# US 8,771,148 B2 · Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods in a team sports environment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,148 B2 - Document ID: US8771148B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/079,231 - Filed: 2013-11-13 - Published: 2014-03-13 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-05 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: Nike, Inc. - Inventors: Santoshkumar Balakrishnan; Steve Holmes; Aaron B. Weast - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771148B2 ## CPC - A63B 24/0062: {Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance} - A41D 1/002: {adapted to accommodate electronic equipment (patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085)} - A43B 1/0054: {provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances} - A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements - A43B 5/02: Football boots {or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby} - A63B 24/0021: {Tracking a path or terminating locations} - A63B 71/0686: {Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means} - A63F 9/24: Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for - G01S 13/34: using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal - G01S 13/751: {wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal} - G01S 13/82: wherein continuous-type signals are transmitted - G06V 20/10: Terrestrial scenes (scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59) - H01Q 1/273: {Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals} - H01Q 1/44: using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) - H04N 23/65: Control of camera operation in relation to power supply - H04N 23/66: Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices - A63B 2024/0025: {Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game} - A63B 2024/0028: {Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch} - A63B 2024/0053: {for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball} - G01S 13/06: Systems determining position data of a target - Y10S 482/901: having computer circuitry - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract Systems, apparatuses, and methods for determining when an athlete is in possession of a ball by analyzing image data are provided. A camera is worn by an athlete and is turned on when the athlete is in proximity of a ball. The camera is used to generate an image of a ball. The size of the ball is determined and compared to a threshold. The athlete is considered to be in possession of the ball when the size of the image exceeds the threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: process image data that includes an image of an object; determine a first size of the object; compare the first size to a threshold; determine that a first user is in possession of the object if the first size meets or exceeds the threshold, and determine that the first user is not in possession of the object if the first size is less than the threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to communicate a proximity signal for determining whether the object is within range for controlling whether power is supplied to a camera providing the image data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to detect a return signal within a first predetermined amount of time of communicating the proximity signal and to provide power to the camera in response to the detecting. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to determine that a return signal has not been received within a predetermined amount of time of communicating the proximity signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to cause the camera to power down. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to: process second image data received from a second device; detect presence of the object within the first image data and the second image data; determine a second size of the object in the second image data; and determine that at least one of the first size and the second size meets or exceeds the threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to: receive first data from a first transducer; and compare the first data to a template, wherein the template identifies a particular resonance frequency. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first transducer is included in an article of footwear. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory are remote from the first transducer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first transducer, the at least one processor, and the at least one memory are configured to be worn by the first user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to: receive second data from a second transducer associated with a second user; compare the first data and the second data to a template, wherein the template identifies a particular resonance frequency; and determining which of the first user and the second user is in possession of the object based on the comparison. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to: identify a second time interval during which the second data corresponds to the template; and determine that the second user is in possession of an object during the second time interval. ### Claim 13 A method comprising: processing, by at least one processor, image data that includes an image of an object; determining a first size of the object; comparing, by the at least one processor, the first size to a threshold; determining that a first user is in possession of the object if the first size meets or exceeds the threshold, and determining that the first user is not in possession of the object if the first size is less than the threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: communicating a proximity signal for determining whether the object is within range for controlling whether power is supplied to a camera providing the image data; and detecting a return signal within a predetermined amount of time of communicating the proximity signal and providing power to the camera in response to the detecting. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: processing second image data received from a second device associated with a second user; detecting presence of the object within the first image data and the second image data; determining a second size of the object in the second image data; and determining that at least one of the first size and the second size meets or exceeds the threshold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving first data from a first transducer; and comparing the first data to a template, wherein the template identifies a particular resonance frequency, and wherein the determining that the first user is in possession of the object is further based on the comparison identifying the particular resonance frequency in the first data. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus at least to perform: processing image data that includes an image of an object; determining a first size of the object; comparing the first size to a threshold; determining that a first user is in possession of the object if the first size meets or exceeds the threshold, and determining that the first user is not in possession of the object if the first size is less than the threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the executable instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to perform: communicating a proximity signal for determining whether the object is within range for controlling whether power is supplied to a camera providing the image data; detecting a return signal within a predetermined amount of time of communicating the proximity signal and providing power to the camera in response to the detecting. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the executable instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to perform: processing second image data received from a second device; detecting presence of the object within the first image data and the second image data; determining a second size of the object in the second image data; and determining that at least one of the first size and the second size meets or exceeds the threshold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the executable instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving first data from a first transducer; and comparing the first data to a template, wherein the template identifies a particular resonance frequency, and wherein the determining that the first user is in possession of the object is further based on the comparison identifying the particular resonance frequency in the first data.