Officiating system

• US 7,005,970 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2002
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Colson, Bill, Hodsdon, Kelly P.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/037,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.2, 340/539.13, 340/539.22, 340/572.1, 340/323.R, 382/103, 382/107, 463/1, 463/7, 463/42, 473/415, 473/476, 342/43, 342/450, 342/463, 342/42, 348/157, 348/159, 348/169, 273/237, 273/459, 273/460, 273/461
• US Class Current: 340/323.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed. The method includes events based on observations extracted from input data and an event model. Input data from an event is fed into the system from a data source. Positional data is generated from the input data. Events are detected from the positional data, and stored as an event model in a database. A data extractor queries the database for officiating events and retrieves officiating event data from the database. The officiating event data is transmitted to an officiating entity of the event to assist the officiating entity in officiating the event.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving input data of a sporting event;

processing said input data to generate positional data;

generating semantic information based on said positional data and game rules of said sporting event, said semantic information describing an officiating event indicating a potential infraction of one or more rules of the sporting event; and

transmitting said semantic information to a wireless officiating device possessed by an officiating entity of said sporting event, said transmitting to notify said officiating entity of said officiating event.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said sporting event is a soccer game.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said officiating entity is an event official.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating an event model from said positional data and said semantic information; and

storing said event model in an event model database.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising querying said event model database for said officiating event.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising generating an animation based on said positional data.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising transmitting said animation to said officiating device.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting said semantic information to an officiating interface.

9. A system comprising:

an officiating data unit to generate officiating event data based on positional data and game rules of a sporting event, said officiating event data describing an officiating event indicating a potential infraction of one or more rules of said sporting event; and

a wireless officiating device to receive said officiating event data, said officiating device to notify an officiating entity of said officiating event.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said officiating data unit comprises a tracking system to receive input data and generate said positional data from said input data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said officiating data unit comprises:

an event model generator to generate an event model from said positional data; and

an event model database to store said event model.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said officiating data unit comprises:

an officiating data extractor to query said event model database for said officiating event data; and

an officiating interface to receive said officiating event data and transmit said officiating event data to said officiating device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said officiating interface receives officiating decision data from said officiating device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said event model includes said officiating decision data.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising an event animation unit to generate an animation from said officiating event data.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising an officiating interface to receive said animation and transmit said animation to said officiating device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said officiating device receives said animation.

18. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, said sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to:

receive input data of a sporting event;

process said input data to generate positional data;

generate semantic information based on said positional data and game rules of said sporting event, wherein said semantic information describes an officiating event indicating a potential infraction of one or more rules of the sporting event; and

transmit said semantic information to a wireless officiating device possessed by an officiating entity of said sporting event, said transmitting to notify said officiating entity of said officiating event.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein said sporting event is a soccer game.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein said officiating entity is a referee.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein said sequences of instructions further cause said processor to:

generate an event model from said positional data and said semantic information; and

store said event model in an event model database.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said sequences of instructions further cause said processor to query said event model database for officiating event data.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein said sequences of instructions further cause said processor to generate an animation based on said positional data.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 23, wherein said sequences of instructions further cause said processor to transmit said animation to said officiating device.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein said sequences of instructions further cause said processor to transmit said semantic information to an officiating interface.