Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

A fitness tracking system includes a receiver to obtain geolocation data. A method is used to determine the quality of the geolocation data by analyzing the dispersion of the geolocation coordinates during the user fitness activity. The geolocation data is used for calculating exercise metrics and displaying fitness activity when the geolocation data quality satisfies the data quality criteria.

A golf ball with embedded electronics to allow proximity to be tracked and to monitor golfer performance is disclosed. The golf ball comprises a processor connected to an accelerometer, communications circuitry, a spin detector, and memory, wherein the processor stores accelerometer data from the accelerometer and rotation data regarding rotation of the spin detector in the memory. The processor converts the data regarding the rotation of the spin detector into a rotation speed and a rotation direction, said rotation speed determined by a frequency of the data, and said rotation direction determined by a magnitude of the data. The communications circuitry is configured to communicate the accelerometer data, the rotation direction, and the rotation speed to a central interrogator for analysis of a golfer's performance.

A system and method for continuously tracking a competitor on an athletics track, including: a wireless transmitter operable to wirelessly submit a query provided with a timestamp, a wearable transponder attachable to the competitor, and configured to receive the query, to generate a transponder specific response and to wirelessly transmit the response, stationary receivers distributed across or around the athletics track. Each of the stationary receivers is configured to receive the transponder specific response and to determine a runtime, which is indicative of a point in time relative to the timestamp at which the transponder specific response has been received by the respective stationary receiver. A processor is connected to the stationary receivers and is configured to determine a position of the wearable transponder relative to the athletics track or relative to the stationary receivers on the basis of the runtimes received from the stationary receivers.

A system, devices, and methods include a player network hub and relay network hubs. The player network hub is configured to form a body area network with peripheral devices by communicating wirelessly according to a first wireless protocol and transmit location information according to a second wireless protocol different than the first wireless protocol. The relay network hubs are configured to form a wide area network with the player network hub and a master network hub by communicating, at least in part, according to the second wireless protocol, wherein the relay network hubs are configured to receive the location information from the player network hub and wherein at least one of the relay network hubs or the master network hub are configured to determine a location of the player network hub based on the location information.

A system and method for analyzing sound signals within a predetermined space, including: analyzing a plurality of sound signals captured within a predetermined space via at least one sound sensor; generating a grid corresponding to the predetermined space based on the plurality of sound signals, wherein the grid is utilized to identify areas within the predetermined space as interest points; identifying, based on the interest point, at least one sound generating object within the grid based on the analysis of the plurality of sound signals; and identifying at least one characteristic of the plurality of sound signals.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

A process to partition a video feed to segment live player activity includes receiving, on a first recurring basis, a transmission of a central video feed from a first camera. The central video feed is calibrated against a spatial region represented in at least two dimensions that is encompassed by the central video feed. The process includes receiving, on a second recurring basis, a respective time-stamped position information from each tracking device in a plurality of tracking devices. Each tracking device is worn by a corresponding subject on the spatial region and transmits positional information that describes a time-stamped position of the corresponding subject in the spatial region. The process uses the received information and the calibration to define a first sub-view of the central video feed associated with a first subject. The first sub-view comprises a corresponding sub-frame associated with the first subject.

An apparatus and method for measuring a swimmer's speed and conveying the speed to the swimmer in real time includes a plurality of ultrasonic beacons each having a transducer configured to emit ultrasonic signals in a pool or other body of water within which the swimmer is swimming. A wearable, waterproof, ultrasonic receiver worn by the swimmer, receives the ultrasonic signals and generates corresponding signal data. The receiver's microcontroller captures and uses the signal data to calculate the swimmer's position and speed in real time, and conveys this information to a wearable, waterproof, user interface device worn by the swimmer, the user interface device including a near-eye display disposed on the swimmer's googles.

A system and method for simulating lead of a target includes a network, a simulation administrator and a user device connected to the network, a database connected to the simulation administrator, and a set of position trackers positioned at a simulator site. The user device includes a virtual or augmented reality unit and a computer connected to the network. A target may be simulated or may be a real-world object. The target and the user are tracked to generate a phantom target and a phantom halo. The phantom target and the phantom halo are displayed on the virtual or augmented reality unit at a lead distance and a drop distance from the target.