Personal Stat Tracker (PST) for Volitional Input of a Statistical Event with Incidental Contact Avoidance
Disclosed and claimed is an apparatus to register at least one statistical event, said apparatus comprising: a tracking pad securably fastened with an adjustable fastening means for traction against a forearm portion of a sleeve or arm. Furthermore, a top face of said tracking pad has an interface to perform at least one of a register of at least one statistical event, wherein the statistical event is registered by pushing at least one of a concaved and inset button to avoid incidental contact activation during game-play.
Invention relates to computer-aided systems for longitudinal tracking of a volitionally inputted statistical event, particularly through a reconfigurable PST featuring a novel incidental contact avoidance design.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONConventional wearable devices have long allowed a user to track steps, miles walked or ran, not to mention, hours slept. It has become the ideal way of monitoring activity and health without any conscious input from the user. Today's fitness band market is replete with devices that can effortlessly track miles walked, hours slept, and even your vitals. However, conventional standardized devices are limited to the extent that they are not easily customized, are time-constrained, and are not easily reconfigurable. For example, a user may not use any one of these devices for off-labeled purposes, such as a smart watch for tracking the number of shots made during a game of pick-up basketball. What's more, the smart watch user interface is not conducive for tracking changes in real-time, particularly for fast-paced tracking events.
The Hoop Tracker, U.S. Pat. No. 8,845,461B2, Jason Duke, discloses and claims a wearable electronic unit for tracking shots made during game play. However, Duke, requires that the programmable unit be in electronic communication with a shot detecting sensor disposed on the rim. This forces a user to have to install the detector prior to every game play, which would be a) in violation of most competitive league regulations, b) does not allow the user to track only the user's shots made and be inconvenient and untenable in almost any pick-up or open-gym scenario. Moreover, the only statistical event tracked in Duke is field goal attempts, made, and overall shooting percentage. It ignores all other statistical categories, not to mention all other sports, or all other events worthy of tracking to the user.
Finally, the design of Duke and all other trackers found in the prior art do not take into account the inevitable incidental contact that occurs in basketball, or any contact sport for that matter. Incidental contact may come in the form of boxing out an opponent during a challenge for a loose ball or rebound; or while driving the lane and getting fouled on the way to the basket. Either way, the Duke tracker and other like-designed trackers are very much susceptible to input alteration as a result of such incidental contact.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved tracker that can reconfigure based on the statistical event being tracked; not require installation of a shot sensor or any other external elements; and take on a form factor that is conducive for on-the-fly input and not prone to input alteration as a result of incidental contact.
SUMMARYIn the light of the above, it is readily apparent that a need exists in the art for real time tracking of statistical events. It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a suitable form-factor wearable device for convenient on-the-fly volitional input (user or player registered) with incidental contact avoidance. With such a device, a user may be able to register or track events in the short-run or longitudinally in order to gauge an improvement or regression in any number of statistical categories and make the necessary adjustments. Furthermore, remote server analytics and provisioning may be layered for deeper statistical analysis.
It is one object of the invention to describe and claim a device to register at least one statistical event, the apparatus comprising: a tracking pad (personal stat tracker, hereinafter “PST”) fastened with an adjustable fastening means for securely fastening against a surface; and a top face of said tracking pad having an interface to register at least one statistical event. The PST design further comprises concave buttons that are inset or surrounded by a perimeter wall around each button or the entire tracking pad to avoid incidental contact-led disruption.
It is another object of the invention to describe and claim a device that may register inputs without the volitional input of the user as a first or second set of parameters and overlay with at least one registered or volitionally inputted statistical event as a second set of parameters for contextual or longitudinal analytics. The first set or second set of parameters corresponds to at least one of motion, physical and physiological characteristics of the user. The system comprising a processing unit and modules further includes receiving a first or second set of parameters correlating to volitional input from the user during registering or game play (field goals made and missed, for instance). The processing unit further includes correlating the first set of parameters with the second set of parameters for contextual or longitudinal analytics. Thereby, for instance, allowing a user to determine that when the player slows down pace (number of steps in a given period of time determined by an accelerometer unit), field goal percentage tends to be higher (calculated as a percentage of made shots as per total shots taken tracked by the user during game-play).
In yet another object of the invention, an arm-worn device (wrist or forearm) configured for capturing any one of, a motion characteristic as at least a first set or second set of parameters; a processor, a non-transitory storage element coupled to the processor, encoded instructions stored in the non-transitory storage element, wherein the encoded instructions when implemented by the processor, configure the system to, capture at least the first set or second set of motion parameters of the player from the arm-worn device, at least a first set or second set of parameters of the player volitionally inputted during game-play, aggregate behavior of at least the captured first and a second set of parameters, construct a player profile based on the aggregated behavior and comparing player profile with a players individual game or session of games or a reference player profile. This allows a player, teammate, or coach to assess player progression or regression longitudinally. These assessments may be delivered in a companion-app dashboard for sharing with others in a network exclusive to app participants or shared via any social networks.
The arm-worn PST may further be disposed with at least one sensor comprising of, a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a 3D accelerometer, a gyroscope, a global positioning system sensor (GPS), a magnetometer, an inclinometer, an impact sensor, a heart rate monitor, a pulse rate monitor, a respiratory rate monitor and body temperature sensor. The motion characteristics captured represent a first set or second set of parameters of the player and correspond to at least one of sports related motion characteristics, such as maximum value of acceleration, minimum value of acceleration, time of acceleration, duration of acceleration, frequency of acceleration, gap between two maximum/minimum values of acceleration, rotational velocity, direction of acceleration, orientation, a stride cycle, a left/right step, a stride length, a walking speed, a stride interval, a gait variability, a stride-to-stride interval and a variability of stride length over time.
The arm-worn PST may further be disposed with a display with any number of buttons, each representing a different statistical category for tracking. In an exemplary embodiment, the display will be a single narrow display horizontally orientated, displaying a number corresponding to each button registering a category. In a typical device, five categories can be registered simultaneously by simply pushing a concave button situated inset, so as to avoid incidental contact activation or disruption. Additionally, a prolonged pressed button may activate a reset of the accumulation for any one of the categories. The on/off button may turn on or off the device, while also activate a new session, whereby the first session is logged and subject to reporting and analytics. In a typical basketball “run”, games end and new games begin almost immediately, with no intervening time. Statistical tallies from a prior session will need to be transmitted electronically to a remote server or accompanying user-device processor using standard short-range or network communication protocols. The display may be a single, flexible, and durable screen display with integrated touch-activation buttons or inset touch-activation buttons. Finally, the PST may further comprise a voice activation module that may convert at least one pre-defined vocal command into at least one registered statistical event for longitudinal tracking.
The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. However, this disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
In a preferred embodiment, a top face of the PST 102 may comprise a tracking pad 104 fastened with an adjustable fastening means for securely fastening against a surface; and a top face of said tracking pad to register at least one statistical event. The interface may feature at least a single button 106 for tracking any one of an event or may feature a plurality of buttons. Additionally, the interface may feature a display 108 to accompany the buttons. There may be a plurality of displays, each display dedicated to a statistical category. In other embodiments, there may be a single display stretching the width of the tracking pad 104 or PST device 102.
The display 108 may be a standard display for digit representation or a light emitting device (OLED)/flexible optical fiber screen for displaying graphics such as video, logos, texts, patterns. Based on wireless radio signals, the display 108 may change color, images, projections, and patterns using electrical power provided by power source (not shown). The interface may also offer access to network or online services such as internet, video, and e-commerce as well as displays sensor, power source, or device status or “heartbeat”.
In a preferred embodiment, the power source generates, provides or accesses electrical power for the PST 102, and comprises AC/DC source, electromechanical generator, portable rechargeable battery, fuel cell, environment heat source, mechanical source, light source, or other energy source for providing electrical power. In an alternative embodiment, the power source may tap into a heat sink or heat given-off by user body during play; mechanical heat source is produced by transforming mechanical energy of the players physical motion into electrical power.
The PST 102 comprises one or more active or passive, smart or intelligent, personalizable, tailorable, programmable or configurable electronic, mechanical or optical logic device or finite state machine, gate array, cross-bar, transmission-line, antenna, multiplexer, demultiplexer, modulator, amplifier, analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog converter, interconnect, microprocessor, controller, thermostat, thermometer, sensor, transponder, radio-frequency identifier or tag (RFID), accelerometer, piezoelectric detector, transistor, diode, resistor, capacitor, inductor, user identifier and/or sensor, input/output display, power source and networking or communication interface.
Networking interface allows user, selectively in real-time, to control or program PST 102, sensor, display 108, and power source through user data input devices such as tracking pad 104 buttons 106, voice recognition tool, keypad, etc. Networking interface may couple PST 102 with user interface appliance, mobile user device, or database. For example, networking interface sends identifier/sensor data, power source status data, display 108 data information to database, over a short-range or long-range communication protocol over a network.
The mobile user device is a portable device that has the capability of communicating over the network, presenting periodic reports or dashboard alerts to the user or player and receiving game-play statistical input or anecdotal responses from the user/player. In some embodiments, the processing may be exclusively performed by an on-board (mobile device) processing unit. Examples of the mobile device include, but are not limited to, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a mobile phone.
The network may be any type of network that is capable of transmitting or receiving data to/from/between user devices: computers, personal devices, telephones or any other electronic devices. Moreover, the network may be any suitable wired network, wireless network, a combination of these or any other conventional network, including any one of, or combination of a LAN or wireless LAN connection, an Internet connection, a point-to-point connection, or other network connection—either local, regional, or global. As such, the network may be further configured with a hub, router, node, and, or gateway to serve as a transit point or bridge to pass data between any of the at least networks. The network may include any software, hardware, or computer applications that implement a communication protocol (wide or short) or facilitate the exchange of data in any of the formats known in any art, at any time. In some embodiments, any one of a hub, router, node, and, or gateway may additionally be configured for the arm-worn device, receiving wearable and, or IoT data, and such data may be integrated, collated, formatted for behavioral profiling, and assessing user/player performance. Such contextualized data may further inform the suggestion tool layer for suggesting routines or recommendations, in light of the player/user profile
Now in reference to
In yet other embodiments (not shown), the buttons 206, 306 on the top face of the tracking pad 204, 304 may be surrounded by a button-fitting enclosure or perimeter wall. The enclosure would be configured to allow finger-access of any one of the buttons 206, 306 and prevent access by anyone else during game play, including incidental contact. Likewise, the tracking pad 204, 304 may be surrounded by a pad-fitting enclosure or perimeter wall. Alternatively, the buttons 206, 306 on the top face of the tracking pad 204, 304 may not designed with these incidental contact avoidance features, and instead, may simply require a prolonged push in order to activate a statistical register. In this scenario, the buttons are not concave or inset, and indistinguishable from any standard button found on any displayed device. The user or player would be forced to keep the button 106 pressed for a whole second or longer in order to activate a statistical register. The likelihood of any of the buttons being pushed for that length of time during game-play incidental contact is small.
The top face of the tracking pad 204, 304 may have any number of buttons 206, 306, arranged in any number of configurations. As shown, there are 5 sets of buttons 206, 306, horizontally lined, each set comprising an “up” and “down” buttons. Each set may correspond to a different statistical category. The entire set of buttons may be horizontally lined above or below the display, with each set lined up above or below its respective category display. As such, there is no need for individual displays for each category. In some embodiments, the buttons are feather-touch activated and integrated as part of the entire flexible display. For instance, in the context of basketball statistical capture for a guard, the first set of buttons 206, 306 may be pre-defined or user-defined to correspond to shots taken; the second set for shots made; the third for assists; and the fourth for steals. While a forward or center may define the sets of buttons differently, placing an emphasis on center-oriented statistical categories, such as rebounds, block shots, etc. In some embodiments, only a single button exists for each statistical category, and the activation of which registers an integer increase.
Another key feature is to have a reset feature, allowing the user or player to reset individual categories or the entire session at a moment's notice by pressing a dedicated reset button 405, 505 on the side wall (shown). While not shown, the reset feature may be achieved by prolonged-pressing the buttons 406, 506 disposed on the top face of the tracking pad 404, 504. Alternatively, a dedicated reset button may be disposed on the top face as well.
It is the experience of most players engaged in a competitive “open-gym” or “pick-up” style game, to have to play a number of games in succession (one session). The unspoken rule is that “winner” stays on and competes against the next team that first called “next”. It is not unusual for a winning team to play a string of two or three games, usually up to 11 or 21 points, scored by 1 point, with the option of 2 points for shots made beyond the arc. Given the pace of game-play and the quick transition between games, there is a need for resetting the entire set of statistical categories between each “run” or game with ease. Moreover, the quick transition between games does not afford a player to view his accumulated statistics for analysis. The PST 402, 502 may be wirelessly interfaced with a mobile device storage element and, or processor, or a remote server for storage of each sessions statistics for further aggregation and longitudinal analysis.
Once a player loses, he may now have the opportunity to sit on the side-lines and view his performance for each game; for the day; for the week; or even month. An aggregation module or session stacker module may aggregate behavior of at least the captured set of parameters, construct a player profile based on the aggregated behavior and compare player profile with a reference player profile to assess player progression or regression longitudinally by a behavior model or player profile module. The reference player profile may be the users rolling average or a player of ordinary skill with comparable metrics (POSCOM). These assessments may be delivered in a companion-app dashboard for sharing with others in a network exclusive to app participants or shared via any social networks by a scouting module.
The data may be transferred by any data transfer method known in the art, including any one of, or combination of a LAN or wireless LAN connection, an Internet connection, a point-to-point connection, or other network connection—either local, regional, or global. The network may be further configured with a hub, router, node, and, or gateway to serve as a transit point or bridge to pass session statistical data between any of the at least networks. The network may include any software, hardware, or computer applications that implement a communication protocol (wide or short) or facilitate the exchange of session or day data in any of the formats known in any art, at any time.
In some embodiments, as shown in
The arm-worn PST 702 may further be disposed with at least one sensor comprising of, a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a 3D accelerometer, a gyroscope, a global positioning system sensor (GPS), a magnetometer, an inclinometer, an impact sensor, a heart rate monitor, a pulse rate monitor, a respiratory rate monitor and body temperature sensor. The motion characteristics captured represent a first set of parameters of the player and correspond to at least one of sports related characteristics, such as maximum value of acceleration, minimum value of acceleration, time of acceleration, duration of acceleration, frequency of acceleration, gap between two maximum/minimum values of acceleration, rotational velocity, direction of acceleration, orientation, a stride cycle, a left/right step, a stride length, a walking speed, a stride interval, a gait variability, a stride-to-stride interval and a variability of stride length over time.
Deep analytics may be performed by the session stacker module 704, a player profile module 706, and a scouting module 708 and configured to analyze the at least first set or second set of parameters. Deep analytics may be possible by correlating the sensed metrics with the volitionally inputted metrics to suggest or recommend actions. For example, a player's field goal percentage (made shots as a percentage of shots attempted) per session may be statistically proven to be higher upon an average to low peak activity (maximum mean step rate in a 30-minute time interval). In furtherance of this correlation, a scouting module 708 may push a suggestion via the companion app to slow down play or to lower the number of possessions because the analysis suggests that the player is more offensively efficient when not rushing. A person skilled in the art it will understand that any number of metrics (sensor captured or volitionally inputted) may be correlated in order for the system to be able to push a scouting suggestion to the user.
The scouting module 708 or an alert/notification module is configured to generate scouting reports for the player. The reports may be provided to the concerned party at regular intervals (such as daily at 12:00 PM, weekly and monthly), on-demand (player requested), real-time, or at the end of a game or day of games. Alternatively, a trigger may be pre-defined by the player to report or alert if any one of the statistical categories on notice has not reached a threshold. For example, a player sets the assists alert to 3 a game. Upon completing a game with fewer than 3 assists, the scouting module 608 will send a scouting report alerting the player of the fewer than 3 assists. Alternatively, the scouting module 708 will directly send an alert of the deficiency in assists, without a comprehensive scouting report. The processing may be achieved on lean or embedded processors of a user's mobile device or off-loaded to a remote server with greater computing resources.
In another embodiment, a method to register at least one statistical event may comprise the steps of: (1) securely fastening a tracker pad with an adjustable fastening means for traction against a forearm portion of a sleeve or arm 802; and (2) registering at least one statistical event, wherein the statistical event is registered by pushing at least one of a concaved and inset button to avoid incidental contact activation during game-play 804.
In yet another embodiment, a method to combine at least one registered statistical event with at least one sensor-captured motion-based characteristic may comprise the steps of: (1) fastening a tracker pad with an adjustable fastening means for traction against a forearm portion of a sleeve or arm; (2) registering at least one statistical event, wherein the statistical event is registered by pushing at least one button; and (3) capturing at least one motion-based characteristic by a sensor to be combined with the registered statistical event for analysis or provisioning.
These assessments may be delivered in a companion-app dashboard for sharing with others in a network exclusive to app participants or shared via any social networks. Coaches may compare players on a team by comparing scouting reports to make player assessments and personnel decisions. What's more, it may serve as a source of competitive banter or encouragement among friends.
Embodiments are described at least in part herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, systems, and computer program products and data structures according to embodiments of the disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the illustrations, and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus, to produce a computer implemented process such that, the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block or blocks.
In general, the word “module” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, Java, C, etc. One or more software instructions in the unit may be embedded in firmware. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other non-transitory storage elements. Some non-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include CDs, DVDs, BLU-RAY, flash memory, mobile device, remote device, and hard disk drives.
Claims
1. An apparatus to register at least one statistical event, said apparatus comprising:
- a tracking pad securely fastened with an adjustable fastening means for traction against a wrist or forearm portion of a sleeve or arm;
- a top face of said tracking pad having an interface to register at least one statistical event; and
- wherein the statistical event is registered by pushing at least one of a concaved and inset button to avoid incidental contact activation during game-play.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking pad has a bottom surface disposed with an inner gel pad for traction against the sleeve or arm.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking pad is fastened over a top surface of the sleeve or the arm by an adjustable sized-strap terminating with at least one of a buckle, fabric adhesive, loop, magnet, and snap.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking pad top face comprises of at least a single flexible display for displaying at least one statistical event.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the single flexible display is integrated with a feather-touch button for touching to register the statistical event, said button being any one of inset, concave, convex, of flushed with the screen surface.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising of at least two buttons, wherein one is to register an increase in a statistical event and the other button is to register a decrease in the statistical event.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one button is a dial registering a statistical event for analogue display on the top face of the tracking pad.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one concave and inset button is further protected from incidental contact activation by a button perimeter wall.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one concave and inset button is further protected from incidental contact activation by a tracking pad perimeter wall.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one concave and inset button is further protected from incidental contact activation by requiring a prolonged push to register the statistical event.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a voice activation module for converting at least one pre-defined vocal command into at least one registered statistical event.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless coupling to at least one of a mobile device and remote server to enable analysis or provisioning to the registered statistical event or a sensor-captured motion characteristic.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor to capture a set of parameters corresponding to at least one motion characteristic to combine with at least one volitional input.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor is at least one of an accelerometer, 3D accelerometer, or gyroscope.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sets of parameters combine to generate a player profile using a time-rolling average of registered statistical events.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a scouting module to generate a scouting report based on a threshold-grade discrepancy between at least one of a game or session of games over any period of time with the player profile.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the scouting module generates a scouting report based on a threshold-grade discrepancy between at least one of a game or session of games over any period of time with a composite or reference player profile of a plurality of players with ordinary skill with comparable metrics.
18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising at least one side-line observational data input by a third-party to constitute a third set of parameters to combine with the at least one motion characteristic and the at least one volitional input.
19. An apparatus to register at least one statistical event, said apparatus comprising:
- a tracking pad securely fastened with an adjustable fastening means for traction against a forearm portion of a sleeve or arm;
- a top face of said tracking pad having an interface to register at least one statistical event, wherein the statistical event is registered by pushing at least one of a concaved and inset button to avoid incidental contact activation during game-play; and
- a sensor to capture a set of motion-based parameters to be combined with the registered statistical event as another set of parameters for analysis or provisioning.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the sensor is at least one of an accelerometer, 3D accelerometer, or gyroscope.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the sets of parameters combine to generate a player profile using a time-rolling average of registered statistical events.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a scouting module to generate a scouting report based on a threshold-grade discrepancy between at least one of a game or session of games over any period of time with the player profile.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the scouting module generates a scouting report based on a threshold-grade discrepancy between at least one of a game or session of games over any period of time with a composite or reference player profile of a plurality of players with ordinary skill with comparable metrics.
24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the scouting module generates a report to be shared with at least one of a player and the players social network.
25. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an alert or notification module to generate at least one of a report, alert, and notification to be shared with at least one of a player and the players social network.
26. An apparatus to register at least one statistical event, said apparatus comprising:
- a flexible touch-screen display securely fastened with an adjustable fastening means for traction against a wrist or forearm portion of a sleeve or arm;
- a top face of said flexible touch-screen display having an interface to register and display at least one statistical event; and
- wherein the statistical event is registered by prolonged pushing at least one of a concaved, convex, inset, protruding, and flush portion of said flexible touch-screen display to avoid incidental contact activation.
27. A method to register at least one statistical event, said method comprising the steps of:
- securely fastening a tracker pad with an adjustable fastening means for traction against a forearm portion of a sleeve or arm;
- registering at least one statistical event, wherein the statistical event is registered by pushing at least one of a concaved and inset button to avoid incidental contact activation during game-play.
28. A method to combine at least one registered statistical event with at least one sensor-captured motion-based characteristic, said method comprising the steps of:
- fastening a tracker pad with an adjustable fastening means for traction against a forearm portion of a sleeve or arm;
- registering at least one statistical event, wherein the statistical event is registered by pushing at least one of a button; and
- capturing at least one motion-based characteristic by a sensor to be combined with the registered statistical event for analysis or provisioning.
Type: Application
Filed: May 15, 2018
Publication Date: Nov 21, 2019
Inventor: Gimi Alvin S. Puentevella (Sleepy Hollow, NY)
Application Number: 15/980,468