Integrated timing system and method having a highly portable RFID tag reader with GPS location determination

• US 9,495,568 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Timing Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Timing Systems LLC
• Inventors: Hansen, Kurt S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bee, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US14/374,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20150015371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• 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 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• 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 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10198 setting parameters for the interrogator, e.g. programming parameters and operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders

Abstract

A system and method for determining a time of an event participant passing a detection point having a participant identifier number by a proximity detector at a detection point, a highly portable device with a transceiver and a location detector for selectively receiving a participant number read, and determining a location of the portable device, and a timing system having the geographic location of the proximity detector, receiving the geographic location of the handheld device, the handheld read participant number and a handheld determined time, determining that the timing system has not received a usable tag read time from the proximity detector and determining a time of passing of the participant by the detection point by determining a delta time between the proximity detector and the handheld device and an adjusted time of participant passing based on the determined delta time and handheld determined time.

Claims

1. A system for supporting an integrated timing system including the determination of a time of passing of a monitored detection point by a participant in an event having a participant identifier with an associated unique participant identifier number, the system comprising:

a participant proximity detector having a processor, a memory, a clock, a participant identifier detector transceiver receiving the participant identifier number from the participant identifier, the participant proximity detector identifying a tag read time of the received participant identifier number, and a data interface for transmitting the received participant identifier number and the identified participant identifier tag read time;

a handheld device having a processor, a memory, a clock, a user interface, a communication interface, a location detection device for determining a geographic location of the handheld device, and a participant identifier detector transceiver for selectively reading the participant identifier and receiving the participant identifier number from the participant identifier, the handheld device determining a time of receipt of the participant identifier number by the handheld device, and transmitting the determined geographic location of the handheld device, the handheld read participant identifier number and the handheld determined time over the communication interface; and

the timing system having a processor, a communication interface, and a memory storing a location for the participant proximity detector, the timing system receiving the geographic location of the handheld device, receiving the handheld read participant identifier number and the handheld determined time, determining that the timing system has not received a usable tag read time from the participant proximity detector for the same participant identifier number as the handheld read participant identifier number, the timing system determining a delta time from the difference in the location of the participant proximity detector and the received geographic location of the handheld device, calculating an adjusted time for the participant identifier number from the handheld determined time and the determined delta time, and storing the calculated adjusted time as a time of passing of the detection point for the participant.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the timing system receives one or more tag reads for a participant identifier number with one or more identified participant identifier read times, and determines that such received tag reads do not accurately determine the time of passing of the participant at the detection point when determining that the timing system has not received a usable tag read from the participant proximity detector.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the timing system determines a velocity of the participant approaching the detection point from the received one or more tag reads from the participant proximity detector, and wherein the timing system calculates the delta time also based on the determined velocity.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the timing system receives a plurality of tag reads for a plurality of participant identifier numbers each having a plurality of identified participant identifier read times, one of which is the participant identifier number associated with the participant, the timing system determining from the plurality of participant identifier tag read times for the plurality of participant identifier numbers, an average velocity of the plurality of participant identifiers approaching the detection point, and determines the delta time based on the determined average velocity.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication interface for the handheld device is a wireless interface and wherein the communication interface of the timing system includes a compatible wireless communication capability.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the wireless interface is a Wi-Fi interface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication interface of the handheld device receives a clock synchronization message including a system time value from the timing system, and wherein the clock of the handheld device sets a present time of the clock to the value of the received system time value.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the location detection device of the handheld device is a GPS receiver.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein location detection device is user activated based on receiving an activation input via the user interface, wherein the user interface further initiates the transmission of a secondary location and an identification of the secondary location, and wherein the timing system receives the secondary location and the identification of the secondary location, and stores the secondary location in the timing system memory as the location of the participant proximity detector.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface of the handheld device includes a user activated mechanism for controlling the handheld participant identifier detector transceiver for selectively reading the participant identifier.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the handheld device includes an image capture device for selectively capturing an image in proximity to the handheld device, the handheld device receiving an input via the user interface for initiating the capturing of an image and transmitting the captured image, wherein the timing system receives the captured image and stores the received captured image in the timing system memory.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the handheld device associates the captured image with the participant identifier number as received by the handheld participant identifier detector transceiver and transmitting the associated participant identifier number with the captured image, wherein the timing system receives the captured image and the associated participant identifier number and stores the received captured image with a file associated with the participant identifier number.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the participant further has an associated bar code, wherein the handheld device includes a bar code scanning device for selectively scanning of a bar code that is in proximity to the handheld device, the handheld device receives an input via the user interface for initiating the scanning of the bar code associated with the participant, and transmitting the scanned bar code with the captured image, wherein the timing system receives the scanned bar code, determines the participant identifier number associated with the received bar code, and stores the scanned image in a file associated with the determined participant identifier number.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the participant further has an associated bar code, wherein the handheld device includes a bar code scanning device for selectively scanning of a bar code that is in proximity to the handheld device, the handheld device receiving an input via the user interface for initiating the scanning of the bar code associated with the participant, and transmitting the scanned bar code with the associated participant identifier number, wherein the timing system receives the scanned bar code and associates the received bar code with the participant identifier number.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the participant identifier is an RFID tag and the participant identifier number is an RFID tag number of the RFID tag and the participant proximity detector is an RFID tag reader.

16. A system for supporting an integrated timing system including the determination of a time of passing of a monitored detection point by a participant in an event having a participant identifier with an associated unique participant identifier number, the system comprising:

the timing system having a processor for executing computer executable instructions, a memory having a computer readable medium for storing the computer executable instructions and storing user input data, and a communication interface for communicating;

a participant proximity detector having a processor for executing computer executable instructions, a memory having a computer readable medium for storing the computer executable instructions and storing user input data, a clock for determining a present time, a radio frequency transceiver for communicating with the participant identifier and receiving a tag read from the participant identifier, storing the associated participant identifier number, the participant proximity detector identifying a tag read time of the received tag read from the clock, and storing the participant identifier number and the associated tag read time in the participant proximity detector memory, and a data interface for communicating with the timing system including transmitting the participant identifier number and the associated tag read time;

a handheld device having a processor, a memory, a clock, a user interface, computer executed instructions, a wireless communication interface, a location detection device for determining a geographic location of the handheld device, and a participant identifier detector transceiver for selectively reading a participant identifier and obtaining the participant identifier number associated with the participant identifier being selectively read, the handheld device determining from the clock a time associated with the receipt of the received participant identifier number, storing the handheld read participant identifier number and the handheld determined time in the handheld memory; and

transmitting the determined geographic location of the handheld device, the handheld read participant identifier number and the handheld determined time over the wireless communication interface;

wherein the timing system has a location for the participant proximity detector stored in its memory, receives the geographic location of the handheld device, receives the handheld read participant identifier number and the handheld determined time, determines that the timing system has not received a usable tag read time for the same participant identifier number from the participant proximity detector, determines a delta time based on the difference in the location of the participant proximity detector and the received geographic location of the handheld device, calculates an adjusted time for the participant identifier number as a function of the handheld determined time and the-determined delta time, and stores in the timing system memory the adjusted time as a time of passing of the detection point for the participant.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the participant identifier is an RFID tag and the participant identifier number is an RFID tag number of the RFID tag and the participant proximity detector is an RFID tag reader.

18. A method for determining a time of passing of a monitored detection point by a participant in an event having a participant identifier with an associated unique participant identifier number, the method comprises:

a) in a participant proximity detector having a processor, a memory, a clock, a participant identifier detector transceiver;

receiving the participant identifier number from the participant identifier;

identifying a tag read time of the received participant identifier number; and

transmitting the participant identifier number and the identified participant identifier tag read time;

b) in a handheld device having a processor, a memory, a dock, a user interface, a communication interface, a location detection device, and a participant identifier detector transceiver;

determining a geographic location of the handheld device;

reading the participant identifier number of the participant identifier;

determining a time of receipt of the participant identifier number by the handheld device;

transmitting the determined geographic location of the handheld device, the handheld read participant identifier number and the handheld determined time; and

c) in a timing system having a processor, a communication interface, and a memory;

storing a location for the participant proximity detector;

receiving the geographic location of the handheld device, the handheld read participant identifier number and the handheld determined time from the handheld device;

determining that the timing system has not received a usable tag read time from the participant proximity detector for the same participant identifier number as the handheld read participant identifier number;

determining a delta time from the difference in the location of the participant proximity detector and the received geographic location of the handheld device;

calculating an adjusted time for the participant identifier number from the handheld determined time and the determined delta time; and

storing the calculated adjusted time as a time of passing of the detection point for the participant.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein

in the timing system:

receiving one or more tag reads for a participant identifier number with one or more identified participant identifier read times; and

determining that such received tag reads do not accurately determine the time of passing of the participant at the detection point and therefore the timing system has not received the usable tag read from the participant proximity detector.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein

in the timing system:

determining a velocity of the participant approaching the detection point from the received one or more tag reads from the participant proximity detector, and wherein calculating the delta time is based on the determined velocity.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein

in the timing system:

receiving a plurality of tag reads for a plurality of participant identifier numbers each having a plurality of identified participant identifier read times, one of which is the participant identifier number associated with the participant; and

determining from the plurality of participant identifier read times for the plurality of participant identifier numbers an average velocity of the plurality of participant identifiers approaching the detection point, and wherein the determining of the delta time is based on the determined average velocity.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein in the handheld device transmitting is wirelessly transmitting.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein

in the handheld device:

receiving a clock synchronization message including a system time value from the timing system, and

setting a present time of the handheld clock to the value of the received system time value.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein

in the location detection device

receiving an activation input via the user interface;

initiating the transmission of a secondary location and an identification of the secondary location; and

in the timing system;

receiving the secondary location and the identification of the secondary location; and

storing the secondary location in the timing system memory as the location of the participant proximity detector.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein in the handheld device:

receiving via the user interface a user activation input; and

controlling the handheld participant identifier detector transceiver for selectively reading the participant identifier responsive to the received user activation input.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein

in the handheld device, further including an image capture device for selectively capturing an image in proximity to the handheld device:

receiving an input via the user interface for initiating a capturing of an image;

selectively capturing an image in proximity to the handheld device;

and transmitting the captured image, and

in the timing system;

receiving the captured image; and

storing the received captured image in the timing system memory.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein

in the handheld device:

associating the captured image with the participant identifier number as received by the handheld participant identifier detector transceiver; and

transmitting the associated participant identifier number with the captured image;

in the timing system;

receiving the captured image and the associated participant identifier number; and

storing the received captured image with a file associated with the participant identifier number.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the participant further has an associated bar code,

in the handheld device, further including a bar code scanning device for selectively scanning of a bar code that is in proximity to the handheld device:

receiving an input via the user interface for initiating the scanning of the bar code associated with the participant;

scanning of the bar code that is in proximity to the handheld device; and

transmitting the scanned bar code with the captured image,

in the timing system;

receiving the scanned bar code;

determining the participant identifier number associated with the received bar code; and

storing the captured image in a file associated with the determined participant identifier number.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the participant further has an associated bar code,

in the handheld device

receiving an input via the user interface for initiating the scanning of the bar code associated with the participant;

scanning of the bar code that is in proximity to the handheld device; and

transmitting the scanned bar code with the captured image,

in the timing system;

receiving the scanned bar code;

determining the participant identifier number associated with the received bar code; and

storing the captured image in a file associated with determined participant identifier number.

30. The method of claim 18 wherein the participant identifier is an RFID tag and the participant identifier number is an RFID tag number of the RFID tag and the participant proximity detector is an RFID tag reader.