Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods in a team sports environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10213647-B2
Application number	US-201615339214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2016
Priority date	Dec 5, 2008
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for determining when an athlete is in possession of a ball by analyzing image data are provided. A camera is worn by an athlete and is turned on when the athlete is in proximity of a ball. The camera is used to generate an image of a ball. The size of the ball is determined and compared to a threshold. The athlete is considered to be in possession of the ball when the size of the image exceeds the threshold.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving first data from a first transducer;
comparing, at a processor, the first data to a template, wherein at least a first parameter of the template identifies a particular resonance frequency; and
determining whether a first user is in possession of an object based on the comparison of the first data to the template to the one or more parameters of the template.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an amount of time the first user is in possession of the object.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first transducer is configured to be worn by the first user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more parameters of the template are configured to identify a type of activity performed by the first user.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving second data from a second transducer associated with a second user;
compare the first data and the second data to a template; and
determine which of the first user and the second user is in possession of the object based on the comparison of the first data and the second data to the template.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
identify a time interval during which the second data corresponds to the template; and
determine an amount of time the second user is in possession of the object.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a parameter in the one or more parameters of the template identifies a minimum peak voltage level corresponding to an impact force on the object.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a parameter in the one or more parameters of the template identifies a minimum peak voltage level corresponding to an audible echo associated with an impact force on the object.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a parameter in the one or more parameters of the template identifies a threshold amount of time between peak voltage levels.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a first time interval during which the first data corresponds to one or more parameters of the template.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining that the first user is not in possession of the object if the first data does not correspond to one or more parameters of the template for a predetermined period of time.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Balakrishnan Santoshkumar
• Holmes Steve
• Weast Aaron B

Classifications

• H04N23/65

  Control of camera operation in relation to power supply · CPC title

• H04N23/66

  Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices · CPC title

• A43B1/0054 Primary

  provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances · CPC title

• G01S13/82

  wherein continuous-type signals are transmitted · CPC title

• A43B5/02

  Football boots {or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby} · CPC title