System and method for adaptive delivery of game balls based on player-specific performance data analysis

• US 8,419,560 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2011
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alexander Andre Amini
• Original Assignee: Alexander Andre Amini
• Inventors: Amini, Alexander Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US13/183,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20130018493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 273/192, 700/91, 473/212, 473/131
• US Class Current: 473/212
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• 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 2230/062 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/40 : Stationarily-arranged devices for projecting balls or other bodies golf cups with ball ejector means A63B57/405; traps for clay-pigeon targets F41J9/18
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

A game ball delivery apparatus that adjusts the delivery of game balls to the actual practice needs of the player returning the delivered game balls, based on a computer analysis of player performance data, including but not limited to data collected from inertial and physiological sensors. The parameters of delivery, such as trajectory, speed, and interval of successive balls, are modified in real-time, as the player is training. One or more highly miniaturized sensors for collecting performance data are worn by the player without affecting the player'"'"'s motions. A computer capable of analyzing said sensor data, selects delivery parameters for subsequently delivered balls, and transmits said delivery parameters to the ball ejector controller. Further, the system may optionally include a means for generating a feedback signal to the player to indicate deviations of the measured motion of the player from reference performances of the motion.

Claims

1. A ball delivery system configured to deliver ball based on an automated assessment of a player performance from a sensor data comprising:

ball ejector successively ejecting a plurality of game balls according to specified ball delivery parameters;

plurality of motion sensors, each motion sensor is configured to capture data that measures the performance of the player interacting with the ball ejecting and communicating the sensor data to a computer for analysis;

said computer is configured to (1) analyze the sensor data for the purpose of assessing performance of the player for a motion type (2) automatically select a next a recommended motion type by the computer and parameters based on the player performance assessment (3) calculate ball delivery parameters including trajectory, speed, and delay to be transmitted to the ball ejector for subsequently eject the game balls based on said player performance assessment and the recommended next motion type and parameters;

(4) transmit said ball delivery parameters to a ball ejector controller to set the ball delivery parameters for subsequently ejecting the balls; and

said ball ejector controller is configured to accept data signal to set the ball delivery parameters for subsequently eject the balls and adapt the ball ejector to conform to the ball delivery parameters.

2. The system in claim 1, wherein each of the said motion sensors comprises one or more of:

a tri-axis accelerometer to measure differential acceleration of the sensor;

a tri-axis gyroscope to measure differential rotation around the sensor; and

a tri-axis magnetometer to measure a local magnetic field vector at each motion sensor.

3. The system in claim 1, wherein one or more of the said sensors communicate wirelessly with said computer, which also communicates wirelessly or via direct connection to ball ejector.

4. The system in claim 1, wherein the data is transmitted to a remote computer for additional processing and feedback.

5. The system in claim 1, wherein the computer and the motion sensors are integrated into a single unit that is attached to the user or the training equipment, and the computer communicates wirelessly to the ejector controller.

6. The system in claim 1, wherein:

the system further comprises one or more additional sensors, which capture sensor data indicating user, or ball location; and

the computer is programmed to use a location data to further analyze motion data and generate feedback signals to indicate deviations from reference performances.

7. The system in claim 1, wherein:

the computer is program further programmed to produce a real-time feedback signal to indicate deviations of the measured motion from one or more reference motions and recommended motion adjustments; and

the computer further comprises a mechanism to transmit an indicator of said feedback signal to the user during active play.

8. The system in claim 1, wherein the computer is programmed to produce a real-time signal to announce to the player the type of motion to be taken before the ball is delivered.

9. The system in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the indicator signal for feedback comprises one or more of:

an audio signal, a visual signal, and a physical signal.

10. The system in claim 1, wherein the computer program further comprises a mechanism to analyze captured sensor data and to produce a report with a user-specified or default set of summary and detail information on motions, accuracy, and feedback over an entire training session.