System for detecting and tracking statistics of a game
The present invention relates to a system for detecting and tracking statistics of a game, and more particularly, to a system for detecting and tracking game statistics for a specific player or team of players while playing the game. The system may include a sports goal and sports ball for use in the game. The system may also include a sensor attached to a player to detect the sports ball when the sensor comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball. A detector may be provided and coupled to the sports goal to detect the sports ball when the sports ball passes through the sports goal. A control unit may be provided to determine a game statistic corresponding to the player based on a signal received from the sensor attached to the player and a signal received from the detector when the sports ball passes through the sports goal.
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The present invention relates in general to a system for detecting and tracking statistics of a game, and more particularly, to a system for detecting and tracking game statistics for a specific player or team of players while playing the game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere are many types of games in which players may desire to keep track of their individual or team statistics while participating in the game. For example, a single player playing basketball, a game of “one-on-one” basketball, or a team of players playing, may desire to keep track of the score of their game to monitor performance or determine who wins the game. Game statistics are most commonly kept track of during a formal or organized game. Even then, however, these game statistics are kept manually and human error may affect the accuracy of the statistics.
During an informal or “pick-up” game, players generally do not have the option of having someone manually keep statistics of a game. Moreover, statistics such as shots/goals made or missed are more difficult to keep track of in an informal game. As such, there is a need for automatically keeping track of game statistics in both formal and informal games.
Prior devices have been developed to keep track of shooting statistics for a player. These devices may provide a detector on a basketball goal to detect a location of a ball. The detector may be placed such that the detector may detect the location of the ball as the ball passes through a horizontal detection plane of a rim of the basketball goal. As the ball passes through horizontal detection plane, the detector may detect whether a shot is made and keep track of shooting statistics for the player.
These prior devices, however, have many drawbacks. For example, the prior devices cannot determine if a specific player shot the basketball. As such, they are limited to detecting shooting statistics if only a single player is playing the basketball game and thus, have no way of keeping track of the shooting statistics for the specific player if more players in addition to the specific player is playing in the same basketball game. For example, if two or more players are playing in the basketball game and alternately shooting the ball, the prior devices may not detect which player shot the ball. Moreover, the prior devices cannot determine which player made or missed the shot.
The prior devices are further limited such that when the ball passes the horizontal detection plane, the prior devices may only register a shot made or a shot missed. These devices do not take into account that the ball may pass the horizontal plane even when the player simply passes the ball to another player and does not attempt a shot. In this case, the prior devices may erroneously register a pass as a shot missed or a shot attempted. As such, the prior devices may not provide accurate statistics for the player.
The above-mentioned deficiencies and drawbacks with the prior devices may be overcome by providing a system for detecting and tracking game statistics for a specific player or a team of players while playing the game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates in general to a system for detecting and tracking statistics of a game, and more particularly, to a system for detecting and tracking game statistics for a specific player or team of players while playing the game.
One embodiment of the present invention may include a system for detecting and tracking statistics of a game. The system may include at least one sports goal for use in the game, a sports ball having means for being detected, and at least one sensor attached to at least one player. The at least one sensor may be configured to detect the sports ball and emit a first signal when the at least one sensor comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball. The system may also include at least one detector coupled to the at least one sports goal. The at least one detector may be configured to detect the sports ball when the sports ball passes through the at least one sports goal and emit a second signal when the sports ball passes through the at least one sports goal. The system may include at least one control unit configured to receive the first and second signals and determine that a game statistic corresponds to the at least one player based on the first and second signals. The system may include at least one display unit connected to the at least one control unit to display the game statistic.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed the same will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, in a non-limiting fashion, the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention, and in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the Figures, wherein:
The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the Figures in which various embodiments of the present invention are shown. The subject matter of this disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
The present invention provides a system for detecting and tracking statistics of a game. The system may include a sports goal, a sports ball having means for being detected, a sensor, a goal detector coupled to the sports goal, a control unit, and a display. In the case of a basketball game, for example, the sensor may be attached to a player and configured to detect the sports ball when a player attempts to control the sports ball. The sensor may emit an RF (Radio Frequency) signal when the sensor comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball. When the player desires to shoot the sports ball at the sports goal, the goal detector may be coupled to the sports goal and configured to detect the sports ball when the sports ball passes through the sports goal. When the sports ball passes through the sports goal, the goal detector may emit an RF signal.
The control unit may be configured to receive the RF signal emitted by the sensor when the sensor comes within the predetermined distance of the sports ball. The control unit may also be configured to receive the RF signal emitted by the goal detector when the sports ball passes through the sports goal. The control unit may analyze the RF signals and determine a game statistic for the player. In the event that more than one player is playing the basketball game, the control unit may be configured to analyze the RF signals and determine the game statistic for the player in addition to which player the game statistic corresponds to. The system may further be provided with the display unit connected to the control unit to display the game statistic for the player.
While the present invention describes a system used in the game of basketball, the present invention is not limited to the game of basketball and may be used in other games such as, for example, soccer, hockey, or lacrosse.
A control unit (not shown) may be provided in the system. The control unit may be connected to the scoring receiver 12. The control unit may be positioned on the sports goal 10. The present invention, however, is not limited to the control unit being positioned on the sports goal 10 but may also be positioned on a table, a wall, or in an alternate storage location. Further, the present invention is not limited to a single control unit but may also include multiple control units.
The sports goal 10 is shown in
The support pole 26 may be positioned on the backboard 14 to support the backboard 14. The support pole 26 may be mounted in the ground, a concrete surface, a wooden floor surface, asphalt, or a movable base assembly.
The indicator 11 may be provided on the scoring receiver 12 to differentiate game statistics when two or more players play a game. The indicator 11 may be, for example, a light bulb or an LED. As shown in
The goal detector 20 may be provided below the rim 16 such that the ball passes through the goal detector 20 after the ball passes through the rim 16. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the present invention is not limited to the goal detector 20 but may include additional goal detectors below the rim 16 such that the ball passes through a plurality of goal detectors after the ball passes through the rim 16.
As shown in
The detector 22 may include a transmitter and detector circuitry for detecting and emitting a coded signal. The detector 22 may emit the coded signal when the ball passes through the goal detector 20. For example, when the ball passes through the goal detector 20, the detector 22 may detect a signal and then emit a coded signal to the control unit. The control unit may then receive the emitted coded signal from the detector 22 and determine a game statistic for the player or team of players.
As shown in
The detector 40 may further include control buttons 45, 46, and 48. The button 46 may be a mode button provided so that the player may select any one of the modes indicated by the indicators 13a-13e provided on the scoring receiver 12 (see
As shown in
The RF sensors 80 and 82 may be provided with the RFID detector and transmitter circuitry. The RFID detector and transmitter circuitry may be configured to detect the ball 52 and emit a coded signal to the control unit. When the ball 52 having the RF tag 72 passes through the rim 16, the RF sensor 80 positioned at the predetermined distance below the rim 16 may detect the ball 52 after the ball 52 enters the rim 16. The RF sensor 82 positioned below a horizontal axis of the RF sensor 80 may detect that the ball 52 passes through the net 18 after the ball 52 is detected by the RF sensor 80. The RF sensors 80 and 82 may detect the ball 52 by reading the RF tag 72. When the RF tag 72 is read by the RF sensors 80 and 82, the RF sensors 80 and 82 may emit the coded signal to the control unit.
As shown in
As shown in
As described above, the present invention provides a system for detecting and tracking statistics of a game. Moreover, the present invention provides a system for detecting and tracking game statistics for a specific player or team of players while playing the game.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. While the embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention, various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use are also possible. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.
Claims
1. A system for detecting and tracking statistics of a game, comprising:
- at least one sports goal for use in the game;
- a sports ball having means for being detected;
- at least one sensor attached to at least one player, said at least one sensor being configured to detect the sports ball and emit a first signal when said at least one sensor comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball;
- at least one detector coupled to the at least one sports goal, said at least one detector being configured to detect said sports ball when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal and emit a second signal when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal;
- at least one control unit configured to receive the first and second signals and determine that a game statistic corresponds to the at least one player based on the first and second signals; and
- at least one display unit connected to the at least one control unit to display the game statistic.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one player includes a first player and a second player,
- the first player having a sensor mounted thereon and configured to detect the sports ball and emit the first signal when the sensor mounted on the first player comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball, and
- the second player having a sensor mounted thereon and configured to detect the sports ball and emit the first signal when the sensor mounted on the second player comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one player includes a first team of players and a second team of players,
- each of the first team of players having a sensor mounted thereon and configured to detect the sports ball and emit the first signal when the sensor mounted on the player comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball, and
- each of the second team of players having a sensor mounted thereon and configured to detect the sports ball and emit the first signal when the sensor mounted on the player comes within a predetermined distance of the sports ball.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one control unit includes a first control unit and a second control unit, each of the first and second control units being configured to receive the first and second signals and determine a game statistic based on the first and second signals.
5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first control unit receives the first signal from the sensor attached to the first player and the second signal when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal to determine that a game statistic corresponds to the first player.
6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the second control unit receives the first signal from the sensor attached to the second player and the second signal when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal to determine that a game statistic corresponds to the second player.
7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first control unit receives the first signal from the sensor attached to at least one player of the first team of players and the second signal when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal to determine that a game statistic corresponds to the first team of players.
8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the second control unit receives the first signal from the sensor attached to at least one player of the second team of players and the second signal when said sports ball passes through said at least one sports goal to determine that a game statistic corresponds to the second team of players.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means for being detected includes an RFID tag to be detected by the at least one sensor, the at least one sensor emitting the first signal to be received by the at least one control unit when the at least one sensor detects the RFID tag.
10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means for being detected includes conductive wiring to be detected by the at least one sensor, the at least one sensor emitting the first signal to be received by the at least one control unit when the at least one sensor detects the conductive wiring.
11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one control unit is located in proximity of the at least one sports goal.
12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the game statistic is a score, a number of attempted goals made, a number of attempted goals missed, a total of the number of attempted goals made and the number of attempted goals missed, or a percentage of the goals made based on the total of the number of attempted goals made and the number of attempted goals missed.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 30, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2009
Applicant: Russell Corporation (Atlanta, GA)
Inventor: Scott Creelman (Deerfield, MA)
Application Number: 11/978,723
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);