Sensor-based tracking of sports participants

• US 10,789,457 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Issued: 09/29/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Puzhevich, Sergey, Kettenmann, Michael, Jungkind, Christoph, Weber, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Yen, Jason T
• Application Number:
  US15/498,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20180311561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• 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 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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: G06F 2218/12 Classification; Matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system for sensor-based tracking of participants of a sporting activity is provided. In some implementations, the system performs operations comprising determining, based on sensor data (e.g., information indicative of at least a location of a plurality of tracked participants and a location of a tracked object), a first probability of a team successfully scoring. The operations further comprise determining, in response to detecting an action which at least changes the location of the tracked object, a second probability of the team (or an opposing team (successfully scoring, and assigning, based on a difference between the first probability and the second probability, at least a portion of the difference among one or more of the plurality of participants. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause operations comprising;

receiving, at a server, a first data and a second data from a plurality of wireless sensors deployed within an area of interest, wherein at least a first portion of the plurality of wireless sensors are mounted on a plurality of tracked participants and at least a second portion of a plurality of tracked objects are mounted on a tracked object, the plurality of wireless sensors each including a controller, wireless circuitry, and a global positioning system sensor to track location, wherein a distributed database including a list of data records is maintained among the plurality of wireless sensors using block chain techniques to exchange data and/or provide guarantees regarding the data;

determining, by the server and based on the first data and the second data, a first probability of the tracked object entering a first scoring zone, the first data comprising information indicative of at least a location of one or more of the plurality of tracked participants of a sporting event, the plurality of tracked participants including a first participant on a first team and a second participant on a second team, the second data comprising information indicative of at least a location of the tracked object;

determining, by the server and in response to detecting an action which at least changes the location of the tracked object and based on a new location of the tracked object, a second probability of the tracked object entering a second scoring zone, the action occurring between the first participant and the second participant;

assigning, by the server and based on a difference between the first probability and the second probability, at least a portion of the difference to the first participant and/or the second participant; and

recording at least the portion of the difference to the first participant and/or the second participant in at least one of a first participant account and a second participant account, the first participant account and the second participant account further configured to accumulate probability differences based on an updated location of the tracked object.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless sensors further comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a camera, and a geo-spatial sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying, based on the first data and the second data, that the first participant is in possession of the tracked object; and

identifying, based on the first data and the second data, that the second participant has taken possession of the tracked object, wherein the action comprises the second participant taking possession of the tracked object.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first participant is not on a same team as the second participant, the first participant account includes a first offensive account, and wherein assigning at least a portion of the difference comprises:

assigning a negative value to the first offensive account of the first participant.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying, based on the first data and the second data, that a third participant is at least partially at fault for the action occurring, wherein the first participant is on a same team as the second participant, the first team and the second team being the same team, wherein the third participant is not on the same team as the second participant, wherein the first participant account includes a first offensive account, and wherein assigning at least a portion of the difference comprises;

assigning a positive value to the first offensive account of the first participant, wherein the positive value comprises at least a portion of the difference; and

assigning a negative value to a defensive account of the third participant.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first participant account includes a first offensive account, wherein the second participant account includes a second offensive account, and wherein the operations further comprise:

determining, based on the first data and the second data, that the second participant caused the tracked object to enter a second scoring zone; and

assigning, based on a second difference between the second probability and a numerical value of one, at least a portion of the second difference to the second offensive account of the second participant.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise:

assigning, in response to the action comprising a pass from the first participant to the second participant, at least a portion of the second difference to the first offensive account of the first participant.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the first probability of the tracked object entering a first scoring zone and determining the second probability of the tracked object entering a second scoring zone is further based on a machine learning algorithm.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server, a first data and a second data from a plurality of wireless sensors deployed within an area of interest, wherein at least a first portion of the plurality of wireless sensors are mounted on a plurality of tracked participants and at least a second portion of a plurality of wireless sensors are mounted on a tracked object, the plurality of wireless sensors each including a controller, wireless circuitry, and a global positioning system sensor to track location, wherein a distributed database including a list of data records is maintained among the plurality of wireless sensors using block chain techniques to exchange data and/or provide guarantees regarding the data;

determining, by the server and based on the first data and the second data, a first probability of the tracked object entering a first scoring zone, the first data comprising information indicative of at least a location of one or more of a plurality of tracked participants of a sporting event, the plurality of tracked participants including a first participant on a first team and a second participant on a second team, the second data comprising information indicative of at least a location of the tracked object;

determining, by the server and in response to detecting an action which at least changes the location of the tracked object and based on a new location of the tracked object, a second probability of tracked object entering a second scoring zone the action occurring between the first participant and the second participant;

assigning, by the server and based on a difference between the first probability and the second probability, at least a portion of the difference to the first participant and/or the second participant; and

recording at least the portion of the difference to the first participant and/or the second participant in at least one of a first participant account and a second participant account, the first participant account and the second participant account further configured to accumulate probability differences based on an updated location of the tracked object.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of wireless sensors further comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a camera, and a geo-spatial sensor.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

identifying, based on the first data and the second data, that the first participant is in possession of the tracked object; and

identifying, based on the first data and the second data, that the second participant has taken possession of the tracked object, wherein the action comprises the second participant taking possession of the tracked object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first participant is not on a same team as the second participant, the first participant account includes a first offensive account, and wherein assigning at least a portion of the difference comprises:

assigning a negative value to the first offensive account of the first participant.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying, based on the first data and the second data, that a third participant is at least partially at fault for the action occurring, wherein the first participant is on a same team as the second participant, the first team and the second team being the same team, wherein the third participant is not on the same team as the second participant, wherein the first participant account includes a first offensive account, and wherein assigning at least a portion of the difference comprises;

assigning a positive value to the first offensive account of the first participant, wherein the positive value comprises at least a portion of the difference; and

assigning a negative value to a defensive account of the third participant.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first participant account includes a first offensive account, wherein the second participant account includes a second offensive account, and further comprising:

determining, based on the first data and the second data, that the second participant caused the tracked object to enter a second scoring zone;

assigning, based on a second difference between the second probability and a numerical value of one, at least a portion of the second difference to the second offensive account of the second participant; and

assigning, in response to the action comprising a pass from the first participant to the second participant, at least a portion of the second difference to the first offensive account of the first participant.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause operations comprising:

receiving, at a server, a first data and a second data from a plurality of wireless sensors deployed within an area of interest, wherein at least a first portion of a plurality of wireless sensors are mounted on a plurality of tracked participants and at least a second portion of the plurality of wireless sensors are mounted on a tracked object, the plurality of wireless sensors each including a controller, wireless circuitry, and a global positioning system sensor to track location, wherein a distributed database including a list of data records is maintained among the plurality of wireless sensors using block chain techniques to exchange data and/or provide guarantees regarding the data;

determining, by the server and based on the first data and the second data, a first probability of the tracked object entering a first scoring zone, the first data comprising information indicative of at least a location of one or more of a plurality of tracked participants of a sporting event, the plurality of tracked participants including a first participant on a first team and a second participant on a second team, the second data comprising information indicative of at least a location of the tracked object;

determining, by the server and in response to detecting an action which at least changes the location of the tracked object and based on a new location of the tracked object, a second probability of the tracked object entering a second scoring zone, the action occurring between the first participant and the second participant;

assigning, by the server and based on a difference between the first probability and the second probability, at least a portion of the difference to the first participant and/or the second participant; and

recording at least the portion of the difference to the first participant and/or the second participant in at least one of a first participant account and a second participant account, the first participant account and the second participant account further configured to accumulate probability differences based on an updated location of the tracked object.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of wireless sensors further comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a geo-spatial sensor.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying, based on the first data and the second data, that the first participant is in possession of the tracked object; and

identifying, based on the first data and the second data, that the second participant has taken possession of the tracked object, wherein the action comprises the second participant taking possession of the tracked object.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first participant is not on a same team as the second participant, the first participant account includes a first offensive account, and wherein assigning at least a portion of the difference comprises:

assigning a negative value to the first offensive account of the first participant.