SPORTS MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140303759A1
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sstatzz Oy
• Original Assignee: Sstatzz Oy
• Inventors: Hohteri, Harri
• Granted Patent: US 9,881,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

A sport monitoring system includes a projectile(s), sensor units for one or more players to wear, and a data processing arrangement. The projectiles are useable in a game played by players. Each projectile has a motion sensing arrangement for generating one or more motion-indicative signals, and a data recording arrangement for recording the motion-indicative signals as a function of time. Each sensor unit is provided with a motion sensing arrangement for generating a motion-indicative signal(s), and a data recording arrangement for recording the motion-indicative signals as a function of time. The data processing arrangement receives data pertaining to the motion-indicative signals from at least one of the projectiles and/or at least one of the sensor units. The data processing arrangement performs a temporal correlation of the data to determine one or more periods of time when the projectiles are likely to be spatially closely associated with the players.

Claims

1. A sports monitoring system, wherein the system includes:

(a) one or more projectiles, wherein each projectile is provided therein with an associated motion sensing arrangement for generating one or more motion-indicative signals, and a data recording arrangement for recording the one or more motion-indicative signals as a function of time;

(b) one or more sensor units for one or more players to wear, wherein the one or more projectiles are useable in a game to be played by the one or more players, wherein each sensor unit is provided therein with an associated motion sensing arrangement for generating one or more motion-indicative signals, and a data recording arrangement for recording the one or more motion-indicative signals as a function of time; and

(c) a data processing arrangement for receiving data pertaining to the motion-indicative signals from at least one of the one or more projectiles and/or at least one of the one or more sensor units, and for performing a temporal correlation of the data to determine one or more periods of time when the one or more projectiles are likely to be spatially closely associated with the one or more players.

2. The sports monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temporal correlation is performed for determining when the one or more players have been in contact with the one or more projectiles during playing of the game, and/or when mutual contact between a plurality of players has occurred during playing of the game.

3. The sports monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more projectiles is operable to communicate its recorded data to the data processing arrangement via a wireless communication link.

4. The sports monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more sensor units is operable to communicate its recorded data to the data processing arrangement via a wireless communication link.

5. The sports monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion sensing arrangement of each of the one or more projectiles includes at least one of following sensors:

accelerometer, magnetometer, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, gyroscopic sensor, microphone, Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor or other indoor/outdoor sensor, and timer.

6. The sports monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion sensing arrangement of each of the one or more sensor units includes at least one of following sensors:

accelerometer, magnetometer, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, gyroscopic sensor, microphone, Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor or other indoor/outdoor sensor, and timer.

7. The sports monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the data processing arrangement and the sensor units utilize a portable computing device for their implementation within the system.

8. A method of operating a sports monitoring system, wherein the method includes:

(a) providing the system with one or more projectiles, wherein each projectile is provided therein with an associated motion sensing arrangement for generating one or more motion-indicative signals and a data recording arrangement for recording the one or more motion-indicative signals as a function of time;

(b) providing the system with one or more sensor units for one or more players to wear, wherein the one or more projectiles are useable in a game to be played by the one or more players, wherein each sensor unit is provided therein with an associated motion sensing arrangement for generating one or more motion-indicative signals and a data recording arrangement for recording the one or more motion-indicative signals as a function of time; and

(c) providing the system with a data processing arrangement for receiving data pertaining to the motion-indicative signals from at least one of the one or more projectiles and/or at least one of the one or more sensor units, and for performing a temporal correlation of the data to determine one or more periods of time when the one or more projectiles are likely to be spatially closely associated with the one or more players.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the method includes performing the temporal correlation for determining when the one or more players have been in contact with the one or more projectiles during playing of the game, and/or when mutual contact between a plurality of players has occurred during playing of the game.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the method includes operating the at least one of the one or more projectiles to communicate its recorded data to the data processing arrangement via a wireless communication link.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the method includes operating the at least one of the one or more sensor units to communicate its recorded data to the data processing arrangement via a wireless communication link.

12. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the method includes arranging for the motion sensing arrangement of each of the one or more projectiles to include at least one of following sensors:

accelerometer, magnetometer, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, gyroscopic sensor, microphone, Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor or indoor/outdoor location sensor, and timer.

13. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the method includes arranging for the motion sensing arrangement of each of the one or more sensor units to include at least one of following sensors:

accelerometer, magnetometer, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, gyroscopic sensor, microphone, Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor or other indoor/outdoor location sensor, and timer.

14. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the method includes arranging for at least one of the data processing arrangement and the sensor units to utilize a portable computing device for their implementation within the system.

15. A software product recorded on machine-readable data storage media, wherein the software product is executable upon computing hardware for implementing the method as claimed in claim 8.