Systems and methods for integrated automated sports data collection and analytics platform

• US 10,086,231 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2017
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sportsmedia Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sportsmedia Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Hall, Gerard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Hirdepal
• Application Number:
  US15/450,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20170259115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14517 for sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68 Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 : Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 : Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6811 : External prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 : Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 : Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 : Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 : in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/00 : Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 : Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 : Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/50 : Force related parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 : using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 : using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Systems and methods for integrated automated sports data collection and analytics are disclosed. Different types of data, for example but not limited, location data, movement data, impact data and biometric data for individual players are collected via wearable sensors in real time during a sports activity and transmitted to a cloud-based platform together with other sports data, including video, timing, scoring, statistics, and events with time code. The cloud-based platform is operable to aggregate, correlate, organize and synchronize various data related to the sports activity; store, query and retrieve various live data and historical data in and from a proprietary database; and perform analytics and provide intelligence to different parties involved in a sports activity, including coaches, trainers, medical staff, live announcers, broadcasters, displays, viewers, and fans and etc. These different parties may subscribe to licensed access to the cloud-based platform for tailored data feeds with real time push.

Claims

1. A system for data collection and analytics for a sports activity, comprising:

a server platform, a multiplicity of sensors, a multiplicity of application programs, and a multiplicity of user devices, wherein each of the user devices includes at least one of the multiplicity of application programs;

wherein the multiplicity of sensors and the multiplicity of user devices are operable for network communication with the server platform;

wherein the multiplicity of sensors are operable to collect and communicate in real time or near real time sports data related to the sports activity and a multiplicity of players in the sports activity to the server platform;

wherein the sports data comprises a multiplicity of data inputs from the multiplicity of sensors;

wherein the sports data includes real-time data relating to sports rules-based events and biometric data including heart rate, hydration, core body temperature, and impact metrics;

wherein the sports rules-based events include flags, whistles, timeouts, and snaps;

wherein the sports data includes disparate and asynchronous data from the multiplicity of players in the sports activity;

wherein the server platform is operable to automatically aggregate the multiplicity of data inputs, automatically correlate each of the multiplicity of data inputs with a corresponding time code, automatically integrate the multiplicity of data inputs, automatically receive the time-coded timing information and scoring statistics including timeouts, play clock, penalties, scores, and attempts, and automatically synchronize a number of the multiplicity of data inputs which have identical time codes and store the synchronized number of the multiplicity of data inputs in a database, thereby creating a time-synchronized data set;

wherein the server platform is operable to analyze the time-synchronized data set at a given time code based on user requested information for multiple players, thereby creating analyzed data;

wherein the analyzed data includes a speed of a moving player, a distance a player ran compared to a gain in yards, a distance an offensive player pushed back a defensive player, and a total distance any player travelled during a play;

wherein the server platform is operable to analyze relationships between the sports data and the analyzed data;

wherein the server platform is operable to send the analyzed data to the multiplicity of user devices and the multiplicity of application programs on each user device is operable to display the analyzed data and social media feeds related to the sports activity in combination with real-time video of the sports activity;

wherein the server platform is operable to provide a complete integration of dynamic statistical data and graphical content to the multiplicity of user devices;

wherein the multiplicity of data inputs is available for live query, live access, and live push;

wherein the multiplicity of data inputs is synchronized with the rules-based sports events;

wherein the server platform includes a Football Intelligence Engine;

wherein the Football Intelligence Engine is operable to store information for the multiplicity of players; and

wherein the Football Intelligence Engine is operable to integrate the multiplicity of data inputs from the multiplicity of sensors with information held by the Football Intelligence Engine including a number of plays for a player in a game and in a season, biographical data for a player, live and season-to-date location data, a player'"'"'s position on a field from a beginning of a given play to an end of the given play, manual event markers from a marking application program on at least one of the user devices, linear timecode data, and statistical data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of sensors includes radio-frequency identification (RFID) tracking tags with Bluetooth transmitters or radios, wherein the RFID tracking tags are removably attached to two shoulder pads for each player, wherein each RFID tracking tag further includes an accelerometer for measuring a speed of each player.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sports data comprise location data, movement data, impact data, video data, individual and team scoring, individual statistics, team statistics, and predetermined sports activity events.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sports data is transmitted to the server platform via one or more wired or wireless communication protocols selected from the group consisting of any proprietary or standard wireless protocol Ultra-Wide Band (UWB), Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ISO/IEC 18000, Zigbee, infrared, mobile broadband, cellular protocols, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), and any other suitable protocol, wherein the one or more wired or wireless communication protocols are selected based on a location of the sports activity, and wherein the location is indoor, outdoor, or in stadium.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the server platform is a cloud-based platform, wherein the cloud-based platform is operable to integrate with social media and extract hashtags from the social media feeds related to a game during a predetermined time period and wherein the multiplicity of user devices is operable to display the hashtags related to the game in combination with the social media feeds.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the server platform is sensor-agnostic.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the database is operable to store live sports data and historical sports data and the analyzed data, and wherein the server platform is further operable to query and retrieve live sports data and historical sports data stored in the database.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the server platform is operable to provide a third party analytics provider with licensed access to the live sports data and historical sports data in the database, and wherein the third party analytics provider is operable to generate complementary analytics independently from the server platform.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the server platform is operable to provide authorized licensed or subscription-based access via an Application Program Interface (API) for the multiplicity of user devices for tailored data feeds with real time push.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of sensors includes at least one environmental sensor operable to collect environmental data including temperature and humidity and provide environmental factors and hazardous conditions;

wherein the multiplicity of user devices is operable to display the environmental data to aid the assessment of an individual or team performance.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of sensors includes at least one sensor operable to capture the biometric data, wherein at least one of the multiplicity of user devices is operable to display an alert when the captured biometric data exceeds or drops below a threshold for the biometric data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiplicity of user devices is equipped with a talent prompter providing offensive and defensive information;

and wherein at least one of the multiplicity of user devices is operable to display an alert including key matchups, first time on field for offense, mismatches for positions, size and speed.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the marking application program marks and displays data comprising the time for sports activity events including the start of play, end of play, time of hand off and/or quarterback release, start of run with ball, end of run with ball, quarterback release of pass, start of route, end of route, reception, first contact, tackle, and players.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of application programs includes a medical safety application program, a coaching application program, a training application program, a broadcaster'"'"'s application program, an announcer'"'"'s application program, a display application program, and a talent prompter.

15. A method for data collection and analytics for a sports activity, comprising:

a multiplicity of sensors collecting and communicating sports data related to the sports activity and players in the sports activity to a server platform in real time or near real time;

wherein the sports data comprises a multiplicity of data inputs from the multiplicity of sensors, time-coded statistics including timeouts, penalties, scores, and attempts, and biometric data including heart rate, hydration, and core body temperature;

wherein each of the multiplicity of data inputs has a corresponding time code; and

wherein the sports data includes real-time data relating to sports rules-based events including flags, whistles, timeouts, and snaps;

the server platform aggregating and analyzing the sports data in real time or near real time, including aggregating and analyzing data for multiple players at a given time code, thereby creating analyzed data;

the server platform synchronizing a number of the multiplicity of data inputs and the sports data, including the real-time data relating to sports rules-based events, having identical time codes and storing the synchronized number of the multiplicity of data inputs and the sports data in a database, thereby creating a time-synchronized data set; and

the server platform extracting social media feeds including social media posts and hashtags relating to a game;

a multiplicity of user devices receiving and displaying the analyzed data and the social media feeds including the social media posts and the hashtags relating to the game from the server platform;

wherein the server platform is operable to provide a complete integration of dynamic statistical data and graphical content to the multiplicity of user devices; and

wherein the multiplicity of data inputs is available for live query, live access, and live push.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the database stores live sports data and historical sports data;

and the server platform querying and retrieving the live sports data and historical sports data from the database.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the server platform integrating with social media and extracting social media feeds related to a player or a team during a predetermined time period and wherein the multiplicity of user devices is operable to display the social media feeds related to the player or the team, in combination with the data displayed based on the analyzed data.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the server platform providing licensed access for the multiplicity of user devices for tailored data feeds with real time push.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the multiplicity of user devices displaying real-time video including real-time statistics and historical statistical data based on the analyzed data.

20. A system for data collection and analytics for a sports activity, comprising:

a server platform, a multiplicity of sensors, a multiplicity of application programs, and a multiplicity of user devices, wherein each of the user devices includes at least one of the multiplicity of application programs;

wherein the multiplicity of sensors and the multiplicity of user devices are operable for network communication with the server platform;

wherein the multiplicity of sensors is operable to collect and communicate in real time or near real time sports data related to the sports activity and a multiplicity of players in the sports activity to the server platform;

wherein the sports data comprises a multiplicity of data inputs from the multiplicity of sensors;

wherein the sports data includes real-time data relating to sports rules-based events;

wherein the sports data includes biometric data for the multiplicity of players;

wherein the biometric data includes heart rates, lung capacities, core body temperatures, hydration, respiration, and impact metrics;

wherein each of the multiplicity of data inputs has a corresponding time code;

wherein the server platform is operable to automatically aggregate the multiplicity of data inputs, automatically correlate each of the multiplicity of data inputs with the corresponding time code, automatically integrate the multiplicity of data inputs, automatically receive the time-coded timing information and scoring statistics, and automatically synchronize a number of the multiplicity of data inputs which have an identical time code into a database, thereby creating a time-synchronized data set; and

wherein the server platform is operable to analyze the multiplicity of data inputs based on user requested information, thereby creating analyzed data;

wherein the server platform is operable to analyze the sports data for multiple players at a given time code;

wherein the server platform is operable to push the analyzed data to the multiplicity of user devices and the application program on each user device is operable to display the pushed analyzed data and social media posts in combination with real-time video of the sports activity;

wherein the server platform is operable to send the biometric data to a training application program on a first device of the multiplicity of user devices, wherein the training application program is operable to receive and request biometric data and videos in real-time, at predetermined times, or upon occurrence of predetermined events or triggers;

wherein the server platform is operable to send the biometric data to a medical safety application program on a second device of the multiplicity of user devices;

wherein the medical safety application is operable to receive the biometric data and movement data for the multiplicity of players in real-time or near real-time;

wherein the medical safety application program is operable to provide medical safety alerts via an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) on the second device; and

wherein the medical safety alerts include alerts relating to hydration of a player dropping below a hydration threshold or a heart rate of a player moving above a heart rate threshold.