Equipment recommendation system and method

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for recommending an item of equipment, which comprises: gathering sensed data from a sensor; processing the sensed data in accordance with a biomechanical protocol to determine at least one performance indicator associated with a subject's execution of the biomechanical protocol; and determining at least one recommended feature of an item of equipment based at least in part on the at least one performance indicator. Also, an equipment recommendation system with specific application to hockey, which comprises: a camera configured to produce images representative of execution of a hockey shot of a given type by a subject; an I/O interface; and a processor connected to the camera via the I/O interface and configured to extract parameters from the images and to output, via the I/O interface, a hockey stick recommendation for the subject that is based on the parameters and on the given type of hockey shot.

1 .- 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 obtaining a first set of image data from a camera, the first set of image data being generated by the camera and representing a subject's taking of a first shot with a hockey stick;   identifying a first shooting protocol corresponding to the subject's taking of the first shot, the first shooting protocol being characterized by one of a wrist shot and a slap shot;   processing the first set of image data in accordance with the first shooting protocol to determine at least a first performance indicator relating to at least one of the hockey stick and the subject;   obtaining a second set of image data from the camera, the second set of image data being generated by the camera and representing the subject's taking of a second shot with the hockey stick;   identifying a second shooting protocol different from the first shooting protocol and corresponding to the subject's taking of the second shot, the second shooting protocol being characterized by the other of a wrist shot and a slap shot;   processing the second set of image data in accordance with the second shooting protocol to determine at least a second performance indicator relating to at least one of the hockey stick and the subject;   determining at least one recommended hockey stick feature based at least in part on the first and second performance indicators; and   outputting the at least one recommended hockey stick feature via a computer-implemented graphical user interface or storing the at least one recommended hockey stick feature in a non-transitory memory.   
     
     
         55 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein the at least one recommended feature includes at least one of: a specific hockey stick model selected from a plurality of hockey stick models; a hockey stick blade pattern; and a resistance to flex of a hockey stick shaft. 
     
     
         56 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , further comprising obtaining a height and a weight of the subject, wherein the determining is further based on the height and the weight of the subject. 
     
     
         57 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 obtaining a first set of motion data from at least one inertial motion sensor attached to at least one of the hockey stick and the subject, the first set of motion data being generated by the at least one inertial motion sensor and relating to the subject's taking of the first shot with the hockey stick;   processing the first set of motion data in accordance with the first identified shooting protocol to determine at least a third performance indicator;   obtaining a second set of motion data from the at least one inertial motion sensor, the second set of motion data being generated by the at least one inertial motion sensor and relating to the subject's taking of the second shot with the hockey stick; and   processing the second set of motion data in accordance with the second identified shooting protocol to determine at least a fourth performance indicator;   
       wherein the at least one recommended hockey stick feature is determined further based on the third and fourth performance indicators. 
     
     
         58 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein at least one of the first performance indicator and the second performance indicator includes an indication of at least one of:
 a distance between the subject's hands on the testing stick;   a shooting stance of the subject;   a puck impulse time during execution of a hockey shot;   a portion of a body of the subject that is a main segment for energy generation;   hand movement time during execution of a hockey shot;   a maximum angular velocity of the stick during execution of a hockey shot; and   a shooting stance.   
     
     
         59 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein identifying the first shooting protocol comprises receiving an input from a user, the input comprising a user selection of the first shooting protocol. 
     
     
         60 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 59 , further comprising issuing instructions to the subject to carry out the first shooting protocol. 
     
     
         61 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 59 , wherein receiving the input from the user occurs before the subject's taking of the first shot with the testing stick. 
     
     
         62 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein identifying the first shooting protocol comprises executing a pattern recognition algorithm. 
     
     
         63 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 62 , wherein executing the pattern recognition algorithm is done continuously during play. 
     
     
         64 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 62 , wherein executing the pattern recognition algorithm is simultaneous with the subject's taking of the first shot with the testing stick. 
     
     
         65 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 62 , wherein executing the pattern recognition algorithm occurs after the subject's taking of the first shot with the testing stick has ended. 
     
     
         66 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 62 , wherein executing the pattern recognition algorithm comprises processing at least part of the first set of image data. 
     
     
         67 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein the at least one recommended hockey stick feature comprises a set of recommended hockey stick features, the method further comprising:
 comparing the set of recommended hockey stick features with predefined sets of features corresponding to respective hockey stick variants; and   identifying at least one of the hockey stick variants as a candidate variant based on the comparing.   
     
     
         68 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 67 , wherein identifying at least one of the hockey stick variants comprises identifying as the candidate variant the hockey stick variant for which the corresponding set of features most closely matches the set of recommended features. 
     
     
         69 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein determining the at least one recommended hockey stick feature based at least in part on the first and second performance indicators comprises:
 comparing the first and second performance indicators to sets of baseline values corresponding to respective hockey stick variants; and   identifying at least one of the hockey stick variants based on the comparing;   
       wherein the at least one recommended feature comprises an indication of the at least one identified hockey stick variant. 
     
     
         70 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 69 , wherein each hockey stick variant is characterized by a combination of hockey stick features and wherein the indication of the at least one identified hockey stick variant comprises at least one of the hockey stick features that characterizes the at least one identified hockey stick variant. 
     
     
         71 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out the method of  claim 54 . 
     
     
         72 . A hockey stick recommendation system, comprising:
 a camera configured to produce image data representative of execution of a plurality of hockey shots of different shot types by a subject with a hockey stick, the shot types comprising a wrist-shot shot type and a slap-shot shot type; and   a processor connected to the camera and configured to associate a first set of the image data with the wrist-shot shot type and a second set of the image data with the slap-shot shot type, to determine at least one first performance indicator relating to at least one of the hockey stick and the subject based on the first set of image data, to determine at least one second performance indicator relating to at least one of the hockey stick and the subject based on the second set of image data, and to output, via a graphical user interface, a recommendation of at least one hockey stick feature based at least in part on the first and second performance indicators.   
     
     
         73 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 obtaining image data from a camera, the image data being generated by the camera and representing a subject's taking of a shot with a hockey stick;   processing the image data to determine a characteristic of a top hand of the subject on the hockey stick and a characteristic of a bottom hand of the subject on the hockey stick;   determining at least one recommended hockey stick feature based at least in part on the characteristic of the top hand and the characteristic of the bottom hand; and   outputting the at least one recommended hockey stick feature via a computer-implemented graphical user interface or storing the at least one recommended hockey stick feature in a non-transitory memory.   
     
     
         74 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 73 , wherein the characteristic of the top hand comprises a position of the top hand and the characteristic of the bottom hand comprises a position of the bottom hand. 
     
     
         75 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 74 , further comprising determining a distance between the top and bottom hands based on the positions of the top and the position of the bottom hand, and wherein the determining is based at least in part on the distance between the top and bottom hands. 
     
     
         76 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 73 , further comprising processing the image data to determine a characteristic of a hockey puck used during the subject's taking of the shot, wherein the determining of the at least one recommended hockey stick feature is based at least in part on the characteristic of the hockey puck. 
     
     
         77 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 76 , wherein the characteristic of the top hand comprises a position of the top hand, the characteristic of the bottom hand comprises a position of the bottom hand, and the characteristic of the puck comprises a position of the puck. 
     
     
         78 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 77 , wherein the positions of the top hand, the bottom hand and the puck are used to determine a first distance between the top hand and the bottom hand and a second distance between the bottom hand and the puck, and the determining of the at least one recommended hockey stick feature is based at least in part on the first and second distances. 
     
     
         79 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 77 , wherein the positions of the top hand, the bottom hand and the puck are used to determine an angle at the bottom hand between the top hand and the puck, and the determining of the at least one recommended hockey stick feature is based at least in part on said angle. 
     
     
         80 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 73 , further comprising identifying a subset of the image data in which contact with a puck occurs, wherein the characteristic of the top hand and the characteristic of the bottom hand are determined by processing said subset of the image data. 
     
     
         81 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 80 , wherein the identifying is done automatically. 
     
     
         82 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 73 , wherein the at least one recommended feature includes at least one of: a specific hockey stick model selected from a plurality of hockey stick models; a hockey stick blade pattern; and a resistance to flex of a hockey stick shaft. 
     
     
         83 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 73 , further comprising obtaining a height and a weight of the subject, wherein the determining is further based on the height and the weight of the subject. 
     
     
         84 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 73 , wherein the at least one recommended hockey stick feature comprises a set of recommended hockey stick features, the method further comprising:
 comparing the set of recommended hockey stick features with predefined sets of hockey stick features that characterize respective hockey stick variants; and   identifying at least one of the hockey stick variants as a candidate variant based on the comparing.   
     
     
         85 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 84 , wherein identifying at least one of the hockey stick variants comprises identifying as the candidate variant the hockey stick variant for which the corresponding set of hockey stick features most closely matches the set of recommended hockey stick features. 
     
     
         86 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 73 , further comprising identifying a shooting protocol corresponding to the subject's taking of the shot, the first shooting protocol being characterized by a shot type, wherein the determining is further based on the shot type. 
     
     
         87 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 86 , wherein the shot type is a given one of a wrist-shot shot type and a slap-shot shot type. 
     
     
         88 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 87 , wherein the identifying comprises receiving an input from a user, the input comprising a user selection of the shooting protocol. 
     
     
         89 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 88 , further comprising issuing instructions to the subject to carry out the shooting protocol. 
     
     
         90 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 88 , wherein receiving the input from the user occurs before the subject's taking of the shot with the testing stick. 
     
     
         91 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 87 , wherein identifying the shooting protocol comprises executing a pattern recognition algorithm. 
     
     
         92 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 91 , wherein executing the pattern recognition algorithm is done continuously during play. 
     
     
         93 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 91 , wherein executing the pattern recognition algorithm is simultaneous with the subject's taking of the shot with the testing stick. 
     
     
         94 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 91 , wherein executing the pattern recognition algorithm occurs after the subject's taking of the shot with the testing stick has ended. 
     
     
         95 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 91 , wherein executing the pattern recognition algorithm comprises processing at least part of the set of image data. 
     
     
         96 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out the method of  claim 73 . 
     
     
         97 . An equipment recommendation system, comprising:
 a camera configured to produce image data representative of execution of a hockey shot by a subject with a hockey stick; and   a processor connected to the camera and configured to process the image data to determine a characteristic of a top hand of the subject on the hockey stick and a characteristic of a bottom hand of the subject on the hockey stick, and to output, via a graphical user interface, a hockey stick recommendation based at least in part on the characteristic of the top hand and the characteristic of the bottom hand.