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US 12,478,854 B1Granted
Basketball passing system providing virtual drill instructions
AssigneeShoot-A-Way, Inc.
InventorJohn G. Joseph
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A basketball passing machine providing a multi-user mode and related systems and methods are provided. A controller receives programming information for a basketball practice drill including participant information for multiple users. Based on the programming information received, each pass in the basketball practice drill is associated with a respective one of the multiple users. A launching device passes basketballs to locations at a basketball playing area, and participant information is displayed at the front display for an associated one of the users for a respective one of the passes.
Claims20
A basketball passing machine providing virtual coaching capabilities, said system comprising:
- a launching device configured to pass basketballs to locations at a basketball playing area;
- a user interface for receiving user input for programming custom practice sessions;
- and
- a controller in electronic communication with said launching device, said user interface, and a remote camera separate a od spaced apart from the basketball passing machine, wherein said controller comprises one or more non-transitory electronic storage devices comprising software instructions, which when executed, configure one or more processors to:
- receive a video taken by the remote camera;
- store the video at the one or more non-transitory electronic storage devices;
- generale a prompt to play the video at the user interface;
- receive data from the user interface indicating selection of the prompt, and in response, cause said video to be displayed at the user interface;
- after playing the video at e user interface generate one or more programming prompts for programming custom practice sessions;
- and
- receive data from the user interface indicating user selections at the user interface in said one or more programming prompts for programming a particular custom practice session in accordance with the video, and in response, command said launching device to pass the basketballs to at least some of the locations at the basketball playing area in accordance with the user selections as part of said particular custom practice session.
8 more elements
A basketball passing machine providing virtual coaching capabilities, said system comprising:
- a launching device configured to pass basketballs to locations at a basketball playing area;
- a housing for the launching device;
- a detector for detecting made basketball shots;
- an electronic display provided at a forward-facing surface of the housing;
- a user interface for receiving user input for programming custom practice sessions, wherein said user interface compromises a touch-sensitive electronic display;
- a local camera mechanically affixed, directly or indirectly, to the forward-facing surface of the housing, and in electronic communication with said controller and configured to record images of user attempting basketball shots following receipt of basketball passes from said launching device as part of said particular custom practice session;
- and
- a controller in electronic communication with said launching device, said user interface, said detector, and a remote camera, separate and spaced apart from the basketball passing machine, wherein said controller comprises one or more non-transitory electronic storage devices comprising software instructions, which when executed, configure one or more processors to:
- receive a video taken by the remote camera of a remote electronic device, said video comprising instructions for a user of the basketball passing machine;
- in response, store the video at said one or more non-transitory electronic storage devices;
- generate a prompt to play the video at the user interface;
- receive data from the user interface indicating user selection of the prompt, and in response, recall the video from the one or more non-transitory electronic storage devices and cause said video to be displayed at the user interface for said user to view;
- receive data indicating user selections at the user interface in response to said one or more programming prompts indicating user selections for programming a particular custom practice session in accordance with the video;
- and
- in response, command said launching device to pass the basketballs to at least some of the locations at the basketball playing area in accordance with the user selections as part of said particular custom practice session, including commanding said launching device to rotate to face in various directions to deliver the basketballs, wherein said housing, said electronic display, and said local camera are configured for movement with said launching device.
12 more elements
A method of providing virtual coaching capabilities, said method comprising:
- providing a basketball passing machine comprising:
- a launching device configured to pass basketballs to locations at a basketball playing area;
- a user interface for receiving user input for programming custom practice sessions;
- and
- a controller in electronic communication with said launching device, said user interface, and a remote camera separate and spaced apart from the basketball passing machine:
- electronically and automatically, including by execution of software instructions stored at one or more non-transitory electronic storage devices of the controller, which when executed configure operation of one or more processors:
- receiving a video taken by the remote camera;
- after receiving the video, storing the video at the one or more non-transitory electronic storage devices;
- generating a prompt to play the video at the user interface;
- receiving data from the user interface indicating user selection of the prompt, and in response, causing said video to be displayed at the user interface;
- after causing said video to be displayed at the user interface, generating one or more programming prompts for programming custom practice sessions in accordance with said video;
- in response, receiving data from the user interface indicating user selections for programming a particular custom practice session in accordance with the video;
- and
- after and in response to receiving the user selections at the user interface, commanding said launching device to pass the basketballs to at least some of the locations at the basketball playing area in accordance with the user selections as part of said particular custom practice session.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.