System for detecting and tracking statistics of a game

• US 20090111616A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Russell Brands LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Russell Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Creelman, Scott
• Application Number:
  US11/978,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20090111616A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/415
• 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 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• 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 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for detecting and tracking statistics of a game, and more particularly, to a system for detecting and tracking game statistics for a specific player or team of players while playing the game. The system may include a sports goal and sports ball for use in the game. The system may also include a sensor attached to a player to detect the sports ball when the sensor comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball. A detector may be provided and coupled to the sports goal to detect the sports ball when the sports ball passes through the sports goal. A control unit may be provided to determine a game statistic corresponding to the player based on a signal received from the sensor attached to the player and a signal received from the detector when the sports ball passes through the sports goal.

Claims

1. A system for detecting and tracking statistics of a game, comprising:

at least one sports goal for use in the game;

a sports ball having means for being detected;

at least one sensor attached to at least one player, said at least one sensor being configured to detect the sports ball and emit a first signal when said at least one sensor comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball;

at least one detector coupled to the at least one sports goal, said at least one detector being configured to detect said sports ball when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal and emit a second signal when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal;

at least one control unit configured to receive the first and second signals and determine that a game statistic corresponds to the at least one player based on the first and second signals; and

at least one display unit connected to the at least one control unit to display the game statistic.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one player includes a first player and a second player,

the first player having a sensor mounted thereon and configured to detect the sports ball and emit the first signal when the sensor mounted on the first player comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball, and

the second player having a sensor mounted thereon and configured to detect the sports ball and emit the first signal when the sensor mounted on the second player comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one player includes a first team of players and a second team of players,

each of the first team of players having a sensor mounted thereon and configured to detect the sports ball and emit the first signal when the sensor mounted on the player comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball, and

each of the second team of players having a sensor mounted thereon and configured to detect the sports ball and emit the first signal when the sensor mounted on the player comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one control unit includes a first control unit and a second control unit, each of the first and second control units being configured to receive the first and second signals and determine a game statistic based on the first and second signals.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first control unit receives the first signal from the sensor attached to the first player and the second signal when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal to determine that a game statistic corresponds to the first player.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the second control unit receives the first signal from the sensor attached to the second player and the second signal when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal to determine that a game statistic corresponds to the second player.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first control unit receives the first signal from the sensor attached to at least one player of the first team of players and the second signal when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal to determine that a game statistic corresponds to the first team of players.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the second control unit receives the first signal from the sensor attached to at least one player of the second team of players and the second signal when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal to determine that a game statistic corresponds to the second team of players.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means for being detected includes an RFID tag to be detected by the at least one sensor, the at least one sensor emitting the first signal to be received by the at least one control unit when the at least one sensor detects the RFID tag.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means for being detected includes conductive wiring to be detected by the at least one sensor, the at least one sensor emitting the first signal to be received by the at least one control unit when the at least one sensor detects the conductive wiring.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one control unit is located in proximity of the at least one sports goal.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the game statistic is a score, a number of attempted goals made, a number of attempted goals missed, a total of the number of attempted goals made and the number of attempted goals missed, or a percentage of the goals made based on the total of the number of attempted goals made and the number of attempted goals missed.