GB2188178A - Selection systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The selection system includes a memory (20) having a plurality of storage locations each representative of a different event. A processing unit (28) is operable to enter into each storage location a different weighting level assigned to each event by an operator. A counter (22) each count of which is representative of a different event is connected to cyclically access each storage location in turn. A time-out counter (30) controlling the stepping of the counter (22) can be set at different levels in accordance with the weighting level readout of the storage location. In this way the counter (22) is stepped on only after a delay corresponding to the weighting level read out. A select switch (34) is randomly operable to cause a display unit (26) to display the instantaneous count of the counter (22) at the moment of operation. In this way the random selection of events is weighted in favour of the more heavily weighted events. The system is usable as a foot-ball pools predictor or for predicting wins in horse or dog racing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Selection systems The present invention relates to selection systems and in particular but not exclusively to selection systems forforecasting the results of football matches for the purpose of completing a football pools coupon.

With the so-called "treble chance" pools the object isto predictthose matches in which the final score is a draw. Normallythe competitoris asked to select eight results out of fifty or more which are likely to end in a draw.

Thewinneristhecompetitorwhomanagesto score the highest number of points for his selections.

The selection of score draws being accorded the highest number of points, no-score draws the next highest and other results a lesser number of points.

With random selection of matches the possibility of selecting eight draws is very low indeed. The chances of selecting eight draws can be increased by weighting the selection of results away from those matches where a draw is least likely and towards the selection of results in which a draw is more likely.

It is an object of the invention to provide a coherent and interesting selection.

According to the present invention there is provided a selection system comprising storage means having a plurality of storage locations each associated with a specific event, weighting means respon sive to the allocation of a particularweighting level for a particular event to store data representative of the weighting level in the storage location associated with that event, means for cyclically and sequentially accessing each storage location in turn to read out the data stored therein, delay means for delaying the accessing of the next storage location in the sequence bya period oftime related to the weighting level read-out, display means, and randomly operable selection means operable to cause the display means to display the identity of the event associated with the storage location being accessed at the instantwhen the selection means is operated.

According to the present invention there is further provided a selection system comprising means for storing data representative of a predetermined number of different events, means for allocating each event with at least one of two different eight ings, means for cyclically accessing the data, and means responsive to the weightings to vary the period that each item of data is presented during each cycle according to the weighting associated with the item of data, and randomly operable selection means operable to select a presented item and to display the identity ofthe event which the item of data represents.

According to the present invention there is still further provided a selection system comprising means for inputting data rnpresentative of a plurality of different events into a storage means, the input of each item of data being accompanied by a selected one of at least two different weighting levels, means for repeatedly reading out the stored data in suc cessive cycles, and presenting the data read-out during each cycle in succession, the duration for which each item of data is presented during each cycle being related to the weighting level associated with that item of data, and means for randomly selecting a presented item of data.

A selection system embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view ofthe system; Figure2 is a block diagram of the system; Figure3 is a flow chartforthe system; and Figure4is a circuit diagram ofoneform ofthe system.

As shown in Figure 1 the system includes a housing 2 having a front panel 4 supporting a display unit 6 and five push button switches. The five switches include an ON/OFF switch 8, a select switch 10 and three weighting switches 12 to 16 respectively labelled "likely draw", "average chance of draw" and "unlikely draw".

In operation when the ON/OFF switch 6 is switched ON, the first match to be considered is displayed on the display unit as "01 ".The 01 match on the pools coupon is then considered and an assessment is made by the competitor as to whether there is an average chance of a draw or whether a draw is likely or unlikely. The competitor depresses one ofthe three weighting switches appropriately. The match "01 "within the system is weighted accordingly and the next match "02" is then displayed on the display unit 6. The operation is then repeated until each match (up to a maximum of 99) is appropriately weighted.

The competitor then presses the select button 10 and the mode of the system is immediately changed from a mode in which matches are weighted to a mode in which the matches are selected and displayed on the display unit 6. At this point the display unit displays "00".

Thereafter each time the select switch 10 is operated a match will be randomly selected and displayed on the display unit 6. Because the different matches are weighted differently the chances of a match weighted "likely draw" being selected are greaterthanthosefora match weighted "average chance of a draw" and very much greater than those fora match weighted "unlikely draw".

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the system.

A processing unit 28 is coupled to a random access memory (RAM) 20 to feed in orto read out data from the memory 20.Acounter 22 is used to addresssuccessive locations within the RAM 20. The output from the counter22 is also fed to a display latch 24.A display 26 is connected to display data captured by the latch 24when triggered by a select switch 34 or by the processing unit 28. The unit 28 controls the counter 22 either directly orthrough a time-out coun- ter 30. A bank 32 of forecast weighting switches feed data to the RAM 20 via the processing unit 28.

Atime-out counter 30 is provided to respond to data read out from the RAM 20 and to delay the trig gering of the counter 22 to the next countaccord- ingly.

When the ON/OFF button (not shown) switches the system ON, the system adopts a weighting mode. In this mode a signal is sent to the reset input 22R ofthe counter 22 to set the count of the counterto "01 ".

Simultaneously a signal is fed to the display latch 24 so that the instantaneous count ofthe counter 22 is displayed on the display unit 26.

The counter 22 addresses a first location in the RAM 20 so that when one of the forecasting switches is pressed, data representative of the selected one of the three weighting levels is fed by the processing unit 28 into the selected location of the RAM 20.

When this operation is completed, the unit 28 generates another pulse which is fed directly to the stepping input 22S ofthecounter22to stepthecounter ON to "02" the counter 22 then selects the next consecutive location in the RAM 20 and the count "02" is displayed by the display unit 26. Depression ofthe appropriate selection switch will cause data representative of the appropriate weighting to be stored in the "02" location of the RAM 20. The process is repeated until all the weighting for the different matches have been stored in appropriate locations in the RAM 20.

If nowthe select switch 34 is pressed,thesystem changes mode to a mode in which data is read from the RAM 20. Upon this change of mode, a reset signal is fed to the counter 22 to reset it to the "00" count. The count "00" is displayed by the display 26.

The counter is stepped on to the count "01 ".The counter then reads out the data stored in the addressed location in the ram 20. The level oftheweight- ing read out, sets the time-out counter 30 to create a particular delay before feeding an output pulse to the stepping input 22S of the counter 30. If the weighting is "unlikely draw" the delay is one unitoftime, ifthe weighting is "average chance of a draw" the delay is two units of time while iftheweighting is "likely" the delaythree units oftime. When the delayed signal reaches the counter 22 the counterwill step on. If any location accessed by the RAM 20 does not contain a weighting, the unit 28 feeds a pulse to the input 22R and the counter 22 is reset.The counter 22 will thus cyclically access each location in the RAM 20 in turn and will dwell at different locations according to the weighting stored at th at location. The counterwill only access those locations where data is stored since as soon as the first empty location is reached the counter will be resetto "p1 ".

If, during this cyclic operation ofthe counter, the select switch 34 is depressed the display latch 24 will capturetheinstantaneouscountofthecounter22to cause the display 26 to display the count reached.

Thenumberappearing onthedisplay26isthen recorded as a draw on the pools coupon. Upon re lease ofthe select switch 34, the display is released.

It will be appreciated that with this system, while the selection of the numbers by the competitor is totally random, the fact that the counter 22 dwells on differentnumbersfor different periods oftime, meansthatthe selection will be weighted in favour of the likely draws.

Figure 3 shows a flow chart forthe forecasting system which is self-explanatory.

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the forecasting system which is believed to be also self-explanatory.

While the system described has three weighting levels, it will be appreciated that only two weighting levels may be used or instead more than three weighting levels.

Whiletheforecasting system has been described for producing draw forecasts for the treble chance pools it will be appreciated that it can be used to forecast other pools or other events.

Such other pools require selection of a number of matches which will have a particular result. Examples are home team wins, away team wins, high scores, and low scores. For this purpose, the com petitorwouldclearthesystem of any information used to select for draws, and bias the memory towards matches more likely to end in the result being predicted.

The system may also be used to determine selectionsfor bets on horse ordog racing. Forthis purpose, the competitorwould bias the memorytow ardsthose horsesordogs more likelytowin a race, after having assigned a numberfrom a sequence beginning with 01 to each horse or dog participating in one or more races. The system can then be used to determine selections for either single or accumulator bets.

Claims (10)

1. A selection system comprising storage means having a plurality of storage locations each associated with a specific event, weighting means responsiveto the allocation of a particularweighting level for a particular event to store data representative of the weighting level in the storage location associated with that event, means for cyclically and sequentially accessing each storage location in turn to read out the data stored therein, delay means for delaying the accessing of the next storage location in the sequence by a period of time related to the weighting level read-out, display means, and randomly operable selection means operable to cause the display means to display the identity of the event associated with the storage location being accessed atthe instant when the selection means is operated.

2. A system according to Claim 1 wherein the weighting means is operable to produce one ofthree different weighting levels, and wherein the delay means is operable to effect three different delays having durations of one,two andthree units oftime.

3. A system according to Claim 1 orto Claim 2 wherein the accessing means are reset when a particular location being accessed contains no stored data.

4. A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the accessing means comprises a counter having an output connected to access the storage locations in the storage means in sequence, the counter having a stepping input coupled to the delay means to receive stepping pulses to step the counter ON.

5. A system according to Claim 4 including meansforfeeding a signal representative ofthe count by the counterthrough a display latch to the display means, the latch being triggered to display the count of the counter when the selection means is operated.

6. Asystem according to any preceding claim wherein the delay means comprises a time-out counter settable to three different time-out count levels in response to the weighting level read out from the storage means.

7. A system according to any preceding claim wherein said storage means comprises a random access memory.

8. Aselection system comprising meansforstoring data representative of a predetermined number of different events, means for allocating each event with at least one of two different weightings, means for cyclically accessing the data, and means responsive to the weightings to varythe period that each item of data is presented during each cycle according to the weighting associated with the item of data, and randomlyoperableselection meansoperableto select a presented item and to display the identity of the eventwhich the item of data represents.

9. A selection system comprising means for inputting data representative of a plurality of different events into a storage means, the input of each item of data being accompanied by a selected one of at least two different weighting levels, means for repeatedly reading outthe stored data in successive cycles, and presenting the data read-out during each cycle in succession, the duration for which each item of data is presented during each cycle being related to the weighting level associated with that item of data, and means for randomly selecting a presented item of data.

10. A selection system substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.