Method and system for the detection and the classification of events during motion actions

#This application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/IB2006/051209 filed 19 Apr. 2006 which designated the U.S. and claims priority to IT RM2005A000192 filed 20 Apr. 2005, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

#The present invention relates to a system and method for the detection and the classification of events during motion actions in order to detect violations of the game rules, in particular of the so-called “offside” rule in the football game.

#Upon developing the present invention, it has been evaluated which were: the imaging and calculation technologies adequate for the purpose; the modes to operate therewith, both of automatic or manual type; the modes for using the system by the referee and two linesmen; the performances and the cost of the whole system. By way of introduction, and of example, hereinafter the offside rules according FIFA regulations are shown and the human errors in determining the offside are analysed. Further in the present invention, to simplify the description the offside event and the determination thereof will be continued to be referred to. However, it is to be meant that the present invention will have to be considered able to be applied to other events, obviously with obvious and consequent differences in the implementation, due to the differences in the regulations, without this modifying the core of the invention itself or altering the inventive concept.

#Additional advantages, as well as the features and the application modes of the present invention will be evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of example and not for limitative purposes, by referring to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

#FIGS. 1A to 1I illustrate different game situations corresponding or not to violations of the offside rule;

#FIG. 2 shows an ideal operating configuration of the viewing system;

#Hereinafter in the present description the figures mentioned above will be referred to.

#In particular, FIG. 1A relates to the case wherein the attacker receiving the ball from the team-mate with the shirt number 9, is in punishable offside position since he is nearer to the line of ball opposing goal and of the penultimate defender and this allow him to take advantage of his position.

#In the situation represented in FIG. 1B, even if the attacker is in offside position when the football is kicked by the team-mate with the shirt Nr. 8, he is not punishable as he does not participate actively in the game and does not obstruct the goalkeeper's motions.