Scoring Ball Authenticity via Unique Identifier Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems lack a reliable method to uniquely identify and authenticate scoring balls used in sports games, leading to uncertainty in the memorabilia market and difficulty in proving authenticity, as these balls are often reused and interchangeable during matches.

Innovation Solution

A method involving unique identifiers stored on game balls, such as QR codes or serial numbers, which are linked to a computing system to generate a scoring record upon a scoring event, allowing for the creation of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to prove ownership and track authenticity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple official soccer balls are rotated during a game, then the game can proceed smoothly with continuous play, but it becomes impossible to identify which ball was used to score the goal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame continuityVSAvoidgoal ball identification
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the identification task into segments: each ball has a unique identifier, and the scoring system records which specific identifier was involved in the goal. This allows individual ball tracking within the overall game flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A computing device acts as an intermediary between the physical balls and the scoring records. The computing device stores and processes unique identifiers, receiving data from sensors and generating authenticated scoring records that link specific balls to goals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If the ball used to score a goal is immediately put back into play, then the game can restart quickly, but the authenticity of the goal ball cannot be proven

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverestart timeVSAvoidauthenticity verification
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Unique identifiers are pre-installed on all official balls before the game begins. The computing device is pre-configured with the database of valid identifiers, enabling immediate verification and recording when a goal occurs without interrupting play.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The manual verification process is replaced with an automated electronic system. Sensors detect the unique identifier, the computing device automatically verifies it against stored data, and generates an authenticated record, eliminating the need for physical ball removal and manual verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If no system tracks goal balls, then the memorabilia market operates freely, but uncertainty and lack of authentication reduce transferability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemarket freedomVSAvoidauthentication certainty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback by generating and storing authenticated scoring records that can be retrieved and verified. This creates a closed-loop verification system where the authenticity of goal balls can be confirmed through recorded data, enabling reliable transferability while maintaining market freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4250212A1Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for certifying authenticity of a scoring ball in a sports game
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 GOL-BALL INC
  • EP4250212A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4250212A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4250212A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system, method, and computer-readable medium for certifying authenticity of a scoring ball in a sports game, the method including storing a plurality of unique identifiers corresponding to a plurality of game balls, each unique identifier corresponding to a unique game ball in the plurality of game balls, receiving a message indicating a scoring event, the message comprising a scoring ball unique identifier, identifying a game ball in the plurality of game balls based at least in part on the scoring ball unique identifier, and generating a scoring record designating the identified game ball as a scoring ball, the scoring record being linked to the scoring ball unique identifier.