Chip Referee

Abstract

This invention is an RFID system and method to determine the physical outer edges or perimeters of athletic objects of play in relationship to the outside edges or perimeters and relevant scoring or rules of play zones contained on an athletic field of play. It contemplates the electro magnetic tracking of objects of play and the adjudication of the rules of play as they relate to professional athletic competitions. This invention is designed as a replacement for, or adjunct to, a video referee or instant replay judge. This invention contemplates embedding an RFID transponder into an object of play and tracking it from interrogator controlled antennas embedded into the boundaries of play. A back end computer host system calibrates the electro magnetic digital data regarding the physical location of the object of play in relationship to its physical location on the field of play which electro magnetic data is interpreted and then displayed on the scoreboard at the field of play. The calibration is made through algorithms programmed into the middleware. This invention contemplates sensors encompassing the objects of play and laser guided interrogation beams to assist in precise measurements of the boundaries of play and relevant scoring or rules of play areas.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]There is a crucial requirement within professional sports to accurately record the score and outcome of any particular sporting contest. Furthermore, there is a crucial requirement to accurately adjudicate player adherence to the rules of play of any particular sporting contest. This need is currently being inadequately filled by video referees. The video referees are hindered in their responsibility by a physical limitation on the number of cameras and the number of camera angles available in order to consistently make a definitive ruling on any specific play in a professional sporting event. The requirement for accuracy in recording the score and player adherence to the rules of play has become critical. This is due to the financial enormity of the professional sporting industry. The outcomes of any particular professional sporting event can have nationwide ramifications. For example, the average team in the National Football League is valued at close t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]The useful, non-obvious and novel step of this Invention is the use of an RFID transponder embedded into an object of play as it relates to laser assisted interrogator antennas embedded into the boundaries of play. In other words, the effective use of an RFID transponder embedded into a baseball, for example, tuned to the frequency of an RFID interrogator system, in order to determine whether a baseball is in the strike zone or out of the strike zone; in the ball park or out of the ball park; a home run or a foul ball.

Problems solved by technology

The problems involve the inability of video cameras to cover all possible angles to determine the location of the object in play in relationship to the boundaries of the area of play.

However, the differing positions for the object in play in relationship to the area of play are infinite.