# US 2008/0189447 A1 · Interactive System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0189447 A1 - Document ID: US20080189447A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/587,231 - Filed: 2005-04-22 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2004-04-23 - Inventors: David Hoch; Andrew Kennedy Lang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080189447A1 ## CPC - A63B 24/0021: {Tracking a path or terminating locations} - A63B 69/38: for tennis {(A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence)} - A63B 71/0605: {Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration} - A63B 43/00: Balls with special arrangements - A63B 69/0024: {for hockey} - A63B 2024/0025: {Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game} - A63B 2071/0611: {Automatic tennis linesmen, i.e. in-out detectors} - A63B 2102/22: {Field} hockey - A63B 2220/13: Relative positions - A63B 2220/30: Speed - A63B 2220/40: Acceleration - A63B 2225/15: with identification means that can be read by electronic means - A63B 2225/30: Maintenance - A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A system and method include and control multiple controllable interactive components (10) that may be employed in various environments including sporting environments. The system may also include controllable (10) or non-controllable non-interactive components (30). These components (40) may include power supplies (42) that supply energy to the components (non-interactive and interactive) via a plurality of bus bars (20a, 20b) coupled together to form a bus bar system. Low speed data may be communicated on the bus bar system between components and a system controller (210). The system controller (210) may monitor and modify the operation of components (10) via the bus bar system (20a, 20b) are provided for interacting one or more individuals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An interactive system, the system comprising: a plurality of controllable interactive components, each controllable, interactive component including: means for detecting some physical characteristic of a user proximal to the controllable interactive component; and means for transmitting the detected physical characteristic in a data signal to an interactive component system controller; a plurality of bus bars, the bus bars forming a network where each of the plurality of controllable interactive components is electrically coupled to the bus bar network at least once; a power supply coupled to the bus bar network to provide power to the plurality of controllable interactive components. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The interactive system of claim 1, wherein each controllable interactive component further comprises means for generating a human detectable effect as a function of the detected physical characteristic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The interactive system of claim 1, wherein each controllable interactive component further comprises: means for receiving a generate effect data signal from the interactive component system controller where the generate effect data signal is based on the detected physical characteristic; and means for generating a human detectable effect based on the generate effect data signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The interactive system of claim 3, wherein the means for generating a human detectable effect based on the generate effect data signal includes a photon generation element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The interactive system of claim 1, further comprising a non-interactive component electrically coupled to the bus bar network, the non-interactive component including means for generating a human detectable effect. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The interactive system of claim 5, wherein the means for generating a human detectable effect includes a photon generation element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The interactive system of claim 1, wherein each controllable interactive component further comprises: means for detecting some physical characteristic of a moving, non-human object proximal to the controllable interactive component; and means for transmitting the detected moving object physical characteristic in a data signal to the interactive component system controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The interactive system of claim 7, wherein each controllable interactive component further comprises means for generating a human detectable effect indicating a characteristic of the moving, non-human object proximal to the controllable interactive component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The interactive system of claim 8, wherein the means for generating a human detectable effect indicating a characteristic of the moving, non-human object proximal to the controllable interactive component includes a photon generation element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The interactive system of claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting the detected physical characteristic is electrically coupled to the bus bar network and the data signal is communicated to the interactive component system controller via the bus bar network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The interactive system of claim 3, wherein the means for transmitting the detected physical characteristic is electrically coupled to the bus bar network and the data signal is communicated to the interactive component system controller via the bus bar network and wherein the means for receiving a generate effect data signal is electrically coupled to the bus bar network and the generate effect data signal is communicated from the interactive component system controller via the bus bar network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The interactive system of claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting the detected physical characteristic includes an optical transmitter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The interactive system of claim 3, wherein the means for transmitting the detected physical characteristic includes an optical transmitter and wherein the means for receiving a generate effect data signal includes an optical receiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The interactive system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of controllable interactive components communicate data signals between the interactive component system controller and each controllable interactive component via the optical transmitter and receiver serially. ### Claim 15 An interactive system, the system comprising: a plurality of controllable interactive components, each controllable, interactive component including: means for detecting some physical characteristic of a user proximal to the controllable interactive component; and an optical transmitter, the transmitter transmitting the detected physical characteristic in a data signal to an interactive component system controller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The interactive system of claim 15, wherein each controllable interactive component further comprises means for generating a human detectable effect as a function of the detected physical characteristic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The interactive system of claim 15, wherein each controllable interactive component further comprises: a plurality of bus bars, the bus bars forming a network where each of the plurality of controllable interactive components is electrically coupled to the bus bar network at least once; and a power supply coupled to the bus bar network to provide power to the plurality of controllable interactive components. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The interactive system of claim 15, wherein each controllable interactive component further comprises: an optical receiver, the receiver receiving a generate effect data signal from the interactive component system controller where the generate effect data signal is based on the detected physical characteristic; and means for generating a human detectable effect based on the generate effect data signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The interactive system of claim 18, wherein the means for generating a human detectable effect based on the generate effect data signal includes a photon generation element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The interactive system of claim 17, further comprising a non-interactive component electrically coupled to the bus bar network, the non-interactive component including means for generating a human detectable effect. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The interactive system of claim 20, wherein each controllable interactive component further comprises: means for detecting some physical characteristic of a moving, non-human object proximal to the controllable interactive component; and means for transmitting the detected moving object physical characteristic in a data signal to the interactive component system controller. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The interactive system of claim 21, wherein each controllable interactive component further comprises means for generating a human detectable effect indicating a characteristic of the moving, non-human object proximal to the controllable interactive component. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The interactive system of claim 22, wherein the means for generating a human detectable effect indicating a characteristic of the moving, non-human object proximal to the controllable interactive component includes a photon generation element. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The interactive system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of controllable interactive components communicate data signals between the interactive component system controller and each controllable interactive component via the optical transmitter and receiver serially.