Sports signaling system

Abstract

A secure system for encrypting sports signals that provides a high level of security, effectively rendering sign stealing efforts useless. Two embodiments for baseball pitch-signaling are disclosed that both adhere to major league baseball guidelines. In one embodiment, a wearable mechanical wrist-mounted device akin to a watch is disclosed with conventional wristband and lug, with dual ratcheted bezels or crowns. During the game both the pitcher and catcher wear identical devices. The catcher uses the device to encrypt each pitch type and pitch location and then signals the pitcher with the encrypted hand signs. The pitcher decrypts the desired pitch and location through the hand signals by reference to the device. Another embodiment is disclosed in the form of an electronic smartwatch. Both embodiments allow players to securely and efficiently communicate pitch type and pitch location via hand signs.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of sport signal communication, comprising the steps of:
 a first player wearing a first wearable device configured for encrypting a desired hand signal into a visual cyphersign using symmetric key encryption (SKC);   a second player wearing a second wearable device synchronized to said first wearable device for decrypting said visual cyphersign into a hand signal;   said first player hand signaling said visual cyphersign to said second player;   said second player decrypting said visual cyphersign to said desired hand signal using said second wearable device.   
     
     
         2 . A method for transmitting encrypted signals during a sporting event, comprising the steps of:
 establishing a sign subset by assigning an identifier to each sign to be communicated;   assigning a plurality of numerical permutations to each assigned identifier in said sign subset;   a player and teammate both wearing an identical wearable device, both said wearable devices being configured to incrementally select and display the same one of said numerical permutations of said sign subset by pseudorandom selection;   said player selecting a sign to transmit to the teammate during said sporting event; the player determining from their wearable device the selected numerical permutation of said sign subset corresponding to the selected sign;   said player visually communicating the selected numerical permutation to their teammate;   said teammate decrypting said selected numerical permutation by correlating to the selected sign displayed on their wearable device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said sporting event comprises baseball and each sign of said sign subset comprises a pitch type. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said sporting event comprises baseball and each sign of said sign subset comprises a pitch location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said sporting event comprises baseball and both said wearable devices are configured to pseudorandomly select and display the same one of said numerical permutations of said sign subset as a function of pitch count. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein both said wearable devices comprise mechanical watches with rotating crowns. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein both said wearable devices comprise smart watches running software programs. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein neither of said wearable devices are in any communication with the other wearable device. 
     
     
         9 . A method for transmitting encrypted pitch signals during a baseball game, comprising the steps of:
 establishing a pitch type subset by assigning an first identifier to each pitch type sign to be communicated;   establishing a pitch location subset by assigning a second identifier to each pitch location sign to be communicated;   assigning a first plurality of numerical permutations to each assigned first identifier in said pitch type subset;   assigning a second plurality of numerical permutations to each assigned second identifier in said pitch location subset;   a player and teammate both wearing an identical wearable device, both said wearable devices being configured to incrementally select and display one and the same numerical first permutation and numerical second permutation by a pseudorandom selection;   said player selecting a pitch type and pitch location to transmit to the teammate during said sporting event;   the player determining from their wearable device the selected numerical first permutation and selected second numerical permutation corresponding to the selected pitch type and pitch location, respectively;   said player visually communicating the selected numerical first permutation and second permutation to their teammate;   said teammate decrypting said selected numerical first permutation and second permutation by correlating to the selected pitch type and pitch location displayed on their wearable device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein both said wearable devices are configured to pseudorandomly select and display the same one of said numerical permutations of said sign subset as a function of pitch count. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein both said wearable devices comprise mechanical watches with rotating crowns. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein both said wearable devices comprise smart watches running software programs. 
     
     
         13 . A secure system for communicating signals during a sporting event, comprising:
 a first wearable devices configured to be worn by a player;   a second wearable device configured to be worn by a teammate;   a public key that assigns one of a plurality of character permutations to each signal;   a dynamic private key comprising a moving cross-reference of each signal to one of said plurality of character permutations as a function of a signal count, said cross-reference changing with each signal count;   whereby both of said wearable devices are configured to incrementally select and display the same selected character permutation cross-referenced to a selected signal.   
     
     
         14 . The secure system according to  claim 13 , wherein said first wearable device and second wearable device both comprise mechanical watches, both having a first rotating band implementing said public key and a second rotating band implementing said private key. 
     
     
         15 . The secure system according to  claim 13 , wherein said first wearable device and second wearable device both comprise smart watches, both smart watches having a software program implementing said public key and private key. 
     
     
         16 . A wearable device for communicating pitch signals during a baseball game, comprising a first crown rotatable to assign one of a first plurality of character permutations to a selected signal. 
     
     
         17 . The wearable device according to  claim 15 , wherein said selected signal comprises a pitch type and a pitch location, and said wearable device further comprises a second crown rotatable to assign one of a second plurality of character permutations to a selected pitch location. 
     
     
         18 . A wearable device for communicating pitch signals during a baseball game, comprising a smart watch having a display configured to display a plurality of signals each cross-referenced to a code, and a software program configured to randomly select a plurality of codes and display the signals each cross-referenced to an associated code, and to repeat said random selection and display each time a refresh button is pressed. 
     
     
         19 . The wearable device according to  claim 17 , wherein said selected signal comprises a pitch type and a pitch location, and said display is configured to display a selected pitch type referenced to a first character permutation and a selected pitch location referenced to a second character permutation. 
     
     
         20 . A method for encrypting a first set characters into a second set of characters comprising the steps of:
 establishing a public key that assigns one of a plurality of permutations of said second set of characters to said first set of characters;   establishing a dynamic private key comprising a moving cross-reference of said first set of characters to one of said plurality of character permutations of said second set of characters as a function of a count;   incrementing said count to alter the cross-reference of said first set of characters to a different character permutations of said second set of characters.