Method and apparatus for monitoring and determining the position of a football

• US 20050143199A1
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zaven T. Saroyan
• Original Assignee: Zaven T. Saroyan
• Inventors: Saroyan, Zaven T.
• Application Number:
  US10/750,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20050143199A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/438
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/52 modulated by measured values
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus for tracking the position of a game ball relative to a playing field during a game. It allows game officials to selectively record and store position information for the game ball in response to events during play and further allows game officials to reposition the ball accurately at the recorded and stored location.

Claims

1. A method for determining the position of a game ball during an athletic competition on a playing field having defined boundaries, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first signal from the game ball; and

receiving and analyzing said first signal, to determine the position of the game ball.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

communicating the game ball'"'"'s position to a game official.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

displaying the game ball'"'"'s position on a visual display.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

selectively transmitting a second signal;

receiving said second signal;

recording the game ball'"'"'s position in response to said second signal; and

transmitting a third signal to communicate the game ball'"'"'s position to a game official.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

displaying the game ball'"'"'s position on a visual display.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

comparing the game ball'"'"'s position, as determined by said first signal, to the position recorded in response to said second signal; and

providing the game official directions to move the game ball to a location described by the position recorded in response to said second signal.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein providing directions to said game official uses audible signals.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein providing directions to said game official uses visual signals.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining if the game ball has crossed a boundary of the playing field; and

communicating an out of boundary alert to a game official.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein communicating an out of boundary alert to said game official uses audible signals.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein communicating an out of boundary alert to said game official uses visual signals.

12. A method of determining the position of a game ball during an athletic competition on a playing field comprising the steps of:

transmitting a signal from the game ball;

receiving and analyzing said signal, using a microprocessor, to determine the position of said game ball; and

communicating the game ball'"'"'s position to a game official.

13. A method of determining the position of a game ball during an athletic competition on a playing field comprising the steps of:

transmitting a signal from the game ball;

receiving and analyzing said signal, using a microprocessor, to determine the position of said game ball;

continuously recording the game ball'"'"'s position;

attaching and storing a time stamp to the recorded position of said game ball; and

providing the game ball'"'"'s position for a selected time in response to a query.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying the game ball'"'"'s position at a remote terminal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the game ball'"'"'s position is graphically displayed at a remote terminal located with a game official.

16. A method of determining the position of a game ball during an athletic competition on a playing field comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first signal from a player carrying the game ball;

receiving and analyzing said first signal, to determine the position information of the game ball; and

communicating the game ball'"'"'s position to a game official.

17. A system for determining the position of a game ball during an athletic competition on a playing surface having defined boundaries, comprising:

a first transmitter positioned in the game ball, for transmitting a first signal;

a first antenna for detecting said first signal;

a first receiver for receiving said first signal;

a microprocessor for determining the position of the game ball in response to said first signal; and

means for recording said position.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising means for communicating the game ball'"'"'s position to a game official.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said means for communicating the game ball'"'"'s position comprises:

a second transmitter for transmitting a second signal, said second signal containing the game ball'"'"'s position; and

display means for graphically displaying the game ball'"'"'s position contained in said second signal.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising control means for selectively directing said microprocessor to record the game ball'"'"'s position for a specific point in time.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said control means comprises a transmitter that is selectively operable to send a control signal to said microprocessor and wherein said microprocessor is programmed to record the game ball'"'"'s position at the time said transmitter sends said control signal.

22. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

said microprocessor comprising a first clock for associating first time information with said position;

a second transmitter for transmitting a second signal that contains said position;

a display/receiver comprising a second clock for providing second time information;

means for synchronizing said second clock with said first clock;

means for selectively recording said second time information;

means for communicating a third signal to said microprocessor, said third signal containing said second time information; and

wherein said second transmitter transmits said second signal in response to said third signal.

23. Apparatus for determining the position of a game ball on a playing surface during an athletic competition, comprising:

a first transmitter located in the uniform of a player carrying the game ball, for transmitting a first signal;

a first antenna for detecting said first signal;

a first receiver for receiving said first signal; and

a microprocessor for determining the position of the game ball in response to said first signal.

24. A football for use with a system for determining the position of a game ball on a playing surface during an athletic competition, said football including a transmitter mounted therein for sending a signal for being triangulated by a computer that stores and records position information for said football.

25. A display/receiver for use with a system for determining the position of a game ball on a playing surface during an athletic competition, said display/receiver comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal, said signal modulated to convey the game ball'"'"'s location;

a microprocessor for interpreting the game ball'"'"'s location modulated in said signal; and

means for communicating the game ball'"'"'s location to a game official.

26. The display/receiver of claim 25 wherein said means for communicating the game ball'"'"'s location communicates said location visually.

27. The display/receiver of claim 25 wherein said means for communicating the game ball'"'"'s location communicates said location audibly.