COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ORGANIZING BILLIARDS COMPETITIONS
The present invention is a computerized system and method of organizing participants in billiards competitions. Specifically, the computerized system and method does the scheduling, tracking and scoring of the participants in billiards competitions. The computerized system utilizes client server technology over a computerized network such as the Internet, with a relational database and a database management system. The method utilizes a scheduling system for scheduling participants in billiards competitions, a handicap system for allowing participants of all skill levels to competitively participate with each other and a point system for measuring participant performance in billiards competitions. The method of utilizing the scheduling system, the handicap system and the point system is integrated into the computerized system.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/046,793 filed 21 Apr. 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUNDThe present invention generally relates to a computerized system and method of organizing participants in billiards competitions. More specifically, the invention is a computerized system and method for organizing participants in 9-ball billiards competitions.
It is an object of the invention to make it possible for an unlimited number of participants in billiards competitions to compete anywhere in the world.
It is also an object of the invention for participants in billiards competitions to compete against each other in real-time within the same schedule without having to travel great distances or having the burden of large expenses for travelling, accommodations and other expenses.
It is also an object of the invention to allow participants in billiards competitions of different skill levels to competitively participate amongst each other and help reduce the possibility of sandbagging or cheating.
It is also an object of the invention to allow participants to have more choice of who, where and when to participate in a billiards competition.
What participants and organizers of billiards competitions really need is a system and method to better schedule, track and score participants in billiards competitions.
The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:
Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.
Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention, however, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.
The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.
The present invention generally relates to a computerized system and method of organizing participants in billiards competitions 10. Billiards competitions are competitions any of several games played on a rectangular cloth-covered table (with cushioned edges) in which long tapering cue sticks are used to propel ivory or composition balls. These billiards competitions can also include 8-ball, 9-ball, snooker and bumper pool competitions. More specifically, the invention is a computerized system and method for organizing participants in 9-ball billiards competitions, although other embodiments can also include 8-ball, snooker and bumper pool competitions.
Each pool hall will be assigned one of five possible statuses 210. The first status is a vacant pool hall 211, which is a pool hall with no participants that have this pool hall selected as their home hall. Vacant pool halls 211 are available to be selected as home pool halls but serve no other purpose. The second status is an inactive pool hall 212, which is a pool hall with no active or pending participants that have selected the pool hall as their home hall. Inactive pool halls 212 may contain participants but those participants have not joined the current session. The third status is a pending pool hall 213, which is a pool hall with less than 10 active or pending participants that have selected this pool hall as their home hall. Pending pool halls 213 may contain active participants that can make challenges but the matches may not be played at pending pool halls 213. For this reason home participants belonging to a pending pool hall 213 may not challenge other home participants belonging to other pending pool halls 213. The fourth status is an active pool hall 214, which is a pool hall with 10 or more active or pending participants selected as their home hall. All matches are played at an active pool hall. Active participants belonging to an active pool hall 214 can make challenges and resulting matches that may be played at their active home pool hall subject to other EPT constraints. Note that active pool halls 214 must have an active home pool hall administrator. The fifth status is an EPT pool hall 215, which is a pool hall with 30 or more active participants with this pool hall selected as their home hall. Active participants belonging to an EPT pool hall 215 can make challenges and resulting matches that may be played at their EPT pool hall 215 subject to other EPT constraints. Note also that EPT pool halls 215 must have an active home pool hall administrator.
Each participant will be assigned one of four possible statuses 220. The first status is a vacant participant 221, which is a participant that has registered in a previous year but is not registered in the current year. The second status is an inactive participant 222, which is a participant that is registered in the current year but has not enrolled in the current session. The third status is a pending participant 223, which is a participant that has enrolled in the current session, but does not have an EPT pool hall 215 on their preferred pool hall list. The fourth status is an active participant 224 that is enrolled in the current session and has an EPT pool hall 215 on their preferred pool hall list.
In looking at
In the fourth session, qualifying participants play for the “Big Money 4th session” while the other participants play for the “Regular Money 4th session”. All participants still play amongst each other just like any other 12 week session. The only difference is about half will be playing for the “Big Money 4th session” and the other half will be playing for the “Regular Money 4th session”. This also gives more participants a fair and better chance of winning prize money because the stronger participants will be playing for the “Big Money 4th session” leaving the rest of the participants to play for the “Regular Money 4th session” of which there are only half as many participants as usual.
In each match a participant will earn anywhere from a minimum of 75 points to a maximum of 150 points. For example, if one participant won all the games and the score was 8-0 then the winning participant would get 150 points and the losing participant would get 75 points. By just showing up a participant will earn no less than 75 points. Depending on what the two participants' handicap levels 300 are, they will each have a number of games to win or race to in order to win the match. The winner will receive a certain number of points somewhere from 120 to 150 depending on how many games they lost. The losing participant will receive a certain number of points somewhere from 75 to 115 depending on how many games they won.
Anywhere from 6 to 11 games will need to be won by either participant depending on what caliber of participant or handicap level 300 they are. This is the range of games needed to be won to win a match. There is also more than one winning ball given to some participants depending on the handicap spread. This is explained in
There are 5 factors to consider when calculating each participant's points for the point system. The factors are both participants' handicap level 300, the two participants' handicap spread difference, the total games each participant needs to win to win the match or in billiard terms, the MF# 400 and the participant's best midrange scores then expanding outward alternating back and forth from left side then to right side.
Both participants' handicap level 300 and the difference between the two participant's handicap levels will determine how many games either participant needs to win in order to win the match. For each handicap point spread of both participants, each participant will add 2 points to his or her bottom end of their points table on the losing side and subtract 2 points from his or her top end of their points table on the winning side. For example, if a 3 were playing a 4 then the two participant's points table would be from 115 to 77 on the losing side instead of 115 to 75 and 148 to 120 on the winning side instead of 150 to 120. If a 3 were playing a 5 then it would be from 115 to 79 and 146 to 120. If a 3 were playing a 12 then (12−3=9), (9×2=18), (75+18=93) and (150−18=132) then it would be 115 to 93 and 132 to 120. The number of games needed to be won for any particular match is between 6 and 11. Therefore, the point range for a participant needing to win 6 games will be determined by 2 factors. One will be the spread difference, giving the participant their minimum and maximum available points and the second will be the number of games which will determine the number of point values in an equal sequential order in between these two ranges of top and bottom point values. The MF# 400 will eliminate the vast number of ties, give value to every single game of each match, eliminate participants from throwing games and cause participants to play their best at all times.
There are two MF# 400s used. The first one is a five decimal number ranging from 1.01250 to 1.05000. This one is used to eliminate the possibility of many participants tying. In the four regular sessions, points from each match have this corresponding MF# 400 which is multiplied together to get that matches final points. The second MF# 400 is a four decimal number ranging from 1.1250 to 1.5000. This one is used to make every match count, to stop the sandbagging and cheating, and to give extra reason for participants to play their best at all times. This second MF# 400 is the result of the first MF# 400, then multiplying it by 10 and subtracting 9 to get an MF# 400 with more weight. This larger MF# 400 is used by participants who have qualified for the final “Big Money 4th session” purse. The “Big Money 4th Session” doesn't use a corresponding MF# 400 through the session but uses the original point values and multiplies this number by the larger MF# 400 at the end of each match. When calculating the participants' best points, each participant's matches are put in order from their best to their lowest point values. Then the points of the best 6 midrange matches are totaled for each participant. The participants who have tied will then include their next top midrange match. Any participants who tie after that will then include their bottom midrange match. Any ties after that, the same format will continue from left to right until all ties are eliminated.
While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.
Claims
1. A computerized system for scheduling, tracking and scoring participants in billiards competitions, comprising:
- a client computer,
- a server computer,
- a computer based network for both said client computer and said server computer to communicate and exchange electronic based information with each other,
- a relational database for storing said electronic based information integrated within said server computer, and
- a database management system for managing said relational database.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said client computer is a personal computer.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said computer based network is the Internet.
4. A method of scheduling, scoring and tracking participants in billiards competitions, comprising:
- utilizing a scheduling system for scheduling said participants in said billiards competitions,
- utilizing a handicap system for allowing said participants of all skill levels to competitively participate in said billiards competitions, and
- utilizing a point system for measuring said participants performance in said billiards competitions.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said scheduling system allows said participants to send an outbound challenge with the date, time of day and pool hall venue.
6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said scheduling system allows said participants to receive an inbound challenge from said outbound challenge.
7. The method according to claim 4, wherein a pool hall venue has a vacant, an inactive, a pending, an active or a EPT pool hall status.
8. The method according to claim 4, wherein said participants have a vacant, an inactive, a pending or an active status.
9. The method according to claim 4, wherein said handicap system assigns a numeric handicap level to said participants.
10. The method according to claim 4, wherein said handicap system indicates a number of games each said numeric handicap level of said participant needs to win in order to win a match.
11. The method according to claim 4, wherein said handicap system utilizes a handicap spread difference.
12. The method according to claim 4, wherein said handicap system utilizes a multiplying factor number.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said multiplying factor number corresponds to a score.
14. The method according to claim 4, wherein said handicap system utilizes a minimum average for each said participant's opponents.
15. The method according to claim 4, wherein said point system utilizes said participants points for match and said multiplying factor number to determine said participants total match points.
16. The method according to claim 4, wherein said participants best midrange scores are utilized to eliminate ties between said participants.
17. The method according to claim 4, wherein said participants can submit and verify payments to play in said billiards competitions.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 21, 2009
Publication Date: Oct 29, 2009
Inventor: Cameron Edward Cyr (Whitby)
Application Number: 12/426,961
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);