated from the first speed of the ball and the destination; wherein the processing a destination involves dividing the region into an array of subregions, and selecting the subregion intersected by the ball; and wherein the determining further comprises; calculating a time unit over which the ball travels a second distance; determining a time period during which the ball travels the first distance; calculating a modified pitch speed according to a ratio of the first distance to the time period incremented by the time unit; calculating a velocity adjustment unit according to a difference between the first speed and the modified pitch speed; assigning multiplier values to the subregions, the multiplier values calculated so as to facilitate a contact of the ball by the batter; selecting from the multiplier values the multiplier value assigned to the selected subregion; and calculating the second speed according to the sum of the first speed and the product of the selected multiplier value and the velocity adjustment unit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions thereon for performing analysis of a pitched ball from a pitcher to a batter that are separated by a first distance, the computer executable instructions including instructions configured to operate one or more computer devices to perform the steps of:
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processing a measured first speed of the ball thrown over the first distance; processing a destination of the ball within a region proximate to the batter; and determining a second speed of the ball calculated from the first speed of the ball and the destination; wherein the processing a destination involves dividing the region into an array of subregions, and selecting the subregion intersected by the ball; and wherein the determining further comprises determining a mathematical expression including a second speed and quantifying a hit reaction value for the pitched ball that embodies timing information as to when the batter should swing the bat to strike the ball, wherein the mathematical expression is calculated from the first speed of the ball and a product of a velocity and a multiplier corresponding to a numerical value that varies according to spatial location of the pitch arrival destinations relative to the batter, wherein the multiplier and the first mathematical expression increase as spatial locations of the pitch destinations transition along positions of greater height above ground, and wherein the multiplier and the first mathematical expression increase as spatial locations of the pitch destinations transition along positions incrementally closer to the batter in a lateral direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification