Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records
Patent
1995-01-11
1997-06-10
Hajec, Donald T.
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
364411, G06F 1700
Patent
active
056378440
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention refers to a system and a process for automated running of sports contests.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The running of sports contests requires one or more persons acting as contest or game managers registering the players' data before the contest is started, properly stating the provisional results and entering them into the PC unit, and compiling the respective new contest rounds by the PC unit, even if a PC unit is used which is equipped with a contest program.
DE 35 22 136 discloses a game system using video game apparatuses above city lines (regional, national, or even international). For this purpose, several magnetic card readers are used for identifying the respective contestant. The video game apparatuses are connected to a central computer via phone connections and modems to check solvency. Said central processing unit also determines the high score by comparing it to each of the remaining results of the other contestants respectively and allots the corresponding profit or loss accordingly.
First, however, the contestant has to purchase a card including some corresponding credit. This, however, requires a supervisor allocating a personal digit to each contestant and encoding the magnetic strips by means of a card encoder. Thus, the disclosed system does not function without an operator.
DE 33 29 847 deals with a system of usage for tennis courts and the like sports courts. Although an identification card is used for each respective user, extensive data inputs have to be performed via the keyboard or operating keys, which may lead to input errors.
DE 28 54 229 discloses a similar system of usage for play grounds, covered tennis courts, and the like, and cites the possibility of withdrawing the card by means of a "card sipper." This reference, however, has nothing to do with the determination of the winner/loser and the handling of a sports contest.
Furthermore, DD 290 073 discloses an indicator board for single-combat sports, wherein data input is performed by means of handies provided at each competition place. Evaluation is then made by transferring the data from the handies to the central computer, for example, by means of a floppy disk. Moreover, this reference does not give any hint as to controlling the running of a sports contest, in particular with respect to accessing the next round.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a system and a process for automated running of sports contests which excludes any intentional or unintentional misoperation.
A system according to the invention comprises a computer unit, a machine-readable data carrier for each such contestant, a data carrier containing control data for each type of contest to be performed, and at least one reader for the data carrier, by means of which contestant data and control data are exclusively input into the computer unit. The system also includes at least one display device linked to the computer unit for displaying contest data, the individual phases of the contest running being determined by the sequence of the data carriers introduced in the reader(s).
In one embodiment, the computer unit and the reader(s) are accommodated within a common closed housing comprising only an insertion slot for each reader, although the display device may also be integrated in the housing. The display device may be a tele-indicating device arranged at the respective contest location. The computer unit may also be linked to a printer integrated in the housing. The system may also include a data carrier identification device for detecting the type of data carrier linked to or integrated in the computer unit. The computer unit may only permit data to be read from an introduced data carrier associated with the corresponding phase of operation, and if not, the data carrier is ejected from the reader. An excluding data carrier for erasing a contestant in the computer unit may be provided, the excluding data carrier being inserted in connection with a contestant data carrier to
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patent: 5083271 (1992-01-01), Thacher et al.
patent: 5114155 (1992-05-01), Tillery et al.
patent: 5359510 (1994-10-01), Sabaliauskas
Hajec Donald T.
Le Thien Minh
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