WO2003035190A1

WO2003035190A1 - A system of assistance in refereeing a football match

Info

Publication number: WO2003035190A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/007223
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivo Gurioli
Original assignee: Offside S.N.C. Di Gurioli Ivo E Fantini Wilson
Priority date: 2001-10-22
Filing date: 2002-07-01
Publication date: 2003-05-01
Also published as: ITMI20012197A0; ITMI20012197A1

Abstract

A system of assistance in refereeing a football match including a first and a second device (127) to be supplied to a first and a second person, respectively, each device including input means (165f) suitable to be actuated by the corresponding person for notifying execution of a forward pass by a player of an attacking team and for notifying an irregular position of at least one player of the attacking team, transmission means (155) for transmitting a command signal to the other device in response to the notification of the pass, receiving means (155) for receiving the command signal from the other device, output means (140) for notifying the corresponding person, and control means (205) for switching the device from a waiting state (305) to an operative state (325) or to a blocking state (315) in response to the notification of the irregular position or to the receipt of the command signal, respectively, the output means (140) being actuated in the operative state to notify an offside condition.

Description

A SYSTEM OF ASSISTANCE IN REFEREEING A FOOTBALL MATCH

The present invention relates to a system of assistance in refereeing a football match. The game of football is one of the most popular sports in the world. In the last years, the football has become a real industrial activity with considerable economic interests that gravitate to its world. In this scenario, it is very important to ensure that every football match is correctly refereed (as far as possible) .

One of the most critical rules of the game of football is the offside. As everybody knows, a player of an attacking team, toward whom a forward pass is directed, is deemed offside if he/she is in the opponent ' s half of the pitch ahead of a defender's line (defined by the last player of the opponent team, except the goalkeeper) when the ball leaves the foot of the player that has made the pass .

Detection of the offside is^' very difficult, since the same linesman must watch the execution of the pass and the position of the attacking players at the same time. For this purpose, it has also been suggested to the linesmen to focus their attention on the position of the attacking players and to rely on the hearing to listen to the sound of the kick to the ball at the moment when the forward pass is made. However, this procedure is entirely unsatisfactory, since the delay caused by the propagation time of the sound can cause considerable evaluation errors, especially in the case of great distance between the linesman and the player who has made the forward pass .

A different known solution contemplates the introduction of a further person (denoted fifth man) , who cooperates with the linesmen. The fifth man notifies the moment when the forward pass is made by pressing a button of a transmitter; the button is kept pressed until when another player of the same team touches the ball . The pressing of the button causes the transmission of a corresponding signal to a receiver placed in a breast-pocket of the linesman. The linesman only focuses his/her attention on the position of the attacking players; if an attacking player is found ahead of the defender's line, the linesman presses a button of a stylus (connected to the receiver through a cable) ; this causes the generation of a corresponding signal, which is provided to the receiver. The first signal reaching the receiver excludes the next one. Therefore, if the signal of the linesman is received first, the stylus vibrates to inform the linesman of the offside position; conversely, the stylus does not vibrate since the forward pass has been made before the moment when the irregular position has been detected.

However, the solution described above is not completely satisfactory.

First of all, the proposed system requires the introduction of a further person (the fifth man) . This involves an expense increase and a remarkable organizational complication.

Moreover, the devices used for controlling the offside are relatively complex, not very practical and uncomfortable to use.

These drawbacks have actually made inapplicable the proposed solution in practice (notwithstanding the validity of the its logic of operation) . It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In order to achieve this object, a system as set out in the first claim is proposed.

Briefly, the present invention provides a system of assistance in refereeing a football match including a first and a second device to be supplied to a first and a second person, respectively, each device including input means suitable to be actuated by the corresponding person for notifying execution of a forward pass by a player of an attacking team and for notifying an irregular position of at least one player of the attacking team, transmission means for transmitting a command signal to the other device in response to the notification of the pass, receiving means for receiving the command signal from the other device, output means for notifying the corresponding person, and control means for switching the device from a waiting state to an operative state or to a blocking state in response to the notification of the irregular position or to the receipt of the command signal, respectively, the output means being actuated in the operative state to notify an offside condition.

Moreover, the present invention also proposes a device for use in this system.

Further features and the advantages of the solution according to the present invention will be made clear by the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given purely by way of a non-restrictive indication, with reference to the attached figures, in which.-.

Fig.l depicts a system of assistance in refereeing a football match in a schematic form; Fig.2 is a basic block diagram of an electronic device included in the system;

Fig.3 shows the logic of operation of the electronic device in a simplified state diagram.

With reference in particular to Fig.l, a system 100 of assistance in refereeing a football match is illustrated.

The system 100 is formed by two flags 105a and 105b, each one supplied to a corresponding linesman, and by an elastic band 107, for the use of the referee.

The flag 105a (similar considerations apply to the flag 105b) consists of a pole 110 with a cut of material 115 fastened to an upper end thereof. The pole 110 features a wide portion 120 near its lower handle 125.

The flag 105a embeds a device 127 comprising an electronic board (PCB) 130, which is^' placed in the upper part of the handle 125; the electronic board 130 is supplied by a battery pack 135 inserted in the handle 125 (through an opening in its lower part, not shown in the figure) ,- the battery pack is dimensioned so as to ensure an endurance at least equal to one half of a football match (and preferably of 120 minutes) . The electronic board 130 controls a micro- motor 140 to drive an asymmetrical weight in rotation (on an axis thereof) so as to transmit a feeling of vibration to the handle 125. A slot 145 allows the acoustic propagation of a buzzing produced by a piezoelectric buzzer (AUX) 150 placed on the electronic board -130. The electronic board 130 communicates with a transceiver (RX/TX) 155, which works in a band around 430- 450 MHz (for example, from 433.05 MHz to 434.79 MHz); the transceiver 155 is connected to an aerial 160 (housed in the pole 110) . The electronic board 130 is controlled by a (red) offside button 165f and by a (black) referee button 165s, which can be pressed comfortably with the thumb by the linesman (with the button 165s placed in an upper position with respect to the button 165f) ; particularly, when the flag 105 is held with the right hand, the offside button 165f lies on the left and the referee button 165s lies on the right. A (green) offside LED 170f and a (yellow) referee LED 170s are arranged above the buttons 165f and 165s, respectively.

Similar considerations apply if the flags have a different structure, if the various electronic components are arranged elsewhere, if the transceiver operates on a different frequency, if the buttons and the LEDs are of different colors, and the like. Alternatively, the flags are without any buzzer, any LED, or more generally equivalent electronic devices supplied to other persons are envisaged. Considering now Fig.2, the electronic board 130 is supplied by a voltage Vdd (for example, 6V) directly provided by the battery pack 135; the structure does not has any power-on switch, so as to prevent the device to be turned off unintentionally. The electronic board 130 houses a microprocessor (μP) 205, which is associated with a working memory 210 of the RAM type and with a non-volatile memory 215 of the E²PROM type. The non-volatile memory 215 stores a control program for the microprocessor, together with two security codes each one formed by a sequence of bits (for example, 10) ; an offside code CODf is used for the transmissions between the two linesmen, while a referee code CODs is used for the transmissions to the referee. It should be noted that the security codes CODf, CODs are uniquely associated with each system. An oscillator (CLK) 220 generates a clock signal Ck, which controls operation of the microprocessor 205. The microprocessor 205 receives an offside signal Sf and a referee signal Ss that are asserted when the button 165f and the button 165s are pressed, respectively. The microprocessor 205 accordingly controls the LEDs 170f and 170s. Moreover, the microprocessor 205 generates suitable control signals for the micro-motor 140 and for the buzzer 150.

The microprocessor interfaces with a filter block (SHP) 225, which communicates with the transceiver 155. The microprocessor 205 transmits a command signal to the filter block 225; the output command signal is filtered for reducing the emissions of spurious signals, and is then provided to the transceiver 155. Vice-versa, the transceiver 155 receives the command signal from the other device, and provides the same to the filter block 225. The input command signal undergoes a shaping treatment to reduce its bandwidth. This signal is filtered, amplified, and converted into a value of medium frequency through a balanced mixer; the signal is then applied to two ceramic filters that are cascade connected, so as to ensure a high selectivity and then a low interference with adjacent frequencies. The input command signal so treated is provided to the microprocessor 205.

Similar considerations apply if the microprocessor is replaced with equivalent control means, if the electronic board is supplied by a different voltage, if the security codes have another format, if the command signal is treated in a different way, and the like.

Passing now to Fig.3, the microprocessor evolves among several steady states at every clock signal Ck (not shown in the figure for the sake of simplicity) . As soon as the microprocessor is supplied (event ON) , it is brought to a waiting, or stand-by, state (SB) 305. When the microprocessor receives a signal on the carrier band associated with the device (event RX) , it passes to a verification state (VER) 310.

If the received signal is not ^' ssociated with a sequence of bits, or if the received sequence of bits does not match any of the codes (CODf or CODs) stored in E²PR0M

(event ERR) , the microprocessor returns to the waiting state 305. Conversely, if a command signal containing the offside code CODf has been received the microprocessor is brought to a blocking state (BLK) 315, wherein a transmission section of the transceiver is disabled; at the same time, the microprocessor turns on the offside LED. If in the state 310 a command signal containing the referee code CODs is instead received, the microprocessor is brought to a further blocking state (ARB) 320, wherein the transmission section of the transceiver is disabled and the referee LED is turned on. The microprocessor returns to the state 305 (from the states 315 or 320) as soon as the command signal is not received any longer (events CODf or CODs, respectively) . Considering again the state 305, when the offside signal Sf is asserted (in response to the pressing of the respective button) the microprocessor passes to an offside state (OS) 325, wherein a receiving section of the transceiver is disabled and a command signal containing the offside code CODf is continually sent to the device of the other linesman; at the same time, the microprocessor actuates the micro-motor. The microprocessor returns to the state 305 as soon as the offside signal Sf is deasserted (in response to the release of the respective button) .

Likewise, if in the state 305 the referee signal Ss is asserted the microprocessor passes to a referee notification state (ARB) 330, wherein the receiving section of the transceiver is disabled and a command signal containing the referee code CODs is continually sent to the elastic band of the referee and to the device of the other linesman; at the same time, the microprocessor actuates the buzzer. The microprocessor returns to the state 305 as soon as the referee button is released. To explain the use of the system described above, let us assume that a player of an attacking team makes a forward pass. The linesman that watches the pass presses the offside button of his/her flag to notify the execution of the same; the offside button is kept pressed until the pass is completed (for example, because another player of the same team touches the ball) . The other linesman that watches the attacking players to whom the pass is directed only focuses his/her attention on their position. If one or more attacking players are found ahead of the defender's line, the linesman presses the offside button of his/her flag (to notify the irregular position) ; the offside button is released after a brief interval (long enough to detect the response of the device by the linesman) .

If the linesman that watches the attacking players has pressed the offside button first, the handle of its flag vibrates to notify the offside position (while the flag of the other linesman is temporarily disabled and the offside LED is turned on) . On the contrary, the flag of the linesman that watches the attacking players is disabled by the command signal transmitted by the flag of the other linesman (and the offside LED is turned on) , to indicate that the pass has been made before the moment when the irregular position has been detected (the flag of the linesman that watches the pass vibrates to notify the occurred transmission of the command signal) . Moreover, each linesman can request the intervention of the referee by pressing the respective button, so as to send a corresponding command signal to the elastic band supplied to the referee; the command signal contains the referee code CODs, which causes the vibration of the elastic band. The buzzer of the flag of the linesman requesting the intervention of the referee buzzes to notify the occurred transmission; at the same time, the flag of the other linesman is disabled and the corresponding referee LED is turned on (to inform the other linesman of the request) .

Similar considerations apply if the microprocessor controls operation of the device in an equivalent manner, if other functions are envisaged (for example, an error routine in the event of the receipt of a wrong code or of a fall in the power supply voltage) , if the signals Sf and Ss are asserted only at the moment when the respective button is pressed, and the like. Alternatively, the linesman that watches the attacking players does not release the offside button, but keeps it pressed until the pass has been completed or the attacking players have returned behind the defender's line. More generally, the present invention provides a system of aiding the refereeing of a football match. The system includes a first and a second device to be supplied to a first and a second person, respectively. Each device includes input means suitable to be actuated by the corresponding person for notifying execution of a forward pass by a player of an attacking team and for notifying an irregular position of at least one player of the attacking team. Transmission means are used for transmitting a command signal to the other device in response to the notification of the pass, and receiving means are used for receiving the command signal from the other device. The device is further provided with output means for notifying the corresponding person. Control means switches the device from a waiting state to an operative state or to a blocking state in response to the notification of the irregular position or to the receipt of the command signal, respectively; in the operative state, the output means are actuated to notify an offside condition.

The proposed system does not require the introduction of any additional person and, for example, it allows the offside position to be controlled by the linesmen directly. Therefore, the use of such system does not involve any change to the current organization of the football matches.

Moreover, the system of the invention is very simple and practical . All of this allows the offside to be controlled with a high degree of reliability, thereby ensuring that every football match is refereed in the most possible correct way. The preferred embodiment of the invention described above offers further advantages . Particularly, the device operates in a completely similar way (that is, sending the command signal to the other device and actuating the output means) when the person to whom it is supplied (for example, the linesman) notifies either the irregular position or the execution of the pass. In this way, the linesman that watches the pass receives a confirmation of the occurred transmission of the command signal to the device of the other linesman.

Moreover, the transmission section of each device is disabled when the command signal is received from the other device . This feature ensures that the device receiving the command signal does not interfere with the transmission already in progress from the other device.

However, the system of the present invention leads itself to be implemented without providing any notification to the linesman that watches the pass, or even without disabling the transmission section in response to the receipt of the command signal from the other device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each device continually transmits the command signal to the other device, as long as the input means are actuated.

The proposed feature makes it very practical and immediate the use of the device by the linesman, and particularly it allows the whole system to be controlled by means of a single command signal. Advantageously, a single element is used to notify both the execution of the pass and the irregular position.

This makes the use of the device even simpler, since the linesman always has to act on the same element, irrespective of his current role (watching the pass or the position of the players) .

Alternatively, each device sends different command signals to disable and to enable again the other device, or it includes two distinct buttons to notify the execution of the pass and the irregular position, respectively.

Moreover, each device is housed in a flag, which is provided with a button placed near its handle.

This solution allows every linesman to use the device included in the system of the invention exploiting an object that is well-known and already available.

Preferably, the offside is notified to the linesman through a vibration of the handle of the flag.

This ensures a high reliability of the system, especially in critical environmental conditions .

However, the solution of the invention is suitable to be implemented even with different devices (and particularly not embedded in the flags) , or providing notifications of a different type to the linesmen (for example, acoustic or visual ones) .

Advantageously, each system is associated with a corresponding security code (which is stored in the two devices and is inserted in every command signal) .

In this way, it is possible to prevent any fraudulent attempt to interfere with the correct operation of the system (for example, through a transmitter, operated by a spectator, which works on the same frequency band) . In addition, the envisaged system features one more security code, which is inserted in a further command signal used to attract attention of the referee; the linesman receives a confirmation of the occurred transmission of the further command signal through different output means (for example, a buzzer) . This additional feature makes it possible to coordinate operation of the referee and of the two linesmen in an effective and secure manner.

Alternatively, the security codes are the same for all the systems, the command signals do not include any security code, the linesman does not receive any confirmation of the occurred transmission of the further command signal, or the flags are exclusively used for controlling the offside.

Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the solution described above many modifications and alterations all of which, however, are included within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims .

Claims

1. A system (100) of assistance in refereeing a football match including a first and a second device (127) to be supplied to a first and a second person, respectively, each device including input means (165f) suitable to be actuated by the corresponding person for notifying execution of a forward pass by a player of an attacking team and for notifying an irregular position of at least one player of the attacking team, transmission means (155) for transmitting a command signal to the other device in response to the ' notification of the pass, receiving means (155) for receiving the command signal from the other device, output means (140) for notifying the corresponding person, and control means (205) for switching the device from a waiting state (305) to an operative state (325) or to a blocking state (315) in response to the notification of the irregular position or to the receipt of the command signal, respectively, the output means (140) being actuated in the operative state to notify an offside condition.

2. The system (100) according to the claim 1, wherein the transmission means (155) further transmits the command signal in response to the notification of the irregular position and wherein the control means (205) further switches the device from the waiting state (305) to the operative state (325) in response to the notification of the pass .

3. The system (100) according to claim 2, wherein the transmission means (155) is disabled in the blocking state (315) .

4. The system (100) according to claim 3, wherein the command signal is continually transmitted to the other device in the operative state, the control means (205) switching the device from the operative state (325) to the waiting state (305) in response to the disabling of the input means for ending the notification of the pass or of the irregular position and switching the device from the blocking state (315) to the waiting state in response to the lack of receipt of the command signal .

5. The system (100) according to any claim from 1 to 4, wherein the input means consists of a single command element

(165f) .

6. The system (100) according to claim 5, wherein each device (127) is housed in a corresponding linesman flag

(150a, 105b) and wherein the single command element consists of a button (165f) arranged near a handle (125) of the flag, the button being actuated when pressed and being non- actuated when released.

7. The system (100) according to claim 6, wherein the output means includes means (140) for causing a vibration of the handle (125) of the corresponding flag.

8. The system (100) according to any claim from 1 to 7, wherein each device (127) includes means (215) for storing a security code common to the first and the second device, the command signal including an indication of the security code.

9. The system (100) according to any claim from 6 to 8, wherein each device includes a further button (165s) for requesting an intervention of an referee, further output means (150) , and means (215) for storing a further security code, and wherein the control means (205) switches the device from the waiting state (305) to a further operative state (320) and from the further operative state to the waiting state in response to the pressing and to the release of the further button, respectively, the further output means being actuated and a further command signal including an indication of the further security code being transmitted to the other device and to a third device (107) provided to the referee in the further operative state, and wherein the control means switches the device from the waiting state to the blocking state (320) and from the blocking state to the waiting state in response to the receipt and to the lack of receipt of the further command signal, respectively.

10. A device (127) for the use in a system (100) of assistance in refereeing a football match including input means (165f) suitable to be actuated by a corresponding person to whom the device is supplied for notifying execution of a forward pass by a player of an attacking team and for notifying an irregular position of at least one player of the attacking team, transmission means (155) for transmitting a command signal to another device supplied to another person in response to the notification of the pass, receiving means (155) for receiving the command signal from the other device, output means (140) for notifying the person, and control means (205) for switching the device from a waiting state (305) to an operative state (325) or to a blocking state (315) in response to the notification of the irregular position or to the receipt of the command signal, respectively, the output means (140) being actuated in the operative state to notify an offside condition.