Abstract: An RFID tag assembly and method of use with a helmet wherein the RFID tag assembly the RFTD tag assembly includes an RFID tag having a mounting substrate with an exposed first planar surface and an opposing second planar surface, the RFID tag having an RFID semiconductor chip has a predetermined operating frequency with an antenna interface mounted on the second planar surface, a conductor electrically coupled to the antenna interface of the RFID semiconductor chip, and an antenna electrically coupled to the conductor. A spacer has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The first surface of the spacer is attached to the second planar surface of the RFID tag. The spacer has a predetermined thickness between the first surface and the second surface.

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.

Abstract: A system and method for determining and tracking a location of a participant traveling along a route wherein the participant being tracked with an RFID tag during an event. The system includes a tag reader system receiving one or more tag reads from the RFID tag, determining a time for each tag read, identifying the tag number of the RFID tag, and transmitting a tag read message including at least a portion of the received tag reads with the tag number and the determined times. A timing system is configured for receiving and storing the tag read message including the tag number from the tag reader. A location device that is associated with the RFID tag of the participant has a location data receiver for receiving location data from a location providing source, and a wireless communication interface. The location detection device receives location information from the location providing source, time stamps each received location information, and transmits tag location data over the wireless interface.

Abstract: An automated system and method for managing a tracking and an automated real-time remote reporting thereof of a participant's participation in an event having a participant event management system (PEMS) that receives a request for tracking of the participant, a participant proximity detector detects the proximity of the participant to a detection point, a location detection system receiving and transmitting participant location data, the timing system receives the preorder request from the PEMS, determines a time of passing of the detection point of the participant, receives the location data and associates the participant event number with the participant identifier number, and transmits the location data forming at least a part of the participant tracking data to an output interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated communication system for sports timing systems having a data interface, a memory and a processor. The data interface is for communicating over a data communication network. The memory includes executable instructions for operating the data interface to communicate over the data communication network and for storing participant data including participant data that includes a participant identifier for uniquely identifying each participant and participant timing data. The processor is coupled to the memory and the data interface and executes the executable instructions for operating the data interface to transmit datagram messages over a stateless packet data communication network wherein the datagram messages include multicast and unicast messages, each of which includes at least a portion of the participant data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a time of a passing a detection line by a participant having an RFID tag traveling along the route, the system includes a timing system an RFID tag reader system for wirelessly receiving tag reads including a tag identifier for the RFID tags, time stamps each RFID tag read, and transmits them to the timing system, a laser detector detects a laser beam interrupt and generates a laser beam interrupt indicator receives the generated laser beam interrupt indicator, and determines a beam interrupt time, and creates a laser beam interrupt message including the beam interrupt time, the timing system receives the tag read messages and the laser beam interrupt messages, determines the identity of the participant from the tag identifier, associates the laser beam interrupt message with the determined tag identifier, and stores the beam interrupt time as the time of detecting the passing.

Abstract: An assembly and method of manufacture of a radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly having a passive RFID semiconductor chip and a two sided planar antenna and a spacer composed of a foam material that is non-absorbing of a substantial amount of energy at the predetermined operating frequency, the spacer being composed of non-conducting material having a predetermined thickness of between about 0.125 inches and about 0.5 inches and that is non-absorbing of a substantial amount of radio frequency energy at the predetermined operating frequency wherein the RFID tag assembly receives at a first side of the two sided planar antenna a first portion of the radio frequency energy as direct energy and receives at a second side of the planar antenna a second portion of the radio frequency energy as indirect energy responsive to the absorbing by the absorbing material body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated communication system for sports timing systems having a data interface, a memory and a processor. The data interface is for communicating over a data communication network. The memory includes executable instructions for operating the data interface to communicate over the data communication network and for storing participant data including participant data that includes a participant identifier for uniquely identifying each participant and participant timing data. The processor is coupled to the memory and the data interface and executes the executable instructions for operating the data interface to transmit datagram messages over a stateless packet data communication network wherein the datagram messages include multicast and unicast messages, each of which includes at least a portion of the participant data.

Abstract: A system and method provides for identifying a location of an RFID tag in a coordinate system, a tag reader receives a first tag read from a first antenna and a second tag read from a second antenna, the tag reader determines a first tag read time and a first tag read parameter based on the first tag read and a second tag read time and a second tag read parameter based on the second tag read, and transmits data including the tag identifier, the first tag read time, the first tag read parameter, the second tag read time and the second tag read parameter and a RFID tag location system receives the transmitted data and compares the first tag read parameter with the second tag read parameter, and determines a tag position of the RFID tag within the coordinate system of the monitored area therefrom.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a time of a passing of a participant by a participant detection point on a route of a timed event. The system having an image capture device capturing an image of the participant when in proximity to the image capture device positioned at the detection point on the route. The image capture device generating a captured image and transmitting the captured image. A participant identification system has a captured image interface coupled to the image capture device receiving the captured image. The participant identification system analyses the received captured image including the identifying of an identification of the participant and then transmitting the captured image and the participant's identification. A timing system receives the transmitted captured image and the participant identification, and determines the time of passing of the participant by the participant detection point on the route of the timed event responsive thereto.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting biometric data from a participant in an event including a sensor positioned on the participant for sensing a current biometric factor of the participant, the sensor including an interface for communicating the sensed current value of the biometric factor, a biometric data collector communicatively coupled to the sensor for receiving the current sensed biometric factor value as biometric data and further communicatively coupled to an RFID tag, and the RFID tag receive the biometric data from the collector and transmitting the received biometric data to an RFID tag reader responsive to a tag read from the tag reader. The system and method can also include the RFID tag reader and the timing system support for the biometric data communication, analysis and reporting.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a route or waypoints along a route to be or being traveled by a participant, the system including a location device associated with the participant having a location data receiver for receiving location data from a location providing source, and a wireless communication interface, the location detection device receiving location information from the location providing source, time stamping each received location information, and transmitting location data associated with the location device over the wireless interface; a location detection device in at least periodic wireless communication with the location device for receiving the transmitted location data, and transmitting the received location data; and an event/timing system receiving the transmitted location data, and determining a route or waypoints along a route to be or being traveled by a participant that will be tracked.

Abstract: Systems and methods for timing of a passing of an object past a monitored location using a timing system and an automated object detection system detecting the passing of the object at the monitored location, and also having a remote entry computer system being positionable at a current location selected from a plurality potential locations each of which is set apart and different than the monitored location and having a clock determining a present time, a user interface receiving user input data, and a memory storing an offset time value, and the remote entry computer system receiving the user input data, receiving a user data input time associated with the receipt of the user input data, and storing the received user input data and the user data input time, and determining of an adjusted time value responsive to the determined remote time value and the stored offset time value.

Abstract: An assembly and method of manufacture of a radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly having a passive RFID semiconductor chip and a two sided planar antenna and a spacer composed of a foam material that is non-absorbing of a substantial amount of energy at the predetermined operating frequency, the spacer being composed of non-conducting material having a predetermined thickness of between about 0.125 inches and about 0.5 inches and that is non-absorbing of a substantial amount of radio frequency energy at the predetermined operating frequency wherein the RFID tag assembly receives at a first side of the two sided planar antenna a first portion of the radio frequency energy as direct energy and receives at a second side of the planar antenna a second portion of the radio frequency energy as indirect energy responsive to the absorbing by the absorbing material body.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the passing of a participant of an aquatic event by a water-based timing point including an RFID tag associated with the participant, an aquatic based RFID tag reading point having one or more aquatic tag reading assemblies placed in the water, each aquatic tag reading assembly having one or more RFID tag readers mounted thereon at a position above the surface of the water on an aquatic tag reader mounting assembly, the aquatic tag reader mounting assembly having a portion below the surface of the water and including at least one float system and at least one stabilization system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated communication system for sports timing systems having a data interface, a memory and a processor. The data interface is for communicating over a data communication network. The memory includes executable instructions for operating the data interface to communicate over the data communication network and for storing participant data including participant data that includes a participant identifier for uniquely identifying each participant and participant timing data. The processor is coupled to the memory and the data interface and executes the executable instructions for operating the data interface to transmit datagram messages over a stateless packet data communication network wherein the datagram messages include multicast and unicast messages, each of which includes at least a portion of the participant data.

Abstract: A method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag assembly having a a predetermined operating frequency with a body composed of an absorbing material coupled to a first side of the an RFID semiconductor chip, absorbing a substantial amount of a received energy in the absorbing material body, receiving at a second side of an antenna coupled to the RFID semiconductor chip mounted a first portion of the radio energy as transmitted from a remote base station transceiver, the receiving being at the first side being oriented away from the operating surface, receiving at a second side of the two-sided planar antenna a second portion of the radio frequency energy transmitted from the base station transceiver following the absorbing, the second side being oriented towards the operating surface and towards the absorbing material body, and processing the received first and second portions of the radio frequency energy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for timing of a passing of an object past a monitored location where the monitored location is being monitored by timing system having at least one automated object detection system for wirelessly detecting the passing of the object at the monitored location. The system comprises a remote entry computer system having a processor for executing computer executable instructions, a clock for determining a present time, a user interface for receiving user input data, a memory being a computer readable medium storing the computer executable instructions and the received user input data, and a communications interface for communicating with the timing system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating real-time sporting event and participant announcement information received from a sport timing system (STS). The system comprising an announcement interface system having a processor, a memory, a first data interface communicating over the a stateless packet data communication network with the sport timing system, and a second interface communicating with an announcement system. The first data interface receives a multicast datagram ANNC message including an identification of the sport timing system and participant data including a participant identifier for uniquely identifying each participant in the sporting event and participant timing data. The announcement interface system formats the received portion of the participant data into an announcement system message and transmitting the announcement system message including the participant data, the participant identifier and participant timing data.

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.