Apparatus and method for determining participant contact with a sports object

Abstract

A method and apparatus determine contact by a participant with a sports object by detecting contact of the sports object with the participant via a personal area network of the participant; transmitting in response to the detection player identification information to a central controller; determining that the sports object has left a field of play by the central controller; and alerting in response to the determination a sports official to identify a last participant to contact the sports object via an official system by the central controller.

1 . A method for assisting in officiating a sports contest, comprising the steps of: 
 detecting contact of a sports object with a participant via a personal area network of the participant;    transmitting in response to the detection participant identification information to a central controller;    determining that the sports object has left a field of play by the central controller; and    alerting in response to the determination a sports official to identify a last participant to contact the sports object via an official system by the central controller.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of detecting contact of the sports object with a participant comprises the step of receiving information from the personal area network of the participant by a body controller of the participant; and 
 the step of transmitting is executed by the body controller.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises the steps of determining a location of the participant on the field of play; 
 transmitting a message to the central controller for determination if the location of the participant is a possible violation of official rules.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises the steps of determining a location of the participant on the field of play; and 
 calculating statistical information based on locations of the participant and contacts by the participant with the sports object.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining comprises the step of receiving information from the sports official via the official system.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of detecting contact of the sports object with a participant comprises the step of receiving information from the personal area network of the participant by an object controller of the sports object; and 
 the step of transmitting is executed by the object controller whereby the participant identification information is received from the personal area network.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprises the steps of determining a location of the participant on the field of play; 
 transmitting a message to the central controller for determination if the location of the participant is a possible violation of official rules.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprises the steps of determining a location of the participant on the field of play; and 
 calculating statistical information based on locations of the participant and contacts by the participant with the sports object.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of determining comprises the step of receiving information from the sports official via the official system.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus to assist in officiating a sports contest, comprising: 
 a central controller;    a official system;    a body controller detecting contact with a sports object via a personal area network for a participant and transmitting a contact message to the central controller indicating the contact and participant identification information; and    the central controller transmitting an alerting message to the official system to identify a last participant to contact the sports object upon receipt of the contact message and a determination that the sports object has left a field of play.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprises a participant locator and the body controller transmitting a participant location message based on information from the participant locator to the central controller; and 
 the central controller determining if the location of the participant is a possible rule violation.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the central controller further calculating statistical information based on locations of the participant and contacts by the participant with the sports object.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus to assist in officiating a sports contest, comprising: 
 a central controller;    a official system;    a object controller detecting contact with a sports object via a personal area network for a participant and transmitting a contact message to the central controller indicating the contact and receiving participant identification information from the personal area network; and    the central controller transmitting an alerting message to the official system to identify a last participant to contact the sports object upon receipt of the contact message and a determination that the sports object has left a field of play.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprises a participant locator and a body controller; 
 the body controller transmitting a participant location message based on information from the participant locator to the central controller; and    the central controller determining if the location of the participant is a possible rule violation.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the central controller further calculating statistical information based on locations of the participant and contacts by the participant with the sports object.  
     
     
         16 . A processor-readable medium for assisting in officiating a sports contest, comprising processor-executable instructions configured for: 
 processor-executable instructions for detecting contact of a sports object with a participant via a personal area network of the participant;    processor-executable instructions executed by a central controller for transmitting in response to the detection participant identification information;    processor-executable instructions executed by a central controller for determining that the sports object has left a field of play; and    processor-executable instructions executed by a central controller for alerting in response to the determination a sports official and identifying a last participant to contact the sports object via an official system.    
     
     
         17 . The processor-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the processor-executable instructions for detecting contact of the sports object with a participant are executed by a body controller of the participant with information from the personal area network of the participant; and 
 the processor-executable instructions for transmitting are executed by the body controller.    
     
     
         18 . The processor-readable medium of  claim 16  further comprises the processor-executable instructions for determining a location of the participant on the field of play; and 
 processor-executable instructions for transmitting a message to the central controller for determination if the location of the participant is a possible violation of official rules.    
     
     
         19 . The processor-readable medium of  claim 16  further comprises processor-executable instructions for determining a location of the participant on the field of play; and 
 processor-executable instructions for calculating statistical information based on locations of the participant and contacts by the participant with the sports object.    
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for implementing the steps of  claim 1.