SPORTS SCOREKEEPING SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED SCOREBOARD AND AUTOMATIC ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
An integrated sports scorekeeping and entertainment system (101, 102, 103). The system accepts game information from manually operated scorekeeping devices (100-4c, 100-4d, 100-8, 100-7) and automatic performance content generation sub-systems (201), for combining into either control commands and/or information that outputs to scoreboards (100-3), primary lighting systems (100-L and 400-J8a), secondary lighting systems (400-J8b), music systems (400-J5), video systems (400-J6), goal score indicators (400-J7), dynamic advertising displays (400-J9), etc. The system (101, 102, 103) includes a universal scoreboard interface (100-6) that inputs pertinent game information in the form of a virtual scoreboard for translation into the physical signals for controlling the scoreboard (100-3), without the need or use of the Scoreboard's native control console (100-2).
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/399,167, filed on Jul. 8, 2010, and, as a continuation-in-part, to International Patent Application Number PCT/US2009/056805, filed on Sep. 14, 2009 entitled SESSION AUTOMATED RECORDING TOGETHER WITH RULES BASED INDEXING, ANALYSIS AND EXPRESSION OF CONTENT (herein also referred to as SARTRIA), which in turn claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/192,034, filed on Sep. 15, 2008. The contents of all of the priority applications listed above are incorporated in this application by reference.
The present invention is also related to the prior inventions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,567,116 entitled MULTIPLE OBJECT TRACKING SYSTEM and U.S. Pat. No. 7,483,049 entitled OPTIMIZATIONS FOR LIVE EVENT, REAL-TIME, 3D OBJECT TRACKING.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates to systems for automatically controlling a sports scoreboard, music and announcement systems, video displays, scoring indication lamps, primary arena lighting systems, laser show and secondary lighting systems, dynamic advertising display boards and other event entertainment devices.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThere are a large number of sporting fields where scoreboards are used to display official game information to the teams and spectators, such as in the sports of ice hockey, football, basketball, baseball and others. Especially when these fields are used for amateur sports, the scoreboards carry basic information such as the official game time, period of play and team scores. There are several manufacturers of these types of amateur sport scoreboards most notably Daktronics, Inc., the largest supplier to the youth market.
Scoreboard systems from manufacturers such as Daktronics typically include at least two parts, the scoreboard itself as well as a console for remotely operating the scoreboard. The typical console has a keypad interface for the console operator, an internal processor for translating the operator's indications into scoreboard changes, and one or more output ports for transmitting these changes in some format to one or more scoreboards. There are several problems with this overall arrangement including the lack of interface with a third-party system scorekeeping system, where such a system might be used for creating content regarding the sporting event itself.
In prior applications, especially including the prior related SARTRIA application, the present inventors taught several aspects of such content generating systems, mostly using the example of ice hockey. The types of content created include recorded video and audio along with official box score information. The present inventors have also taught several variations of using the same recorded video captured as content, to support tracking of the players and game objects via image analysis. When synchronized and cross-indexed, the video, audio, box score and tracking data have significantly greater use and value.
Such systems for creating content as taught by the present inventors still require that an individual operate the game scoreboard. Hence, even though these systems gather the official game scoring information, or box score, they do not also operate the scoreboard. The main reason for this is that manufacturers such as Daktronics tend to keep their scoreboard console “closed,” not allowing for third-part equipment to be electronically interfaced.
What is needed is a universal scoreboard interface module by which any manufacturer's or most manufactures' scoreboard consoles or scoreboards can be interfaced, so that any third party content generation system may directly control the scoreboard, thus removing the need for the scoreboard console operator.
In the present invention, two variations are taught of a first embodiment—one for interfacing directly to the console, simulating the use of the keyboard by a console operator, and the second for interfacing directly to the scoreboard, simulating the control signals sent by the console. Regardless of the interface point, the present invention first comprises a training mode whereby an operator trains the interface device regarding the appropriate signals for mimicking either the keyboard signals input to the console, or the resulting control signals sent to the scoreboard by the console. This training may either be fully automatic, or simply the recording of appropriate signals to be analyzed by a programmer of the interface device. Once analyzed, the programmer will then establish the necessary data within the interface device so that in its live operation, it will send identical signals to either the manufacturer's console (thus mimicking the keypad entries) or to the manufacturer's scoreboard itself (thus mimicking the console).
Once trained, the interface module may then be connected to a third party scorekeeping system which in turn then supplies the necessary high-level commands such as “set clock to 99:99,” “start clock,” “stop clock,” “enter penalty . . . ,” etc., as the sporting event is conducted. In this live mode, for each supplied high-level command the interface module then generates the equivalent keyboard signals for input to the console, or resulting control signals for direct input to the scoreboard.
In a second alternate embodiment, the universal scoreboard interface does not require a training mode and simply connects directly to the scoreboard thus completely by-passing the manufacturer's console. In this case, the third party scorekeeping system maintains an internal virtual scoreboard which the interface device monitors for output to the scoreboard. As will be shown, the ideal output format conforms to the requirements of the scoreboard and at least for manufacturers such as Daktronics, therefore includes signals for setting the individual cell segment values for each displayed character on the scoreboard.
Using either variation of the universal scoreboard interface eliminates the need to operate the scoreboard manufacturer's console, which at the youth sports level often means the reduction of at least one job (note that a person is still required to operate the third party scorekeeping console). The present inventors will herein teach an additional preferred embodiment to a scorekeeping system that combines the use of a performance content generation system to ultimately also eliminate this need for an operator of the third party scorekeeping console. As will be shown, using the aforementioned universal scoreboard interface the main functions of a scorekeeping console are to set, reset, start and stop the official clock and to enter the remaining official scorekeeping information, which in ice hockey for example includes data captured while the game is in progress (shot counts by team) and data captured while the game is halted (such as goals and penalties). The only remaining information entered by the scorekeeper is non-official and therefore to some extent optional.
In this “scorekeeperless” configuration of the scorekeeping system, the official clock is maintained by a combination of a game official and the performance content generation system, which itself includes some form of an object tracking system. (While other technologies such as RF, IR, UWB, GPS, etc. may be used for tracking the performance activities and still accomplish the herein taught improvements, the present inventors prefer and depict a camera-based object tracking system for following the player, referee and game object movements.) As will be shown, using the object tracking system the moment of puck-drop is automatically detectable for starting the clock and a game official can at least use a wireless clicker instead of a whistle to stop play and the clock. It will also be shown that once the official presses the “stop-play” clicker button, the system can automatically generate the customary whistle sound for notifying the players, team benches and fans. Those familiar with referee whistle technology will understand that variations are possible since technology already exists for automatically detecting the whistle's sound waves.
The present invention will then also teach that the “scorekeeperless” system employs through-the-glass touch technology to face the “game-play halted” data entry screen towards the game official. Doing this allows a referee to directly enter all official information such as goals and penalties, as opposed to the traditional practice of speaking to the scorekeeper who then appropriately records the information either electronically or on paper. And finally, at least for the sport of ice hockey, the only other official information is the shot count by team that has at least two ways of being collected without requiring a scorekeeper present in the traditional scorekeeper's booth. The preferred method is to automatically track shots using the performance content generation system via its object tracking system, techniques that are both well understood and in some sports such as soccer already implemented. The alternate technique is to allow an operator to use a wireless or internet linked portable tablet or similar device to indicate shot counts from any desired location, e.g. from the stands. As will also be taught, this operator can additionally use this remote data entry solution for optionally entering desirable non-official game information, e.g., player shifts, hits, face-off locations, etc. However, most of this additional non-official game information may also be automatically determined using a performance content generation system, especially and preferably as taught by the present inventors in the prior SARTRIA application.
In addition to allowing a third-party scorekeeping system to automatically and directly control a given manufacturer's scoreboard, it is also desirable to automatically control other devices such as the music and announcement system, video displays, scoring indication lamps, primary arena lighting systems, laser show and secondary lighting systems as well as dynamic advertising display boards. In general, the desired other devices to control are usable for enhancing the enjoyment of the performance by spectators and, as will be discussed in the conclusion of this application, other types of “entertainment devices” exist and can also be automatically controlled using the herein taught system. What will be taught is the combining of the scorekeeping system and the performance content generation system for the enabling of an automatic entertainment system, which then controls any number of connected entertainment devices such as listed above.
In the present inventors' prior patents and applications, there was taught the integration of a real-time multiple object tracking system, preferably based upon cameras and machine vision, that was capable of capturing game video and audio, player and referee movements, wireless clicker signals, as well as any and all other real-time human or machine observations. In these applications, a universal protocol was also taught for encoding any human or machine observation into “marks” of a given type, with a specific time of observation and optionally carrying related data further describing the observation. In turn, these observation marks where input into a session processor that had access to external rules, where the rules directed how the incoming real-time marks should potentially create, start or stop individual events of a given type. These events then serve as a session index back into all recorded continuous session content such video and audio.
It is now further herein taught that these same observation marks and events may be translated by the session processor into a real-time data stream of automatic entertainment system (device) triggers. The actual triggers output by the session processor are first filtered (or limited) based upon the specific types of entertainment devices to be commanded (e.g., a music system, announcement system, video display, etc.). The present inventors prefer that these triggers as output by the session processor are accepted by a distinct automatic entertainment system processor that is responsible for interfacing directly with any and all third party devices. For each device type, the entertainment processor will have access to a pre-known set of external trigger rules that can be used to translate the incoming session content (i.e., detected marks and events) into a set of outgoing universal action commands for each given device type. These universal action commands are then accepted by individual device wrappers that perform a final translation of the universal command into one or more custom application programming interface (API) sequences that are pre-established to cause specific resulting actions by the unique physical device.
The present inventors prefer this distinct multi-step translation from agnostic session content into streams of session triggers filtered by entertainment device type, which in turn are convertible into universal action commands for the given device type via a set of external trigger rules, which are then finally translated into custom (API) sequences for driving individual unique third-party entertainment devices. This combination of double abstraction and objectification allows the connection chain from the session processor, entertainment system and unique entertainment devices to remain loosely connected and therefore both open and easily distributable.
Within the forthcoming specification, the present inventors will provide examples of specific game observations along with the resulting performance activity (event) create/start/stop transitions and how these transitions appropriately and ultimately may be used to control various entertainment device actions—such as starting and stopping music, making announcements, showing video replays, turning on goal lamps, dimming arena lights, etc.
The present inventors will also review some relevant teachings of the prior SARTRIA application for a SESSION AUTOMATED RECORDING TOGETHER WITH RULES BASED INDEXING, ANALYSIS AND EXPRESSION OF CONTENT. During this review of the prior taught apparatus and methods of a session processor, the present inventors will show that these same teachings with one preferred modification are also applicable and preferred for the implementation of the herein specified automatic entertainment system processor.
Therefore, given the state-of-the-art in computer systems, FPGAs, microcontrollers, wireless clicker technology, through-the-glass touch panels, data transmission protocols, and object tracking systems, it is possible to create the preferred system for automatically interfacing a third-party content generation system (that at least also accepts the official scorekeeping data) with any or most existing scoreboard systems. This preferred system can be further enhanced to eliminate the need for a scorekeeper.
Given the state-of-the-art in real-time sports tracking, content capture and performance analysis systems, it is also possible to create the preferred sports entertainment system for automatically interfacing to one or more entertainment devices, the control of which is ultimately linked to the game activities measured by the tracking system via external rules that may be altered without needing to change the entertainment system itself.
Objects and AdvantagesTherefore, the objects and advantages of the present invention include providing a universal interface module that can be connected to a scoreboard console either at the juncture between the console's keyboard and its internal processor, or between its internal processor and the scoreboard itself (via the console's output port). This interface module provides both training and live modes. In the training mode, the module is capable of recording various signals that are either supplied by the keyboard to the console, or by the console to the scoreboard, representing the entire range of possible low-level commands performed by the manufacturer's scoreboard console. In the live mode, the module is capable of receiving high-level commands from a third-party scorekeeping console which are then translated into the equivalent low-level commands and transmitted either to the scoreboard console via the keyboard, as if they were being directly entered by the console operator, or transmitted to the scoreboard, as if they were being generated by the manufacturer's console.
It is still a further object and advantage of the present system that this interface module be alternately capable of connecting a third-party scorekeeping console to a scoreboard without requiring a training mode. In this case, the scorekeeping console maintains an internal virtual scoreboard that the interface module translates into the necessary signals for updating the real scoreboard.
Another object and advantage of the present system is to provide for a scorekeeping system that allows the game officials in combination with a performance content generation system that comprises an object tracking system, to perform all official scorekeeping tasks including at least the operation of the game clock and the entry of shots, goals and penalties information—thus providing the option of eliminating the traditional scorekeeper.
The objects and advantages of the present invention further include providing apparatus and data translations methods for receiving human and machine observations from the combination of a scorekeeping system and a performance content generation system as related at least to a sports performance such as a game, and then automatically determining when and which connected entertainment devices should be commanded to take which specific actions; where the entertainment devices at least include music and announcement systems, video displays, scoring indication lamps, primary arena lighting systems, laser show and secondary lighting systems as well as dynamic advertising display boards.
And finally, the objects and advantages of the present invention include the implementation of the preferred automatic entertainment processor using the prior taught session processor and its various features.
As will be apparent to those familiar with the various marketplaces and technologies discussed herein, portions of the present invention are useful individually or in lesser combinations than the entire scope of the aforementioned objects and advantages. Furthermore, while the apparatus and methods are exemplified with respect to the sport of ice hockey, as will be obvious to the skilled reader, there are no restrictions on the application of the present teachings, whether to other sports, music, theatre, education, security, business, etc., and in general to any ongoing measurable activities, real, virtual, abstract, animate or inanimate, without limitation. The lack of a need or use in other such applications for a scorekeeping system does not reduce the benefits provided by using a performance content generation system in combination with an automatic entertainment system.
Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
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Regarding the functions of the first embodiment of interface 100-6, there are mainly two. The first is to connect the manufacturer's console 100-2 to the scorekeeping console 100-4c (or its equivalent proxy, such as a PC) running the necessary “training mode” software. As will be discussed further in relation to
As will be understood by those familiar with such scorekeeping systems, the keypad inputs and corresponding commands would typically be: “set main clock to 99:99,” “set home goal to 9,” “start clock,” “stop clock,” “set away penalty 1 to player 99, time 2:00,” etc. In the training mode, as the operator runs through this sufficient set of exemplary commands, the universal scoreboard interface 100-6 transmits the signals it receives within or from the manufacturer's console 100-2 to the scorekeeping console 100-4c (or its proxy). During this transmission, it is further taught that the signals themselves will be converted from the original signal format used by manufacturer's console 100-2, into a digital signal format more readily useful to a typical PC. For instance, via juncture B the manufacturer's console 100-2 is typically using a current-loop with embedded digital data as a transmission signal to scoreboard 100-3, whereas the ideal input to the scorekeeping console (PC) 100-4c is serial data—all of which will be well understood by those familiar with both electrical engineering in general, and these manufacturer's scorekeeping systems in particular. These teachings will also be reviewed in greater detail with respect to upcoming
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As will also be understood by those skilled in both electrical engineering and in device manufacturing, there are significant tradeoffs for using juncture A versus B. For instance, while the keypad signals (juncture A) tend to be less sophisticated to mimic (as opposed to the scoreboard signals (juncture B) directly sent from the scoreboard console 100-2 to the scoreboard 100-3), physically connecting the universal interface 100-6 to the portion of the scoreboard console 100-2 that accepts its keypad signals requires opening the console 100-2 and making a separate internal connection. Based at least upon the compactness of the scoreboard console's 100-2 internal design, this can be problematic. In practice, there also tends to be a greater variation in the way keypads are internally connected to the console's 100-2 main motherboard than there are variations between the way any given console 100-2 connects from its external port to a input port on the matching scoreboard 100-3. (This is especially true within a single manufacture's full line of scoreboard's 100-3 and their accompanying console's 100-2 that all tend to transmit the same signal format between each other via external connections while the consoles themselves have distinctly different keypads, different internal console designs and different internal connectors between their keypads and their console 100-2 motherboards.) Thus, regarding the first embodiment of the universal interface 100-6, it is preferred that the signals learned in the training mode and mimicked in the live mode are those normally output by the scorekeeper's console 100-2 for direct input to their scoreboard 100-3 (as essentially depicted by the “training” and “live mode” signal- path arrangements shown in
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As will be appreciated by those familiar with scorekeeping systems in general, the major benefit of using the official scorekeeping system 102 of
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- 1. The game must be in an official period;
- 2. The clock must be currently stopped;
- 3. The players must be aligned for a face-off, and
- 4. The referee must drop the puck in the middle of this alignment.
The data states supporting rules 1 and 2 are easily known to the system by scorekeeping console 100-4d as would be obvious. As will be understood by those skilled in the art of machine vision systems, the present inventors' prior art teachings for a camera based object tracking system 200-3 provide at least one sufficient way of detecting the data states supporting rules 3 and 4. It is not the purpose of the present invention to teach the necessary image analysis algorithms for determining current object (i.e., player and puck) locations and then subsequent object movement (as the face-off begins), especially since the underlying algorithms are already fairly well understood in the art. What is important is that the data are collected by the object tracking system 200-3 and ultimately passed to the scorekeeping console 100-4d. (Note that there is also no restriction for the purposes of the present invention that the object tracking system 200-3 be implemented with cameras and machine vision—this is only the present inventors' preference. For instance, as discussed in prior applications, use of RF or IR systems is also acceptable for tracking at least 2D player and puck locations, the location of which themselves are sufficient for evaluating rules 3 and 4. Furthermore, for the purposes of the present invention it is not a requirement that the object tracking system 200-3 include a separate performance differentiator 200-4. The system works equally well if the object tracking system 200-3 provides the required data directly to the scorekeeping console 100-4d which does its own differentiation, or includes an embedded differentiator; all as will be well understood by those familiar with various software systems and architectures.)
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As will be obvious to those skilled in the various sports, only ice-hockey starts its official scoreboard clock based upon the dropping of a puck. Some sports (like baseball) do not have an official clock in the same sense of limiting the overall time of play. Other sports such as basketball start the clock when their game object (i.e., the basketball) is thrown in the air by the game official while in still other sports like football the clock is started when the game official blows their whistle. For the purposes of the present invention, the particular method is immaterial. Again, what is important is that this “start clock” state is detected preferably by direct machine observation (or some other object tracking technology) and/or by allowing the game official to so indicate using a wireless clicker 100-7 or some equivalent (such as blowing a whistle to activate either an airflow detector or a sound receiver, both methods of which have been taught in the prior art).
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There are presently several variations in the marketplace of a new technology branded as “through-the-glass” touch input screens, such as those provided by PointandPress, VisualPlanet, iWindow and others. The actual manufacturer or underlying technology is not important to the present invention. What is important is that using any of these devices the referee may enter official game information directly without the need for a separate scorekeeper. Especially for the unique sport of ice hockey that surrounds its performance area with boards and glass, any of the “through-the-glass” input screens would therefore be mounted on the “outside” of the glass opposing both the game official 100-1a and more importantly the game action. Furthermore, all of these devices have solutions that work through the thicker glass used in ice hockey and all can produce screens of sufficient size to make entering the limited information of goals and penalties simple for the official 100-1a. As will be understood by those familiar with software systems, what is being accomplished is that the data entry screens typically used by the scorekeeper via console 100-4c are now be presented to the game official 100-1a via the through-the-glass mounted data entry screen. Once the official Data S are entered, they are then used by scorekeeping console 100-4c to update its internal virtual scoreboard at which point the same Data S are output to scoreboard 100-3 via universal interface 100-6, also referred to as “use 1.” Scorekeeping console 100-4c further transmits this same official Data S as observation marks 100-4m (or some equivalent) to session processor 200-5 (as depicted in
As will be obvious to those skilled in the sport of ice hockey, there is some minor additional scorekeeping data beyond goal entry and penalty entry that also needs to be taken care of by the game official 100-1a using this preferred approach. This Data S include penalty shots, overtime periods and shootouts but does not need to include the entry of rosters, team names and dates. This later set of information will be pre-known to the scorekeeping system via its integration with a companion scheduling system, all as taught by the present inventors in prior pending applications and not material to the present teachings. The present inventors also make note that the object tracking system 200-3 and the performance differentiator 200-4 will be able to assist the game official 100-1a with some of the data entry, at least including the jersey numbers and names of all current players (by team) on the ice, thus making a short list to pick from when entering goals and penalties. Beyond this, the present inventors also anticipate that the differentiator 200-4 will be able to detect players entering the penalty box as well as players scoring goals and providing assists, all of which can be used to simplify the required data entry. Regardless of the amount of assistance provided, the present invention offers the opportunity of eliminating the now separate job of scorekeeping by both automatically detecting the clock start/stop transition points as well as accepting scorekeeping data directly from the game official 100-1a.
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As will be well understood by those familiar with software systems, the novel teaching of the present invention should not be limited by the choice of information exchange formats or data transport mechanisms between the various system parts. In prior applications, the present inventors taught the benefits of establishing a universal protocol and methodology for collecting human and machine observations from a disparate range of devices to be collectively processed by a session processor. Such a universal approach allows for significant scaling of data collection devices as the marketplace adopts a single standard for session content codification. This prior taught protocol extended beyond the observation marks to include their processing into session events under the control of externally provided rules. While these prior teachings of “marks, events and rules” are incorporated in the present specification and especially in relation to
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- Audio System 400-J5:
- For performing Job 5—making announcements and playing music;
- Video Display 400-J6:
- For performing Job 6—operating the video display (e.g., showing replays);
- Goal Lamp 400-J7:
- For performing Job 7—operating the goal lamps when a goal is scored;
- (particular to ice hockey, although other sports will play music or make a noise, which could be included with Job 5 above);
- For performing Job 7—operating the goal lamps when a goal is scored;
- Electro-mechanical Shutter 400-J8a:
- For performing Job 8—operating lighting effects by dimming the facility lighting 100-L, especially in combination with,
- Laser Projector 400-J8b:
- For performing Job 8—operating lighting effects by projecting various laser patterns as a light show, especially effective when the facility lighting has already been dimmed, and
- Dynamic Board Display 400-J9:
- For performing Job 9—controlling dynamic advertising during the game.
- Audio System 400-J5:
What is most important about automatic entertainment system 400 for most sporting applications is not any one of these devices, but rather the overall combination of such devices with at least an official scorekeeping system 100, 101, 102 or 103 in combination with a content generation system 200 or 201. Note that it is not necessary to have an associated content publishing system 300 to apply the teachings of the present invention regarding entertainment system 400. Furthermore, the present inventors anticipate that additional devices might be desirable for control by the entertainment system 400, especially for other sports and other non-sport applications—all as will be known to a skilled software systems engineer since an important aspect of system 400 is its universality and open protocols. (Examples of other possible entertainment devices include a “fogger” for creating fog over and around the performance area or multi-color LED lighting for both casting white light during normal performance activity and switching to colored lighting at appropriate non- activity times.) It is also noted that for some sports and other types of non-sporting events, where a scoreboard is not used or desirable, the present teachings for using some implementation of a performance content generation system 201 (ideally including some form of object tracking) for creating machine observations 200-4m, and optionally using human observers on remote data entry devices for creating human observations 100-4m, are still considered within the scope of the present invention.
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- Audio System 400-J5:
- While many options exist, the present inventors prefer a class of systems known as “Public Announcement (PA) over IP” systems. Their common features include:
- Connectable via standard computer networking infrastructures (i.e., not centralized analog);
- Easily driven by commands from a connected computer system;
- Work with pre-stored digitally recorded music;
- Work with text-to-speech or pre-recorded speech;
- Support optional live audio announcements; and
- Use speakers with IP addresses capable of reproducing analog audio signals from the transmitted digital signals.
- Example providers include:
- Barix AG of Switzerland;
- Kintronics Information Technology of NY, USA; and
- Stentofon Communications of Australia.
- While many options exist, the present inventors prefer a class of systems known as “Public Announcement (PA) over IP” systems. Their common features include:
- Video Display 400-J6:
- Many reasonable options exist, while the present inventors prefer newer solutions such as:
- Public-display-grade, “TileMatrix” LCD displays such as the NEC V421 or V461. Each panel displays in 1080p hi-definition and up to 25 panels can be combined to form what is being referred to as a “video wall”;
- Very large size displays such as the Panasonic 260 cm or 103 inch 1080p plasma, which also comes with a touch version making it ideal for interactive use;
- LED Display modules from manufacturers such as Toshiba, Barco, Lighthouse, Daktronics and Element Labs. These are basically smaller panels (often only 40 cm or 16 inch squares) that can be combined to make a custom-shaped Video Wall that acts as a single display screen; or
- SMD LED Display strips from manufacturers such as PowerPro from China. These are single lightweight LED displays that can be manufactured into strips as large as 50 m×
- Many reasonable options exist, while the present inventors prefer an arrangement of one or more USB LED Visual Signal Indicators manufactured by Delcom Products, mounted behind the glass, behind each goalie within a transparent casing. Furthermore, using at least five signal indicators in combination allows the system to automatically indicate the location of the goal (e.g., “1—hole, 2—hole . . . 5—hole” by turning on the matching number of lights). This information is preferably determined automatically by the performance differentiator 200-4 as it analyzes the data collected by the object tracking system 200-3, all as will be fully understood by a careful reading of the present inventors' prior applications.
- The present inventors further anticipate that this same method of both indicating a goal, as well as some characteristic of the goal, by using multiple LED lights is applicable to other sports. For example in basketball, either 2 or 3 goal lights could be lit based upon the location the shot was taken from. Other examples will be obvious based upon those familiar with the various sports as all goals do have some differentiating qualities that can be represented either numerically (by the count of lights) or even by different colored lights.
- There are some manufacturers such as Daktronics that specifically produce goal lights for ice hockey. Note that these products use a red light to signify a goal and a green light to signify the end of a period. As will be understood by a careful reading of the present invention, turning on the different colors for goal (red) or period-end (green) are two separate commands to be issued to the Daktronics goal lamp based upon the content generation system's 201 determination of either goal (which is preferably a machine observation 200-4m coming from performance differentiator 200-4, but could be a human observation coming through scorekeeper's console 100-4a, 100-4b, 100-4c or 100-4d,) or of a period-end (which is preferably an automatic determination made through the scorekeeper's console 100-4a, 100-4b, 100-4c or 100-4d).
- Many reasonable options exist, while the present inventors prefer newer solutions such as:
- Electro-Mechanical Shutter 400-J8a:
- The present inventors prefer that the arena whose lighting is to be controlled uses some form of LED lights rather than the more traditional metal halide or fluorescent lighting. For the present purposes of dimming, the main advantage of LED lights is their ability to be cycled on and of at differing rates, thus producing different lighting levels, without damaging a ballast (i.e., the typical metal halide lamp should not be “flickered”). Hence, with LED lights the present system would send various commands that alter the rate of on verses off cycles in order to create the dimmed effect.
- A further advantage of using LED lights is that they often combine multiple individually colored LEDs (e.g., red, green and blue) that when powered in different combinations can create up to 16,000 or more distinct colors, including white which would be used during the game. In addition to changing the brightness (a function of luminosity) the present inventors further anticipate creating various color effects by automatically sending commands that change the mix of red, green or blue individual LEDs that are powered on at a given moment. One example use would be to flash the lights in the color of the scoring team for each goal—and even to only have those lights flash on either the side of the performance area 100-1 where the goal was scored, or perhaps over the bench area of the scoring team. Various other ideas are possible as will be known to those skilled in the various sports as well as the types of characteristics that a given lighting system allows to be controlled. What is important to note is that any characteristic inherent to the lighting system that can be controlled, is useable by the present invention and triggerable by any machine 200-4m or human observation 100-4m, or combination thereof output as session content 200-5c.
- However, especially in the amateur market the vast majority of sporting venues still use some form of lighting that cannot be easily dimmed by controlling its on-off cycle; for example metal halide lamps. In this case, the present inventors prefer using electronically controllable mechanical shutters such as made by Wybron. The company offers several variations and even advertises the use of such dimmer/dousers in sporting arenas to create a dimming effect. What is new with the present invention is that these devices are automatically controlled, especially in combination with all other devices herein exemplified. As will be appreciated by those familiar with arena entertainment responsibilities, the ability to pre-establish rules for detecting any number of conditions instantly triggerable by human or machine observations has significant advantages, let alone the savings of labor expenses.
- The present inventors prefer that the arena whose lighting is to be controlled uses some form of LED lights rather than the more traditional metal halide or fluorescent lighting. For the present purposes of dimming, the main advantage of LED lights is their ability to be cycled on and of at differing rates, thus producing different lighting levels, without damaging a ballast (i.e., the typical metal halide lamp should not be “flickered”). Hence, with LED lights the present system would send various commands that alter the rate of on verses off cycles in order to create the dimmed effect.
- Laser Projector 400-J8b:
- For this device the present inventors have identified at least one commercial product suitable for integration with the automatic entertainment system 400 herein described. Namely, the manufacturer ProlaserFX offers several products they term as “programmable laser graphics projection systems.” These devices are capable of receiving real-time computer commands or executable scripts for controlling their various features, including the ability to control the laser image projected and to run various preprogrammed laser show sequences.
- Dynamic Board Display 400-J9:
- Layer 2: This is the active video display layer for which the present inventors prefer using such technologies as amorphous silicon transistor (AST) panels which are now being manufactured by Hewlett Packard. This or similar technology is the preferred choice for use, mounted along the inside (i.e., facing the action) of the ice hockey rink boards because of their: flexibility (to fit the curved board surfaces), large sizes (e.g., a typical board advertisement is 234 cm×91 cm or 92″×36″), ruggedness (to stand up to pucks and player contact), and low cost (roughly $10 per square foot, which is significantly less than other technologies).
- Similar competitive displays (i.e., large area and flexible) using variations of OLED technology are being developed by several companies including Phillips, Sony, Universal Display Corporation, and other manufacturers.
- Layer 1 (optional): To support a brighter display, the present inventors also prefer back-lighting the AST or OLED panel with a LCE panel provided by CeeLite (or similar) that operates on a variation of electroluminescence technology. Like the AST array, CeeLite's panels are flexible and can be made in custom sizes large enough to fit a 234 cm×91 cm (or 92″×36″) area.
- Similar competitive back-lighting panels are being manufactured with various OLED technologies including from manufacturers such as Phillips and Lumiotec.
- Layer 3 (optional): To augment ruggedness, the present inventors anticipate placing a thin polycarbonate (transparent) panel over the video display Layer 2, something that can then also be replaced over time as it becomes scuffed and scratched.
- As an alternative, Zagg sells a nano-carbon based invisible thin film that can be adhered to the Layer 2 display screen for scratch proofing and protection, as opposed to the thicker polycarbonate solution.
- Moisture proofing additive (optional): And finally, to avoid the negative effects of moisture on the electronic components, the present inventors prefer using a water resistant coating on all appropriate Layer 1 and 2 components, or at least those portions of the components that are susceptible to water damage. One such manufacturer of water resistant coatings is Golden Shellback Technology also marketed by ZAGG.
- Layer 2: This is the active video display layer for which the present inventors prefer using such technologies as amorphous silicon transistor (AST) panels which are now being manufactured by Hewlett Packard. This or similar technology is the preferred choice for use, mounted along the inside (i.e., facing the action) of the ice hockey rink boards because of their: flexibility (to fit the curved board surfaces), large sizes (e.g., a typical board advertisement is 234 cm×91 cm or 92″×36″), ruggedness (to stand up to pucks and player contact), and low cost (roughly $10 per square foot, which is significantly less than other technologies).
- Audio System 400-J5:
The aforementioned devices are exemplary for providing significant entertainment effects, especially for the example sport of ice hockey. Many or all of these devices can have the same, similar or different uses for either other sports or other types of events, such as but not limited to theatre, concerts, assemblies, conventions, corporate presentations, entertainment parks, etc. Conversely, other similar products could be used to obtain the same features or sufficient features.
What is most important is the teaching of a performance area 100-1 where participant 100-1a, 1b actions are monitored for either human and/or machine observations, the observations 100-4m, 200-4m respectively of which are then 'combinable into content 200-5c. Content 200-5c then serves as input to an automatic entertainment system 400 that operates in real-time to translate this input into distinct electronic commands for controlling the operation of one or more entertainment devices, such as but not limited to 400-J5, 400-J6, 400-J7, 400-J8a, 400-J8b and 400-J9. What is further preferred but not necessary is that the translation of human and machine observations 100-4m, 200-4m respectively are translated into content 200-5c via external rules by a programmable session processor 200-5. What is also further preferred but not necessary and to be discussed in detail with respect to upcoming
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of software systems and familiar with entertainment settings, many other devices may be desirable for use with automatic entertainment system 400. Therefore, while the use of the present exemplary devices 400-J5, 400-J6, 400-J7, 400-J8a, 400-J8b and 400-J9 is specifically disclosed herein, these devices are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. For instance, other devices are conceivable such as using a fog machine that is used to create instant fog effects especially in the performance area 100-1. Again, what is most important is that any device capable of receiving real-time electronic commands for at least one of its actions can be used by the present invention's entertainment system 400 to execute those actions in response to the observed, detected, sensed and otherwise known activities of the participants 100-1a, 1b in a performance.
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- Turn scoreboard on, off;
- Set Game Period to value (9);
- Set main clock to value (99:99:99:99);
- Start/Stop clock;
- Set Home, Away Goals to value (99);
- Set Home, Away Shots to value (99); and
- Set Home, Away Penalty 1 (or 2) to value—Player # (99) and Penalty Duration (99:99).
While the above commands are typically all that are necessary for operating the scoreboard at a youth ice hockey game, other sports will obviously have a different set of commands. What is important is that as the training operator presses various keys on console keypad 100-2k to indicate a command (where each command sequence typically ends with the “enter” key), the universal scoreboard interface 100-6, either connected to juncture A or B, 100-6A or 100-6B, respectively, intercepts either the keyboard's 100-2k or the console processor's 100-2p unique responses for transmittal to a Command Translation Program 100-4-ctp running either on the universal interface 100-6, the scorekeeper's console 100-4c, 100-4d, or even a separate PC. As will be understood by those skilled in software programming, the purpose of the Command Translation Program 100-4-ctp in training mode is to build a table associating a pre-known command (e.g., “start clock”) with its equivalent A or B output signals. Preferably, the Command Translation Program 100-4-ctp stores this table of information in a database such as Scoreboard Console's Command-to-Signal Recordings database 100-4-db. Thus, after all representative commands have been entered, they are essentially repeatable by way of Recordings database 100-4-db.
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In practice, the most difficult command to train and record is the resetting of the game clock to any and every possible time value. As will be understood by those familiar with ice hockey, a typical amateur game period may be anywhere from 12 to 20 minutes long and includes at least 4 consecutive numerals such as: tens-of-minutes (TT), minutes (MM), seconds (SS) and tenths of a second (tt). In this case, the Command Translation Program 100-4-ctp is preferably operated in training mode to capture a representative set of clock resets, covering the range of possible clock cell values. Since scoreboard console 100-2 uses the same signals to represent a given number (i.e., “0” through “9”) for any given cell (i.e., TT, MM, SS or tt,) it is only necessary to have the Command Translation Program 100-4-ctp record a single “T,” “M,” “S” or “t” cell cycling through each “0” to “9” value. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the Command Translation Program 100-4-ctp can then automatically use the varying cell signals for each individual possible cell value to recreate the necessary signals for setting any cell and all cells to any combination of possible values.
As will be known to those skilled in the understanding of devices such as scoreboard console 100-2, having to physically connect to a juncture point A, 100-6a, requires that console 100-2 be physically modified in some way, or at the very least its exterior casing be opened to expose this connection point. However, as will also be understood, making this connection is possible and does have value as previously described herein. While a given manufacturer (e.g., Daktronics) typically has more than one physical console design 100-2, even if each design implements a different external keyboard 100-2k layout and/or a different internal connector pin-count for attaching to processor 100-2p, the basic electronic functionality is the same. Hence, most keyboards work to short a pair of row/column wires overlaying each other underneath a given external key and then most keyboards will connect to their console processor 100-2p using a ribbon cable. Thus, the present invention provides the opportunity to create a juncture A connector that may support a variable number of wires depending upon the possible outputs for a given console's 100-2 keyboard 100-2k.
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Hence, the signals transmitted from console processor 100-2p via juncture B, 100-6B, to scoreboard 100-3 are actually digital commands to turn on and off individual 100-4-cell segments (a, b, c, d, e, f and g) on the scoreboard face. The transmitted signals are not game commands (such as “start clock”). Thus, as will be understood by a careful reading of the present teachings, using juncture B, 100-6B, as opposed to A, 100-6A, provides an additional opportunity to eliminate the necessity of a training mode. In the preferred implementation, the scorekeeper console 100-4c and 100-4d simply maintains an internal virtual scoreboard 100-4-vsb of all of the current individual 100-4-cell values to be displayed on the scoreboard 100-3. On a periodic cycle, a Cell Display Program 100-4-cdp reads all the cell values on the virtual scoreboard 100-4-vsb and translates their current values into corresponding digital signals representing the various segments (a, b, c, d, e, f and g) necessary to create their current character (e.g., “0” through “9”). These cell segment digital values are then overlaid by the. universal scoreboard interface 100-6 onto the carrier analog current loop signal for output to the scoreboard 100-3.
Note that if the Cell Display Program 100-4-cdp is running on the scorekeeper console 100-4c or 100-4d (which is preferred,) then the universal scoreboard interface 100-6 is simply acting to embed the digital signals representing the current set of cell segments into the analog current loop signal being output to scoreboard 100-3. As will be understood, it is also possible that the Cell Display Program 100-4-cdp is also run directly on universal interface 100-6, in which case scorekeeper console 100-4c or 100-4d must continually provide to interface 100-6 data representing all current cell values on virtual scoreboard 100-4-vsb to be displayed on the real scoreboard 100-3.
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As will be understood by those familiar with the purposes and uses of third-party scorekeeping devices, they typically provide more convenient and/or broader functions than the typical scoreboard manufacture's console 100-2, such as but not limited to also interacting with a web-site and/or a game video recording system. However, while the third-party devices 100-4c, 100-4d have additional benefits, their drawback is the inability to control the scoreboard 100-3. Hence, it is desirable for the manufacturers of the third-party devices 100-4c, 100-4d to be able to control scoreboards 100-3 from multiple if not all manufacturers without requiring additional changes to their device. The present invention allows the third-party device to create a virtual data set in computer memory representing what should be the current state of the scoreboard 100-3, which is then translated via the universal scoreboard interface 100-6 into control signals that are recognizable to the scoreboard 100-3—as if they had been generated by the scoreboard console 100-2.
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Through a careful study of the present teachings along with the current state of the art in sports scorekeeping and game tracking systems, especially those taught by the present inventors, the reader will understand that the third-party scorekeeping device 100-4c, 100-4d itself does not need to be manually operated for all of its functions. The device 100-4c, 100-4d may in fact receive game information from related systems or devices. For example, device 100-4; 100-4d may receive game information from a performance differentiator such as 200-4 (first shown in
While the present invention also teaches that the universal scoreboard interface 100-6 can have its own network port 100-6mb-ip, for the purposes of either connecting via an alternate path to the third-party scorekeeping device 100-4c, 100-4d (i.e., as opposed to USB ports) or for connecting to other devices providing game information, it is preferable that the device 100-4c, 100-4d act as the sole aggregator of game information. In this way, device 100-4c, 100-4d can best maintain an internal virtual scoreboard representing the exact display values to be output on the scoreboard 100-3, thus limiting the universal scoreboard interface's 100-6 responsibility to translating the virtual scoreboard face into the appropriate and necessary physical control signals that will be recognizable to the scoreboard 100-3 (all of which was prior taught in relation to
Along this same line, a careful reading of the present invention will show that the relevant game information may also come from alternate devices, such as a wireless clicker 100-7 (first shown in
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Those familiar with software and systems will understand that as complexity builds within a device, on occasion it may fail or become unstable, which is also assumed to be the case with the third-party scorekeeping device 100-4c, 100-4d. In this situation, since the scoreboard 100-3 is a mission-critical device for a sporting event, the preferred solution provides for a fast and effective means for resetting the device 100-4c, 100-4d and therefore also its scorekeeping program 100-4c-s. To accomplish this goal, the present inventors prefer having a physical “console reset button” connected via a physical communication path to console watchdog program 100-6mb-w (as shown in the group of buttons 100-4c-b) that when pressed by an operator causes the following functionality.
First, once the watchdog program 100-6mb-w determines that the reset button has been pressed, then it preferably attempts a successful communication with either or both the console monitoring program 100-4c-m or the scorekeeping program 100-4c-s. If this communication is successful and confirms that the scorekeeping program 100-4c-s is in fact functioning properly, then the watchdog program 100-6mb-w ideally communicates via the third-party scorekeeping device 100-4c, 100-4d to inform the operator that no problems are detected and to ask for confirmation before forcing a reset. If the operator then wishes to proceed with the reset, the watchdog program 100-6mb-w completes a “soft-reset” by requesting that the scorekeeping device's 100-4c, 100-4d operating system, or its console monitoring program 1004c-m force closure of the currently running scorekeeping program 100-4c-s and then restart a new copy of the same program. (Note that by using the console monitoring program 100-4c-m, more information can be gathered by the watchdog program 100-6mb-w since the console monitoring program 100-4c-m can be programmed with more specific functionality that the generic operating system, but in either case the present invention should not be limited.)
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In the “hard-reset” sequence, after cutting and-then restoring power to the third-party. scorekeeping device 100-4c, 100-4d, it is typical that device 100-4c, 100-4d's onboard computer will be automatically restarted and ultimately end up in a properly running state that includes a properly running scorekeeping program 100-4c-s. The preferable scorekeeping program 100-4c-s also continually retains at least the current virtual scoreboard state so that if a reset is conducted, upon restarting the scorekeeping program 100-4c-s can first check for a retained scoreboard state. If a retained state is found, this indicates that a current scorekeeping session was aborted and if not found, this means that a normal startup is in effect. If the abort situation is determined to be the case because a prior scoreboard state was found, then the scorekeeping program 100-4c-s preferably communicates with the operator to determine if the prior scorekeeping session (i.e., state of the virtual scoreboard) should be maintained, or if the virtual scoreboard (and therefore also the corresponding real scoreboard 100-3) should now be reset. After a hard reset is accomplished and the operator presumably confirms that the scorekeeping program 100-4c-s should continue with the last known state of the virtual scoreboard, then, and in either case, the watchdog program 100-6mb-w's functions are now completed.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, several variations of the watch dog functionality are possible without departing from the teachings herein. Furthermore, the present invention should neither be limited by the type and means of watch dog functionality it implements, nor should it be limited only to scoreboard interfaces 100-6 that implement a watchdog program 100-6mb-w. There are many novel, useful and beneficial functions described herein with respect to the entire present invention as well as the universal scoreboard interface 100-6 that are not limited by the lack of a . watchdog program 100-6mb-w.
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Once this first translation from whole numeric values into LED segment values has been completed, then the scoreboard state program 100-6mb-p transmits any necessary changes to the LED segment values to its universal adapter daughterboard 100-6db, for instance through a serial port (shown but not numbered). Although many other options are possible as will be well understood by those familiar with the art, the present inventors prefer executing the functionality contained within daughterboard 100-6db using an FPGA, e.g., as opposed to a microprocessor or DSP. What is important is that a second translation step is then performed by scoreboard signal encoder program 100-6db-e to prepare a proper set of electrical signals containing the information of the first step translated LED segments for transmittal to the scoreboard 100-3 via the output switch 100-6db-s. As will be known from the teaching herein, these transmitted electrical signals cause scoreboard 100-3 to update without the need of an operator activating the manufacturer's console 100-2, thus saving a data entry step.
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As will be clear to those familiar with the preferred and anticipated entertainment devices 400-J5, 400-J6, 400-J7, 400-J8a, 400-J8b and 400-J9 first listed with respect to
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While not necessary, the preferred automatic entertainment processor 400-1 operates under the direction of a distinct set of external trigger rules 400-1tr for each distinct type of entertainment device 400-J5, 400-J6, 400-J7, 400-J8a, 400-J8b and 400-J9 to be controlled. As will be understood by those skilled in the art of software systems, rather than using generalized external rules so that the entertainment processor 400-1 becomes externally programmable, it is feasible to hard-code the decision logic herein described directly in processor 400-1. Thus, while hard-coded software is not preferred, it will still perform the primary function taught herein of affecting the real-time, automatic control of one or more entertainment devices such as 400-J5, 400-J6, 400-J7, 400-J8a, 400-J8b and 400-J9, based upon information originated by either humans and/or machines regarding the ongoing performance. As will also be understood by those skilled in the art of software systems, there are many ways of creating external rule sets 400-1tr that can be processed in combination with the AES session content 400-i in order to automatically select (or not) from one or more potential universal commands 400-1uac. The present inventors will define their preferred implementation of UAC command issuer 400-1a with respect to upcoming
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What is most important to the preferred teachings is the three input data sets including AES session content 400-i, external trigger rules 400-1tr and device state 400-1ds along with two output data sets including device state 400-1ds and universal action commands 400-1uac. As prior stated, while the AES processor 400-1a could be hard-coded and thus not require external trigger rules 400-1tr, to accomplish the herein taught minimal functionality, it must receive/know session content 400-i in some format indicative of the current state of the performance as well as the current device state 400-1ds of the entertainment device (e.g., 400-J5) being controlled. As will be well understood by those familiar with software systems, it is not necessary that UAC command issuer 400-1a issue a universal action command 400-1ds that itself must then be “locally interpreted” by each unique device (e.g., a Kintronics Information Technology “PA over IP” system) of a given device type (e.g., 400-J5 PA and Music System), since command issuer 400-1a could just as well have issued the exact device specific commands directly interpretable by the given unique device. (As is well known in the art, these “device specific commands” are typically pre-established in a software application interface (API) or equivalent that is usable for electronically and programmatically controlling the given device.)
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As will also be well understood by those familiar with software systems in general and the programming of devices with software API's in particular, each universal command 400-1uac that is intended to effect the actions of a given device type (e.g., 400-J5 PA and Music System) must then be translated into one or more actual API commands recognized by the specific device (e.g., a Kintronics Information Technology “PA over IP” system). As shown in
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- Session Type, e.g., “Sport, Ice Hockey, Game”;
- Competition Level, e.g., “High School”;
- Performance event, e.g., “Play Stopped, Home Goal, Away Goal, Home Penalty, Away Penalty”;
- Score Differential, e.g., “H0, H1, H2, H3, H4, etc.” meaning that the Home Team is ahead by 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. goals, with similar values for the Away Team;
- Time of Game, e.g., “P1:00, P1:05, P1:10, P1:15, P1:99, P2:00, etc.” meaning the period in five minute increments where “99” means the last minute in the period; and/or
- Theme, e.g., “Sporty, Hard Rock, Popular, Science Fiction, etc.”
As will be understood by those familiar with sports in general, these types of information are either readily available from the official scorekeeping system 100, 101, 102 or 103, or are preferences (e.g., “Theme”) that can be easily pre-set prior to the performance. Hence, when each UAC command 400-1uac is generated for retrieving a data file from a database (such as a song from a remote third-party database), the UAC 400-1uac preferably includes an search string (such as an SQL select statement) for determining which data files stored in the database should be included in the possible list of choices for output (where the SQL select statement is referred to in
While not depicted in the figures herein, it will be known to those skilled in software systems in general and internet ordering systems in particular, that the third-party database supplier could track the usage of their data and conduct appropriate automatic billing. The present inventors specifically include this type of automatically searchable database of output data files, especially including songs and video clips, as a teaching of the present invention. It is further anticipated that the database is ideally stored remotely with internet access available, and that the database is connected to an automatic billing system for accounting for the transaction.
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Hence, when it is understood that the (actual) event instances of a given (template) event type form a digital waveform over session time, then it will also be understood that this waveform can be used to represent the transition points (i.e., changing device states 400-1ds) of a specific (i.e., actual) entertainment device. (For examples of this waveform teaching in the SARTRIA application, see
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Of course, several variations of these teachings of applying a session processor to implement the preferred UAC command issuer 400-1a are possible, at least including that only one tertiary mark 3-tm (i.e., universal command 400-1uac) is issued for each event type 4-pe (i.e., device type such as 400-J5), regardless of the number of specific entertainment devices of the given type (e.g., two or more Kintronics systems). In this case, all of the two or more Kintronics systems would receive the same universal action command 400- 1uacand thus react in the same manner. Even if the two or more specific entertainment devices (or the same general type, e.g., 400-J5 PA and Music System) are from different manufacturers (e.g., one Kintronics system and one Stentofon system), they can still receive the same universal action command 400-1uac(i.e., as mark 3-tm) since their AES device wrapper 400-1b will properly translate the universal -command 400-1uac into appropriate custom API sequences (e.g. 400-J5-API), all a discussed in detail with relation to
Thus the careful reader will see that the prior taught steps of the integration and synthesis of session content will suffice for also implementing the herein taught UAC command issuer 400-1a as a session processor similar to 200-5. As will be known to those skilled in the art of software systems, doing this has several advantages, not the least of which is the reusability of existing software objects.
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The present inventors note that the preceding lists of example “pre-known” data fields vs. “on-the-fly” data fields is to be considered as exemplary rather than limiting. As will be understood by those familiar with software systems and especially the teachings of the prior SARTRIA application, many of the “pre-known” data fields could be implemented as variable data sources taken for instance from what was prior taught in the SARTRIA application as the “session registry.” The purpose of the session registry was to serve as a list of all external “input” devices that the session processor should specifically be aware of—hence, any of these registered external devices might at some point be transmitting valid observations for integration, synthesis and expression. The present inventors prefer that the external “output” devices, e.g., entertainment devices such as 400-J5, 400-J6, 400-J7, 400-J8a, 400-J8b and 400-J9 also use the same registry. Furthermore, the present inventors prefer that each local and remote database or data stream also be “registered” as they serve as session information input. Thus the reader will understand that each of the registered entertainment devices, databases or data streams will have associated their own particular Device ID, Data Source Connection, Data Source Name, Data File Format and Data File Start/Stop Control, all as “related datum” or similar variable data. Hence, the context datum rule stack used to create any given UAC data field above listed as “pre-known,” may preferably use variable data sources to alternately retrieve this pre-known data from the session registry.
As will be understood by those familiar with rule-based software systems, rather than using constant values, it is preferable to have context datum specification rules that refer to variable data sources which themselves are pointed to a session registry. In this way, one single set of rules can service any number of sessions being performed at potentially different locals with different entertainment devices, databases, etc (i.e., presumably with different session registry entries). While this type of data factoring is a critical teaching of the prior SARTRIA application, it is merely being restated here as a matter of showing that the session processor and all of its features are usable for implementing the preferred UAC command issuer 400-1a. Regarding the UAC data fields being pre-definable as context datum associated to a tertiary mark (representing a UAC command 400-1uac), it should also be obvious that the data fields of Initiation Transition Script and Termination Transition Script are forms of a database and as such could likewise be defined as registered devices.
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It is also noted that the original SARTRIA teaching included a rule stack in association with the trigger object, whether the trigger was a mark or in this AES example case an event type. This rule stack is meant to provide a conditional test before simply issuing the universal command mark to “start music” or “stop music.” However, as will be understood by a careful reading, since the event type itself represents the entertainment device's state, the rule stack which governs that event's starting and stopping is sufficient for also triggering the UAC command 400-1uacissuance. Therefore the reader will understand that the trigger object associated with the universal command mark does not require an associated rule stack for the preferred implementation of the UAC command issuer 400-1a.
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What is most important to be understood is that the descriptor object as prior taught in the present inventor's SARTRIA application is useable as-is in association with any context datum to adequately create at least both simple and complex event descriptions as well as SQL select statements. The event descriptions (such as “Great save on shot 28 by home goalie David Aman”) are ideal as automatically generated Data Files for attaching as related data to a tertiary mark (i.e., being used to implement a UAC command 400-1uac), which for instance could be issued to a PA and Music System 400-J5 entertainment device for creating an audio output via a text-to-speech conversion, or to a Video Display 400-J6 entertainment device for visual posting. The SQL select statements (such as “SELECT FROM database WHERE sport=ice hockey”) are ideal as automatically generated Data Source Inclusion Filters for also attaching as related data to a tertiary mark (i.e., being used to implement a UAC command 400-1uac), which for instance could be issued to a PA and Music System 400-J5 entertainment device for playing music, where the SQL select statement is then used by the entertainment device (or its associated wrapper 400-1b) to query a database of music to retrieve one or more possible Data Files for output. As will also be understood by a careful reading of the present application, the issuance of an ongoing stream of tertiary marks (representing universal action commands 400-1uac) with associated related datum describing current happenings (as derived from either observation 100-4m, 200-4m marks or integrated events) can be used as a Data stream for creating an on-going commentary of the performance to be output on various audio or video entertainment devices.
CONCLUSION AND RAMIFICATIONSThus the reader will see that the present invention teaches its objects and advantages as summarized in the opening of the specification including:
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- Providing a universal interface module that can be connected to a scoreboard console either at the juncture between the console's keyboard and its internal processor, or between its internal processor and the scoreboard itself where this interface module provides both training and live modes. In the training mode, the module is capable of recording various signals that are either supplied by the keyboard to the console, or by the console to the scoreboard, representing the entire range of possible low-level commands performed by the manufacturer's scoreboard console. In the live mode, the module is capable of receiving high-level commands from a third-party scorekeeping console which are then translated into the equivalent low-level commands and transmitted either to the scoreboard console via the keyboard, as if they were being directly entered by the scoreboard console operator, or transmitted to the real scoreboard, as if they were being generated by the manufacturer's console;
- Providing a universal interface module that is cable of connecting a third-party scorekeeping console to a scoreboard without requiring a training mode. In this case, the scorekeeping console maintains an internal virtual scoreboard that the interface module translates into the necessary signals for updating the real scoreboard;
- Providing a scorekeeping system that allows the game officials in combination with a performance content generation system that comprises an object tracking system, to perform all official scorekeeping tasks including at least the operation of the game clock and the entry of shots, goals and penalties information—thus providing the option of eliminating the traditional scorekeeper;
- Providing apparatus and data translation methods for receiving human and machine observations from the combination of a scorekeeping system and a performance content generation system as related at least to a sports performance such as a game, and then automatically determining when and which connected entertainment devices should be commanded to take which specific actions; where the entertainment devices at least include music and announcement systems, video displays, scoring indication lamps, primary arena lighting systems, laser show and secondary lighting systems as well as dynamic advertising display boards; and
- Providing for the implementation of the preferred automatic entertainment processor using the prior taught session processor and its various features.
As will be apparent to those familiar with the various marketplaces and technologies discussed herein, portions of the present invention are useful individually or in lesser combinations than the entire scope of the aforementioned objects and advantages. Furthermore, while the apparatus and methods are exemplified with respect to the sport of ice hockey, as will be obvious to the skilled reader, there are no restrictions on the application of the present teachings, whether to other sports, music, theatre, education, security, business, etc., and in general to any ongoing measurable activities, real, virtual, abstract, animate or inanimate, without limitation. The lack of a need or use in other such applications for a scorekeeping system does not reduce the benefits provided by using a performance content generation system in combination with an automatic entertainment system.
Furthermore, as will be obvious to those skilled in the arts of signage control systems, the present teachings in general relate to any “closed” signage control system that includes both a manually operated console for accepting signage control signals via a keyboard and then also for generating translated control signals for output to one or more signs. While this type of signage control system is prevalent in sports, the present invention should not be limited to sporting applications, but rather it applies to the situation of allowing a third party system to control signage by issuing appropriate signals through an interface module that connects with the originally supplied console for operating the signage. This universal interface apparatus and method are especially useful when the third party system not only includes data for display on the signage, but also is capable of receiving inputs automatically sensed from the surrounding environment, thus providing for an automatic means of changing signage display based at least in part upon the uncontrolled dynamic changes in the environment that the signage is meant to service.
From the foregoing detailed description of the present invention, it will be apparent that the invention has a number of advantages, some of which have been described herein and others of which are inherent in the invention. Also, it will be apparent that modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the teachings of the invention, including the sub-division of useful parts for lesser apparatus and methods, still wholly encompassing one or more ideas herein taught.
It is understood that the examples and embodiments that are described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications and changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included with the spirit and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims and their full scope of equivalents. For example, the order of processing of information is preferred and sufficient but can be adjusted and rearranged with acceptable tradeoffs. Stages and steps that are depicted in series may instead occur in parallel. Stages or steps may be skipped, other stages and steps may be added, etc. Also, for example, the software descriptions, encapsulations, attributes and methods suggested and preferred by the present inventors to best embody the taught apparatus and methods are a hybrid of well understood object oriented concepts. Other software modalities are sufficiently equivalent to alternately embody the taught apparatus and methods without departing from the teachings herein. Furthermore, software modules and objects could be combined or broken apart, associations between objects could be varied, and attributes could be shifted between objects or converted into new objects. Existing objects could be converted into attributes or methods within other existing or new objects, etc.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. A system for use during a live sporting event for controlling at least one information output device comprising:
- a first input device for accepting game information related to the live sporting event;
- a performance content generation sub-system, the performance content generation sub-system being operable to automatically generate game information based on the live sporting event; and
- an output sub-system, the output sub-system being operable to receive game information from the first input device and the performance content generation sub-system and to send commands to the at least one information output device, the commands consisting of at least one of: a) at least part of the game information; b) electronic instructions based at least in part on the game information.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one information output device is a scoreboard.
3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a universal scoreboard interface device, the universal scoreboard interface device being operable to:
- a. receive commands from the output sub-system;
- b. translate the commands into signals recognizable by the scoreboard;
- c. provide the signals to the scoreboard.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the scoreboard includes a game clock that starts and stops to indicate official time.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the game information includes clock state changes.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein the first input device is operable by a game official.
7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a second input device, the second input device being operable to transmit clock state changes to the output sub-system.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the second input device is a wireless clicker.
9. The system of claim 4 wherein the game information generated by the performance content generation sub-system comprises clock state changes.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein clock start indications are generated by the performance content generation sub-system based in part on the motion of a player or a game object of the live sporting event.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the live sporting event is an ice hockey game and the game object is a ice hockey puck.
12. The system of claim 2 wherein the game information generated by the performance content generation sub-system comprises scoring information.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the output device is a primary lighting system for providing general illumination of the event whose color or luminosity is adjusted in response to the commands from the output sub-system.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the primary lighting system uses LED lights capable of creating multiple colors, and wherein the commands from the output sub-system directs the colors to change.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein the output device is a scoring indication lamp whose color or luminosity is adjusted in response to the commands from the output sub-system.
16. The system of claim 1 wherein the output device is an audio system that is directed to output words or music in response to commands from the output sub-system.
17. The system of claim 1 wherein the output device is a video or a video and audio output device that is directed to output video or video and audio in response to the commands from the output sub-system.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein the video or video and audio output device is a scoreboard.
19. The system of claim 17 wherein the video or video and audio output device is a dynamic advertising display.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the dynamic advertising display is affixed to structures facing inward toward a performance area of the event.
21. The system of claim 19 wherein the dynamic advertising display is flexible for conforming to curved surfaces and comprises at least a flexible display technology.
22. The system of claim 21 wherein the dynamic advertising display further comprises a base illumination layer to enhance the visibility of the flexible display technology.
23. The system of claim 19 wherein the dynamic advertising display further comprises a covering layer to protect its integrity.
24. The system of claim 19 wherein the dynamic advertising display further comprises a water-proofing layer to protect its integrity.
25. The system of claim 1 wherein the output device is a secondary lighting system for providing controlled illumination of limited areas whose color, luminosity or illumination pattern is adjusted in response to the commands from the output sub-system.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein the secondary lighting system is a laser projection device and where the system directs the projection of a team logo or symbol in response to commands from the output sub-system.
27. The system of claim 1 wherein the game information generated by the performance content generation sub-system comprises video or audio of the live sporting event.
28. A system for controlling a display output on a sports scoreboard at an event, comprising:
- a third-party device, the third party device comprising: a processor; a user interface for inputting game information; a communication sub-system;
- wherein the processor is operable to generate a virtual scoreboard from the game information;
- and
- a universal scoreboard interface comprising: a processor; a communication sub-system
- the universal scoreboard interface being operable to: receive the virtual scoreboard from the third-party device; translate the virtual scoreboard into signals recognizable by the scoreboard; provide the signals to the scoreboard.
29. The system of claim 28 wherein the scoreboard includes a game clock that starts and stops to indicate official time.
30. The system of claim 29 wherein the user interface includes one or more buttons for indicating clock state changes.
31. The system of claim 29 wherein a game official uses a portable device in communication with the system for indicating clock state changes.
32. The system of claim 31 wherein the portable device is a wireless clicker.
33. The system of claim 28 further including a performance content generation sub-system, the performance content generation sub-system being operable to automatically generate game information based on the live sporting event; wherein the game information is used as an input to one of the third party device and the universal scoreboard interface.
34. The system of claim 33 wherein the scoreboard includes a game clock that starts and stops to indicate official time and wherein the game information generated by the performance content generation sub-system includes clock state changes.
35. The system of claim 34 wherein the clock start indications are generated by the performance content generation sub-system based on the motion of a player or a game object.
36. The system of claim 35 wherein the sporting event is an ice hockey game and the game object is a ice hockey puck.
37. The system of claim 33 wherein the game information generated by the performance content generation sub-system includes scoring information.
38. The system of claim 28 that further controls one or more output devices other than the scoreboard.
39. The system of claim 38 wherein at least one of the one or more output devices is a primary lighting system for providing general illumination of the event whose color or luminosity is adjusted in response to the game information.
40. The system of claim 39 wherein the primary lighting system uses LED lights capable of creating multiple colors, and wherein the system directs the colors to change in response to game information.
41. The system of claim 38 wherein at least one of the one or more output devices is an audio system that is directed to output words or music in response to the game information.
42. The system of claim 38 wherein at least one of the one or more output devices is a video or video and audio system that is directed to output video or video and audio in response to the game information.
43. The system of claim 42 wherein the video or video and audio output device is useable as a scoreboard.
44. The system of claim 42 wherein the video output device is a dynamic advertising display.
45. The system of claim 44 wherein the dynamic advertising display is affixed to structures facing inward toward the performance area of the sporting event.
46. The system of claim 44 wherein the dynamic advertising display is flexible for additionally conforming to curved surfaces and comprises at least a flexible display technology.
47. The system of claim 46 wherein the dynamic advertising display further comprises a base illumination layer to enhance the visibility of the flexible display technology.
48. The system of claim 44 wherein the dynamic advertising display further comprises a covering layer to protect its integrity.
49. The system of claim 44 wherein the dynamic advertising display further comprises a water-proofing layer to protect its integrity.
50. The system of claim 38 wherein at least one of the one or more output devices is a secondary lighting system for providing controlled illumination of limited areas whose color, luminosity or illumination pattern is adjusted in response to the game information.
51. The system of claim 50 wherein the secondary lighting system is a laser projection device and wherein the system directs the projection of a team logo or symbol in response to the game information.
52. The system of claim 38 wherein the game information generated by the performance content generation sub-system comprises video or audio of the ongoing event.
53. The system of claim 33 that further controls one or more output devices other than the scoreboard.
54. The system of claim 53 wherein at least one of the one or more output devices is a primary lighting system for providing general illumination of the event whose color or luminosity is adjusted in response to the game information.
55. The system of claim 54 wherein the primary lighting system uses LED lights capable of creating multiple colors, and wherein the system directs the colors to change in response to game information.
56. The system of claim 53 wherein at least one of the one or more output devices is a scoring indication lamp whose color or luminosity is adjusted in response to the game information.
57. The system of claim 53 wherein at least one of the one or more output devices is an audio system that is directed to output words or music in response to the game information.
58. The system of claim 53 wherein at least one of the one or more output devices is a video or video and audio system that is directed to output video or video and audio in response to the game information.
59. The system of claim 58 wherein the video or video and audio output device is useable as a scoreboard.
60. The system of claim 58 wherein the video output device is a dynamic advertising display.
61. The system of claim 60 wherein the dynamic advertising display is affixed to structures facing inward toward the performance area of the sporting event.
62. The system of claim 60 wherein the dynamic advertising display is flexible for additionally conforming to curved surfaces and comprises at least a flexible display technology.
63. The system of claim 62 wherein the dynamic advertising display further comprises a base illumination layer to enhance the visibility of the flexible display technology.
64. The system of claim 60 wherein the dynamic advertising display further comprises a coving protective layer to protect its integrity.
65. The system of claim 60 wherein the dynamic advertising display further comprises a water-proofing layer to protect its integrity.
66. The system of claim 33 wherein the output device is a secondary lighting system for proving controlled illumination of limited areas whose color, luminosity or illumination pattern is adjusted in response to the game information.
67. The system of claim 66 wherein the secondary lighting system is a laser projection device and where the system directs the projection of a team logo or symbol in response to the game information.
68. The system of claim 33 wherein the game information generated by the performance content generation sub-system comprises video or audio of the ongoing event.
69. An apparatus for translating virtual scoreboard indications from a third party device into physical signals capable of controlling a scoreboard, comprising:
- Inputs for accepting the virtual indications from the third party device for display on the scoreboard,
- A processing element for converting the virtual indications into physical control signals recognizable to the scoreboard, and
- Outputs for relaying the physical signals to the scoreboard.
70. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein the inputs and processing element are reconfigurable to accept and process indications from two or more distinct third party devices.
71. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein the processing element and the outputs are reconfigurable to convert the virtual indications into physical control signals recognizable by two or more distinct scoreboards.
72. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein the scoreboard includes a game clock that starts and stops to indicate official time.
73. The apparatus of claim 72 wherein the third party device accepts game information from a scorekeeper or game official, including clock state changes.
74. The apparatus of claim 72 wherein the apparatus directly accepts game information from a scorekeeper or game official, including clock state changes.
75. The apparatus of claim 69 that is in communication with a wireless clicker for accepting game information.
76. The apparatus of claim 72 that is in communication with a wireless clicker for accepting game clock state changes.
77. The apparatus of claim 69 that is in communication with a performance content generation sub-system capable of generating game information based on a live sporting event, the game information being used as an input for one of: the apparatus and the third party device.
78. The system of claim 77 wherein the game information generated by the performance content generation sub-system includes clock state changes.
79. The system of claim 78 wherein the clock start indications are generated by the performance content generation sub-system based at least in part on the motion of a player or a game object.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 8, 2011
Publication Date: May 16, 2013
Inventors: James Andrew Aman (Lansdale, PA), Paul Michael Bennett (Harleysville, PA)
Application Number: 13/261,558
International Classification: A63B 71/06 (20060101);