Swim lap counting and timing system and methods for event detection from noisy source data

A set of computer-readable instructions on a non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to

• gather data indicating whether the moving object has passed a defined point using at least one sensor connected to the computing device with the at least one sensor operating according to a predefined set of parameters selected for the position and environment around the computing device, such that each of the data points is taken consistently according to the set of parameters;
• transform the data using the computing device from a first form into a second form in which the data can be evaluated as a time series;
• evaluate selected data points of the time series of data in real time using the computing device to establish at least one learned statistic that is updated continuously at a defined rate and that represents a set of ambient conditions around the defined point over one or more time spans of undisturbed data, the time spans being selected in real time during a time period of the data gathering and being within the time period of data gathering;
• detect that the event has occurred in real time using the computing device by determining that the time series of data has deviated from the learned statistic in a specified way by more than a defined threshold, the defined threshold determined, at least in part, using the learned statistic, the deviation of the learned statistic in the specified way indicating that the moving object has moved through a detection field of the at least one sensor and has thus passed the defined point;
• and
• display one or both of timing or event count information on a display screen of the computing device based on the detection.

A system for swim timing and lap counting, comprising:

• a portable computer having at least one sensor;
• a waterproof case enclosing the portable computer so as to adapt the portable computer for placement underwater at the side or bottom of a swimming pool;
• a set of computer-readable instructions on a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to or associated with the portable computer that, when executed on the portable computer, cause the portable computer to
• take data from the at least one sensor with the at least one sensor operating according to a predefined set of parameters selected for the underwater environment of the portable computer, such that each of the data points is taken consistently according to the set of parameters,
• transform the data into a time series of data points indicative of the ambient conditions,
• calculate and, continuously at a defined rate in real time, update at least one learned statistic by (1) selectively excluding the data points from the learned statistic when those data points indicate a period of non-ambient volatility, (2) including only those of the time series of data points that indicate change in a defined direction or way relevant to the method of detecting laps, (3) periodically checking and adjusting the level of the learned statistic to accommodate longer-term shifts in the ambient conditions,
• define a threshold based on the learned statistic, the threshold indicating that the time series of data has deviated from the learned statistic in a specified way to an extent that indicates that a swimmer has completed a lap, the threshold being continuously updated at a defined rate,
• detect that a swimmer has completed a lap in real time using the portable computer by determining that the threshold has been exceeded, indicating that the swimmer has passed the detection area of the at least one sensor, said detecting being delayed for a non-zero interval of time such that said detecting occurs only when it is physically possible for the swimmer to have completed a lap, and
• display one or more of a lap time, a total elapsed time, pacing information, or a lap count to the athlete using a screen of the computing device based on said detecting.