Abstract:
A method and apparatus determine contact by a participant with a sports object by detecting contact of the sports object with the participant via a personal area network of the participant; transmitting in response to the detection player identification information to a central controller; determining that the sports object has left a field of play by the central controller; and alerting in response to the determination a sports official to identify a last participant to contact the sports object via an official system by the central controller.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to detection of an object being touched by a person.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     In many sports, it is important to know which player last touched the game ball. This is particularly true in sports such as basketball and soccer. Whereas, in soccer, it is possible to review a play using instant replay using taped video, it greatly slows down the flow of the game. The problem is not severe in a game such as football which has a natural stopping point at regular intervals. But in soccer particularly, the need to stop the game and review a particular play causes major disruption in the soccer game itself. This is also true in basketball. By the same token, in championship play, a mistake by a referee during a soccer game concerning who was the last player to touch the ball before it went out of bounds can have serious repercussions not only to the game but also to the mood of the crowd which have been known to riot. These considerations are also true for other sports such as rugby, etc.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     A method and apparatus determine contact by a participant with a sports object by detecting contact of the sports object with the participant via a personal area network of the participant; transmitting in response to the detection participant identification information to a central controller; determining that the sports object has left a field of play by the central controller; and alerting in response to the determination a sports official to identify a last participant to contact the sports object via an official system by the central controller. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a system;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  illustrates another embodiment of a system;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of connectors positioned on a ball;  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the arrangement of conductors on a ball;  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  illustrates, in flowchart form, operations performed by an embodiment of a body controller;  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  illustrates, in flowchart form, operations of an embodiment of a central system;  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  illustrates, in flowchart form, operations of another embodiment of a body controller;  
         [0011]      FIG. 8  illustrates, in flowchart form, operations of an embodiment of a ball controller;  
         [0012]      FIG. 9  illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment of a body controller;  
         [0013]      FIG. 10  illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment of a central system;  
         [0014]      FIG. 11  illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment of an official system; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 12  illustrates, in block diagram form, a ball controller. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     In one embodiment, a personal area network (also referred to as a body area network) is created for each player so that the body and the clothing of each player becomes a local area network. The ball or other physical object generates an identification code which is transmitted to the player&#39;s personal area network when the ball touches the player&#39;s body or clothing. The information is transmitted from the ball to the personal area network via conductors on the surface of the ball. The personal area network of the player is under the control of a body controller which then transmits the information from the ball to a central system. The central system records the players that touch the ball and analyzes this information when it determines that the ball has gone out of the field of play of other game occurrences. This determination may be made based on an input from a game official. At that time, the central controller can transmit to a system utilized by an official of the game (official system), such as a linesman or referee, the information concerning the last player to touch the ball.  
         [0017]     In addition, another embodiment of the body controller allows the body controller to determine the position of the player on the playing field and transmit this information to the central system. Such location information is important, for example, to determine offside decisions in a soccer game.  
         [0018]     In also, another embodiment allows the central system to analysis location and contact information to produce statistical information such as pass completion rates, percentage of ball possession, etc.  
         [0019]     In another embodiment, the body controller of a player transmits the player&#39;s identification information to the ball when the player comes in contact with the ball. The ball controller then uses the player identification information to transmit this information to a central system.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a system. Ball controller  106  is continuously transmitting the ball&#39;s identification information to the outer surface of the ball. When ball  104  comes into contact with player  102 , the ball&#39;s identification information is transferred to the personal area network of the player&#39;s body or clothes that is under control of body controller  103 . The construction of body controller  103  and its interaction with the personal area network is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,827 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,913, these patents are hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, the incorporated patents disclose the transfer of information from an external object, such as ball  104 , to the personal area network.  
         [0021]     Body controller  103  then transmits the fact that ball  104  has touched player  102  to central system  101 . Central system  101  analyzes this information and determines if it should be transmitted to official system  111 . The transmission of information from central system  101  is to official controller  107 . Official controller  107  may choose to provide this information to a game official via input-output device  108  or display device  109 . In one embodiment, the identity of player  102  is always displayed on  109  so that the official can determine the last player to touch the ball before it went out of play. In another embodiment, the official can request this information from central system  101 . Input-output device  108  can consist of an audio transducer so that the information from central system  101  can be provided to the official as audio output.  
         [0022]     Body controller  103  also has a location positioning mechanism so as to determine the location of player  102  on the playing field. This location positioning mechanism may utilize global positioning satellite techniques or may utilize gyroscopic positioning techniques as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,381 which is hereby incorporated by reference. Body controller  103  transmits the location information to central system  101 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates another embodiment of a system. In  FIG. 2 , body controller  203  is continuously generating the identification information for player  202  and placing this information on the personal area network of player  202 . When player  202  comes in contact with ball  204 , the identification of player  202  is transferred to ball controller  206  via the conductors on the surface of ball  204  from the personal area network.  
         [0024]     Ball controller  206  then transmits the identification of player  202  to central system  201 . Central system  201  after analyzing the information may transfer the information to official system  211  via official controller  207 . Official controller  207  can choose to utilize input-output device  208  or display device  209  to inform the official of the last person to touch ball  204 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of the exterior of ball  204 . The exterior surface of ball  204  comprises a plurality of electrode pairs  301 - 304  which are utilized by ball controller  206  to receive or transmit information to a player. These pairs of electrodes are arranged on the surface of ball  204  and interconnect to ball controller  206 . In one embodiment, ball controller  206  may be a thin film circuit or other miniaturized circuit type on the inner-surface of ball  204 . In addition, ball controller  206  may be duplicated for reliability.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the arrangement of conductors along the surface of ball  204 . Electrodes  401  are arranged along the exterior surface of the ball. Electrodes  402  are isolated from the surface of the ball but just below the outer skin of the ball. In this embodiment, ball controller  206  may be a thin film circuit or other miniaturized circuit type on the inner-surface of the ball  204 . In addition, ball controller  206  may be duplicated for reliability.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates, in flowchart form, operations of an embodiment of a body controller such as body controller  103  of  FIG. 1 . After being started in block  501 , decision block  502  determines if it is time to transmit position information defining the location of player  102  on the playing field. If the answer is no, control is transferred to decision block  504 . If the answer is yes in decision block  502 , block  503  transmits the position information to central system  101  before transferring control to decision block  504 . The latter decision block determines if the ball ID is being received because of contact of ball  104  with player  102 . If the answer is no in decision block  504 , control is transferred back to decision block  502 . If the answer is yes in decision block  504 , block  506  transmits the indication of which player is in contact with the ball to central system  101  before transferring control back to decision block  502 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates, in flowchart form, operations performed by an embodiment of a central system such as central system  101  or  201 . After being started in block  601 , decision block  602  determines if player position information has been received. If the answer is no, control is transferred to decision block  607 . If the answer is yes, block  603  stores the position information along with the identity of the player. Next, decision block  604  determines, based on the rules of the game, whether there is a possibility that the player&#39;s position constitutes a possible violation. If the answer is no, control is transferred to decision block  607 . If the answer is yes in decision block  604 , block  606  transmits a signal along with the identification of the player to the official system indicating a possible violation before transferring control to decision block  607 .  
         [0029]     Decision block  607  determines if player identification information is being received from either a body controller or a ball depending on the particular embodiment. If the answer is no, control is transferred to decision block  609 . If the answer is yes in decision block  607 , block  608  stores the identification information before transferring control to decision block  609 . Decision block  609  determines if there is a request for the last player contact either generated by the central system or being requested by the official via official system such as official system  111  or  211 . If the answer is no, control is transferred back to decision block  602 . If the answer in decision block  609  is yes, block  611  transmits the identity of the last player to contact the ball to the official system before returning control back to decision block  602 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates, in flowchart form, operations performed by a body controller in another embodiment such as body controller  203 . Note, that  FIG. 7  only illustrates the operations being performed with respect to the central system. Body controller  203  is constantly transmitting the identification of the player via the personal area network in case a ball should come in contact with the player. After being started in block  701 , decision block  702  determines if it is time to transmit the position information of the player. If the answer is no, control is transferred back to decision block  702 . If the answer is yes, block  703  transmits the position information with the identity of the player to the central system before returning control back to decision block  702 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  illustrates, in flowchart form, operations performed by an embodiment of a ball controller, such as ball controller  206 . The operations illustrated in  FIG. 8  are only those performed with respect to central system  201 . The ball controller is continuously testing to see if the player identification is being received because the ball has contacted a player. After being started in block  801 , decision block  802  determines if a player ID is being received. If the answer is no, decision block  802  is re-executed. If the answer is yes, block  803  transmits the identification of the player and an indication that the player is in contact with the ball before returning control back to decision block  802 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 9  illustrates, in block diagram form, a body controller. Processor  903 , by executing programs in memory  906 , provides the overall control. Positioning unit  901 , which may be a global positioning system or a gyroscope system, provides location information to processor  903 . Processor  903  transmits and receives data via the personal area network via PAN interface  902 . Radio unit  904  provides the reception and transmission of radio signals with the central system.  
         [0033]     PAN routine  907  collects and utilizes information from the PAN. Positioning routine  908  accepts location information from positioning unit  901  and transmits this information to the central system. Data is stored in data  909 . Operating system  911  provides the overall control.  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  illustrates, in block diagram form, a central system, such as central system  101  or  201 . Processor  1003  provides overall control of the system by execution of routines in memory  1006 . Radio unit  1004  provides communications with the body controllers and the ball controller.  
         [0035]     Player position routine  1007  is responsible for receiving player positions and determining whether these positions violate the rules of the game. The last contact routine  1008  provides for the determination of which player last contacted the ball. Data is stored in data  1009 . Operating system  1011  provides overall control.  
         [0036]      FIG. 11  illustrates, in block diagram form, an official system such as official system  111  or  211 . Processor  1103  receives and transmits information with the central system via radio unit  1104 . The user utilizes user interface  1102  to input information into processor  1103 , and processor  1103  displays information to the user via display  1101 . Processor  1103  performs these activities by the execution of routines and applications in memory  1106 .  
         [0037]     User interface routine  1107  provides for receiving and utilizing input from the user from user interface  1102 . Display control  1108  not only displays information on display  1101  but also makes the necessary analysis before displaying this information. Data is stored in data  1109 . Operating system  1111  provides overall control.  
         [0038]      FIG. 12  illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment of a ball controller such as ball controller  106  or  206 . Processor  1203  provides overall control by execution of routines in memory  1206 . Electrodes interface  1202  provides the interface to electrodes  1201  that are arranged on the ball as illustrated in FIGS.  3  or  4 . Radio unit  1204  provides the communication link with the central system. Player detection routine  1207  provides the control for the detection of the player and the transmission of this information to the central system. Data is stored in data  1209 , and operating system  1211  provides overall control.  
         [0039]     When the operations of the body controller, ball controller, central system or official system are implemented in software, it should be noted that the software can be stored on any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with any computer related system or method. In the context of this document, a computer-readable medium is an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or means that can contain or store a computer program for use by or in connection with a computer related system or method. The software can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. For example, the computer-readable medium can be, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection (electronic) having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (electronic), a read-only memory (ROM) (electronic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory) (electronic), an optical fiber (optical), and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM) (optical). Note that the computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured via optical scanning of the paper or other medium and then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and stored in a computer memory.  
         [0040]     In an alternative embodiment, where the body controller, ball controller, central system or official system is implemented in hardware, the body controller, ball controller, central system or official system can be implemented with any or a combination of the following technologies, which are each well known in the art: a discrete logic circuit(s) having logic gates for implementing logic functions upon data signals, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having appropriate combinational logic gates, a programmable gate array(s) (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.  
         [0041]     Of course, various changes and modifications to the illustrated embodiments described above would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the following claims except in so far as limited by the prior art.