Active sporting device

Abstract

A ball for a sporting event is provided that includes an outer layer, an inner layer and a circuit coupled to the outer layer or the inner layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball for a sporting event, comprising:
 an outer layer;   an inner layer; and   a circuit coupled to the outer layer or the inner layer.   
     
     
         2 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein the circuit is located between seams in the outer layer and an air hole in the outer layer. 
     
     
         3 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer comprises:
 an outer leather layer; and 
 an inner cloth layer. 
 
     
     
         4 . The ball of  claim 3  wherein the circuit is coupled to the inner cloth layer. 
     
     
         5 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein the circuit further comprises a circuit component suspended within the ball. 
     
     
         6 . The ball of  claim 1  wherein the circuit further comprises an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the circuit is configured to receive data from and to transmit data to the antenna. 
     
     
         7 . The ball of  claim 1  further comprising:
 two or more tethers; and 
 wherein the circuit further comprises a circuit component suspended within the ball and coupled to the tethers. 
 
     
     
         8 . The ball of  claim 1  further comprising a location monitor system configured to determine a location of the ball using a signal received from the circuit. 
     
     
         9 . The ball of  claim 1  further comprising a pressure monitor system configured to determine a pressure of the ball using a signal received from the circuit. 
     
     
         10 . The ball of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a location monitor system configured to determine a location of the ball using a signal received from the circuit; and 
 a pressure monitor system configured to determine a pressure of the ball using a signal received from the circuit. 
 
     
     
         11 . The ball of  claim 10  further comprising an indicator configured to generate an indication if the location is outside of an authorized location and if a pressure is outside of authorized pressure range. 
     
     
         12 . A method of monitoring an active sporting device comprising:
 generating a first signal as a function of the active sporting device;   transmitting the first signal towards a location associated with the active sporting device;   receiving a second signal from the active sporting device; and   storing the signal in a device profile.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 obtaining location data associated with the active sporting device; and 
 storing the location data in the device profile. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 obtaining pressure data associated with the active sporting device; and 
 storing the pressure data in the device profile. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 obtaining location data associated with the active sporting device; 
 calculating whether the location data is within a permitted location; and 
 generating an alert if the location data is not within the permitted location. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 obtaining pressure data associated with the active sporting device; 
 calculating whether the pressure data is within a permitted pressure range; and 
 generating an alert if the pressure data is not within the permitted pressure range. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein receiving the second signal from the active sporting device comprises:
 extracting energy from the first signal; and 
 using the extracted energy to generate the second signal. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein receiving the second signal from the active sporting device comprises:
 extracting energy from the first signal; 
 using the extracted energy to generate data; and 
 using the extracted energy to generate the second signal encoded with the data. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein receiving the second signal from the active sporting device comprises:
 extracting energy from the first signal; 
 using the extracted energy to measure data; and 
 using the extracted energy to generate the second signal encoded with the measured data. 
 
     
     
         20 . In a ball for a sporting event that has an outer layer, an inner layer, a circuit coupled to the outer layer or the inner layer, wherein the circuit is located between seams in the outer layer and an air hole in the outer layer, wherein the outer layer comprises an outer leather layer and an inner cloth layer, wherein the circuit is coupled to the inner cloth layer, wherein the circuit further comprises a circuit component suspended within the ball, wherein the circuit further comprises an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the circuit is configured to receive data from and to transmit data to the antenna, two or more tethers, wherein the circuit further comprises a circuit component suspended within the ball and coupled to the tethers, a location monitor system configured to determine a location of the ball using a signal received from the circuit, a pressure monitor system configured to determine a pressure of the ball using a signal received from the circuit, and an indicator configured to generate an indication if the location is outside of an authorized location and if a pressure is outside of authorized pressure range, a method comprising:
 generating a first signal as a function of the active sporting device;   transmitting the first signal towards a location associated with the active sporting device;   receiving a second signal from the active sporting device;   storing the signal in a device profile;   obtaining location data associated with the active sporting device;   storing the location data in the device profile;   obtaining pressure data associated with the active sporting device;   storing the pressure data in the device profile;   obtaining location data associated with the active sporting device;   calculating whether the location data is within a permitted location;   generating an alert if the location data is not within the permitted location;   obtaining pressure data associated with the active sporting device;   calculating whether the pressure data is within a permitted pressure range;   generating an alert if the pressure data is not within the permitted pressure range;   extracting energy from the first signal;   using the extracted energy to generate the second signal;   extracting energy from the first signal;   using the extracted energy to generate data;   using the extracted energy to generate the second signal encoded with the data;   extracting energy from the first signal;   using the extracted energy to measure data; and   using the extracted energy to generate the second signal encoded with the measured data.