System and method for using impulse radio technology to track the movement of athletes and to enable secure communications between the athletes and their teammates, fans or coaches

• US 6,661,342 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Plus Location Systems Pty. Limited
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Hall, David J., Kim, Jonnathan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/873,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.2, 340/572.4, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539.11, 340/539.16, 340/323.R, 340/573.7, 273/411, 273/439, 273/454, 473/459, 473/467, 482/8, 482/900, 482/902, 348/157, 348/159
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• 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 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/876 Combination of several spaced transponders or reflectors of known location for determining the position of a receiver G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308

Abstract

A system, electronic device and method are provided that utilize the positioning capabilities of impulse radio technology to track one or more moving athletes. The movement of these athletes can be displayed on a television, a handheld unit or an Internet site. In addition, the present invention can utilize the communication capabilities of impulse radio technology to enable secure communications to take place between an athlete and their teammates, fans or coaches. The athletes can include, for example, track and field athletes, baseball players, football players, basketball players, soccer players or hockey players.

Claims

1. A method for tracking at least one athlete moving on a field, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching, to each athlete, an impulse radio unit;

receiving, at a central station, information relating to a position of each athlete on the field;

displaying, at the central station, an overlay of the field that indicates the position of each athlete on the field; and

displaying, on a television, an overlay of the field that indicates the position and relative velocity of each athlete on the field.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing secure communications between one or more of the athletes and people using the central station or a handheld unit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the position of each athlete from the interaction between each impulse radio unit and at least two of a plurality of reference impulse radio units.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying, on an Internet site, an overlay of the field that indicates the position and relative velocity of each athlete on the field.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying, at handheld units, an overlay of the field that indicates the position and relative velocity of each athlete on the field.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a variety of sports related information to a user of a handheld unit and the central station.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of coupling a sensor to at least one impulse radio unit, wherein the sensor is capable of monitoring at least one vital sign of at least one athlete.

8. A system for tracking at least one athlete moving on a field, said system comprising:

an impulse radio unit attached to each athlete;

a central station capable of receiving information related to a position of each athlete on the field;

said central station is further capable of displaying an overlay of the field that indicates the position of each athlete on the field; and

said central station is also capable of enabling a television to display an overlay of the field that indicates the position and relative velocity of each athlete on the field.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein people using the central station or a handheld unit can communicate with one or more of the athletes.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising the step of determining the position of each athlete from the interaction between each impulse radio unit and at least two of a plurality of reference impulse radio units.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said central station is capable of enabling an Internet site to display an overlay of the field that indicates the position and relative velocity of each athlete on the field.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said central station is capable of enabling a handheld unit to display an overlay of the field that indicates the position and relative velocity of each athlete on the field.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said central station is capable of providing a variety of sports related information to a user of a handheld unit.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said central station is capable of tracking the movement of a ball on the field.

15. An electronic device comprising:

an impulse radio unit, attached to an athlete, capable of interacting with at least two reference impulse radio units in a manner which enables a central station to track a position of the athlete moving on a field and also enables the central station to enable handheld units to display an overlay of the field that indicates the position and relative velocity of the athlete on the field.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, further comprising an interface unit, coupled to the impulse radio unit, capable of enabling people using the central station or a handheld unit to communicate with the athlete.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, further comprising a sensor, coupled to the impulse radio unit, capable of monitoring at least one vital sign of the athlete.

18. A method for tracking an athlete and communicating with the athlete, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching, to the athlete, an impulse radio unit;

receiving, at a central station, information from the impulse radio unit relating to the athlete;

displaying, at the central station, at least a portion of the information relating to the athlete; and

displaying, at handheld units, an overlay of a field that indicates the position and relative velocity of the athlete on the field.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the information relating to the athlete includes a current position of the athlete on a field.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of determining a position of the athlete using impulse radio technology.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the information relating to the athlete includes at least one monitored vital sign of the athlete.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of displaying further includes indicating an alarm whenever one of the at least one monitored vital signs exceeds a predetermined threshold.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing a variety of sports related information to a user of a handheld unit.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the sports related information includes statistics of the athlete.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of establishing secure communications between the athlete and a person using the central station or a handheld station.

26. A system comprising:

an electronic device, attached to an athlete, including an impulse radio unit capable of transmitting an impulse radio signal containing information relating to the athlete;

a central station capable of obtaining the information and further capable of displaying at least a portion of the information relating to the athlete; and

said central station is further capable of enabling an Internet site to display an overlay of a field and indicate the position and relative velocity of the athlete on the field.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a plurality of reference impulse radio units distributed at known locations throughout the field.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said central station is further capable of displaying a current position of the athlete on the field that was determined from the interaction between the impulse radio unit and at least two of the reference impulse radio units.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the information relating to the athlete includes at least one monitored vital sign of the athlete.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said central station is further capable of displaying an alarm whenever one of the at least one monitored vital signs exceeds a predetermined threshold.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein said central station or said electronic device is further capable of establishing secure communications between the athlete and a person using the central station or a handheld unit.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein said athlete is a track and field athlete, a baseball player, a football player, a basketball player, a soccer player or a hockey player.

33. An electronic device comprising:

an interface unit attached to an athlete;

an impulse radio unit, coupled to a central station, capable of enabling secure communications to occur between the athlete and another person; and

said central station is further capable of enabling a television to display an overlay of a field that indicates the position and relative velocity of the athlete on the field.

34. The electronic device of claim 33, wherein said impulse radio unit is operable to interact with a plurality of reference impulse radio units such that the central station can track the movement of the athlete.

35. The electronic device of claim 33, further comprising a sensor, coupled to said impulse radio unit, capable of monitoring at least one vital sign of the athlete.

36. A system for tracking at least piece of sports equipment moving on a field, said system comprising:

an impulse radio unit attached to each piece of sports equipment;

a central station capable of receiving information related to a position of each piece of sports equipment on the field;

said central station is further capable of displaying an overlay of the field that indicates the position of each piece of sports equipment on the field; and

said central station is further capable of enabling a television to display an overlay of the field that indicates the position and relative velocity of each piece of sports equipment on the field.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said piece of sports equipment is a football, baseball, soccer ball, basketball or hockey puck.

38. A method for tracking at least one piece of sports equipment moving on a field, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching, to each piece of sports equipment, an impulse radio unit;

receiving, at a central station, information relating to a position of each piece of sports equipment on the field;

displaying, at the central station, an overlay of the field that indicates the position of each piece of sports equipment on the field; and

displaying, on a television, an overlay of the field that indicates the position and relative velocity of each piece of sports equipment on the field.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said piece of sports equipment is a football, baseball, soccer ball, basketball or hockey puck.