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.

1 . A system and a method for real time acquisition and processing of electro magnetic signals reproduced as digital data pertaining to the physical position and/or physical performance of one or a multitude of “objects of play” in motion on a “field of play” in relationship to the “boundaries of play” while utilizing a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) system of embedded transponders located in the object(s) of play as well as embedded interrogator antennas located in the boundaries of play while all transponders, interrogators and antennas are connected to a back end host computer management system for the processing of said digital data for the function of providing objective, unbiased and uninfluenced decisions as to the location of objects in play in relationship to the boundaries of play on or near a field of play; where a “field of play” is defined as a professional football field, college football field, professional baseball field, professional ice hockey rink, college hockey rink, professional soccer field, professional basketball court, professional tennis court, professional golf course, professional automobile racing track, professional horse racing track, professional dog racing track, professional lacrosse box or field, or any other such arena or stadium for professional sports; where “objects of play” are defined as a professional football or professional football player, college football or college football player, professional baseball or professional baseball player, professional ice hockey puck or professional ice hockey player, college ice hockey puck or college ice hockey player, professional soccer ball or professional soccer player, professional basketball or professional basketball player, professional tennis ball or professional tennis player, professional golf ball or professional golfer, professional racecar or professional race car driver, professional quarter horse or professional racing dog, professional lacrosse ball or lacrosse player; where “boundaries of play” are defined as the metes and bounds plus goal lines of a professional football field, the metes and bounds plus goal lines of a college football field, the metes and bounds of a professional baseball diamond, the metes and bounds plus goal lines of a professional and college ice hockey rink, the metes and bounds of a professional soccer field including the penalty box area, the metes and bounds plus three point throw area of a professional basketball court, the metes and bound of a professional tennis court, the metes and bounds of a professional golf course, the metes and bounds of a professional automobile racing track, the metes and bound of a professional horse racing track, the metes and bounds of a professional dog racing track, the metes and bounds of a professional lacrosse box or field, and the metes and bounds of any other similar such arena, field or stadium used for professional or college sports such that the scoring zones and out of bounds zones are identifiable through the digital processing of electro magnetic signals. 
   
   
       2 . The system and method of  claim 1  whereby the interrogator antennas embedded into the boundaries of play are constantly radiating electro magnetic signals while the “duration of play” is ongoing for the function of allowing the back end host computer system through algorithms contained in middle ware to determine if the object(s) of play has/have crossed the boundaries of play using a set of digital values which are representative of the physical position and performance of the objects of play in relationship to the boundaries of play which digital information is processed instantaneously and which digital information is connected to a digital processing device responsible for preparing the digital values which are representative of the physical performances of the objects of play in relationship to the boundaries of play as well as for the graphic representation of same on a Jumbotron or scoreboard at the field of play; the “duration of play” defined as the specific time and date set aside for the sporting event from inception to completion as calculated by connecting the back end host computer system to the official score clock located at the field of play. 
   
   
       3 . The system and method of  claim 1  whereby the perimeter or outside edges of an object of play are encompassed by the antenna of the RFID transponder embedded into it or, alternatively, by a sensing device such as a thin strand of copper or aluminum wire, or alternatively, by an electro magnetically reflective ink, so that a determination as to whether the entire surface of the object of play is inside or outside of the boundaries of play can be effectively adjudicated in that the antenna or sensing mechanism is connected to the integrated circuit embedded into the object of play by wire which integrated circuit is connected to the back end administrative middle ware through the auspices of electro magnetic signals. 
   
   
       4 . The system and method of  claim 1  whereby the perimeter or outside edges of the field of play is continuously enveloped and bombarded with electro magnetic signals emanating from the embedded antennas of the centralized interrogator(s) of the RFID system throughout the duration of play so that any object(s) of play which may fully cross the electro magnetic signal of the interrogator antenna(s), which electro magnetic signal marks the boundaries of play or scoring areas, will trigger a response from the back end host computer system appropriate for the field of play which is being monitored by the RFID system. 
   
   
       5 . The system and method of producing a laser assisted electro magnetic signal with sufficient precision to obviate the natural tendency of electro magnetic signals to propagate in an elliptical manner but instead to propagate in a straight line in a specific and defined direction and at a specified and defined power setting so that the boundaries of play are precisely identified in relationship to the field of play being tracked. 
   
   
       6 . The system and method of  claim 5  whereby laser technology is used as the carrier wave for the electro magnetic signal being used to mark the boundaries of play for the function of allowing the back end host computer system to determine if the object(s) of play have crossed the boundaries of play using a set of digital values which are representative of the physical position and performance of the objects of play in relationship to the boundaries of play which digital information is processed instantaneously and which digital information is connected to a digital processing device responsible for preparing the digital values which are representative of the physical performances of the objects of play in relationship to the boundaries of play as well as for the graphic representation of same on a Jumbotron or scoreboard at the field of play. 
   
   
       7 . The system and method of  claim 5  whereby a laser motion detector system is utilized to mark the boundaries of play so that when a laser light is interrupted completely by an object of play a trigger or switch prompts the back end host computer system to determine if the object(s) of play have crossed the boundaries of play using a set of digital values which are representative of the physical position and performance of the objects of play in relationship to the boundaries of play which digital information is processed instantaneously and which digital information is connected to a digital processing device responsible for preparing the digital values which are representative of the physical performances of the objects of play in relationship to the boundaries of play as well as for the graphic representation of same on a Jumbotron or scoreboard at the field of play.