WO2000002630A1

WO2000002630A1 - Electronic counting system

Info

Publication number: WO2000002630A1
Application number: PCT/NL1999/000437
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregory Errol Georgesky Gouw
Original assignee: Gregory Errol Georgesky Gouw
Priority date: 1998-07-09
Filing date: 1999-07-09
Publication date: 2000-01-20
Also published as: NL1009597C2; AU4804999A

Abstract

Electronic counting system for keeping score in a match. This consists of a watch-type device (1, 16) to be attached to the body of at least one of the at least two players (11, 12) and provided with push-buttons (4, 5) by means of which the score can be adjusted in an electronic processor. Its design is such that when a point is scored, one of the players (11, 12) operates his device (1, 16) in such a way that a provisional position improvement is effected in the electronic processing unit, whereas the other player (11, 12) operates his device (1, 16) in such a way that said position improvement is confirmed. The electronic processing units can store the constraints for a match. The match data of various sets of devices (1, 16) are transmitted to a central processing unit.

Description

Electronic counting system

The present invention relates to an electronic counting system in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1. A counting system of this type is disclosed by US-A-4,097,855. There, use is made of a counting system to be employed in tennis matches, the score being presented on a display situated along the court.

In important competitions such as tennis matches, volleyball matches etc., an umpire is present who independently continuously keeps score of the competition. This score is often presented on a board or some other display. This enables the players to concentrate entirely on the game, and if they want to know the score they need only look at the display.

On the other hand, with friendly games the state of affairs often does not matter. Between these two extremes there exists a large field of more or less serious competitions without, however, an umpire being present. In such a case it is necessary for at least one of the players to assume the responsibility for counting. In doing so, he must not only keep the score, but also communicate it in some way to the other player or players. Certainly, in sports with few players, for example tennis, great concentration is continuously required of the players. It is therefore a regular occurrence for the player in question to lose count. Equally, it is possible for the other player at a particular time to think that the score given by the first player is incorrect. There often proves to be great reluctance to keep score, which makes it less attractive to pursue the sport in question. It has also been found that for beginners and older people it is altogether difficult to keep score.

The above-described design according to the American patent 4,097,855 provides a solution to a number of these problems. But if the result of a competition is used subsequently there is still the problem of processing the result. There is also the drawback that the referee needs to be continuously present on the playing field (court, pitch) to assess how much longer matches will go on for so as to then allow subsequent matches to take place on one of the playing fields. This is particularly important with tournaments. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved electronic counting system where the score can be kept unambiguously without requiring the presence of an umpire and where the match data can be processed in a simple manner. This object is achieved, in an above-described electronic counting systems, by means of the characterizing measures of Claim 1.

According to the invention, a link to a central processing unit, which may for example be located in the clubhouse or canteen, is effected wireless. Thus it is possible for the score to be kept and recorded simultaneously for a number of playing fields. According to an advantageous embodiment, the link to a central processing unit is a radio link. In contrast to the link to the display according to the above mentioned American patent 4,097,855, which is effected by infrared, a radio link allows the radio processing unit to be located at some distance. Now it is possible for the scores to be recorded and processed for a number of playing fields simultaneously. Moreover, it is possible for the result to be placed on an electronic data carrier and to be sent to a central processing point (e.g. the federation in question). Of course, electronic mailing (E-mail) is also possible.

Furthermore there is the option of data originating from the central processing unit to be generally displayed. Thus it is possible for the score in a particular match, with all the details, or overall scores to be displayed, for example, in the canteen, at the entrance and at other locations of a sports park, keeping the information very much up to date. This matters both to the spectators and the (subsequent) players. At each location of the sports complex or other locations where the counting system according to the invention is used, they can be optimally provided with information. According to the invention, each player, for example in tennis, has a device attached to his body, e.g. a watch-like device, by means of which, for example using a push-button, he is able to adjust his score positively. According to the invention, said score is then transmitted to the read-out device. Such a read-out device can be disposed centrally on the field, be disposed on a number of locations on the field, or be disposed on the above-described watch-like device. Combinations are obviously also possible. Such a position improvement, having been input by the scoring player, is not definitive, however. This position improvement needs to be confirmed by the other player. The fact that the score is not definitive can be indicated, for example, by blinking, differences in colour and the like. Provision can also be made to ensure that counting cannot continue as long as the position improvement indicated earlier has not been confirmed by the other player. Thus the players are forced to carry the game through in a correct manner. Confirmation of this score can also be effected by the watch-like device or other device attached to the body of the other player being equipped with a further push-button which provides said confirmation of the score. Of course, electronics can be used in the overall design to allow this to be done with the same push-button. In the case of two push-buttons it is of course important for them to be of different appearance. Instead of push-buttons, other designs known from the prior art can also be used.

The signals coming from the watch-like device are, as described above, transmitted via a transmitter to a central processing unit which is disposed centrally on the field. Likewise it is possible for the watch-like devices of the two playing field sections to communicate with one another. According to a further advantageous embodiment a storage device is present additionally, either in the central processing unit or in one or both watch-like devices or other device to be worn on the body of the player. This storage device keeps track of the course of the match and the final score. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a storage device of this type is removably attached and can be introduced into other electronic processing devices. Thus it is possible for the course of the match to be followed subsequently and/or to carry out further electronic processing of the scores. In tournaments this may constitute a considerable advantage. As this storage device is likewise able to store the information whether or not the score has been confirmed, mistakes are almost impossible.

According to the invention it is possible for the signal coming from the device attached to the one player not to be transmitted directly to the other device for confirmation purposes, but instead to the central processing unit. Thence a signal is again transmitted to the other device, and after confirmation a return signal is effected from the other devices to the central processing unit. As a result, the devices to be worn by the players can be designed to be considerably simpler, i.e. less expensive and less heavy. Of course it is possible for only one of these steps to be implemented, i.e., for example, only the confirmation action proceeds via the central processing unit. It will be understood that the electronic counting system can be programmed in such a way as to incorporate the competition rules. For tennis this means that the set score is altered after a number of points have been scored and that the match is decided after a number of sets have been played. Of course it is possible for the transmission of the data to take place entirely without the use of wires, without employing a separate memory.

Implementation of the invention is possible in various ways. Displays and watch-like devices can be designed in any way known in the prior art and can be integrated or not integrated. The invention is illustrated in more detail below with reference to a specific embodiment shown in the drawing, where:

Figure 1 shows a part view of a watch-like device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a part section of the device according to Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows the use of the electronic counting system according to the invention in a tennis match.

In Figure 1, 1 indicates, in its entirety, a watch- like device according to the invention. This consists of a conventional watch strap 2 by means of which the player is able to fasten the watch-like device 1 in question around his wrist. The watch-like device is further provided with a case 3 in which two buttons 4, 5 are located, between which a transmitter 6 is fitted.

All this is shown in transverse section in Figure 2, where 7 denotes an integrated circuit and 8 a battery.

Figure 3 shows a court 10 with thereon two players 11 and 12. The one player is provided with the above-described watch-like construction 1, whereas the other player is provided with a corresponding watch-like construction 16. The watch-like constructions are, however, of different design inasmuch as the software in the integrated circuit 7 differs somewhat, and the colour of the buttons 4 and 5, which is different, in devices 16 and 1 are precisely reversed. A display 13 is present in the centre of the court. This is provided with a memory 14 and also a central processing unit 9 and a receiver 15.

The above-described device functions as follows. At the start of a match, reset will take place in some way, thus making it clear to the central processing unit 9 that the match is commencing. It is also possible to input who the players are by means of coding, cards and the like. Such cards are already being used in the world of tennis and other sports for booking courts. Furthermore it is possible to enter into the central processing unit in some way the number of sets to be played or other aspects of the match or the maximum duration. Of course it is possible for this to be stored in the central processing unit.

After player 11 , for example, has scored a point, he presses button 4 on his watch-like device 1 to improve his position. A signal is then transmitted to receiver 15, and via the central processing unit 9 the first point is shown on display 13. By means of blinking or a difference in colour, the players are given to understand that this position improvement is a provisional status. Only when player 12, by pushing button 5 on his device 16, has confirmed the score will the provisional status of the score on display 13 be removed and will this score become definitive and be stored in memory 14. Of course, intermediate storage in memory 14 is also possible. Means are present for the purpose, for example, of rescinding a particular score in the event of incorrect action.

Equally it is possible for the action, by player 11 , of pressing button 4 on his watch-like device 1 after scoring to result solely in a signal being transmitted to the central processing unit 9. Then the display 13 can show the point in question and/or it is possible to indicate on device 16 that further action is required. This device 16 can likewise be exclusively driven from the central processing unit, i.e. communication between devices 1, 16 and the display 13 takes place at all times via the central processing unit 9. Thus it is possible to be aware of all intermediate scores and to keep directly up to date with the course of the match.

It will be understood that the same happens if player 12 scores a point. In the above description, buttons 4 and 5 are of different design for the different halves of the game. Of course it is also possible for these to be of the same design and for button 4 to be assigned the function of indicating an improvement, while button 5 merely serves to confirm the status.

It is likewise possible for the watch-like construction of the different players to be of different design. After all, it is only necessary for one player to actively change the score which can be either to his advantage or to that of his opponent. The other player then only requires a correction button on his watch-like construction. The size of such a correction button can be chosen to be different from the size of his confirmation button, and more in particular be considerably smaller, since correction will be unnecessary during normal use.

During or after the match the memory chip 14 can be removed. To this end, this chip can be designed as a so-called "I button". Such a button can be loaded into a PC or some other electronic processing unit.

It is also possible for direct contact without the use of wires to be kept with the central processing unit which acts simultaneously for a number of courts. With such a design it is no longer necessary to use intermediate memory storage such as a "Y button". Such a central processing unit can, for example, be kept in a canteen or an office, whilst it is possible, at the same time, to observe directly the match score on one or more courts via a monitor. Thus it is possible, for example for the oganizer of the competition, to indicate to any waiting persons what court will become available shortly, without him having to be present himself.

The above-described device is suitable for tennis, table tennis, squash, badminton, volleyball, beach volleyball, football, indoor football and many other sports. It will be evident that if the electronic counting device according to the invention is used, no umpire or referee is required. It will also be evident that the various above-described electronic devices can be of different design. The separate components of such variants are generally known in the prior art, but the whole falls within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Electronic counting system for keeping, for example, score in a match, which comprises a device (1, 16) which is to be attached to the body of at least one player and by means of which the score can be adjusted, and further comprising at least one electronic read-out device (13) for said score, said counting system comprising, for at least each half of the game, a device to be attached to the body of a player, of such design that, on the one hand, said player is able to improve his position at least provisionally and of such design, on the other hand, that he is able to confirm the provisionally improved position of said other player, characterized in that at least a central processor is present which is wireless linked to various sets of devices (1, 16).

2. Electronic counting system according to Claim 1, wherein said wireless link comprises a radio link.

3. Electronic counting system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a read-out device disposed centrally on the playing field.

4. Electronic counting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device to be attached to the body of the player comprises a watch-type design.

5. Electronic counting system according to Claim 4, wherein said watch-type design comprises at least two buttons (4, 5), one for provisionally improving the position of said player and one for confirming the provisional position of said other player.

6. Electronic counting system according to Claim 5, wherein the system is of such design that at least one of the signals for provisionally improving the position of said player or confirming the improvement of the provisional position is directed via said central processing unit.

7. Electronic counting system according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein said buttons are of different appearance.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said read-out device is designed so as to indicate the status of a position improvement.

9. Electronic counting system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a storage device (14) for the match score, said storage device being removably fitted in the electronic counting system.