Dynamic Play Calling Display with Obfuscated Character Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing play calling systems in athletic competitions face challenges such as static encoding that can be deciphered by opponents over time, difficulties in transmitting information in noisy environments, and inefficiencies in using verbal, hand signals, and printed signboards, which hinder quick and secure communication of play calls.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic play calling system using an electronic display board with multiple blocks of characters, where play call data is obfuscated with dummy data, allowing athletes to quickly understand the play call from a distance, and enabling rapid updates by separating relevant information into manageable blocks using dividers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If static encoding is used for play calls, then the encoding is simple to implement, but opponents can decipher the play call over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static encoding to dynamic encoding where the display board can change characters and patterns in real-time. The play call display updates dynamically based on the current play being called, making it difficult for opponents to decipher through observation of repeated patterns while maintaining ease of use through automated control.
2Speed
If verbal communication is used for play calls, then the transmission is quick, but the call can be heard by opponents in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces acoustic communication (verbal play calls) with visual communication through an electronic display board. This substitution eliminates the harmful effect of noise interference while maintaining rapid transmission of play call information, as the visual display can be updated instantly and viewed from a distance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If hand gestures are used for play calls, then the communication is visual, but the time to complete multiple gestures is large
Solution Approach 1:
The display board is divided into multiple character blocks that can be independently controlled and updated. This segmentation allows the system to display different elements of the play call simultaneously in different blocks, eliminating the sequential time requirement of hand gestures while maintaining visual clarity through organized spatial arrangement.
4Ease of operation
If printed signboards with tiles are used for play calls, then the display is visual and organized, but significant time is required to find, arrange, and affix tiles
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical process of physically arranging and affixing tiles with an electronic control system that can update the display board instantly through digital signals. This eliminates the time-consuming manual operations while maintaining the visual organization benefit through programmed character arrangement in different blocks.
5Productivity
If simple encoding is used for play calls, then the athletes can quickly perceive the play, but the encoding lacks complexity to maintain secrecy
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a multi-block display structure where play call information is distributed across different character blocks. This spatial dimensionality allows the display to convey complete play information quickly to athletes while appearing as random or meaningless character combinations to opponents, thus maintaining both speed of perception and secrecy.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a system for displaying a play call to participants in an athletic competition, the system having an input device, a display device, a selector, a first block of at least three characters and a second block of at least three characters. The first and second blocks are separated by a division. The first and second blocks each contain one character selected by a play caller and one character selected by the selector.