Performance Assessment and Information System Based on Sports Ball Motion
First Claim
1. The method of an integrated sports performance information, measurement, assessment, and computational system for a sports related player(s) initiated action on a sports ball and the circumstances surrounding that action that utilizes a motion path location tracking capability of a sports ball, if necessary a modified sports ball, for determination of travel path and/or motion characteristics, such as spin, of the ball, the incorporation of the impact of circumstances relevant to the player'"'"'s action such as in situ environmental conditions and other player related factors and the generation, output and presentation of 1st, 2nd and higher order statistical characterizations of the combination of causal action, surrounding circumstances and resultant ball travel to assess, explain and describe each component and to be used by the player or an instructor to evaluate or improve the player'"'"'s performance and enhance an observer'"'"'s understanding and enjoyment of the sport.
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Abstract
Disclosed is an integrated sports assessment and information invention, applicable to most sports, designed to measure, calculate, derive, and analyze the resultant sport ball movement and ball-orientation characteristics in order to provide an assessment of the player'"'"'s performance and the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the sports action. The observed position and motion characteristics of the ball are continuously and empirically determined using measured data, environmental factors affecting the ball'"'"'s position and orientation are measured or derived. Related data is collected, stored, manipulated, and analyzed using 1st, 2nd and higher order statistics to generate output products for display of single or multiple occurrences based on any sport appropriate criteria. State-of-the-art display techniques provide the player, instructor or observer with valuable information regarding the player'"'"'s performance, the impact of the player'"'"'s action(s) or related circumstances on the ball'"'"'s travel-path that will enhance performance, understanding and enjoyment of the sport.
151 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. The method of an integrated sports performance information, measurement, assessment, and computational system for a sports related player(s) initiated action on a sports ball and the circumstances surrounding that action that utilizes a motion path location tracking capability of a sports ball, if necessary a modified sports ball, for determination of travel path and/or motion characteristics, such as spin, of the ball, the incorporation of the impact of circumstances relevant to the player'"'"'s action such as in situ environmental conditions and other player related factors and the generation, output and presentation of 1st, 2nd and higher order statistical characterizations of the combination of causal action, surrounding circumstances and resultant ball travel to assess, explain and describe each component and to be used by the player or an instructor to evaluate or improve the player'"'"'s performance and enhance an observer'"'"'s understanding and enjoyment of the sport.
- 10. The method of one or more in situ environmental measurement and monitoring network(s) of instruments that will, be used once, at discrete times and/or continuously or near continuously to, as completely as possible, establish and describe the local environmental conditions that may reasonably be expected to affect the motion and travel of the ball with the instrument(s) and/or network(s) located at varying heights, locations and/or orientations on or near the sport field to establish the relevant environmental conditions such as but not limited to, wind speed and direction, temperature, relative humidity, etc. with the data type collected and/or extrapolated and frequency of observation determined by the specific sport being observed.
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12. The method of a computational-subsystem processor or processors, which may be positioned at or near the playing field or a remote location, designed to operate, monitor, and control the functioning of all other system components and sub-systems;
- receive and store data in relational database(s) or other form;
access data in a relational or any appropriate manner;
view the data in any appropriate form;
perform calculations on and/or manipulate the data;
record, edit, output and display data and/or analysis results;
if necessary, relay data generated or obtained from any observation and/or resultant output products and/or any sub-system to any other sub-system component, location or user;
contain environmental and position tracking algorithms, models, and historical data; and
function as an interface between the user, observer, player, viewer, instructor, etc. and the system to establish the specific mode of operation, display, configuration, system trouble shooting, maintenance, etc. that would normally be associated with system operation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- receive and store data in relational database(s) or other form;
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21. The method for the access and utilization of data from any other ball position, environmental or player circumstance data or information source not specifically associated with this system to permit the computational performance functions attributed to this invention including storage, retrieval, analysis of the data and display of all relevant player action, environmental, and sport ball position and motion data all of which is to be conducted in a manner prescribed in the processes, capabilities, functions and characteristics as prescribed in other claims of this invention such as determination and presentation of ball trajectory, associated environmental conditions, specific circumstances and player'"'"'s initiation actions and the assessment of performance based appropriate statistical analysis to determine the impact of the varying influences on the flight trajectory and motion characteristics of the ball, the past and/or current performance capabilities of the player and/or comparison with other players, presentation of historical results and/or other related factors where the data utilized for all of these functions and actions is solely from other external data sources and/or a combination of invention related sources and external sources.
Specification