Baseball technologies

• US 9,233,294 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Coyle
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Coyle
• Inventors: Coyle, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper, Tramar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US14/104,045
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0004 specially adapted for particular training aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0011 Catching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 : with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 : electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 : Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 : for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0013 : Baseball bases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 : for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/40 : Stationarily-arranged devices for projecting balls or other bodies golf cups with ball ejector means A63B57/405; traps for clay-pigeon targets F41J9/18
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 : Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 : Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 : automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 : Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/828 : Managing virtual sport teams
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A technology for playing baseball is provided. The technology enables real-time baseball gameplay between a first team associated with a first baseball field and second team associated with a second baseball field.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first computer in communication with a plurality of pitch sensors and a fielding machine, said first computer associated with a first field having a first pitching area and a first plurality of bases including a first catcher base, said first field having said plurality of pitch sensors arranged thereabout, said fielding machine proximal to said first catcher base;

a second computer in communication with a pitching machine and a plurality of hit sensors, said second computer associated with a second field having a second pitching area and a second plurality of bases including a second catcher base, said second pitching area having said pitching machine, said second field having said plurality of hit sensors arranged thereabout,

wherein said plurality of pitch sensors obtaining pitch information of a first ball as manually pitched from said first pitching area toward said first catcher base, said first computer receiving, in real-time, said pitch information from said pitch sensors, said second computer receiving, in real-time, said pitch information from said first computer, said pitching machine containing a second ball, said pitching machine receiving, in real-time, said pitch information from said second computer and, in response, pitching said second ball toward said second catcher base based on said pitch information, said plurality of hit sensors obtaining hit information of said second ball as manually hit when said pitching machine pitched said second ball, said second computer receiving, in real-time, said hit information from said plurality of hit sensors, said first computer receiving, in real-time, said hit information from said second computer, said fielding machine containing a third ball, said fielding machine receiving, in real-time, said hit information from said first computer, and, in response, fielding said third ball based on said hit information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first ball is pitched at a first distance from said first catcher base, said second ball is pitched at a second distance from said second catcher base, said first distance is sufficiently different from said second distance such that latency is effectively minimized.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said second ball is hit at a second distance from said second pitching area, said third ball is fielded at a first distance from said first pitching area, said second distance is sufficiently different from said first distance such that latency is effectively minimized.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first field having a pitcher standing in a pitching position for pitching said first ball, said pitcher in said first pitching area and facing said fielding machine, said second field having a batter standing in a batting position for batting said second ball, said batter proximal to said second catcher base and facing said pitching machine,

at least one of said pitcher pitching said first ball toward an artificial body representation of said batter in said batting position, said artificial body representation of said batter proximal to said first catcher base and facing said pitcher such that said pitcher perceives said batter facing said pitcher, said artificial body representation of said batter mimicking, in real-time, a movement of said batter in said batting position,

said batter facing an artificial body representation of said pitcher in said pitching position, said artificial body representation of said pitcher in said pitching second area and facing said batter such that said batter perceives said pitcher facing said batter,

said artificial body representation of said pitcher mimicking, in real-time, a movement of said pitcher in said pitching position.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said artificial body representation of said batter base-traveling, in real-time, in said first field based on said batter base-running in said second field, said artificial body representation of said batter mimicking, in real-time, a movement of said batter base-running in said second field during said base-traveling.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one of said artificial body representation of said batter and said artificial body representation of said pitcher includes at least one of a mannequin and a hologram.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first field having a plurality of players fielding said first field, said second field having a plurality of artificial body representations of said plurality of players, said plurality of artificial body representations of said plurality of players spread apart, in real-time, in said second field according to said plurality of players fielding said first field, said plurality of artificial body representations of said plurality of players mimicking, in real-time, a plurality of movements of said plurality of players fielding said first field.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of said plurality of artificial body representations of said plurality of players includes at least one of a mannequin and a hologram.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said first field having a plurality of players fielding said first field, said first field having a plurality of paths spanning between said first plurality of bases, said plurality of paths illuminating, in real-time, according to a base-running progress of a batter base-running in said second field, said plurality of paths illuminating sufficiently bright for visibility, in real-time, to said plurality of players fielding said first field, said first computer receiving, in real-time, information indicative of said base-running progress from said second computer to facilitate said plurality of paths illuminating.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said first field having a plurality of players fielding said first field, at least one of said plurality of players having a glove equipped with hardware configured to determine a catch of said third ball via said glove, said hardware providing, in real-time, information indicative of said catch to said first computer for communication, in real-time, to said second computer in order to automatically determine if a base runner in said second field is safe.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said second ball is hit via a bat equipped with hardware configured to determine a hit via said bat, said hardware providing, in real-time, information indicative of said hit to said second computer for communication, in real-time, to said first computer in order to facilitate fielding of said third ball via said fielding machine.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said second ball is equipped with at least one of flight characteristic hardware and impact characteristic hardware, at least one of said flight characteristic hardware and said impact characteristic hardware communicating, in real-time, with said second computer to provide, in real-time, relevant information to said first computer in order to facilitate fielding of said third ball via said fielding machine.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said third ball having at least one of flight characteristic hardware and impact characteristic hardware, at least one of said flight characteristic hardware and said impact characteristic hardware communicating, in real-time, with said first computer to provide, in real-time, relevant information to said second computer in order to automatically determine whether a base runner in said second field is safe.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one base of said second plurality of bases is equipped with a base contact sensor configured to determine a base contact by a base runner during gameplay, said second computer in communication with said base contact sensor, said second computer receiving, in real-time, contact information indicative of said base contact from said base contact sensor, at least one of said first computer and said second computer memorializing, in real-time, said base runner as safe based on said contact information and relevant gameplay information.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said first field having a plurality of players fielding said first field, at least one base of said first plurality of bases is equipped with a base contact sensor configured to determine a base contact by at least one of said plurality of players during gameplay, said first computer in communication with said base contact sensor, said first computer receiving, in real-time, contact information indicative of said base contact from said base contact sensor, at least one of said first computer and said second computer memorializing, in real-time, a base runner on said second field as safe based on said contact information and relevant gameplay information.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said first field having a plurality of ball fielding sensors arranged thereabout, said plurality of ball fielding sensors obtaining fielding information of said third ball when fielded via said fielding machine, said first computer receiving, in real-time, said fielding information from said plurality of ball fielding sensors, said second computer receiving, in real-time, said fielding information from said first computer, at least one of said first computer and said second computer memorializing, in real-time, a batter as safe based on said fielding information.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third computer playing a video game updated, in real-time, based on data received, in real-time, from at least one of said first computer and said second computer according to relevant information obtained regarding at least one of said first ball, said second ball, and said third ball during gameplay via said first field and said second field.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first field and said second field having a plurality of spectator mobile phones positioned in proximity thereof during gameplay, said plurality of spectator mobile phones functioning as a plurality of reference points for ball tracking, in real-time, during said gameplay.

19. A method comprising:

coupling a first computer to a plurality of pitch sensors and a fielding machine, said first computer associated with a first field having a first pitching area and a first plurality of bases including a first catcher base, said first field having said plurality of pitch sensors arranged thereabout, said first field having said fielding machine proximal to said first catcher base;

coupling a second computer to a pitching machine and a plurality of hit sensors, said second computer associated with a second field having a second pitching area and a second plurality of bases including a second catcher base, said second pitching area having said pitching machine, said second field having said plurality of hit sensors arranged thereabout;

facilitating said plurality of pitch sensors obtaining pitch information of a first ball as manually pitched from said first pitching area toward said first catcher base, said first computer receiving, in real-time, said pitch information from said pitch sensors, said second computer receiving, in real-time, said pitch information from said first computer, said pitching machine containing a second ball, said pitching machine receiving, in real-time, said pitch information from said second computer and, in response, pitching said second ball toward said second catcher base based on said pitch information, said plurality of hit sensors obtaining hit information of said second ball as manually hit when said pitching machine pitched said second ball, said second computer receiving, in real-time, said hit information from said plurality of hit sensors, said first computer receiving, in real-time, said hit information from said second computer, said fielding machine containing a third ball, said fielding machine receiving, in real-time, said hit information from said first computer, and, in response, fielding said third ball based on said hit information.