Games using tangible projectile – Bowling – Handling of pin or pin representation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-13
2001-12-04
Harrison, Jessica J. (Department: 3713)
Games using tangible projectile
Bowling
Handling of pin or pin representation
C473S054000, C473S065000, C700S091000, C700S092000, C700S093000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325725
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to consoles for bowling provided on the lane side and a bowling alley management system comprising these consoles and a host computer.
PRIOR ART
In a conventional common bowling alley, there has been constructed a bowling alley management system in which consoles for counting the bowling score by detecting the pin state after a bowl are provided on the lane side while a host computer is provided on the front side so as to allow data transmission to be performed with each of the consoles.
With such a bowling alley management system, affairs required of front clerks are saved and bowlers are allowed to devote themselves to the bowling game, so that the bowling alley can run smoothly with improved rate of turnover as its advantages.
Also, on CRTs or overhead CRTs provided in the consoles, score display is presented and moreover another game other than the bowling game is displayed at specified timing. Thus, it is devised that new services are offered to bowlers.
With the conventional bowling-use consoles and bowling alley management system, the bowling game runs smoothly on the whole with an improved rate of turnover of the bowling alley. As a result, the management efficiency is enhanced for the bowling alley side, while the addition of another game or the like makes the bowling game and the bowling alley more attractive for bowlers.
However, in such a conventional bowling alley management system, since a video reproducing device such as an LD (Laser Disc) device is connected to each overhead CRT only via one video cable, the display of a reproduced signal would be such that an identical image is displayed on selected overhead CRTs at the same time. This makes it impossible to display images of an abundance of information to bowlers and customers, so that the display devices connected to the consoles would not necessarily be put into effective use as an image display device.
Also, in the conventional console for bowling, it has been practiced to display a predetermined character in animation on the display device with specified timing, for example, as a praising display upon the occurrence of a strike or the like, in addition to the score display. However, since animation patterns of the character are limited, it would be rather bored.
An object of the present invention is therefore to add new attractivenesses to bowling alleys by allowing the display device connected to or built in the console to be put into effective use as an information offering means for bowlers or customers.
Another object of the present invention is to add new attractivenesses to bowling alleys and consoles for bowling by enhancing bowlers' consciousness of participating in the bowling game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a bowling alley management system comprising: a bowling alley management system comprising console devices provided in each lane and a host computer connected to the console devices via a local area network,
each of the console devices comprising:
a pin detecting device for detecting a pin state of pins' set positions after a bowl, and
counting means for counting a bowling game score from the pin state;
the host computer comprising compressed image memory for storing image data subjected to data compression, and transfer means for transferring the image data to any of the console devices via the local area network, wherein
the console device further comprises data expansion means for receiving the image data and expanding the data, and a display device for displaying reproduction image obtained by the data expansion.
With this bowling alley management system, different images can be displayed on the display devices built in or connected to a plurality of consoles installed in the bowling alley without using any video cable. For example, it becomes possible to display commercials, BGV (BackGround Video) or other images.
Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a console device provided in each lane and connected to a host computer via a local area network, comprising:
bowler's image memory for storing bowler's image information including an image of a bowler's face; and
display means for reading and displaying the bowlers' image information based on occurrence of a specified event during a bowling game.
With this console device, a bowler's image can be displayed out of the bowler's image information in response to occurrence of an event of a strike, a spare or a bowler's bowl, so that an unboring display can be presented as a display other than the score display. Further, when the bowler's image information is provided by images picked up by the video camera, it becomes possible to generate bowler's image information at any necessary time point.
Further, when the bowler's image information is provided by modifying the bowler's original image, it becomes possible to display a smiling face for the occurrence of a strike, a regretful face for the occurrence of a one-pin left, or the like, switchably.
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Harrison Jessica J.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Telesystems Co., Ltd.
White Carmen D.
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