System and method for tracking identity movement and location of sports objects

• US 20050259002A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accurate Technologies, Inc. (Running Fox Resource Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Accurate Technologies, Inc. (Running Fox Resource Corp.)
• Inventors: Erario, John, Erario, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,095,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.610
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/14 Shot putting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/16 Spear or javelin throwing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 : Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0026 : for ice-hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 : Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 : Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 : providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 : Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 : of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking location and flight path attributes of one or more sports objects, associating the sports objects with individual players, mapping each sports object location and a flight path to surrounding field of play, and allowing each player to access the location and flight path attributes of their sports objects. The present invention outfits sports objects with electronic devices that receive and transmit position and location information obtained from the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) System, without adversely affecting the sports object'"'"'s ability to perform in a standard way.

Claims

1. A sports object capable of receiving, storing and transmitting tracking data comprising:

a receiver for receiving tracking data;

a transmitter for transmitting the tracking data;

a programmable microprocessor for controlling the receiver and the transmitter wherein tracking data is received by the sports object through the receiver such that the tracking data passes through the microprocessor before the tracking data is transmitted from the sports object by the transmitter; and

a rechargeable power source for powering the receiver, transmitter and microprocessor.

2. The sports object of claim 1 further comprising a means for identifying the sports object wherein the identity is stored in the microprocessor and can be transmitted from the sports object by the transmitter to a remote receiver.

3. The sports object of claim 1 further comprising:

a motion sensor for sensing when the sports object is impacted or put in motion.

4. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the motion sensor comprises an accelerometer.

5. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the motion sensor comprises a linear velocity sensor.

6. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the motion sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

7. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the motion sensor comprises a vibration sensor.

8. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data once the motion sensor senses that the sports object is in motion until the sports object comes to rest.

9. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data in a predetermined manner once the motion sensor senses that the sports object is in motion until the sports object comes to rest.

10. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data continuously once the motion sensor senses that the sports object is in motion until the sports object comes to rest.

11. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data periodically once the motion sensor senses that the sports object is in motion until the sports object comes to rest.

12. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data once the motion sensor senses that the sports object has been placed in motion.

13. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data in a predetermined manner once the motion sensor senses that the sports object has been placed in motion.

14. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data continuously once the motion sensor senses that the sports object has been placed in motion.

15. The sports object of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data periodically once the motion sensor senses that the sports object has been placed in motion.

16. The sports object of claim 1 further comprising a detector for detecting when the sports object has been selected for use.

17. The sports object of claim 1 further comprising a motion sensor

18. The sports object of claim 16 wherein the sports object is a golf ball having a motion sensor.

19. The golf ball of claim 18 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data once the detector detects that the golf ball has been selected for use.

20. The golf ball of claim 18 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data in a predetermined manner once the detector detects that the golf ball has been selected for use.

21. The golf ball of claim 18 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data continuously once the detector detects that the golf ball has been selected for use.

22. The golf ball of claim 18 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data periodically once the detector detects that the golf ball has been selected for use.

23. The golf ball of claim 18 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to receive and transmit tracking data for a predetermined period of time once the detector detects that the golf ball has been selected for use.

24. The sports object of claim 1 wherein the receiver comprises an antenna.

25. The sports object of claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises an antenna.

26. A sports object tracking system comprising:

a radio frequency receiver for receiving tracking data transmitted from a transmitter;

a system server for receiving the tracking data from the radio frequency receiver;

a display device in communication with the processor wherein the tracking data is displayed; and

a data entry device to which a user of the sports object tracking system inputs information.

27. The sports object tracking system of claim 26 further comprising a system interface for accessing and controlling the system server.

28. The sports object tracking system of claim 26 wherein the tracking data is viewed in substantially real time.

29. The sports object tracking system of claim 26 wherein the tracking data is stored for delayed viewing.

30. The sports object tracking system of claim 26 further comprising a GPS reference receiver.

31. The sports object tracking system of claim 26wherein the sports object is a golf ball.

32. The golf ball tracking system of claim 31 further comprising a tee box.

33. (canceled)

34. A sports object and tracking system comprising:

a sports object having a receiver for receiving tracking data wherein the sports object has;

a transmitter for transmitting the tracking data; and

a programmable microprocessor for controlling the receiver and the transmitter wherein tracking data is received by the sports object through the receiver such that the tracking data passes through the microprocessor before the tracking data is transmitted from the sports object by the transmitter the sports object further having;

a rechargeable power source for powering the receiver, transmitter and microprocessor such that the sports object is capable of being tracked by a tracking system wherein the tracking system has a radio frequency receiver for receiving tracking data transmitted from the transmitter;

a system server for receiving the tracking data from the radio frequency receiver; and

a display device in communication with the system server wherein the tracking data is displayed.

35. The sports object tracking system of claim 34 further comprising a data entry system.

36. A method for tracking a sports object comprising the steps of:

receiving tracking data in a sports object;

transferring the tracking data through a microprocessor to a transmitter;

transmitting the tracking data from the sports object to a receiver contained in a tracking system;

processing the tracking data through a system server; and

displaying the tracking data.

37. A method for tracking a sports object of claim 36 further comprising the step of entering data into a data entry system.

38. A sports object charging system comprising:

a system server for administering the charging system; and

a platform wherein the sports object may be placed and charged prior to being tracked when used.