Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Contest or contestant analysis – management – or monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-18
2001-06-12
Sager, Mark (Department: 3713)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Contest or contestant analysis, management, or monitoring
C473S409000, C340S32300R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246917
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention.
The invention relates in general to electronic score keeping, and, in particular, to electronic score keeping wherein a smart card is employed to facilitate the keeping of a detailed electronic record of play and other comparative information.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
Scores and standings have been complied and kept for the play of a wide variety of games. Some games, such as, for example, golf or bowling, require considerable continuously updated information to accurately compute handicaps. The burden of record keeping and calculation is substantial. Current information is often not available in time to contribute significantly to the improvement of a players game.
Various expedients have been proposed for the purpose of score keeping. See, for example, Lambourne U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,010, which proposes an electronic golf score card. Such devices are not effective in tracking and calculating information, such as handicaps, from a long series of rounds of play, particularly when carried out between different players at different sites. There is a need for accurate, timely, comprehensive and permanent information for the scoring of athletic events.
Those concerned with these problems recognize the need for an improved score and record keeping process.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of the electronic scoring process according to the present invention comprises the employment of a smart card which acts to receive, store, transport, and present information for electronic access, at least one master facility where electronic records are received, stored, compilied, calculations are performed, and reports are generated, and various smart card imprinting and reading devices located generally at the site of play. As applied, for example, to the game of golf, a smart card is, for example, issued to a player and an electronic record is established at one or more master facilities for that smart card. The smart card contains some identifying electronic indicia which sets it apart from all other such smart cards. The smart card (as is well known) is capable of storing information in an electronic, optical or magnetic media, or the like, in such a form that it can be read and written to.
When a player arrives at the site (golf course) where the next round of golf is to be played, the smart card is preferably presented to and read by an appropriate (well known) card reader device. If desired, the smart card can be presented at any other time while the player is at the site or venue, such as, for example, after a round of play has been completed. Typically, the information on the card which is read includes at least the player's handicap. When the card is so presented it is also generally imprinted with current information concerning the golf course (hole distance, and the like). Also, preferably, the card is imprinted with the fact that a round of golf is to be played. Preferably, the card will not be accepted for the initiation of another round of golf until the information concerning the details of the about to be played round have been transmitted to all of the applicable master facilities, and the fact of such transmission has been written back to the smart card.
Mobile electronic scoring devices which can read from and write to the smart cards, as well as record the details of play, are provided by the site administrator. The players carry these mobile devices with them, recording the details of play as they go. Preferably, before the initiation of play, each player presents that player's smart card to the mobile electronic scoring device to be read. The presentation can take place at any time during the round of play provided the information for each player is segregated so that it can be processed separately. The device is thus updated with the player's identity, handicap, and the specific course information which is peculiar to that site that day. The site information is preferably imprinted from a centrally located site specific unit onto the smart card, and from the smart card into the mobile electronic scoring device. Such site specific information, can, if desired, be transmitted by other means. As play progresses, each player enters the details of that player's game into the mobile electronic scoring device. At the end of play, the mobile scoring device preferably downloads the electronic recording which contains the information about each player's game onto that player's smart card. The player then takes the smart card to a reader which reads the electronic recording and transmits all or part of it to the master facilities where it is added to the electronic records which are associated with that particular smart card. Some master facilities may be concerned with only a part of the electronic recording, so only the data which is of concern is transmitted. Transmission to the master facilities generally is accomplished using conventional devices such as, for example, modems coupled to telephone systems, and the like. The mobile scoring devices which are provided by the venue can, for example, take the form of battery powered devices mounted on golf carts. The information can be stored in these mobile devices until the conclusion of play or it can be written directly to the smart cards as play progresses. If these devices are provided with sufficient computational power, the entire round can be stored, calculated and displayed as play progresses, so that scores and statistics are presented in real time during the course of play. The electronic recording can be, if desired, transmitted in other ways to the readers or master facilities, for example, by radio, optical or sonic means during or after play.
The information contained in the electronic recording for the game of golf generally includes, for example, at least the number of holes played, the number of par 3's, 4's and 5's played, average score per hole and per type of hole, number of eagles, birdies, pars, bogeys, doubles, triples and other scores, number of putts, number of putts per hole and type of hole, minimum and maximum score per round, minimum and maximum number of putts per round, average score per round, number of fairways hit in regulation, number of greens hit in regulation, number of penalty strokes and average per round, number of sand traps hit and percentage of sand saves per round, average course rating, average slope rating, minimum and maximum course rating.
The information gathered for the game of bowling generally includes, for example, total number of lines bowled, average score per line, total number of strikes, average number of strikes per line, total number of spares, average number of spares per line, average number of pins knocked down with the first ball, number of spares made by number of pins remaining after first ball, spares made and missed by number and type of spares left, bowling average by practice line, bowling average by league bowled in, and composite average for all lines bowled.
The one or more master facilities which receive the electronic recordings of the details of play can use them for different purposes. A facility may, for example, periodically compile a detailed report with recommendations by a pro as to how to improve. A facility which is charged with administering, for example, handicaps, can use the electronic recording to establish a handicap for a player as against the handicaps of all of the other players whose play it administers.
Where tournament play is involved, a tournament scoring unit is generally provided at the site of play. After play is completed, all of the electronic recordings are read from the respective smart cards into the tournament scoring unit. Sufficient computational power is provided in the tournament scoring unit to accomplish the necessary computations to determine the outcome of the tournament. Conventional PC computers possess more than enough computing power to accomplish the necessary computations using convent
Jakubowski James C.
Smith Kenneth D.
Jagger Bruce A.
Sager Mark
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