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NHL OASIS

CASE STUDY

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CHANGING THE GAME

SMT serves the sports industry with innovative, award-winning technology for events, broadcasts and livestreams with a focus on real-time data collection, integration and visualization. With more than three decades of developing best-in-class solutions, SMT is an unsurpassed leader in sports technology.

38

YEARS

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60

SPORTS

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85

PATENTS

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22K

ANNUAL EVENTS

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220

CLIENTS

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37

EMMY AWARDS

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THE OASIS PLATFORM

OASIS Platform Overview

SMT’s powerful organizing philosophy called OASIS (Organization of Asynchronous Sports Information Subsystems) is the basis upon which the OASIS Platform data management and OPTICS systems were built. ​

 

OASIS as an organizing philosophy views the data landscape of a sports league in three (3) layers: ​​

 

Level 0    All subsystems that create data or video

 

Level 1    The central hub that absorbs, collates, synchronizes, organizes, expands, and distributes all

                 Level 1 data via push and query APIs

 

Level 2    All systems that consume, present, or use the data and video via API from Level 1

 

OASIS’ organizing philosophy defines a simple, intuitive approach to a sports league’s data governance and data management but requires a highly disciplined, central authority to maintain the proper separation of the layers and to maintain functional independence between layers for a sports league to gain the full benefits of the OASIS organizing philosophy.

 

OASIS is agnostic as to whether there are multiple individual vendors supplying the various subsystems at Level 0 or Level 2 or whether there is just one vendor supplying all subsystems at Level 0 or all subsystems at Level 2. The OASIS organizing philosophy ensures all subsystem suppliers maintain functional independence, communicate clearly to others and receive the full benefit of their participation. ​

 

As a product, the OASIS Platform is a highly integrated, multi-venue, time-synchronized, multilevel, data/video management system that SMT architected, designed and created to provide professional sports leagues with a centrally controlled and league-controlled platform to organize, maintain, administer and manage all phases of the league’s data creation, data distribution, data visualization and data monetization.

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NHL CASE STUDY

OASIS Sport-Specific Solutions

  • Real-time Player and Object Tracking Systems

  • Official League-Wide Scoring Systems

  • Live Biometric Tracking Systems

  • Live Athlete Performance and Coaching Systems

  • 3D Visualization and Analytics Systems

  • Real-time Accessible Archived Statistics Systems

  • Virtual Replay and Official Review Systems

  • Live Athlete Safety and Monitoring Systems

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PACKAGING PPT DATA FOR NHL

The OASIS Platform is the central component of the NHL’s next-generation data infrastructure and leverages the full benefits of puck and player tracking (PPT) data for all NHL stakeholders including NHL broadcasters and NHL arenas.

Statement of Challenges

  1. Due to the fast pace of hockey games, NHL broadcast and arena partners have historically expressed resistance to using live graphic visualizations based on PPT data, citing uncertainty that the data can be integrated into their production workflow in a timely and impactful way. 

  2. If NHL partners cannot use the PPT data as a "natural" component within their current production workflow, then NHL viewers will not see the benefits of the NHL's investment in the PPT technology.

  3. If NHL partners do not see the value and benefit of integrating PPT data into their productions, then the NHL fans will not see and enjoy the visual, informational, and analytic benefits of PPT data.

SMT’s Solution 

  1. SMT created a PPT data architecture and solution suite to meet the needs of NHL partners.

  2. SMT solutions and systems:​

    • ​Harness the power of the PPT data for the benefit of NHL broadcast partners;

    • Package the PPT data in ways that NHL broadcast partners can easily use it;

    • Integrate PPT data into NHL broadcast partners' current production workflow;

    • Promote the use of PPT data across multiple points of NHL broadcast partners' production;

    • Provide NHL partners with control over the implementation of their own OPTICS visualizations

    • Provide on-ice virtual sponsor insertions; and

    • Provide for automatic graphic creation using PPT data and artificial intelligence eventing.

  3. SMT created a solution suite that allows NHL partners to naturally evolve the use of the PPT data within the current workflow of their NHL broadcast and arena productions.

  4. Beyond game broadcasts and in-venue enhancements, PPT data presents the opportunity for direct-to-fan betting and gaming applications.

  5. SMT developed a workflow to provide our real-time services remotely from our studios or any studio of our clients' choosing.

THE NHL SOLUTION

PUCK AND PLAYER TRACKING

SMT’s PPT system, branded NHL Edge on the league’s digital platforms, comprises four main components:

  1. An IR tag is placed in the shoulder of the player’s uniform;

  2. 16-24 in-stadium IR cameras that capture coverage of the rink and player benches;

  3. a customized puck that emits an IR light; and

  4. SMT’s OASIS Platform converts the data points into usable statistics like possession, shots, passes, time in the defensive or offensive zone, time on ice, speed, distance, and more.

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HITS

In 2007, SMT designed NHL HITS  (Hockey Information and Tracking System), the league’s official timing, scoring and administrative system that allows the NHL to centrally manage the more than 1,300 games played every season. The system was upgraded for the 2019/2020 season with NHL HITS 2.0.

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SMT-DATA

SMT-DATA is a visualization analytics tool that links live video with tracking and statistical data to help NHL teams gain a deeper understanding of their players, strategies and roster compositions. Includes event-generated playlists, AR tools, algorithm viewer/editor, and an insight valuation engine.

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SMT OPTICS

​​SMT's Broadcast OPTICS is a data-based graphics system within OASIS that turns Level 1 events such as passes, goals and times of possession into powerful storytelling graphics with pointers, discs and trails. With a single click, broadcasters can easily leverage hockey PPT data with packages that enhance the viewer’s understanding of key plays and strategies.

SMT’s In-venue OPTICS production combines in-game stats integrated into SMT-designed L-bar graphics packages displayed on stadiums’ scoreboards and video displays in suites and concourses, providing fans with the same innovative SMT broadcast technology everywhere in the arena. During breaks in the action, the L-bar provides sponsors and advertisers with opportunities to showcase their brands and messages.

"LIVE" OPTICS

Realtime tracking graphics inserted over live play.

PUCK AND PLAYER TRAILS WITH SHOT SPEED

PACKAGE REPLAYS

Telestrated replays use “Instant Replay” tracking data for quick, automated review.

PUCK AND PLAYER TRAILS WITH SHOT SPEED

"Bug HUG"

Virtual graphic highlights on players triggered by the on-screen scoreboard.

PUCK PROCESSOR FEATURE

Live player identification in concert with possession of the puck (determined by SMT possession algorithm).

VIRTUAL OVERLAYS

Used during live play, virtual representations of shot speed, power play clock, danger zone.

PROJECTION ANALYTICS

Player movement sprites and shots charts. Can be used for in-venue projection shows (watch parties) or for on-air graphics.

L-BAR

Automated graphics frame that incorporates live tracking stats and player on-the-ice information.

WHITEBOARDS

Originally used as an in-venue, on-ice projection product, SMT’s “Whiteboard” now provides graphical enhancements to broadcasters, including Sprites, Shot Charts and Spray Charts. 

SMT OPTICS 2024 HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

ROOSTER

SMT’s ROOSTER remote production studios provide each NHL broadcast partner with an enhanced feed with live data and tracking from SMT’s Durham, N.C., and Jacksonville, Fla., divisions. SMT’s ROOSTER workflows allow the graphics coordinator and operators in remote studios to communicate in real-time with production teams around the world, a workflow SMT can implement in any studio our clients choose.

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