EP2589027A1

EP2589027A1 - Installation for controlling the playing time of a sporting event

Info

Publication number: EP2589027A1
Application number: EP11738015.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pascal Saguin; Pascal Champaney; Philippe Turlier
Original assignee: Adeunis RF SA
Current assignee: Adeunis RF SA
Priority date: 2010-06-30
Filing date: 2011-06-24
Publication date: 2013-05-08
Also published as: US20120002509A1; BR112012033385A2; FR2962240A1; US20130235702A1; FR2962240B1; US8786416B2; CN102971771B; CN102971771A; CA2801855A1; WO2012001275A1

Abstract

Installation (1) for controlling the playing time of a sporting event, in particular of the type found in basketball, comprising: - a portable system (2) for picking up and detecting a whistle blow (S4) that signals a stoppage in the playing time, said portable system converting the audible signals into digital signals, digitally processing these digital signals and outputting a digital refereeing signal (S23) in response to the detection of the whistle blow; and - a fixed system (3) for controlling the playing time, having a digital radio connection to the portable system and comprising control means (31) that stop and/or start a clock (32) that counts down the playing time in response to the reception of the digital refereeing signal. The invention also relates to just the portable system and to just the fixed system specially designed for the portable system, and also to a time-multiplexing digital audio communications terminal incorporating such a portable system.

Description

INSTALLATION FOR CONTROLLING THE TIME OF PLAY OF AN EVENT

ATHLETIC

The present invention relates to a portable system for acquiring and detecting a so-called arbitration acoustic signal, signaling a stop and / or resumption of the playing time of a sports event, intended to be worn by a referee of the sporting event.

It also relates to a digital audio communication terminal, for audio communication between several arbiters, integrating such a portable acquisition and detection system.

It also relates to a fixed system for controlling the playing time of the sports event, intended to be in radio communication with such a portable acquisition and detection system, as well as a game time control facility. including such a fixed control system in radio communication with such a portable acquisition and detection system.

At certain sporting events, and in particular during basketball or other collective sports governed by the same type of playing time rule as basketball, it is customary for each stoppage of play reported by the one of the referees, usually the main referee, or even the only referee present, the countdown of the playing time is stopped. In this way, only the actual playing periods are actually taken into account for the appreciation of the playing time of the game in progress, and the interruptions due in particular to player replacements, injuries, fouls, etc. are not counted in the game time.

These sports events are thus subject to the stopwatch that typically provides the countdown of playing time, and any arbitration intervention must cause the stoppage thereof to count down the downtime of the game, in other words not to take into account these game interruptions in the overall game time allocated for the current game.

In many cases, the referee signals a stoppage of time by a whistle; the whistle being generally duly homologated and referenced by the federation in charge of these sports events or by any other sworn organization for these sporting events. It is also conceivable that the same referee signals the resumption of playing time by the same whistle, which then triggers the start or restart of the stopwatch. In some sports, such as basketball bail, the actual game phases are particularly fast and choppy, with many game stops in the course of the game, so that the oversights or stopping delays of the stopwatch are regular and lead disputes always difficult to settle for the referees.

To answer this problem, it is known to employ automatic whistle detection and stopwatch systems. It is thus known from EP 0 712 508 B1 to use a remotely controlled timing installation which comprises:

- several portable systems each equipped, on the one hand, with a microphone which measures the external sounds and delivers raw analog measurement signals and, on the other hand, with a radio-controlled portable transmitter which transmits these raw analog signals of measurement ; and

a fixed system comprising a radioreceiver placed on the brand table, in radio link with the portable radio-controlled transmitters, followed by a mixer which mixes the raw analog measurement signals, then a high-pass filter and a pass filter filter; low, then an electronic control circuit that delivers a switching signal to the stopwatch.

The connection between the portable systems and the fixed system is thus effected by means of an analog radio transmission, in modulated frequency (FM), in frequencies selected to be distinct from the transmission frequencies of the external electronic equipment such as television, communication equipment of the security team, etc.

Whistle detection is carried out in the fixed system, in other words at the mark table, by means in particular of the high-pass filter whose cut-off frequency substantially corresponds to the frequency of emission of the whistle, to let frequencies above the cutoff frequency (or whistle frequency) and to attenuate frequencies below the cutoff frequency.

However, this type of remotely controlled timing installation has many disadvantages due mainly to the analog radio link between the portable systems and the fixed system.

Indeed, this analog radio link distorts and colors the transmitted analog signals and modifies their signature, thus affecting the reliability of their detection. Indeed, the components used for transmission, transmission and analysis of analog signals have their own characteristics (bandwidth, distortion, different filtering effects, etc.), which modify the analog signal permanently. It is said that the system colors the analog signal, in other words modifies the spectral response of this analog signal. Each transformation of the analog signal generated by these components necessarily generates background noise because each component creates it. The major disadvantage of an analog system is the irreversible degradation of the analog signal, the system being unable to distinguish the useful signal from the background noise.

Thus, the radio link being analog, there is no way to catch a call if it is scrambled, or even to detect the failure of the system so that, on the one hand, whistles may not be detected by the fixed system following electromagnetic disturbances induced by external electronic devices and that, on the other hand, these same external electronic devices can disturb the analog signal transmitted to the point of erroneously triggering the stopping of playing time.

In addition, in the case of the installation disclosed in EP 0 712 508 B1, the whistle detection is done after the radioreceptor of the brand table, with a simple analog bandpass filtering which is intended to detect the frequency of the whistle. However, it has been observed, with this type of installation, that any acoustic signal having a frequency component of the same nature, such as public whistles, screeching of the soles of the shoe on the floor, etc. is interpreted as a whistle, triggering an unwanted stop of the stopwatch.

Thus, this installation employing analog communication systems has a sometimes unreasonable lack of reliability, because sources of conflict between teams and referees, when whistles issued by the referee are not detected and when external sounds (whistles) of the public, screeching of shoe soles, etc.) erroneously stop the stopwatch.

The state of the art can also be illustrated by the teaching of the international application WO 00/73858 which discloses a portable system (signaling device) for acquiring and detecting an acoustic signal called arbitration (sensor signal) , including the whistle type, signaling a stop and / or resumption of playing time of a sporting event. The portable system includes a signaling device controller that performs a spectral analysis to determine the whistle emission, or even an analysis of the detection signal signature parameters such as the level, duration, and frequency components. However, this spectral analysis and taking into account the aforementioned signature parameters are insufficient to obtain a reliable detection and insensitive to the whistles of the public, screeching of the soles of shoes on the ground, etc. Thus, this portable system generally leads to unwanted stops of the timer.

The object of the present invention is to solve these drawbacks by proposing a portable system for acquiring and detecting an acoustic signal known as arbitration signal, in particular of the whistle type, which allows a reliable detection of the acoustic arbitration signal and who gets rid of any faulty analog radio link.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable system for acquiring and detecting the acoustic arbitration signal which makes it possible to check the correct operation and the availability of the system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable system for acquiring and detecting the arbitration acoustic signal which avoids having false triggering of the stopping of playing time due to radio disturbances or external sounds. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable system for acquiring and detecting the acoustic arbitration signal that allows the echo to be taken into account in a room.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital audio communication terminal which integrates such a portable acquisition and detection system, thus making it possible to use the same term inal for the audio communication between several arbiters and for the detection of whistle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fixed game time control system intended to be in radio communication with such a portable acquisition and detection system, where the fixed system is particularly suitable for this portable system. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fixed game time control system which is of simple design and which allows a fast and reliable stoppage of play time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game time control installation comprising at least one such portable system and such a fixed system, which allows a reliable detection of the whistle which avoids having false triggers of the game. stopping playing time

For this purpose, it proposes a portable system for acquiring and detecting an acoustic signal known as an arbitration signal, in particular of the whistle type, signaling a stop and / or a resumption of the playing time of a sporting event, in particular of the type of basketball match or other collective sport, the portable system being intended to be worn by a referee of the sporting event and comprising:

acoustic measuring means, in particular of the microphone type, designed to measure the external acoustic signals and to deliver raw analog measurement signals in response to the measurement of the external acoustic signals;

- Analogue / digital conversion means connected to the acoustic measurement means and designed to convert the raw analog measurement signals into digital measurement signals;

digital processing means, in particular of the digital signal processor ("DSP") type, connected to the analog / digital conversion means and designed to process and analyze the digital measurement signals in order to detect the emission or not of the acoustic signal of arbitration among the external acoustic signals measured by said acoustic measuring means, said digital processing means delivering a digital arbitration signal in response to the detection of the acoustic arbitration signal; and

transmission means connected to the digital processing means and designed to transmit said digital arbitration signal;

said portable system being remarkable in that the digital processing means comprise means for comparing the time profile of the amplitude envelope of the digital measurement signals with a time profile of a reference envelope, in order to detect a signal presenting a temporal profile of the acoustic power envelope that corresponds substantially to the time profile of the reference envelope. Thus, with this portable system, the detection of the arbitration acoustic signal is carried out directly in the system carried by the referee, and this detection is carried out without any analog processing on the raw analog signals of measurement, with the exception possibly amplification, but is done by means of a transparent digital processing that does not stain or distort the analog raw measurement signals.

In this way, the detection of the arbitration acoustic signal, hereinafter called whistle, is carried out before the radio transmission to the fixed system (detailed later) of the brand table. Thus, thanks to the invention, there is no risk of distortion and / or coloration of the signals during a radio communication to the brand table, the detection of the whistle being done before the radio communication to destination of the fixed system. It is of course conceivable that this arbitrary acoustic signal is emitted by other types of buzzer than the whistle, such as for example a trunk.

In a particular embodiment, the arbitration signal serves only to signal the stopping of playing time, and the resumption of playing time is signaled in another way, for example vocal or manual.

Following the detection of the whistle by the digital processing means, the system transmits a digital arbitration signal to the fixed system; such a digital arbitration signal, which informs the detection of the acoustic signal arbitration, being significantly less sensitive to electromagnetic disturbances induced by external electronic devices. Thus, according to the invention, the radio link between the portable system and the fixed system is a digital radio link which has many advantages, such as the possibility of transmitting the digital arbitration signal several times, to check the integration of digital radio, to guarantee the information transmitted by this digital radio link, etc.

In addition, the digital processing means allow a particularly reliable detection of the whistle, not limited to a simple frequency analysis, which advantageously makes it possible to avoid false detections by confusing the whistle neck with external acoustic signals. with a frequency component of the same nature, such as the whistles of the public, the screeching of the soles of shoes on the ground, etc. Indeed, these digital processing means make it possible to place the whistle detection on other parameters representative of the whistle, but not representative of these external acoustic signals.

More specifically, the detection of the whistle is done by analyzing the time profile of the amplitude envelope of the digital measurement signals, since a whistle generally has a fairly specific envelope profile, typically with a sharp rise in power followed by a level of power and finally a slow decrease in power.

The analysis of this envelope profile is particularly advantageous for distinguishing the whistle from the surrounding voices, the ambient noise and the aforementioned external acoustic signals having a frequency component of the same nature. This reference envelope profile thus forms a kind of whistle signature which reinforces the reliability of the detection of this whistle.

Advantageously, the time profile of the reference envelope is defined by the following parameters:

an increase in the acoustic power of a first predetermined power value, in particular of the order of 30 to 40 dB, relative to a base power associated with an ambient background, over a first period of time, in particular the order of a few milliseconds;

a step of the acoustic power over a second period of time, in particular of approximately 50 milliseconds, consecutive to the first period of time and where the second period of time is longer than the first period of time, this bearing optionally presenting a increasing the acoustic power of a second predetermined power value, in particular of the order of 5 to 6 d B, over the second period of time, the second power value being lower than the first power value; and

a decrease in the acoustic power until substantially reaching the base power, over a third period of time, in particular of the order of 200 to 400 milliseconds, consecutive to the second period of time, where the third period of time is longer than the second period of time.

Such a reference envelope is advantageous with regard to the envelope profiles conventionally observed with a sudden rise in power followed by a power stage and finally a slow decrease in power. Preferably, the digital processing means comprise means for setting or modifying the temporal profile of the reference envelope, in particular to take into account the presence of an echo inside a sports hall.

Thus, it is possible to take into account the interior architecture of a gym responsible for an echo in the detection of the whistle. Indeed, the presence of an echo tends to significantly lengthen the envelope and slightly modulate its response. In this case, the reference envelope is modified so that it corresponds to the exact signature of the whistle in this specific environment. This modification can be made beforehand with some whistle tests in the quiet gym.

According to one characteristic, the digital processing means furthermore comprise means for comparing the amplitude of the digital measurement signals with a reference amplitude, in order to detect a signal of high acoustic power when the amplitude of the digital measurement signals is greater than the reference amplitude.

Thus, in addition to the analysis of the envelope profile, the detection of the whistle is also done by analyzing the amplitude or the acoustic power, because a whistle is generally in the form of an acoustic signal. high acoustic power, where ambient noise and surrounding voices (voices of players, coaches, referees, spectators, etc.) are more moderate. Typically the sound power of a whistle is 10 to 15 dB greater than that of a human scream

According to another characteristic, the digital processing means further comprise means for comparing the frequencies of the digital measurement signals with a reference frequency range, in order to detect a signal emitted in said reference frequency range.

Thus, in addition to the analysis of the envelope profile, the detection of the whistle is also done by analyzing the frequency of the digital measurement signals, because a whistle is emitted in a specific acute frequency range. Advantageously, the digital processing means are designed to implement successively:

the means for comparing the amplitude of the digital measurement signals with a reference amplitude; then

the means for comparing the time profile of the amplitude envelope of the digital measurement signals with a time profile of a reference envelope; and finally

the means for comparing the frequencies of the digital measurement signals with a reference frequency range.

In this embodiment, the detection is done in three successive phases:

a first phase of comparing the amplitude of the digital measurement signals with a reference amplitude, making it possible to detect the signals of high acoustic power, the acoustic power being very characteristic of the whistle. This first phase makes it possible to avoid implementing the other phases if no sufficiently powerful sound is detected;

a second phase of comparing the time profile of the amplitude envelope of the digital measurement signals with a time profile of a reference envelope, this envelope profile constituting a very specific signature of the whistle, so that this second phase guarantees the detection of the whistle; and

a third phase of comparison of the frequencies of the digital measurement signals with a reference frequency range, in order to finally confirm the detection of the whistle.

The succession of these three phases ensures the detection of the whistle almost at 100%, and also guarantees that no other external acoustic signal will be confused with the whistle, thus avoiding false triggering of the stoppage of time. of play

The various reference parameters (reference amplitude, reference envelope and reference frequency range) are close to those of referenced whistles; as a reminder, whistles are generally homologated and referenced by the federations in charge of these sports events or by any other sworn organization for these sporting events. Thus, the portable system comprises an internal memory in which these reference parameters are stored, preferably with the possibility to modify and / or replace them in order to adapt this portable system to several types of whistle and / or the presence of echo as described above.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention:

the digital processing means are designed to process and analyze the digital measurement signals in order to detect, among the acoustic signals measured by said acoustic measurement means, a specific vocal command sent by the referee to signal the resumption of the playing time said digital processing means delivering a digital play time recovery signal in response to the detection of said voice command; and

the transmitting means are designed to transmit said digital signal for playing back time.

Once the countdown of the playing time is stopped after the detection of an arbitration acoustic signal signaling the stopping of playing time, this feature allows to raise vocally and automatically the countdown of playing time, using the same communication channel only for the digital signal arbitration, namely the aforementioned digital radio link which has all the advantages already described.

According to one possibility of the invention, the system further comprises means for manually actuating the resumption of playing time, in particular of the type switch or keypad key, intended to be manually operated by the referee to signal the recovery playing time; and in addition

the digital processing means are connected to said actuating means, said digital processing means delivering a digital signal for taking up playing time in response to the actuation of the actuating means by the referee; and

Once the countdown of the game time is stopped after the detection of an arbitration acoustic signal signaling the stopping of playing time, this feature allows to restart manually and automatically the countdown of playing time, using the same communication channel only for the digital signal arbitration, namely the aforementioned digital radio link which has all the advantages already described. According to another possibility of the invention, the system further comprises amplification means arranged at the output of the acoustic measurement means for amplifying the raw analog measurement signals before being converted by the analog / digital conversion means.

These amplification means aim to perform a simple amplification of the raw analog measurement signals, without any other analog processing, so as not to color them.

According to another possibility of the invention, the transmission means are designed to transmit the digital arbitration signal several times, in particular at a regular time interval, preferably of the order of 10 to 50 milliseconds, over a period of time. predetermined.

In this way, and thanks to the small digital radio, the digital arbitration signal, which will serve as a trigger for stopping and / or resuming play time in the fixed system (as described later), can be issued several times to be certain that the latter is received by the fixed system.

Thus, on three consecutive emissions of the digital arbitration signal, it is tolerable to "lose" one or two broadcasts, in other words not to receive one or two broadcasts at the fixed system of the brand table. Indeed, by losing two out of three broadcasts, the fixed system still receives the maximum digital signal of arbitration in a maximum delay of 30 to 150 milliseconds following its emission, which is quite acceptable for the time management of a sporting event and remains below the maximum allowed delay to stop the countdown of playing time.

In the field of radiocommunication, it is conventional to carry out a transmission at a regular time interval of the order of 10 to 30 milliseconds, so that it is even conceivable to have 80% loss in remission, thus offering a great flexibility in routing digital signals via the digital radio link.

Advantageously, the transmission means are configured to transmit a plurality of digital signals on the same frequency channel, called a communication channel, according to a time division multiplex communication method enabling data transmission in successive cycles of the same communication channel. each cycle being divided into a plurality of time slots, and each cycle has an interval time reserved for the transmission of the digital arbitration signal. Of course, the choice of the time slot may possibly change from one cycle to another, depending for example on data routing priority considerations.

This type of communication method thus makes it possible to use the communication channel, in other words the digital radio link mentioned above, to drive several types of digital data and not just the digital arbitration signal, for example data digital audio allowing multi-user, time-division multiplex wireless audio communication in a single channel. The digital data is thus distributed in the form of data packets conveyed in the time slots ("time slot" in English) of the successive cycles. It is understood, within the meaning of the present application, that a "cycle" constitutes a cycle of a communication or transmission channel, said "cycle" sometimes being misnamed "frame".

In a particular embodiment, each cycle has a time interval reserved for transmitting the digital time-out signal defined above, in order to take advantage of this communication channel to transmit this digital signal for the resumption of playing time. .

Advantageously, the transmission means are shaped to integrate in one of the time slots of each cycle a cyclic redundancy signal which makes it possible to check the integrity of the cycles transmitted.

Thus, the cycles (or frames) include a cyclic redundancy code which makes it possible to check the good integrity of the cycles, so that: - either the cycle is intact and then its content is then definitely valid, and in particular the digital signal of arbitration;

- either the cycle is corrupted and then the latter is ignored in its entirety, including the digital arbitration signal, so that false triggering due to disturbances in the digital radio link (which is in essence very rare) is excluded .

The invention also relates to a time division multiplexed audio communication terminal for transmitting audiometric data in successive cycles of the same communication channel, each cycle being divided into a plurality of time intervals, comprising: - Audio communication means for receiving and transmitting the voice, including a microphone and a speaker;

- Digital audio conversion means in connection with the audio communication means for converting the voice into audiometric data, and vice versa;

control means, in particular of the microprocessor type, in connection with the digital audio conversion means and designed to receive the audiometric data as input and to output them in time slots of the cycles of the communication channel, and vice versa; and

transmitting / receiving means adapted to receive and transmit the audiometric data in successive cycles of the same communication channel; and

a portable acquisition and detection system according to the invention, said portable acquisition and detection system being integrated in said digital audio communication terminal with:

its acoustic measurement means which are integrated in the audio communication means;

its analogue / digital conversion means which are integrated in the digital audio conversion means;

its digital processing means which are integrated in the control means; and with

its transmission means which are integrated in the transmission / reception means, each cycle of the communication channel having a time interval reserved for the em ission of the digital arbitration signal.

The invention also relates to a fixed system for controlling the playing time of a sporting event, in particular of the basketball match type or other collective sport, said fixed system being intended to be in radio link with at least one portable acquisition system. and detection according to the invention, and comprising:

reception means in radio link with the transmission means of the or each portable acquisition and detection system, said reception means being designed to receive the or each digital arbitration signal; control means connected to the reception means and designed to deliver an arbitration control signal in response to the reception of a digital arbitration signal by the reception means; and

means for counting the playing time, in particular of the chronometer type, connected to the control means and configured to stop and / or resume the countdown of the game time in response to the issuance of the arbitration control signal.

This fixed system is particularly suited to the portable system described above, according to an obvious technical link of the transmitter / receiver type. Indeed, this fixed system does not include any means for analyzing or processing the digital arbitration signal, the detection of the whistle having already been performed in the portable system.

This fixed system receives the digital arbitration signal which serves as a trigger for stopping the countdown of playing time via the control means; this system being of course adapted to receive the digital arbitration signal and, where appropriate, to distinguish it among other digital data in the context of a communication by time multiplexing.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention:

the reception means are designed to receive the or each digital signal for resuming the playing time defined above;

the control means are designed to generate a restart control signal in response to the reception of a digital signal for playing time by the reception means; and

- The game time counting means are configured to put or restart the play time count in response to the issuance of the resume control signal.

The invention also relates to an installation for controlling the playing time of a sporting event, in particular of the type basketball match or other collective sport, said installation comprising:

at least one portable acquisition and detection system according to the invention; and

a fixed system for controlling the game time according to the invention and in radio link with the or each portable acquisition and detection system. The present invention also relates to an installation for controlling the playing time of a sporting event, in particular of the basketball meeting type or other collective sports meeting, said installation comprising:

several digital audio communication terminals intended to be worn by referees of the sporting event to enable audio communication between these referees, where at least one of said communication terminals is in accordance with the invention by integrating a portable system in accordance with the invention; and

a fixed system for controlling the game time according to the invention and in radio connection with the or each portable acquisition and detection system equipping the digital audio communication terminal or terminals.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description below, of an example of non-limiting implementation, with reference to the appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an installation for controlling the playing time of a sports event in accordance with the invention, comprising a portable acquisition and detection system and a fixed game time control system. sports event according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of digital processing means of a portable acquisition and detection system according to the invention;

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of a digital audio communication terminal according to the invention, incorporating a portable acquisition and detection system according to the invention;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are schematic views of two successive cycles (or frame) of a communication channel used for the radio transmission of the digital arbitration signal between the portable system and the fixed system;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a mixed data packet comprising several categories of data including the digital arbitration signal; and

- Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of the time profile of a first reference envelope and a second reference envelope after taking into account the echo. With reference to FIG. 1, a facility 1 for controlling the playing time of a sporting event, such as, for example, a basketball match, according to the invention comprises:

at least one portable acquisition and detection system 2 intended to be worn by a referee of the sporting event; and

a fixed system 3 for controlling the playing time in radio link with the or each portable system 2 and intended to be arranged for example on a branded table.

The portable system 2 is designed for the acquisition and detection of a so-called S4 arbitration signal signaling a stop and / or resumption of the game time of the sporting event. This acoustic signal S4 arbitration can be issued by the referee or one of the referees of the sporting event, by means of a whistle 4, and it is then called a whistle S4 signaling the stop of the playing time, or even the resumption of playing time.

For the rest of the description, the arbitration acoustic signal will be considered as a whistle S4 which signals only the stopping of playing time, it being understood that other forms of acoustic signal may be envisaged.

This portable system 2 comprises acoustic measurement means 20, for example of the microphone type, designed to:

- measure external acoustic signals from all acoustic sources present during the sporting event (audience, referees, players, coaches, whistles, commentators, advertising, screeching shoe soles, etc.) including the S4 whistle from whistle 4 of the referee (s); and for

delivering raw analog measurement signals S20 in response to the measurement of the external acoustic signals.

This portable system 2 comprises, at the output of the acoustic measurement means 20, amplification means 21 designed to amplify the raw analog measurement signals 20.

This portable system 2 comprises, at the output of the amplification means 21, analog / digital conversion means 22 designed to convert the raw analog measurement signals S20, previously amplified by the amplification means 21, into digital measurement signals. S22, otherwise known as audiometric data "Audio" in the case of an integration of the portable system 2 in a communication terminal 8 as described below.

Thus, the raw analog signals of measurement S20 are immediately sampled so that they can be scanned; no analog processing is done on these signals, such as filtering or compression treatments, except for a simple amplification, transparent, not to color them.

Next, this portable system 2 comprises, at the output of the analog / digital conversion means 22, digital processing means 23, for example of the digital signal processor ("DSP") type, designed to process and analyze the digital measurement signals S22 to detect the emission or not of the whistle S4 by the other external acoustic signals measured by the acoustic measurement means 20. These digital processing means 23 deliver a digital signal d S23 game time arbitration in response to detecting the S4 whistle; this digital arbitration signal S23 thus forms a digital signal informing of the detection of the whistle and intended to control the stopping of the countdown of playing time.

Finally, this portable system 2 comprises transmission means 24 connected to the digital processing means 23 and designed to transmit the digital arbitration signal S23 via an antenna 240.

With reference to FIG. 2, to perform the analysis, the digital processing means 23 comprise three distinct comparison means:

first means for comparing the amplitude of the digital measurement signals S22 with a reference amplitude, in order to detect a signal of strong acoustic noise when the amplitude of the digital measurement signals is greater than the reference amplitude ;

second comparison means 26 of the time profile of the amplitude envelope of the digital measurement signals S22 with a time profile of a reference envelope, in order to detect a signal having a temporal profile of the acoustic power envelope which corresponds substantially to the temporal profile of the reference envelope; and

third comparison means 27 of the frequencies of the digital measurement signals S22 with a reference frequency range, in order to detect a signal emitted in said reference frequency range. The digital processing means 23 comprise at input a distribution block 280 of the digital measurement signals S22 in the three comparison means 25, 26, 27.

The first comparison means 25, called the first comparison block, comprise an extraction block 250 of the amplitude of the digital measurement signals S22, a memory block 251 in which the reference amplitude is stored, and a comparison block 252 between the amplitude of the digital measurement signals S22 and the reference amplitude.

The second comparison means 26, called the second comparison block, comprise an extraction block 260 of the time profile of the amplitude envelope of the digital measurement signals S22, a memory block 261 in which the reference envelope is stored. , and a comparison block 262 between the time profiles of the amplitude envelopes of the digital measurement signals S22 and reference.

FIG. 6 illustrates the time profile of a first reference envelope ER1 and a second reference envelope ER2, each corresponding to a curve of variation of the acoustic power PA as a function of time t, PA being for illustrative purposes expressed in decibel (dB) and t being expressed in milliseconds (ms) in this figure 6.

The time profile of the first reference envelope ER1 or the second reference envelope ER2 is defined by the following parameters:

a step of the acoustic power over a second period of time, in particular of approximately 50 milliseconds, consecutive to the first period of time and where the second period of time is longer than the first period of time, this bearing optionally presenting a increasing the acoustic power of a second predetermined power value, in particular from the order of 5 to 6 d B, over the second period of time, the second power value being lower than the first power value; and

a decrease in acoustic power until substantially reaching the base power, over a third period of time, in particular in the order of 50 to 400 milliseconds, consecutive to the second period of time, where the third period of time is longer than the second period of time.

The first reference envelope ER1 corresponds to a situation without echo or without taking echo into account, with:

- the increase of about 40 dB from a base power of zero over the first period which lasts about 5 ms;

- the bearing on the second period which lasts approximately 45 ms, with an increase between approximately 5 and 10 dB between the beginning and the end of the bearing;

- the decay with return to zero base power on the third period which lasts between about 50 and 60 ms.

To take into account the presence of echo, the second comparison means 26 include means for setting 263 the time profile of the reference envelope stored in the memory block 261. In this way, the treatment also takes into account the possibility of an echo of the gym that will significantly lengthen the time profile and modulate slightly its response.

The second reference envelope ER2 corresponds to a situation taking into account the echo, after modification of the first reference envelope ER1, with:

the increase of approximately 35 dB from a zero base power over the first period which lasts approximately 5 ms;

- the bearing on the second period which lasts approximately 45 ms, with an increase between approximately 10 and 15 dB between the beginning and the end of the bearing, and with several successions of rise / descent called echo peaks;

- the decay with return to zero base power on the third period which lasts between about 150 and 250 ms.

Taking into account the echo in the room results in differences between the first envy of reference ER1 and the second reference envelope ER2 essentially related to the resonance of the room. The resonance of the room causes two two effects related to the impulse acoustic response of the room, namely:

- Amplitude modulation by "fast echo" which results in successions of echoes in the bearing; and

- An extension of the damping acoustic pulse which results in the lengthening of the third period, in other words the return to zero. These two effects are variable according to the distance to the walls and the volume of the room, hence the need to perform a series of initial tests to take the measure of these effects and thus obtain a second envelope of reference ER2 which translate as precisely as possible, the influence of the sal on the temporal inference of the whistle. In other words, the second comparison means 26 integrate the parameterization means 263 so that the whistle detection algorithm accepts the possible variations of the two aforementioned effects to integrate the acoustic echo.

The third comparison means 27, called the third comparison block, comprise an extraction block 270 for the frequencies of the digital measurement signals S22, a memory block 271 in which the reference frequency range is stored, and a comparison block 272. between the frequencies of the digital measurement signals S22 and the reference frequency range.

The digital processing means 23 are designed to successively implement the first comparison means 25, then the second comparison means 26 and finally the third comparison means 27.

Thus, the processing method used to perform the detection of whistle S4 consists of the following three successive phases:

time detection of a high-power audio signal, where the ambient noise or the voice of the referee are more moderate, seen from the acoustic measurement means 20, by means of the first comparison block 25;

time detection of the envelope of the whistle S4, which presents, for example, a very abrupt acoustic power rise, then an established quasi-fixed acoustic power followed by a slow decrease in the acoustic power (this profile being very distinct from the vocal signals ambient and ambient noise), by means of the second comparison block 26; and

frequency analysis of the whistle S4 to ensure the temporal measurements, with for example a detection of the dominant of treble, by means of the third block of comparison 27.

The digital processing means 23 finally comprise a control block 281 which analyzes the results of the different comparisons made in the three comparison blocks 25, 26, 27 and, depending on these results, whether or not they deliver the digital arbitration signal S23 . The fixed system 3 comprises:

- Reception means 30 in radio communication with the transmission means 24 of the or each portable system 2, via an antenna 300, said receiving means being adapted to receive the or each digital arbitration signal S23;

control means 31 connected to the reception means 30 and designed to deliver an arbitration control signal S31 in response to the reception of a digital arbitration signal S23 by the reception means 30; and

the means of decoding the game 32, especially of the chronometer type, connected to the control means 31 and shaped to stop

(and / or where appropriate resume) counting the playing time in response to issuing the arbitration control signal S23.

Thus, once the digital arbitration signal S23 present at the level of the mark table, the stopping operation (and / or, where appropriate, restarting) of the countdown of playing time becomes a simple electric action equivalent to a press the stop button on the stopwatch. In this case, the receiving means 30 and the control means 31 together form a remote control system which does not participate in the action of detecting the whistle S4.

The detection of the sig nature of an S4 whistle is a mechanism similar to that used by noise extraction processing in the noise. As a result, the detection of the whistle may be an accessory of a digital audio communication terminal 8, by integrating the portable system 2 into this type of communication terminal 8, or else constitute a separate autonomous system, with the portable system 2 independent.

With reference to FIG. 3, this portable system 2 can therefore be integrated into a time division multiplexed digital audio communication terminal 8 enabling audiometric data to be transmitted in successive cycles of the same communication channel, each cycle being divided into two parts. a plurality of time slots TS1 to TS6 ("time slot" in English), as illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

In this case, the installation 1 may comprise several communication terminals 8 where at least one of these communication terminals 8 integrates a portable system 2, each communication terminal 8 being intended to be worn by an event arbitrator sportsman to allow the audio communication between the referees, and the fixed system 3 is in radio communication with the or each portable system 2.

Time division multiple access communication methods are commonly used, especially in mobile telephony. Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) is a time division multiplexing mode for transmitting multiple digital signals on the same frequency channel. Thus, several users, here the referees, share the same channel. The data stream is divided into data packets 6 and transmitted in the communication channel divided into periodic successive cycles.

FIG. 3 illustrates such a communication terminal 8 comprising:

a human-machine interface 80, or HMI, notably enabling the arbitrator to transmit commands or control data, such a man-machine interface 80 being for example made in the form of a keyboard, keypad, touch screen or similar ;

audio communication means 81 allowing the reception and the transmission of the voice and the other audio sounds including the whistle S4, comprising in particular a microphone and a loudspeaker, such audio communication means 81 being able to be realized under the form of a communication headset or a mobile phone type headset;

digital audio conversion means 82, in particular of the digital audio interface type, in conjunction with the audio communication means 81 in order to convert the sounds, including the voice and the whistle neck S4, into audiometric data "Audio" including among others the voice data "voice", and vice versa;

optionally one or more on-board sensors 83 designed to measure a local parameter, such as for example an accelerometer or a temperature sensor, and convert it into measurement data "Mes";

possibly an acquisition interface 84 in connection with one or more external detection terminals designed to measure an external parameter that can influence the current sporting event, such as for example a device for measuring wind and / or sunshine , and convert it to a measurement data "My".

The communication terminal 8 also comprises control means 85, in particular of the microprocessor or communication processor type, in conjunction with the digital audio conversion means 82, and where appropriate with the on-board sensor (s) 83 and the acquisition interface 84, designed to:

- Receive as input audiometric data "Audio" and possibly measurement "My";

digitally process these data in order to extract the voice data voice from the ambient noise (in particular by means of voice recognition software); and for

outputting voice data "voice" and possibly measurement "Mes" in time intervals of the cycles 5 of the communication channel according to a time multiplexing communication method between several communication terminals, and vice versa.

The communication terminal 8 finally comprises transmission / reception means 86, in particular of the radio-digital motor type, in connection with the control means 85 and adapted to receive and transmit the voice data "voice" and possibly measurement "Mes" in the successive cycles 5 of the same communication channel, via an antenna 87.

The portable system 2 is thus integrated in this digital audio communication terminal 8 with:

its acoustic measurement means which are integrated in the audio communication means 81;

its analogue / digital conversion means 22 which are integrated in the digital audio conversion means 82;

its digital processing means 23 which are integrated in the control means 85; and with

its transmission means 24 which are integrated in the transmission / reception means 86, each cycle 5 of the communication channel having a time slot reserved for the transmission of the digital arbitration signal S23.

In this way, the control means 85 output the digital arbitration signal S23, following the detection of the whistle S4 by the digital processing means 23 integrated in said control means 85, by integrating this digital signal d arbitration S23 a time slot TS5 of one or more cycles of the communication channel according to a time division multiplex communication method, as illustrated in FIG. 4a.

Thus, once the whistle S4 is detected, the digital arbitration signal S23 is emitted, for example in the form of an activated bit by the digital processing means 23. Then, this digital arbitration signal S23 is integrated in the cycles (or frames) numerically transmitted periodically, and which can provide the transport of digital audio voice data. This process requires only a few microseconds and is therefore without delay for stopping the countdown of playing time.

With reference to FIG. 4a, an example of a communication cycle 5 in which:

a first communication terminal 8 carried by a first referee, provided with an integrated sensor 83, communicates voice digital audio data "Voice", a first measurement data Mes1 and a synchronization signal Sync in the time interval TS1 of the cycle 5;

a detection terminal 9 communicates a second measurement data Mes2 in the time interval TS2;

a second communication terminal 8 carried by a second arbitrator communicates voice digital audio data "Voice" in the time interval TS4;

one of the two communication terminals 8 communicates the digital arbitration signal S23, in this case the communication terminal 8 worn by the referee at the origin of the whistle.

As can be seen in FIG. 4b, the fixed system 3 can communicate a reception data item AR (or acknowledgment signal) in the cycle 5 following the cycle 5 mentioned above and visible in FIG. 4a, in order to acknowledge reception of the digital arbitration signal S23, and possibly to indicate the actuation or not of the stop counting the playing time. In this case, the fixed system 3 also comprises transmission means, and its control means 31 are designed for delivering an acknowledgment signal in response to stopping the stopwatch 32.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the transmission time of each user is therefore shared between voice digital audio data "Voice", the digital arbitration signal S23 and, if appropriate, measurement data "Mes", in this case a first measurement data Mes1 and a second measurement data Mes2, gathered within a data packet 6 combined in a mixed data frame. The nature of the header or "header" of the data packet 6 can for example determine the format and content of the packet (number of measurement data, presence or absence of digital audio data, measurement data, packet size , etc.), before the closing of the package by a postamble or trailer "CRC + EOF". The digital arbitration signal S23 can correspond to a single detection bit, this unique bit taking the value 1 when detection of the whistle S4, and the value 0 in the absence of detection of the whistle S4.

In a digital communication installation, the concept of real time is essential, so cycles 5 are transmitted very regularly, for example every 10 to 30 milliseconds. This regularity makes it possible in particular to check the good functioning and the availability of the portable systems 2 and fixed 3 of the installation 1. Thus, the transmission means 24, and more generally the emitting / receiving means 86, are designed to transmit the digital arbitration signal S23 several times at regular time intervals of the order of 10 to 30 milliseconds, over a predetermined period of time.

As a result of this ch ecology of events, the arbitrary digital signal S 23 is routed in 10 to 30 milliseconds to the fixed system 3 of the scorecard, or even double or triple if a few cycles 5 are lost. These deadlines remain in all cases well below the maximum allowable delay to stop the countdown of playing time.

The digital arbitration signal S23, forming the whistle detection information S4, can thus be transmitted for a few seconds to ensure its transport. If necessary, the digital arbitration signal S23 can be acknowledged by a return, of the AR acknowledgment signal type, generated by the fixed system 3 after the countdown of the playing time has been stopped.

In addition, the transmission means 24, and more generally the transmission / reception means 86, are designed to integrate in one of the time slots of each cycle 5 a cyclic redundancy signal which makes it possible to verify the integrity transmitted cycles, so that:

if the cyclic redundancy signal is valid, then the cycle (or frame) is integrity and then its content is then definitely valid, and in particular the digital arbitration signal S23;

if the cyclic redundancy signal is not valid, then the cycle is corrupted and then the cycle is ignored in its entirety, including the arbitration digital signal S23.

If too many cycles are missing or degraded, for example more than 30% of the cycles, it is possible to indicate to the operator the malfunction or to take measures to reduce the error, as for example the increase of the radio powers, the change of radio channel, etc.

In the same way that the whistle S4 is detected to stop the countdown of playing time, it is possible to relaunch the same countdown of playing time on an action of the referee.

A first possibility of restarting the countdown of playing time is to provide an audio detection of a voice command of the referee, such as a keyword of the type "Start" or "Chrono". In this case, the portable system 2 is designed so that:

its digital processing means 23 process and analyze the digital acoustic measurement signals in order to detect, among the acoustic signals measured by the acoustic measurement means 20, a specific vocal command emitted by the arbiter to signal the resumption of the measurement time. game, these digital processing means 23 delivering a digital recovery signal S29 play time in response to the detection of said voice command; and

its transmission means 24 are designed to transmit this digital recovery signal S29 of playing time.

This first possibility is particularly well suited to the case where the portable system 2 is integrated in a communication terminal 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a second possibility of restarting the countdown of playing time is to provide for manual detection of an action by the referee, such as for example pressing a button or switch. In this case, the portable system 2 further comprises manual actuation means 29 for the recovery of time, in particular of the type switch or keypad key, intended to be manually operated by the referee to signal the resumption of the time of play, as shown in Figure 1. In addition, the digital processing means 23 are connected to the actuating means 29, said digital processing means 23 delivering a digital restart signal S29 of the play time in response to the actuation of the manual actuating means 29 by the 'arbitrator. Finally, the transmission means 24 are designed to emit said digital signal for playing time.

These two possibilities of restarting the countdown of playing time may be considered alone or in combination, and are to be considered in the case where the whistle S4 serves only to trigger the stoppage of time As illustrated in FIG. 1, in both possibilities, the fixed system 3 is designed so that:

the reception means 30 are designed to receive the or each digital recovery signal S29;

the control means 31 are designed to generate a restart control signal S39 in response to the reception of a digital recovery signal S29 by the reception means 30; and

- The game time counting means 32 are shaped to put or restart the play time count in response to the issuance of the restart control signal S39.

In both possibilities, this action of restarting the countdown of playing time uses the same digital radio communication channel as when detecting the whistle S4 and stopping the countdown of playing time.

Thus, each cycle 5 of the communication channel may have a time slot reserved for the transmission of this digital signal for resumption of the game time S29.

Of course the implementation example mentioned above is not limiting and other details and improvements can be made to the installation and systems of the invention, without departing from the scope of the invention. where other elements can for example be integrated in the installation.

Claims

1. A portable system (2) for acquiring and detecting an acoustic signal known as an arbitration signal (S4), especially of the whistle type, signaling a stop and / or resumption of the time of day of a sporting event, in particular of the type of basketball match or other collective sport, the portable system (2) being intended to be worn by a referee of the sporting event and comprising:

acoustic measuring means (20), in particular of the microphone type, designed to measure the external acoustic signals and to deliver raw analog measurement signals (S20) in response to the measurement of the external acoustic signals;

- analog / digital conversion means (22) connected to the acoustic measuring means (20) and adapted to convert the raw analog measurement signals (S20) into digital measurement signals (S22);

- digital processing means (23), in particular of the digital signal microprocessor type, connected to the analog / digital conversion means (22) and designed to process and analyze the digital measurement signals (S22) in order to detect the digital signal. issuing or not the arbitration acoustic signal (S4) among the external acoustic signals measured by said acoustic measurement means (20), said digital processing means (23) delivering a digital arbitration signal (S23) in response to detecting the acoustic arbitration signal (S4); and

transmitting means (24) connected to the digital processing means (23) and designed to transmit said digital arbitration signal (S23);

characterized in that the digital processing means (23) comprises means (26) for comparing the time profile of the amplitude envelope of the digital measurement signals (S22) with a temporal profile of an envelope. reference signal, for detecting a signal having a temporal profile of the acoustic power envelope that substantially corresponds to the time profile of the reference envelope.

2. A portable detection and detection system (2) according to claim 1, wherein the time profile of the reference envelope is defined by the following parameters:

an increase in the acoustic power of a first predetermined power value, in particular of the order of 30 to 40 dB, relative to at a base power associated with an ambient background sound, on a pre-period of time, in particular of the order of a few milliseconds;

a step of the acoustic power over a second period of time, in particular of approximately 50 milliseconds, consecutive to the first period of time and where the second period of time is longer than the first period of time, this bearing optionally presenting a increasing the acoustic power of a second predetermined power value, in particular of the order of 5 to 6 dB, over the second period of time, the second value of puissance being lower than the first power value; and

a decrease in acoustic power until substantially reaching the base power, over a third period of time, in particular of the order of 50 to 400 milliseconds, consecutive to the second period of time, where the third period of time is longer than the second period of time.

3. portable acquisition system (2) for acquisition and detection according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the digital processing means (23) further comprises means for parameterizing or modifying (263) the temporal profile of the envelope reference, in particular to take into account the presence of an echo inside a gym.

Portable acquisition and detection system (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the digital processing means (23) further comprises means (25) for comparing the amplitude of the digital signals. measurement device (S22) with a reference amplitude, for detecting a signal of high acoustic power when the amplitude of the digital measurement signals (S22) is greater than the reference amplitude.

5. A portable access and detection system (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the digital processing means (23) comprises means for comparing (27) the frequencies of the digital signal signals. measuring (S22) with a reference frequency range, for detecting a transmitted signal in said reference frequency range.

6. Portable acquisition (2) and detection system according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the digital processing means (23) are designed to implement successively:

the means (25) for comparing the amplitude of the digital measurement signals (S22) with a reference amplitude; then

the means (26) for comparing the time profile of the amplitude envelope of the digital measurement signals (S22) with a time profile of a reference envelope; and finally

the means (27) for comparing the frequencies of the digital measurement signals (S22) with a reference frequency range.

A portable acquisition and detection system (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:

the digital processing means (23) are designed to process and analyze the digital measurement signals (S22) in order to detect, among the acoustic signals measured by said acoustic measurement means (20), a specific voice command emitted by the referee for signaling the resumption of playing time, said digital processing means (23) delivering a digital resumption signal (S29) of playing time in response to the detection of said voice command; and

the transmission means (24) are designed to transmit said digital resumption signal (S29) of the game time.

8. portable system (2) for acquisition and detection according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for actuating (29) manual playtime recovery, including switch type or paddle key digital, intended to be manually operated by the referee to signal the resumption of playing time; and in which

the digital processing means (23) are connected to said actuating means (29), said digital processing means (23) delivering a digital resumption signal (S29) of the playing time in response to the actuation of the means actuation (29) by the referee; and

the emitting means (24) are designed to emit said digital resumption signal (S29) of playing time.

9. Portable acquisition (2) and detection system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising amplification means (21) arranged at the output of the acoustic measurement means (20) for amplifying the raw analog measurement signals (S20) before being converted by the analog / digital conversion means (22).

A portable acquisition and detection system (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitting means (24) is adapted to transmit the digital arbitration signal (S23) several times, in particular to a regular time interval preferably of the order of 10 to 50 milliseconds, over a predetermined period of time.

1 1. Portable acquisition system (2) for acquisition and detection according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the transmission means (24) are designed to transmit several digital signals on the same frequency channel called communication channel, according to a time division multiplex communication method for transmitting data in successive cycles (5) of the same communication channel, each cycle (5) being divided into a plurality of time slots (TS1, TS2, TS3, TS4, TS5 , TS6), and each cycle (5) has a time interval (TS5) reserved for the em ission of the digital arbitration signal (S23).

12. portable acquisition system (2) for acquisition and detection according to claim 1 1 in combination with claims 7 or 8, wherein each cycle (5) has a time slot reserved for the transmission of the digital recovery signal. (S29) playing time

13. Portable system (2) for acquisition and detection according to claims 1 1 or 12, wherein the transmission means (24) are shaped to integrate in one of the time slots of each cycle (5) a cyclic redundancy signal which makes it possible to check the integrity of the cycles (5) transmitted.

14. Time division multiplexed digital audio communication terminal (8) for transmitting audiometric data in successive cycles (5) of the same communication channel, each cycle (5) being divided into a plurality of time slots (TS1 , TS2, TS3, TS4, TS5, TS6), comprising: - audio communication means (81) for receiving and transmitting the voice, including a microphone and a speaker;

- digital audio conversion means (82) in conjunction with the audio communication means (81) for converting the voice to audiometric data, and vice versa;

control means (85), in particular of the microprocessor type, in connection with the digital audio conversion means (82) and designed to receive the audiometric data as input and to output them in time intervals of the cycles (5) the communication channel, and vice versa; and

transmitting / receiving means (86) adapted to receive and transmit the audiometric data in the successive cycles (5) of the same communication channel; and

a portable acquisition and detection system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, said portable acquisition and detection system (2) being integrated in said digital audio communication terminal (8) with:

- its acoustic measuring means (20) which are integrated in the audio communication means (81);

- its analog / digital conversion means (22) which are integrated in the digital audio conversion means (82);

- its digital processing means (23) which are integrated in the control means (85); and with

its transmitting means (24) which are integrated in the transmission / reception means (86), each cycle (5) of the communication channel having a time slot (TS5) reserved for the transmission of the signal Arbitration Digital (S23).

15. Fixed system (3) for controlling the playing time of a sporting event, in particular of the basketball match type or other collective sport, said fixed system (3) being intended to be in radio communication with at least one portable system ( 2) acquisition and detection according to any one of claims 1 to 14, and comprising:

reception means (30) in radio communication with the transmission means (24) of the or each portable system (2) for acquiring and detecting, said receiving means (30) being adapted to receive the or each digital arbitration signal (S23);

control means (31) connected to the reception means (30) and designed to deliver an arbitration control signal (S31) in response to the reception of a digital arbitration signal (S23) by the means of receiving (30); and

means for counting the playing time (32), in particular of the chronometer type, connected to the control means (31) and shaped to stop and / or resume playing time in response to the delivery of the control signal of arbitration (S32).

16. The fixed game time control system (3) according to claim 15, wherein the or at least one portable acquisition and detection system (2) is in accordance with claim 8 or 9, and wherein:

the reception means (30) are designed to receive the or each digital resumption signal (S29) of the playing time;

the control means (31) are designed to generate a restart control signal (S39) in response to the reception of a digital resumption signal (S29) of the playing time by the reception means (30); and

- The game time counting means (32) are shaped to put or restart the play time count in response to the issuance of the resume control signal (S39).

17. Installation (1) for controlling the playing time of a sporting event, in particular of the type basketball match or other collective sport, said installation comprising:

at least one portable acquisition and detection system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 13; and

- a fixed system (3) for controlling the game time according to claims 15 or 16 and in radio communication with the or each portable system (2) acquisition and detection.

18. Installation (1) for controlling the playing time of a sporting event, in particular of the basketball meeting type or other collective sports meeting, said installation comprising:

- a number of digital audio communication terminals (8) to be worn by sport event organizers to enable the audio communication between these arbitrators, wherein at least one of said communication terminals (8) is in accordance with claim 14; and

- A fixed time control system (3) according to claims 15 or 16 and in radio communication with the or each portable system (2) for acquisition and detection equipping the digital communication terminal (s) (8).