Abstract: A system, method and device to interrogate for the presence of objects, to prevent the inadvertent separation of the objects from their owner. An owner is alerted when they are separated from the objects by determining when a trigger event occurs, such as a person leaving and/or entering a particular monitored area or location. These monitored areas can be retrofitted with an electronic interrogation device that monitors local conditions to determine whether a user is entering or leaving the monitored area to trigger an interrogation of the personal items. The interrogation device is constructed and arranged to communicate with the objects to determine whether the objects are with the owner. The interrogation device automatically determines the presence of a particular object at the monitored environment and automatically generates a notification when needed. The system further controls functionality of the objects, according to illustrative embodiments, when the object is present.

Abstract: A system, method and device to interrogate for the presence of objects, to prevent the inadvertent separation of the objects from their owner. An owner is alerted when they are separated from the objects by determining when a trigger event occurs, such as a person leaving and/or entering a particular monitored area or location. These monitored areas can be retrofitted with an electronic interrogation device that monitors local conditions to determine whether a user is entering or leaving the monitored area to trigger an interrogation of the personal items. The interrogation device is constructed and arranged to communicate with the objects to determine whether the objects are with the owner. The interrogation device automatically determines the presence of a particular object at the monitored environment and automatically generates a notification when needed. The system further controls functionality of the objects, according to illustrative embodiments, when the object is present.

Abstract: A system, method and device to interrogate for the presence of objects, to prevent the inadvertent separation of the objects from their owner. An owner is alerted when they are separated from the objects by determining when a trigger event occurs, such as a person leaving and/or entering a particular monitored area or location. These monitored areas can be retrofitted with an electronic interrogation device that monitors local conditions to determine whether a user is entering or leaving the monitored area to trigger an interrogation of the personal items. The interrogation device is constructed and arranged to communicate with the objects to determine whether the objects are with the owner. The interrogation device automatically determines the presence of a particular object at the monitored environment and automatically generates a notification when needed. The system further controls functionality of the objects, according to illustrative embodiments, when the object is present.

Abstract: A system, method and device to interrogate for the presence of objects, to prevent the inadvertent separation of the objects from their owner. An owner is alerted when they are separated from the objects by determining when a trigger event occurs, such as a person leaving and/or entering a particular monitored area or location. These monitored areas can be retrofitted with an electronic interrogation device that monitors local conditions to determine whether a user is entering or leaving the monitored area to trigger an interrogation of the personal items. The interrogation device is constructed and arranged to communicate with the objects to determine whether the objects are with the owner. The interrogation device automatically determines the presence of a particular object at the monitored environment and automatically generates a notification when needed. The system further controls functionality of the objects, according to illustrative embodiments, when the object is present.

Abstract: This invention provides an interactive multifunction bowling alley system which utilizes a computer adapted to store information concerning selected bowling alley functions. A touch screen device is located at the patron area for at least selected ones of the bowling alley lanes. By permitting the user to make appropriate selections from menus appearing on a monitor of the touch screen device, such selections being made by the user touching appropriate areas on the monitor screen, functions such as automatic scoring, food or beverage ordering, entertainment such as games, problem solving, announcements, payment/charge and the like may be performed. In response to a first menu selection, menus and/or instructions may appear on the monitor relevant to the selected function which a user may utilize in performing the selected function.

Abstract: Pinfall apparatus for the sport of bowling utilizes a digitized video picture of the pins to detect and count pins. A video camera is controlled by a microprocessor to take a "snapshot" of the pins which are illuminated by normal ambient light. The image is then digitized and stored as pixel values. During calibration of the system, additional parameters are stored which define memory addresses that correspond to potential pin locations. In addition, to minimize the effects of noise, a cutoff or threshold value is stored which determines the percentage of memory addresses calculated in accordance with the defined parameters which must be present for a pin to be standing in the predetermined location. The count is stored as a pin count. Later another "snapshot" is taken of pins which remain standing after a ball has been rolled and a pixed count determined as before. If the pixel count is greater than the stored pin count, then a pin is declared standing in the corresponding pin location.