GB2487209A

GB2487209A - A ball monitoring and tracking system

Info

Publication number: GB2487209A
Application number: GB201100493A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Javid Nourie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-01-12
Filing date: 2011-01-12
Publication date: 2012-07-18
Also published as: GB201100493D0

Abstract

An intelligent ball system for use in a football match comprising a ball B with a microphone, a microchip and a battery, at least 2 detectors D fixed with respect to a pitch to detect signals from the ball B, a computer H to receive signals from the detectors, means to communicate K with a match official and a camera system C controlled by the computer H which follows the path of the ball B. The ball B may have a rechargeable battery which can be charged without being removed from the ball B. The areas of the pitch may be assigned XYZ coordinates with the centre of the Euclidean geometry system being based on the centre mark of the pitch. The arrangement may be used to identify if a ball B has crossed a line or a goal scored and may be used to analyse the match.

Description

Intelligent Ball This invention relates to an intelligent ball system which will be used at football matches.

In the football game 3 teams are involved, two opposing teams and a team of match officials, the match relies on their skill as any mistakes could change the result, it would cause disappointment and may lead to a clash between opposing fans and costly consequences.

To avoid any error the match officials monitor the ball and incidents very carefully and as closely as possible but occasionally incidents are missed as the

ball travels very fast on the field of play.

The 2010 world cup is named as one of the worst football events in history because of all the errors by match officials. Two of the incidents which changed the result of the contest are as follows: * One qualifier match, between Ireland and France the match officials failed to spot Thierry Henry's handball (French Player), this error stopped Ireland carrying on in the world cup and let France through to the next round.

* During the 2010 world cup match between England and Germany the match official failed to spot England's goal when the ball went over the goal line, this mistake broke the teams spirit and England left the world cup frustrated and disappointed as were the fans, and the nation.

There are arguments involving technology in football matches and FIFA have opposed the idea and insisted football should be reliant on the human element, but after the 2010 world cup fiasco the President of F1FA said "the file on goal-line technology would and should be reopened".

If this technology were to be introduced, it would prevent the errors that the England football team faced, but would not prevent other errors, like the Ireland team faced. However, to reduce these errors technology has to be involved but the level and type of this involvement is very important and it should not effect on the quality of the game.

Following the 2010 world cup, video technology has been recommended by some of the media but the F1FA mentioned "this technology would disrupt the flow of the game"! In addition, it seems that video technology would lead to a number of problems as follows: * Match flow: The beauty of football is al/about its flow; video technology would cause many stop-start actions and would destroy the flow and beauty of the game. Some matches have many incidences of foul play, the referee may stop the match to view the incident on the screen before makinq his decision to book the player or not.

* New rules and regulations: The video technology wi/I effect a/I games, so new rules and regulations for match official and for players would be introduced, The last major rules and regulations were introduced in 1990.

* Effects on match officials' skill and job: The video technology will help match officials avoid errors, so the game could be managed by any referee and as a result their skills may be rated and recognized at the same level.

* investment: if video technology becomes compulsory for every match, the stadiums will require vast amounts of investment to cover incidents from a/I angles.

* lncrease in number of staff: The video technology would require an increase in the number of match officials to operate this facility and they will require training and investment.

* Reliance on any decision making: the referee will rely on video technology and may not make a decision in live play.

* Effects on the quality of the match: as video technology would slow down the game, the players' body strength may not be more of an issue, but over time it may have an effect on the p/ayers and the game.

* Extending match time: depending on the number of incidents, adding extra time on the game would increase but the accuracy of that added time may not be easy to evaluate.

Some technologies have been used in some ball sport games but this type of game doesn't have the same flow as football, there are many stops and starts with this type of game.

To involve technology in football matches and help the match officials to become more efficient and make the correct decisions in real time, the present invention proposes an intelligent ball system to assist the match officials in three ways: Hearing: the system is designed on the fact that hearing helps to focus and see better, so any contact with the ball and the sound from the ball will be transmitted to the communication kits after some necessary modification by computer such as: filtering, adjustment and optimization of the sound depending on the ball's location and the sound strength. The computer may be transmitting beep sounds instead of transmitting the sound caused by contact.

Any contact to the ball creates a sound with a different density; the computer may help the match officials to distinguish which part of the body was in contact with the ball if the contacts were not visible.

* Live video: the system provides live video in real time by operoting the mounted or mobile cameras to focus on the ball as it travels on the

field of play.

This is also valuable for match televising companies to broadcast the match more cost effectively.

* Report The system will notify the match officials if the ball crosses certain points or lines on the ground or in the air, as they have been set out on the computer.

On the field of play, the XYZ coordinated numbers are used to distinguish one point from another point in order to set out certain functions with reference to the XYZ coordinate numbers.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figurel1 Shows Balls B, overview of the Field of play with XYZ coordinate axes, Detectors D, Computer H (Hardware), Communication kit K, Cameras C and Screen E. The intelligent ball system consists of: at least one ball B with a microchip and battery fitted inside to send signals, detectors D fixed out of the pitch to detect and transfer the signals received from the ball B, at least one computer H with an appropriate software S to receive signals from the detectors D, at least one communication kit K used by the match officials to hear the ball's B sound, number of camera C operated by computer H to focus F on the ball B as it travels and at least one screen E to display the live video of the match and an operator of the computer to oversee and ensure the system is operating correctly.

The microchip inside the ball B performs as a microphone, a sensor and a transmitter to detect contacts and sound in order to transmit them to the communication kits K through of the detectors D and the computer H. Every point of the field of play will be assigned with XYZ coordinate numbers on the computer. The length of the pitch will be assigned with X axis, the height with Y axis and the width with 7 axis, when the ball B is placed on CENTRE MARK the computer recognizes its location with XYZ=000 but as it moves to a different point the XYZ coordinate numbers on the computer will be changed, for example if the ball B is raised up the Y coordinate number will be changed but XZ would stay the same. The V coordinate numbers are always positive because it shows height the ball B is off the ground but the X7 coordinate numbers depend on the ball's B location will show negative or positive. The metric unit is used for XVZ coordinate numbers.

The detectors D are located out of the pitch to transfer signals from ball B to the computer H. As the ball B moves on the field of play, the signals' traveling time from ball B to each detector D is constantly modified because the distance of the ball B to each detector is changing, the computer by evaluating the signal's traveling time from the ball B to each detector D, will identify the ball's B location and translate it to XV? the coordinate numbers with respect to the CENTRE MARK with XV? coordinated numbers of 000. The XV? coordinate numbers of every point of the field of play is signify on the computer H by presence of the ball B in that point so, as it moves the numbers on the computer H are changing.

Before operating the intelligent ball system for the first time, some essential data such as the pitch boundary (Goal lines and Touch lines), distance between the posts (goal), Penalty and Goal area, Halfway line and Centre Mark (Reference point) should be registered on the computer H. This will be achieved manually by placing the ball B on the field of play and define the point's XV? coordinate numbers on the computer H as they identified.

To register the boundary of the pitch on the computer H, the baD B wifl be located on each corner of the pitch exactly at the corner post and border line, then their XYZ coordinated numbers wiD be registered on the computer H as they identified, For example If the length L of the pitch is lOOm along X axis and 64m along I axis, by registering each corners' coordinate numbers manually, the computer H will identify the pitch's corners with Pi(XYZ= 50.00, 00,-32.00), P2(XVZ= 50.00, 00, 32.00), P3(XYZ= -50.00, 00, 32.00) and P4(XYZ= 50.001 00,- 32.00). When these numbers are regkte red on the computer H the Goal lines of the pftch will be defined with Xi=50 and X2=-50 and the touch lines will be defined with Za=-32.00 and 12= 32.00. This concept will be used to specify any point and location of the field of play on the computer H. Once the specifications of field of play have been defined on the computer H, it will be set out to: * Notify the match officials as the ball B crossed specified lines such as: Goal line, Touch line, penalty area's line on the ground or in air.

* Transmit the ball's B signals to the communication kits K with reference to its coordinate numbers as it is set out on the computer H. * Operate each camera C to focus F on the ball B with reference to the ball's XYZ coordinate numbers. There are number of mounted or mobile cameras

C are located around the field of play.

* Allocate the operating zone within field of play and define settings for each camera C. The computer H will upon these settings will operate each camera C independently.

* Specify the area which the signals of the ball B will be transmitted from to the communication kits K and store the settings for the sound depending on its strength and the baIt's B location, when the sound strength is high or very low, the computer H could adjust it to an acceptable level in real time before sending it to the communication kits K. If the computer H is set out, to notify the officials as the ball B travels out of play or enter the goal, the computer H by identifying the balls XVZ coordinate numbers and evaluating it with the boundary's (Zi, 12, Xl, X2) of the pitch will warn the match official, filter the sound and stop the cameras C to follow the ball B as it moves out of play.

The detectors D installed out of pitch, their distance to the centre of the pitch could be different; to transmit the signal from ball B at least two detectors D are enough but more detectors D will help to identify the ball's B location more accurately. Ideally 5 detectors D will be placed onto the pitch, one detector on each corner and one detector over the CENTRE MARK.

On the computer H, number of area within the field of play could be defined to carry out or stop certain task with reference to its XYZ coordinates number, for example when the ball B is rolling on the ground or when the ground is wet as a result of raining the sounds of the ball B would disturb the match officials. on the figure 1 zone 2 is set to filter this sound, when the ball B travels on the ground its sound will be transmitting to the communication as long as the ball B travels 4 cm over the ground (Y>4) and any sound below this level by computer H will be filtered. On zone 1 around the field of play and penalties area the computer H will transmit any sound received from ball B. This concept could be used to define a number of areas such as the operating zone on the field of Play for each camera C. In the intelligent system the ball B plays an important role as being focal point of the system by sending signals to notify its location to the computer H, and detecting contacts and sound in order to send them to the communication kits K. There are number of balls B, B]., B2 with a same specification are used in the football match to send signals, only one ball B used within the pitch and the rest are place put of pitch to use as replacement. The computer H receives signals from every single ball B but pursued the only data which is received from defined area to deliver the task. The signals received from out of pitch will be ignored or just save on computers H hard drive.

When the ball B travels on the field of play the H identifies its location, transmits its sound to the communication kits K and controls the cameras C to focus F on the ball B, the computer H delivers these tasks as they have been set out by operator. To focus F on the ball B the computer H translate the ball's B location to XYZ coordinates numbers and controls the camera C to rotate to left and right on Y axis, up and down on X axis and zoon in and out on Z axis. The camera C may be has a control unit to operate the camera C by the signals received from computer H and send the videos to the computer H. The computer H (Hardware) receives signals from ball B through of number of detectors D fixed around the field of play; it is installed with appropriate software S to work as a core of intelligent ball system. It analyze the signals which receives from bafl B through of detectors D, identifies the location of the bafi B translate it to XVZ coordinates, justify the sound strength before transmit it to the communication kits K, controls camera C to focus F on the ball B with reference to its XYZ coordinates, receives signals (video) from cameras C and manages the video received from number of cameras C before send it to display on the screen F. There are number of camera C used around the field of play, each camera C will have its own setting stores on the computer H and controlled independently wirelessly or through of wires. The cameras C could be mounted or be mobile which could move on solid or wires rails. The camera C may be having wide-angle lens to ensure that everything within a certain range of distance is captured and then it will send video to the screen E through of computer H to apply some adjustment before display.

Figure 2 shows data flow and feedback loops diagram in intelligent ball B system.

The intelligent ball system consist of at least: one ball B, two detectors D, a computer H, a camera C, a communication kit K and a screen E which are located in number of places.

As shown on the flowchart1 the ball B sends signals and any sound caused by contact from field of play to the computer H through of number of detectors D. The computer H by processing the signals will identify exact location of the ball B and transmit the sounds to communication kits K as set out. The computer H also controls every single camera C to focus F on the ball B with reference to its XVZ coordinate numbers as it travels on the field of play.

There are number of ball B and detectors D are used in the intelligent system if any of them did not work accurately the computer H will recognize it and report it on the monitor and through of communication kits K so, the problem will be notified and will be solved.

The computer H, managed by an operator to oversee and ensure the system is running correctly and communicates with match officials through the communication kit K, to apply changes manually and solve any errors that may occur on the computer H. Any data which is sent through or received by the computer H could be stored on disk.

S

The computer H has been installed with appropriate software S to act as the brain of the system to identify and simulate the balls' B location on the monitor with XYZ coordinates numbers, set-out specified areas to deliver certain tasks, operates every single camera C to focus F on the ball B as it travels, process of selecting, arranging and modifying the sounds and images before transmitting them to communication kits K and screens E as they have been stored or will be managed by the operator.

Depending on requirements there may be number of designated areas defined on the computer H used for communication kits K and for each camera C. Some contacts to the ball B are light, so the match officials may not hear it but some are heavy which will disturb the match officials, the software S will balance the sound before transmitting it to the communication kit K. In the intelligent system, there are number of components located in a number of locations far from each other and linked together wirelessly or by wires, to solve any error which may occur within the system the software S is designed with two feedback loop processors to identify the error within the system by evaluating output data which is sent through the system and inputs data which is receives from system. Once the error is identified the software S will solve the problem automatically in real time and report it. If the problem still exists the operator will take action to solve it.

There are two feedback loops designed within the system to circulate the signals from software S to itself after going independently through the communication kits K and the camera C. Figure 3 shows the ball B and the component fitted inside.

The ball B consists of a rechargeable battery and shock-proof microchip which performs as a transmitter, microphone and sensor. The components will not

affect the specifications of the ball B.

To identify exact location of the ball B by computer H, the signals will be generated from the centre of the ball B; this helps the computer H to consider the diameter of the ball B. There may be one microchip placed in the centre of the ball B or it may have two or more microchips with symmetrical positions upon to the centre of ball B. When two or more microchips send signals independently, the computer H will be recognizing the centre of the ball B as the location from which the signals have been sent. lf the microchip or rechargeable battery doesn't work properly the computer H will inform the match officials, so the ball B can be replaced. The rechargeable battery will be charged without removing it from the bafi B by any of the available technology such as: magnet field, shaken, kicked or it may charge through of the ball's B valve which is used to inject air into the ball B. In a football match, additional balls Bi, B2 are placed around the field of play for use during a match. The computer H will identify the location of each ball as they send signals but will only process and transmit the data which have been received from inside the pitch, so if the ball is replaced with another one the computer H will only consider the signals received from inside the pitch(designated area).

The intelligent ball system solves all the problems which have been pointed out in the introduction and provide the advantages as follow: It provides sound and live video to help match officials to focus better on incidents even when they occur away from them and enables them to make decision in real time.

* Warn the match officials if the ball B crosses certain points such as the goal line or touch lines.

* Helps to identify the added time during the match and in addition the referees' whistle could be part of the communication kit K to help the system identify wasted time more accurately.

* Could be used in various ball sports, help the television company to broadcast the match more cost effectively by operating the cameras C and could be employed in a number of places such as theatres, seminars or conferences to take live video footage without a camera rnon, actor or speaker going onto the stage.

* Tracks and records the ball's B route to analyze the match afterwards.

Claims

Claims 2. An intelligent ball system used in football match is installed on a field of play and consists of: at least one ba/I with a microchip and battery fitted inside to send signals, at least two detectors fixed out on the pitch to detect and transfer signals which are received from the ball, at least one computer with appropriate software to receive signals from the detectors, at least one communication kit used by the match officials to hear the ball's sound, at least one camera operated by the computer to focus on the ball as it travels, at least one screen to display live video of the match and a computer operator to oversee and ensure the system is operating correctly.
2. An Intelligent ball system according to claim 1, wherein the ball consists of a rechargeable battery and shock-proof microchip which performs as a microphone, a sensor and transmitter to detect contacts and sounds in order to transmit them to the communication kits through the detectors to the computer.
3. An lntelligent ball system according to claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery will be charged without removing it from the ball.
4. An Intelligent ball system according to claim 1, wherein every point of the field of play will be assigned with XYZ coordinate numbers on the computer, The length of the pitch will be assigned with X axis, the height with 1" axis and the width with Z axis, as the ball B is placed on CENTRE MARK the computer recognizes its location with XVZ-000.
5. An Intelligent ball system according to claim 1, wherein The XYZ coordinate numbers at every point of the field of play is signified on the computer by the presence of the ball at that point on the field of play, so as the ball moves the X1'Z coordinate numbers on the computer are changing.
6. An Intelligent ball system according to claim 1, wherein to register the field of play in detail on the computer, the ball will be placed manually on the field of play and define the point's XYZ coordinate numbers on the computer as they are identified.
7. An Intelligent ball system according to claim 1, wherein it is employed to notify the match officials as the ball crosses specified points, transmits the ball's signals to the communication kits, provides live video of the match, identifies added time to the match and records the ball's traveling route to help analyze the match afterwards.
8. An intelligent ball according to claim 1, wherein the computer is installed with appropriate software to: identify and simulate the balls' location on the monitor with XYZ coordinates numbers, set-out specified areas to deliver certain tasks, operates mounted or mobile cameras to focus on the ball as it travels, allocate operating zones within the field of play for each camera, process of selecting, arranging and modifying the sounds and images before transmitting them to the communication kits and screens as they have been stored, as they are managed by the operator, Identify, solve and report any problems occuring within the system in real time.
9. An Intelligent ball system according to claim I will be used in various ball sports, help the televising companies to broadcast the match more cost effectively by operating the cameras and could be employed in number of places such as theater, seminar or conferences to take live video footage without a cameraman as speaker moving on stage.