Real time pitch classification

Abstract

A method for performing pitch classification includes receiving, at a computing device, one or more pitch properties corresponding to a ball thrown by a pitcher. Pitcher information corresponding to the pitcher is also received. The pitcher information includes at least an identification of one or more pitches that are in a repertoire of the pitcher. A classification of the pitch is determined using at least a pitch classification algorithm, where the classification of the pitch is based at least in part on the one or more pitch properties and at least in part on the pitcher information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for performing pitch classification comprising:
 receiving, at a computing device, one or more pitch properties corresponding to a ball thrown by a pitcher;   receiving pitcher information corresponding to the pitcher, wherein the pitcher information includes at least an identification of one or more pitches that are in a repertoire of the pitcher; and   determining, based at least in part on the one or more pitch properties and at least in part on the pitcher information, a classification of the pitch using at least a pitch classification algorithm.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an output from the pitch classification algorithm, wherein the output represents a likelihood that the pitch is a particular type of pitch; and   biasing the output based at least in part on the identification of the one or more pitches that are in the repertoire of the pitcher.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pitch properties include a breaking distance of the ball. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pitch properties include at least one of a release speed of the ball, a maximum speed of the ball, a minimum speed of the ball, or an average speed of the ball. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pitch properties include a direction of movement of the ball. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pitch classification algorithm is implemented as a neural network, and wherein the one or more pitch properties are inputs to the neural network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving weather information, wherein the classification of the pitch is based at least in part on the weather information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the weather information includes one or more of a wind speed, a wind direction, a temperature, a humidity, an amount of sunlight, or a time of day. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the classification of the pitch to a game monitoring system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pitcher information further includes one or more of an indication of whether the pitcher is right-handed or left-handed, a maximum pitch speed of the pitcher, a minimum pitch speed of the pitcher, a speed range of the pitcher, or an identification of one or more pitches that are not thrown by the pitcher. 
     
     
         11 . A computing device comprising:
 a memory configured to store a pitch classification algorithm; and   a processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to:
 provide one or more pitch properties corresponding to a ball thrown by a pitcher to the pitch classification algorithm; 
 provide pitcher information to the pitch classification algorithm, wherein the pitcher information includes at least an identification of one or more pitches that are in a repertoire of the pitcher; and 
 determine, based at least in part on the one or more pitch properties and at least in part on the pitcher information, a classification of the pitch using at least the pitch classification algorithm. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 11 , further comprising a receiver configured to receive the one or more pitch properties from a monitor. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 12 , further comprising the monitor, wherein the monitor includes a video camera. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more pitch properties include one or more of an initial acceleration of the ball, an ending acceleration of the ball, an average acceleration of the ball, a direction of acceleration of the ball, an amount of spin on the ball, or a direction of the spin on the ball. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the pitcher information further includes an indication of how the pitcher would classify the pitch based on the pitch information. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising:
 receiving one or more pitch properties corresponding to a ball thrown by a pitcher;   receiving pitcher information corresponding to the pitcher, wherein the pitcher information includes at least an identification of one or more pitches that are in a repertoire of the pitcher; and   determining, based at least in part on the one or more pitch properties and at least in part on the pitcher information, a classification of the pitch.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising providing the classification of the pitch to a game monitoring system. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving weather information, wherein the classification of the pitch is based at least in part on the weather information, and wherein the weather information includes a wind speed and a wind direction. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 determining an output that represents a likelihood that the pitch is a particular type of pitch; and   biasing the output based at least in part on the identification of the one or more pitches that are in the repertoire of the pitcher.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more pitch properties include a breaking distance of the ball.