System and method for identifying the football in play during a football match

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for identifying the football in play during a football match, the invention comprising: - ball supports (104) having a support base (202) to support replacement footballs (108) that have a ball identification code (204); a code reading unit (206) to read the ball identification code (204); and a data processing unit (216) that wirelessly sends information about the presence of the ball; - a central control unit (110) with a memory (306) to store identifiers of the footballs selected for the match; and a processor (304) to receive identifiers (IDs) of the replacement footballs (108) on each ball support, associating the identifiers with timestamps (311); and to identify the football in play (102) at a particular moment of the match using the identifiers (IDs) of the replacement footballs (108) provided on the ball supports (104) at the respective moment using the timestamps (311).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING THE SOCCER BALL IN PLAY DURING A SOCCER MATCH

[0003] Field of the invention

[0004] The present invention falls within the field of systems and methods for automatically identifying football batons involved in a football match.

[0005] Following the latest technological innovations in the world of football and sport in general, the socio-generational changes that have offered variety and alternatives in the broadcasting of sports competitions and the entire so-called digital environment, as well as the variables of content and audiovisual offers that make up the universe of marketing in sports broadcasts, it is worth highlighting the appearance in the market associated mainly with the follower of sports competitions of exclusive content implemented in the so-called tokens and NFT.

[0006] Supported by blockchain technology, the so-called tokens and NFTs are part of the ongoing market for exclusive content aimed at fans, which generates millions of transactions and interactions around the event or competition.

[0007] Specifically, balls used in soccer matches, especially those used in key moments, are currently sold on fan websites through a bidding system. Of particular interest are those balls used to score a goal in a match.

[0008] The problem arises in identifying the soccer ball that scored the goal. Currently, in some competitive soccer matches, a manual chain of custody of the goal ball is used. This involves a series of people who remove the goal ball and visually track it until they manually apply an identification sticker with a QR code to identify the goal ball and ensure safekeeping to prevent fraud. The main objective of this action is to identify the exact ball that scored a goal, in order to market it within the fan market, managing it as an exclusive token product category.

[0009] However, this system for identifying soccer balls involved in a relevant play during a soccer match has numerous disadvantages. Firstly, the ball involved in said play (e.g., in a goal) has to be set aside and is not used to continue the game, which would require a greater total number of official balls in each match. Furthermore, said ball could not be involved in other subsequent relevant plays (e.g., in multiple goal actions or in multiple notable plays in the match). Furthermore, it is not an automated procedure, but requires a human chain of custody involving one or more people, in a process of dubious visual guarantee until its delivery is made official within the different market bids for the tokens and NFTs such as the ball that scored the goal.

[0010] The present invention solves all these problems, allowing for the automated identification of the soccer ball that was in play at each instant of the match, without requiring the removal of the ball from the match or a visual chain of custody of the ball.

[0011] Description of the invention

[0012] The present invention relates to a system and method for identifying the soccer ball in play at any time during a soccer match.

[0013] The invention primarily involves the real-time recognition and identification of each soccer ball in play. This allows for identifying which ball (among all those registered as official in the match) is the protagonist of a particular play or goal, without having to employ the dubious mechanisms currently used: manual custody and removal by visual tracking, and then labeling it with stickers. Once the ball involved in a specific play or several plays of the match has been identified, the ball's identity could be certified using non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

[0014] All balls used during a football match are digitally identified before the start of the match using any identification method (e.g., laser, heat sealing, engraving, labeling, geolocation, among others), with information that can be encrypted to additionally allow for ball authentication. For example, all footballs selected for use in a football match can incorporate a ball identification code implemented in an NFC tag, an RFID tag or a QR code.

[0015] The system for identifying the soccer ball in play during a soccer match comprises a plurality of ball holders and a central control unit.

[0016] The ball holders are arranged in established positions outside a football field. Each ball holder comprises a support base, a code reader unit, a wireless communication module, and a data processing unit. The ball holder's electronic components are powered by one or more batteries.

[0017] The support base of each ball holder is arranged to support or allow the support of a replacement soccer ball incorporating a ball identification code. The code reader unit is configured to detect the presence, obtaining an identifier of the replacement soccer ball, or the absence of the replacement soccer ball in the ball holder by reading the ball identification code. The data processing unit (e.g., a processor, a microcontroller) is configured to wirelessly send to a central control unit information relating to the presence, including the identifier of the replacement soccer ball, or the absence of the replacement soccer ball in the ball holder during the course of the soccer game.

[0018] The central control unit comprises a communication module, a memory configured to store the identifiers of all the soccer balls selected for use in the soccer match, and a processor.

[0019] The processor is configured to receive the identifier and presence information of the replacement soccer ball sent by each ball carrier during the soccer match; associate the identifiers of the replacement soccer balls present on each ball carrier with time stamps; and identify the soccer ball in play at least at a given time during the soccer match by comparing the identifiers of all the soccer balls stored in the memory with the identifiers of the replacement soccer balls present on the ball carriers at the corresponding time using the time stamps.

[0020] The present invention also relates to a method for identifying the soccer ball in play at any given time during a soccer match. The method comprises the following steps:

[0021] - store in a memory the identifiers of all the footballs selected to be used in the football match;

[0022] - arranging a plurality of ball holders at established positions outside a football field, where each ball holder is arranged to support a replacement football incorporating a ball identification code:

[0023] - detect the presence or absence of the replacement football on each ball carrier:

[0024] • obtaining an identifier of the replacement football present in each ball holder by reading, by a code reading unit, the ball identification code;

[0025] - wirelessly send, from each ball holder to a central control unit, information relating to the presence, including the identifier of the replacement football, or the absence of the replacement football in the corresponding ball holder during the football match;

[0026] - associating, by the central control unit, the identifiers of the replacement footballs present in each ball holder (104) with temporary marks;

[0027] - identifying the football in play at at least a given time during the football match by comparing the identifiers of all the footballs stored in the memory with the identifiers of the replacement footballs present in the ball holders at the corresponding time using the time stamps.

[0028] Brief description of the drawings

[0029] Below, a series of drawings are briefly described to help better understand the invention and are expressly related to an embodiment of said invention that is presented as a non-limiting example thereof.

[0030] Figure 1 represents a system for identifying the soccer ball in play during a soccer match according to one embodiment.

[0031] Figures 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate different embodiments of a balloon holder.

[0032] Figure 3A shows the components of a central control unit according to an embodiment. Figure 3B illustrates an embodiment of the system of the present invention in which an intermediate communication element is used between the central control unit and the balloon supports.

[0033] Figure 4A and 4B show examples of a database used to identify the soccer ball in play at a given time.

[0034] Figure 5 represents a method for identifying the soccer ball in play during a soccer match according to an embodiment.

[0035] Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of a balloon holder incorporating a presence detector.

[0036] Figure 7 represents a goal identification subsystem used to confirm the identification of soccer balls that have scored a goal.

[0037] Detailed description of the invention

[0038] The present invention relates to a system 100 for identifying the in-play soccer ball 102 during a soccer game, illustrated in the embodiment of Figure 1.

[0039] The system 100 comprises a central control unit 110 and a plurality of ball holders 104, arranged at established positions outside a soccer field 106, where the replacement soccer balls 108 used in the soccer game are supported. In the example shown in Figure 1, a soccer ball in play 102, which is inside the soccer field 106 and is being used by the players in the course of the game, and 18 replacement soccer balls 108, with their respective ball holders 104, are shown. When the soccer ball in play 102 leaves the soccer field 106 (for example, when it is thrown into the stands), it is quickly replaced by a replacement soccer ball 108, thrown by one of the ball boys, in order to minimize the loss of game time. This implies that the soccer ball in play 102 is continuously changing during a match, being at each moment one of all the selected soccer balls (e.g.19 official balls) for use in a soccer match. The constant and random rotation of the in-play soccer ball 102 makes it difficult to identify the soccer ball that was involved in a specific play at a given time during the soccer match (e.g., identifying the soccer ball that scored the second goal, identifying the soccer ball that was used to miss a penalty in the 23rd minute of the match). The present invention allows for automated identification of the in-play soccer ball 102 at any given time during a soccer match.

[0040] As shown in detail in the embodiment of Figure 2A, each ball holder 104 comprises a support base 202 (e.g., a horizontal surface) arranged to support a replacement soccer ball 108.

[0041] All soccer balls used in the soccer match (replacement soccer balls 108 and in-play soccer ball 102) incorporate a ball identification code 204, which is a code readable by a compatible reader and which allows the ball to be identified. The ball identification code 204 can be, for example, a QR code printed on the surface of the ball (as illustrated in Figure 2A) or a tag, preferably passive (i.e., battery-free) that responds to electromagnetic excitations (e.g., NFC tag, RFID tag) integrated into the soccer ball, usually by means of an adhesive.

[0042] Each ball support 104 comprises a code reader unit 206 configured to read the ball identification code 204, obtaining an ID identifier of the replacement soccer ball 108. The code reader unit 206 detects the presence of the replacement soccer ball 108 in the support base 202 when it is able to read the ball identification code 204. Likewise, the code reader unit 206 detects the absence of the replacement soccer ball 108 in the support base 202 when it is not able to read the ball identification code 204. The code reader unit 206 may be a QR code reader, an RFID reader or an NFC reader, among other reading devices.

[0043] For economy of means, balls will typically include a single ball identification code 204, especially when passive tags operating by radio frequency are used, although they may incorporate a larger number of ball identification codes 204 (e.g., several QR codes printed in different locations on the ball). Considering the limited range of passive tags operating by radio frequency (especially NFC tags, which have a fairly limited range), in some embodiments it may be necessary for the replacement soccer ball 108 to be placed on the support base 202 in a certain position or orientation so that the code reader unit 206 can read the ball identification code 204.

[0044] Thus, for example, if a single NFC tag with a maximum read range less than the diameter of the ball is used, the ball kid will need to position the replacement soccer ball 108 such that the NFC tag is close enough (within maximum range) to the NFC reader on the ball holder 104 to ensure that the NFC tag is always detected. Similarly, if a single QR code printed on the ball is used, the ball kid will need to position the replacement soccer ball 108 such that the QR code faces the QR code reader on the ball holder 104. If RFID tags are used, which have a substantially longer range than NFC tags, any specific orientation of the replacement soccer ball 108 on the support base 202 may not be required.

[0045] In the example shown in Figure 2A, the code reading unit 206 is shown incorporated into the support base 202 itself. However, the code reading unit 206 may be located in other different positions. For example, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 2B, the ball support 104 may include one or more side walls 208 that protrude from the support base 202, thereby defining a basket or receptacle for housing the replacement soccer ball 108. In the example shown, the side walls are transparent (e.g., glass). Among other possible locations, the code reading unit 206 may be located on the support base 202 or, as shown in the example of Figure 2B, on one of said side walls 208. Another embodiment of the ball support 104 is shown in Figure 2C.where the support base 202 has a cavity or hole, made in its upper part, prepared to partially house a replacement soccer ball 108, the code reading unit 206 being able to be located, for example, below or on the outline of the cavity or hole.

[0046] The ball holders 104 can be implemented in very different ways, as long as they have a support base 202 prepared to support a replacement soccer ball 108 and a code reading unit 206 arranged in the ball holder 104 in a position such that it can read the ball identification code 204, although this may require in some cases a placement of the replacement soccer ball 108 in a certain orientation.

[0047] Other elements of the ball holder 104 are shown schematically in Figure 2A, including at least one battery 212 as a power source for the electronic components, a wireless communication module 214 and a data processing unit 216 configured to wirelessly send, using the wireless communication module 214 with its corresponding antenna, to the central control unit 110 information relating to the presence, including the IDs of the replacement soccer ball 108, or the absence of the replacement soccer ball 108 in the ball holder 104 during the soccer game.

[0048] The central control unit 110 comprises, as schematically shown in Figure 3A, a communication module 302 (e.g., a wireless communication module compatible with the wireless communication modules 214 of the ball holders 104), a processor 304, and a memory 306 that stores (e.g., in records of a first database 307) the identifiers of all the soccer balls selected to be used in the soccer match. Thus, if, for example, N balls are to be used in the soccer match, the memory 306 will include an identifier (ID1, ID2, ID3, etc.) N) of each of the N soccer balls. Depending on the technology and range of the wireless communication used (e.g., WiFi, ZigBee, LoRa, 4G / 5G cellular communication), the central control unit 110 can be implemented, for example, on a computer located in the vicinity of the soccer field 106 itself or on a remote server far from the soccer field 106. The system 100 may include, as illustrated in the example of Figure 3B, different intermediate communication elements between the central control unit 110 and the ball carriers 104, such as a hub 320 located on the soccer field that receives all the messages 308 sent by the ball carriers and redirects them (e.g., via the Internet) to the central control unit 110.

[0049] The processor 304 (any device or unit with data processing capability) is configured to receive messages 308 from the ball holders 104 during the soccer game, including the IDs and the presence information of the replacement soccer ball 108 in the corresponding ball holder 104. The processor 304 then associates the IDs of the replacement soccer balls 108 present in each ball holder 104 with time stamps 311 (t0, t1, t2...). In this way, the processor 304 monitors the presence of the replacement soccer balls 108 in the ball holders 104 at each instant of the soccer game.

[0050] To achieve such monitoring, the format and content of the messages 308 may vary depending on the particular implementation. Figure 3A shows, as an example, different possible contents of the messages 308 sent by the ball supports 104:

[0051] {IDs}: a message 308 may include an IDs identifier of a replacement soccer ball 108. This indicates that at that time the placement of said replacement soccer ball 108 in a ball holder 104 has been detected. In this case the processor 304 will assign a timestamp t1 corresponding to the time of reception of the message 308, using for example an internal clock of the processor. Said timestamps 311 would be registered for example in a second database 309 of the memory 306 associated with the corresponding identifiers of the ball holders.

[0052] {ID s , t ON}: A 308 message may include an IDs identifier of a replacement soccer ball 108 accompanied by an activation time t on concrete, indicating that at that time t onthe placement of said replacement soccer ball 108 in a ball holder 104 has been detected. Unlike the previous example, in this case the processor 304 does not have to assign the time of reception of the message 308, but the assigned time stamp t would correspond to the time t ON included in message 308 itself.

[0053] {ID s . t OFF}* Other types of messages 308 may include an IDs identifier of a replacement soccer ball 108 accompanied by a deactivation time t OFF concrete, indicating that at that time t OFF the removal of said replacement soccer ball 108 from the ball holder 104 has been detected. The processor will record said time of removal of the corresponding replacement soccer ball 108 at time t OFF

[0054] (STA. IDs): This message 308 is similar to the first example message (IDs), with the difference that an STA identifier of the ball holder 104 that sends the message is included, in order to be able to identify which replacement soccer ball 108 is placed in each ball holder 104.

[0055] {STA, IDs,t on}: This 308 message is like the second example message {IDs. t on ), but also including an STA identifier of the ball support 104 that sends the message.

[0056] In general, the messages 308 may optionally include the STA identifier of the ball carrier 104 sending the message, in order to identify which replacement soccer ball 108 is placed on or removed from each ball carrier 104. The different types of information included in each message 308 may be distributed in different fields of the message itself (e.g., a field for STAs, a field for IDs, a field for ON . a field for youOFF ).

[0057] In summary, the central control unit 110 receives from the ball holders 104 information that allows the central control unit 110 to record the instants of time at which certain replacement soccer balls 108 (according to the received IDs) are placed in the ball holders 104 and the instants of time at which the replacement soccer balls 108 are removed from the ball holders 104 in which they were previously placed. For the initial instant of the match, to=0. The central control unit 110 receives from each ball holder 104 the identifier of the replacement soccer ball 108 that is placed in the corresponding ball holder 104 just before or at the moment of starting the soccer match.

[0058] So that each ball support 104 can determine the specific moments t. on yt OFF. in which a replacement soccer ball 108 is respectively placed or removed from its respective support base 202 during the soccer game, the data processing unit 218 may be configured to repeatedly (e.g., every 5 seconds) obtain a reading from the code reader unit 206, with which it can detect the presence (if it is able to read the ball identification code 204) or the absence (if it is not able to read the ball identification code 204) of the replacement soccer ball 108 at the support base 202. The data processing unit 216 may determine that there is a placement or a removal of the replacement soccer ball 108 when there is a change of state, that is, when the code reader unit 206 goes from being able to read the ball identification code 204 to not reading it, or vice versa. At said detection time, the placement time t will be assigned on or the withdrawal time t OFF, as appropriate.

[0059] With all the information received and recorded by the processor 304, the central control unit 110 is able to identify the soccer ball in play at any time t of the soccer match. To do this, the processor 304 obtains the identifiers of the replacement soccer balls 108 that are present (Le. placed) in the ball holders 104 at said time f using the time stamps 311 (t0, t1, t2, - ), and compares the obtained identifiers with the identifiers (ID1, ID2, .... ID N ) of all the soccer balls stored in memory 306. Of all these identifiers (ID1. ID2ID N ). The ball that is not placed in the ball holders 104 at a time t is considered to be the soccer ball in play 102 at that time t.

[0060] An example of a second database 309 used to identify the soccer ball that was in play at time t=13' 42" (minute 13. second 42) of the match is shown in Figure 4A, at which time a play of interest occurred (e.g., a goal). In said second database 309, the presence ("YES") or absence ("NO") status of the soccer ball identifiers in the ball holders 104 is recorded (a total of 19 soccer balls are used in the match, as in the example shown in Figure 1). Thus, at the beginning of the match (t=0) it is recorded that the ball IDg is the only one that is not placed in any ball holder 104.so that it would be the soccer ball in play 102 used at the start of the match. At time 4" 12" it is recorded that the ball IDs is no longer in the ball holder 104 in which it was placed (it would become in play), and instead it is detected next (4" 36*') that the ball IDs that was in play is now placed in a ball holder. Subsequently, at time g. 1 28", it is recorded that the ball ID 13 stops being in the ball support 104 in which it was placed and it is detected (at time 10' 02") that the ball ID gthat was previously in play is now placed on a ball carrier. The next milestone occurs at time 15'39", after the time t=13*42" of interest. Therefore, for time t=13*42", the presence of the replacement footballs 108 on the ball carriers 104 is considered at the last recorded event, 10'02", deducing that the football in play at that time is ball ID», since it is the only one not detected on any ball carrier 104 at that time

[0061] Figure 4B shows the same example as above, but using another type of table in the second database 309. In this case, the IDs of the replacement soccer ball 108 present in each of the ball holders 104 (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9, S10, S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16, S17, S18, S19, S20, S21, S22, S23, S24, S25, S26, S27, S28, S29, S30, S31, S32, S33, S34, S35, S36, S37, S38, S39, S40, S41, S42, S43, S44, S45, S46, S47, S48, S49, S50, S51, S52, S53, S54, S55, S56, S57, S58, S59, S60, S61, S62, S63, S64, S65, S66, S67, S68, S69, S70, S71, S72, S73, S74, S75, S76, S77, S78, S79, S80, S81, S82, S83, S84, S85, S86, S87, S88, S89, S90, S91, S92, S93, S94, S95, S96, S97, S98, S99, S100, S101, S102, S103, S104, S105, S106, S107, S108, S109, S109, S100, S101, S102 s. At time 4' 12" the absence of replacement soccer ball 108 is detected on support 88, marked by "x*. and at time 4' 36" the presence of identifier ID is detected s on said support 88. Likewise, at time 9* 28" the absence of replacement soccer ball 108 is detected on support 812 and at time 10' 02" the presence of identifier ID» is detected on said support 812. At time 15' 39*' the absence of replacement soccer ball 108 is detected on support 87. The table continues recording the rest of the events (ball placements and removals from the different ball supports 104). For the testator of interest t=13* 42" the presence of replacement soccer balls 108 on ball supports 104 is considered in the last recorded event. 10' 02", deducing that the soccer ball in play at said time is ball ID 13, since it is the only one that is not detected in any ball support 104 at that moment.

[0062] The information stored in the second database 309 may take other forms and formats, since information may be stored differently than that exemplified in Figures 4A and 4B. In one embodiment, a single database may be used in the memory 306, that is, the first database 307 in which the identifiers (ID1, ID2, .... ID3) are stored. N) of all the footballs selected to be used in the football match may be the same as the second database 309 where the timestamps 311 (t0, t2, t2,...) associated with the presence information of the replacement footballs 108 in the ball holders 104 at different times of the football match are stored. Figure 5 illustrates a method 500 for identifying the in-play football 102 during a football match according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method 500 comprises the following steps:

[0063] Stores* 510 in a memory 306 identifiers (ID1, ID2, ... ID N ) of all the soccer balls selected to be used in the soccer match

[0064] Arrange 520 a plurality of ball holders 104 at established positions outside a soccer field 106, around the same. Each ball holder 104 is arranged to support a replacement soccer ball 108 incorporating a ball identification code 204.

[0065] Detect 530 the presence or absence of the replacement soccer ball 108 in each of the ball holders 104.

[0066] Obtaining 540 an IDs identifier of the replacement soccer ball 108 present in each ball holder 104 by reading, by a code reader unit 206 installed in each ball holder 104, the ball identification code. The IDs identifier is obtained when the presence of a replacement soccer ball 108 is detected in the corresponding ball holder 104.

[0067] - Send 550 wirelessly, from each ball holder 104 to a central control unit 110, information relating to the presence, including the IDs of the replacement soccer ball 108, or the absence of the replacement soccer ball 108 in the corresponding ball holder 104 during the soccer game.

[0068] Associate 560, by the central control unit, the IDs of the replacement footballs 108 present in each ball holder 104 to temporary marks 311.

[0069] Identify 570 the soccer ball in play 102 at least one specific moment of the soccer match by comparing the identifiers (ID<. ID2, ..., ID N) of all the soccer balls stored in the memory 306 with the IDs of the replacement soccer balls 108 present in the ball holders 104 at the corresponding time t. To determine which replacement soccer balls 108 are present in the ball holders 104 at a given time t, the timestamps 311 are used (see the examples in Figures 4A and 48). In one embodiment, the step of detecting 530 the presence or absence of the replacement soccer ball 108 in each ball holder 104 is performed by repeated readings of the code reader unit 206. In another embodiment, it is performed by a presence detector.

[0070] Although the reading of the ball identification code 204 by the code reading unit 206 could be done manually (e.g. a ball boy handling a QR code reader fixed to the ball support 104), in a preferred embodiment the code reading unit 208 reads the ball identification code 204 automatically, either as a response to a control order sent by the data processing unit 216 or by performing periodic readings (e.g., every 5 seconds, every 10 seconds, etc.), through which it will read a ball identification code 204, in the event that a replacement soccer ball 108 is placed on the support base 202, or it will not read any code in the event that a replacement soccer ball 108 is absent.

[0071] Repeated (e.g., periodic) readings of the code reader unit 206 may be used to detect the presence or absence of the replacement soccer ball 108 in the ball holder 104. Depending on the frequency used in periodically reading the code reader unit 206 to detect the presence or absence of the replacement soccer ball 108 in the ball holder 104, more or less power may be required from the battery 212. To reduce the power consumption of the battery 212, a low-power presence detector, such as a through-beam sensor, may be employed which will detect the presence or absence of the replacement soccer ball 108 with reduced power consumption compared to the periodic readings of the code reader unit 206.

[0072] Figure 6 illustrates the embodiment of Figure 2A additionally incorporating a presence detector 602. The presence sensor 602 is configured to detect the presence or absence of a replacement soccer ball 108 resting on the support base 202, sending a presence signal S P to the data processing unit 216. When the data processing unit 216 detects, through the presence signal S P, a change from absence to presence, it is deduced that a replacement football 108 has been placed at that moment on the support base 202. The data processing unit 216 then sends a reading order to the code reader unit 206, which will return the IDs identifier of the replacement football 108 if the reading has been correct. In this way, the energy consumption caused by the periodic readings of the code reader unit 206 is avoided, the consumption of which is usually substantially higher than that generated by the continuous readings of a presence detector 602.

[0073] In one embodiment, one or more light sensors are used as presence detector 602, positioned such that these sensors measure a state of almost total darkness when the replacement soccer ball 108 is placed in the ball holder 104, by obscuring the light sensors. In this way, the data processing unit 216 can determine that a replacement soccer ball 108 has been placed in the ball holder 104 when a light level lower than a lower light threshold is measured, and that the replacement soccer ball 108 has been removed when a light level higher than an upper light threshold is measured. The upper and lower light thresholds can be coincident, i.e., have the same value.

[0074] The data processing unit 216 may be configured to calibrate the existing light level each time the replacement soccer ball 108 is removed (i.e., in the absence of the replacement soccer ball 108) to adapt the upper light threshold to the changing lighting conditions during the soccer game. For example, a soccer game may begin on a sunny afternoon, with a lot of light hitting the brightness sensor, and end at night, with a lower level of light coming from the stadium's floodlights. The upper light threshold may be modified depending on the lighting conditions at any given time during the game. This ensures correct detection of the presence or absence of the replacement soccer ball 108 regardless of the lighting changes that occur during the game.

[0075] The present invention makes it possible to identify the in-play soccer ball 102 at any time during a soccer match, specifically to identify the ball that was involved in a particularly important play at a given time during the match. To identify the in-play soccer ball 102 that scored a goal, the system may have a goal identification subsystem to confirm that the in-play soccer ball 102 was correctly identified. According to an embodiment shown in Figure 7, said goal identification subsystem 710 comprises an RFID reader 712 located behind each of the goals 702 of the soccer field 106 and a wireless communication module 714. The ball identification code 204 of each of the soccer balls involved in the match is integrated into an RFID tag.

[0076] The reading range of the RFID reader 712 allows the detection of the soccer ball in play 102, and obtaining its corresponding IDG identifier, by reading the RFID tag when said ball has crossed the goal line 704 of the goal 702, being located within the reading range of the RFID reader 712, in a space defined by the goal posts and crossbar, the goal line 704 and the net 706.

[0077] The wireless communication module 714 is configured to send to the central control unit 110 the ID identifier G of the soccer ball in play 102 detected by the RFID reader 712. The goal identification subsystem 710 may also include a data processing unit (not shown in Figure 7) responsible for managing communication between the RFID reader 712 and the wireless communication module 714.

[0078] The central control unit 110 may be configured to associate time stamps with the ID identifiers. G of the footballs in play 102 that have crossed the goal line 704 of the goal 702 during the football match. The time stamps may already be included in the messages sent by the goal identification subsystem 710, or they may be incorporated by the central control unit 110 itself depending on the time of reception of each message.

[0079] To identify the soccer ball in play 102 that scored a goal at a given time during the soccer match, the central control unit 110 can then use the identifier ID Ghaving an associated timestamp corresponding to that instant. This identification of the goal ball, carried out with information provided by the goal identification subsystem 710, can be combined with the identification of the soccer ball in play at the corresponding goal instant, carried out with the information provided by the ball holders 104, as described in the examples of Figures 4A and 4B. The identification of the goal ball will be doubly guaranteed if both identifiers coincide.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A system for identifying the football in play during a football match, characterized in that it comprises: - a plurality of ball holders (104) arranged in established positions outside a football field (106), wherein each ball holder (104) comprises: a support base (202) arranged to support a replacement football (108) incorporating a ball identification code (204); at least one battery (212); a code reading unit (206) configured to detect the presence, obtaining an identifier (IDs) of the replacement football (108), or the absence of the replacement football (108) in the ball holder (202) by reading the ball identification code (204);a wireless communication module (214), and a data processing unit (216) configured to wirelessly send to a central control unit (110) information relating to the presence, including the identifier (IDs) of the replacement soccer ball (108), or the absence of the replacement soccer ball (108) in the ball holder (202) during the soccer game; and; - the central control unit (110), comprising: a communication module (302); a memory (306) configured to store identifiers (ID 1 , ID 2 , ...» ID N) of all the soccer balls selected to be used in the soccer match; and a processor (304) configured to: receive the identifier (IDs) and the presence information of the replacement soccer ball (108) sent by each ball holder (104) during the soccer match; associate the identifiers (IDs) of the replacement soccer balls (108) present in each ball holder (104) with time stamps (311); and identify the soccer ball in play (102) at least a given time during the soccer match by comparing the identifiers (IDs) 1 , ID 2 , ID N ) of all soccer balls stored in the memory (306) with the identifiers (IDs) of the replacement soccer balls (108) present in the ball holders (104) at the corresponding time using the time stamps (311).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ball identification code (204) is an NFC tag and the code reading unit (206) is an NFC reader. 3 The system according to claim 1, wherein the ball identification code (204) is a QR code and the code reading unit (206) is a QR code reader.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ball identification code (204) is an RFID tag and the code reading unit (206) is an RFID reader.

5. The system according to claim 4, comprising: an RFID reader (712) located behind each of the goals (702) of the soccer field (106) and configured to detect and obtain the identifier (IDo) of the soccer ball in play (102) when it has crossed the goal line (704) of the goal (702); and a wireless communication module (714) configured to send to the central control unit (110) the identifier (IDo) of the soccer ball in play (102) detected by the RFID reader (712).

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the central control unit (110) is configured to associate time stamps with the identifiers (IDs) of the soccer balls in play (102) that have crossed the goal line (704) of the goal (702) during the soccer match; and identify the soccer ball in play (102) that scored a goal at a given time during the soccer match using the identifier (IDs) of the soccer ball in play (102) that has crossed the goal line (704) of the goal (702) with an associated time stamp corresponding to said time.

7. The system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a presence detector (602) configured to detect the presence or absence of the replacement soccer ball (108) in each ball holder (104).

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the presence detector (602) includes at least one luminosity sensor.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the data processing unit (216) is configured to perform, when the presence detector (602) detects the absence of the replacement soccer ball (108), a light level calibration to adapt a higher light threshold to changing light situations during the soccer match.

10. A method for identifying the soccer ball in play during a soccer match, characterized in that it comprises: storing (510) in a memory (306) identifiers (ID 1 , ID 2 , .... ID N) of all the soccer balls selected to be used in the soccer match; arranging (520) a plurality of ball holders (104) at established positions outside a soccer field (106), where each ball holder (104) is arranged to support a replacement soccer ball (108) incorporating a ball identification code (204); detecting (530) the presence or absence of the replacement soccer ball (108) in each ball holder (104); obtaining (540) an identifier (IDs) of the replacement soccer ball (108) present in each ball holder (104) by reading, by a code reader unit (206), the ball identification code (204);sending (550) wirelessly, from each ball support (104) to a central control unit (110), information relating to the presence, including the Identifier (IDs) of the replacement soccer ball (108), or the absence of the replacement soccer ball (108) in the corresponding ball support (104) during the soccer game; associating (560), by the central control unit (110), the identifiers (IDs) of the replacement soccer balls (108) present in each ball support (104) with time stamps (311); and identifying (570) the soccer ball in play (102) at least a given time during the soccer game by comparing the identifiers (IDs; 1 , ID 2 . .... ID N ) of all the soccer balls stored in memory (306) with the identifiers (IDs) of the replacement footballs (108) present in the ball holders (104) in the corresponding dressing room using the temporary marks (311).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the presence or absence of the replacement soccer ball (108) in each ball holder (104) is detected by repeated readings of the code reader unit (206).

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the presence or absence of the replacement soccer ball (108) in each ball holder (104) is detected by a presence detector (602).

13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the ball identification code (204) is an NFC tag and the code reading unit (206) is an NFC reader.

14. The method according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the ball identification code (204) is a QR code and the code reading unit (206) is a QR code reader.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the balloon identification code (204) is an RFID tag and the code reading unit (206) is an RFID reader.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising: detecting and obtaining the identifier (ID) G ). by means of an RFID reader (712) located behind each of the goals (702) of the football field (106), of the football in play (102) when it has crossed the goal line (704) of the goal (702); and wirelessly send to the central control unit (110) the identifier (IDG) of the football in play (102) detected by the RFID reader (712).

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising: associating time stamps with the identifiers (IDs) G ) of the footballs in play (102) that have crossed the goal line (704) of the goal (702) during the football match; and Identify the soccer ball in play (102) that scored a goal at a given time during the soccer match using the identifier (ID G ) of the soccer ball in play (102) that has crossed the goal line (706) of the goal (702) with an associated time stamp corresponding to that instant.

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