GB2320771A - Timing for sports events - Google Patents

Abstract

The timing system for a game or timed event comprises a mobile device 1 including a transmitter 4 adapted to transmit a wireless electromagnetic radiation signal from the field of play. A receiver 5 is located outside the field of play to receive the signal. Each of the device 1 and the main scoreboard 2 has a timer system 9,10, adapted alternately to start and stop timing in response to each actuation signal from switch 3. Hence any interruption of time played in the game is made visible and conveyed to supporters.

Description

Timing method and apparatus for sports event The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the timing of sporting events.

More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to a timing system under the control of a referee, umpire or the like and displayable to a watching crowd.

Accurate timing of field sports and other activities is an essential element of 'fair play'. A typical sport may involve one or a number of periods of play of predetermined duration. For example. in Association Football, two halves of forty five minutes each are played. In some games, extra time is needed to decide a result, in which case the periods for each half of extra time are set at a lesser time, such as fifteen minutes. In the event of an injury to a player or other good reason for stopping the game (eg - time wasting by one team), the referee, which term is herein used to indicate any official having charge of the sporting event, especially one on the field of play, will stop his wrist or pocket stopwatch and restart it when play resumes.

Hence the time played is known only to the referee. The spectators are left, at the end of the normal period of play which they can determine, with an expectation that the game will continue for an indeterminate, to them. period of time "allowed" for stoppages. This lack of determination leaves room for many arguments. especially when a score is made during the extended period of play.

The sport may involve the accumulation of scores throughout the playing time of the fixture.

Any reduction in time played per period could result in an "unfair" final score. Likewise any "overplay" could also produce an "unfair" final score.

The continuing trend across all sports is the transition from amateur to professional status.

This professional status brings with it prospects of revenue based on the relative performance ot a sports team or individual. The financial rewards for success can be considerable, likewise the financial penalties for failure. It is essential therefore that the timing of such sports periods should be impartial and beyond reproach.

Many sports have either umpires or referees to ensure impartiality with regard to timing.

Problems exist. however, where spectators and commentators, whose perception of time may be at fault for emotional reasons. cannot agree on exactly how much time has been played.

Most sports have a true and loyal following of supporters. Any ambiguity in the amount of time played can occasionally lead to dissent and unsavoury behaviour between opposing supporters. This may lead co financial penalties being incurred by the professional clubs (ie increased policing of events, exclusion from tournaments) and other losses of revenue. With many top clubs functioning as corporate bodies this can directly affect the "attractiveness" of the business.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for timing events which permits the umpire's or referee's interruption of time played to be made visible and conveyed to tlle supporters in an unambiguous way, and which allows the umpire or referee on the field still to control the game absolutely.

According to the present invention there is provided a timing system for a game or timed event which comprises a mobile device including a switch means and transmitter means responsive thereto and adapted to transmit a wireless electromagnetic radiation signal from the field of play, at least one receiver means located outside the field of play to receive said signal and emit an actuation signal in response thereto, a timer system adapted alternately to start and stop timing in response to each actuation signal from said at least one receiver means. an(i time display means outside the field of play, actuated in response to signals of the timer system.

Preferably the transmitted signal is radiation in the infra red or radio range.

The mobile transmitter device may be a wrist worn or pocket held mobile unit including a transmitter and a switch, preferably under manual control of an official of a timed game being played.

A second time display may be provided in the wrist worn or pocket held unit for the convenience of the official.

The or each receiver means may be located adjacent or beyond a boundary of the field of play.

The transmitted signal may be simply a start/stop signal.

Alternatively the transmitted signal may be of such a selected frequency as to cause selective actuation by the receiver means of a predetermined display in addition to or replacing the timer display.

The frequency of transmission between the controller and the receiver may be so coded as to prevent interference from alternative transmission means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawing; the single Figure of which shows schematically the system of the invention.

Reterrillg now to the drawing, there is provided a stopwatch device 1, which is designed to be ligiirweight and unobtrusive. The device I may take the form of a modified wristband unit or pocket worn device which is lightweight and will not be an obstruction or burden to the umpire or referee. by whom it is carried. The device 1 includes a transmitter 4 capable of transmitting a timing/non-timing instruction signal to receiver 5 via a radio frequency link, infra red or other suitable transmission media, over a distance up to 200m. The signal is initiated by operation of switch 3 on the mobile device 1. A buzzer 6, sounding for 1 sec, is incorporated in the circuit to alert the referee when the switch 3 is used.

The signal emitted from the transmitter 4 is coded (to prevent unauthorised interference) and sent to receiver 5 which is suitably equipped with a compatible decoder. Upon receipt of a valid signal from the device, the receiver will actuate a main display clock 10 appropriately to start or stop as the case may be.

The mobile device 1 is also provided with a time display 9, also actuated to start or stop by operation of switch 3. A klaxon 7 and/or a light 8 may be provided at the main scoreboard 2 to alert spectators to a change of status.

An application of the invention will now be described in detail with respect to professional football. However. the invention is equally applicable to other timed games such as rugby, football. hockey, ice hockey, American football and the like. It may even be applicable to timed quiz games. such as Mastermind and the like.

In this appiication the controller or mobile device is carried by the referee in the pocket or is wrist worn The receiver 5 and countdown timer 10 are mounted at a convenient location, off the fieid of play but within the stadium. preferably within the existing score and other information displays. The range of such a system would permit the referee to change the status of the countdown timer from any location as defined by the playing area (the pitch).

To this end the desirable range will be up to 150-200 metres. The frequency of the transmission is preferably, but not necessarily in the range of 350-500 MHz, ideally 418 MHz.

The system will operate in the following manner. Immediately before the commencement of play the countdown timer will be pre-set to forty five minutes duration. Upon starting the football playillo half the referee uses the switch 3 in the controller I to change the status of the clocks 9 aiid 10. ie causes the countdown timers to decrement. If no further interruption ot play becomes necessary then a klaxon 7. flashing light 8 or suitable annunciator will be sounded after forty five minutes, i.e. when the timers 9 and 10 reach zero. Should it become necessary to interrupt play the referee will change the status of the system by operation of the switch 3, causing the countdown timers to "freeze" the timing period. When the referee is satisfied that play may continue the switch is utilised to "unfreeze" both countdown timers.

The game may continue to the conclusion of forty five minutes. The process of interruption resumption may occur many times.

The countdown timer may be displayed on a screen viewable by the spectators and, indeed, the participants. Stoppage time will be clearly indicated and the commencement and end of each stoppage period can be seen by all. Also the time period actually played, eg forty five minutes for football, will be evident to all as it progressively decreases. (In an alternative embodiment, the display may start at 0.00 and increase, intermittently, to an agreed time period to be actually played).

An additioiial tiling device (not shown) may be provided to start whenever the switch 3 disenables clocks 9 and 10. and stop when they are enabled, thereby giving a total of the time for which play has befell stopped.

All of the time control is under the supervision of the one man who matters, the referee. He is the one who is most adjacent to the scene of any incident likely to cause a stoppage of play and is therefore best placed to judge the beginning and end of the stoppage. Since his decisions will be seen by all, there should be no disputes, such as goals in "injury time".

Claims (11)

1. A timing system for a game or timed event which comprises a mobile device h)cludino a switch and transmitter means responsive thereto and adapted to translnlr a wireless electromagnetic radiation signal from the field of play, at least one receiver means located outside the field of play to receive said signal and emit an actuation signal in response thereto, a timer system adapted alternately to start and stop timing In response to each actuation signal from said at least one receiver means. and time display means outside the field of play actuated in response to signals of the timer system.

2. A s!sceln as claimed in Claim I. wherein the transmitted signal is radiation in the infra red or radio range.

3. A system as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the mobile device Is a wrist worn or pocket held unit including a transmitter means and a switch means under manual control of an official hand of a timed game being played.

4. A svstenz as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, a second time display means located in said mobile device, further comprising a time display means for the convenience of the referee.

5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, where the transmitted signal is a timer start/stop signal.

6. A system as claimed in any one of Claims l to 4. where the transmitted signal is ot such a selected frequency as to cause selective actuation by the receiver means of a predetermined display in addition to or replacing the timer display.

7. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frequency of traiosmission between the controller and the receiver is so coded as lO prevent interference irom alterioative transmission means.

8. A timing system for a timed event substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A timing system for a game or timed event which comprises a mobile device including a switch and transmitter means responsive thereto and adapted to transmit a wireless electromagnetic radiation signal from the field of play, at least one receiver means located outside the field of play, in any direction to a maximum distance allowed by radio frequency laws {Unlike previous inventions which were within or around (on all sides of, encircled or surrounded) } to receive said signal and emit an actuation signal in response thereto. A timer system adapted alternately to start / stop timing in response to each actuation signal from said at least one receiver means, and time display means outside the field of play, actuated in response to signals of the timer system.

2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmitted signal is radiation in the infra red or radio range.

3. A system as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the mobile device is a wrist worn or pocket held unit including a transmitter means and a switch means under manual control of an official hand of a timed game being played.

4. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, a second time display means located in said mobile device, further comprising a time display means for the convenience of the referee.

5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, where the transmitted signal is a timer start / stop signal.

6. A system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 where the transmitted signal is of such a selected frequency as to cause selective actuation by the receiver means of a predetermined display in addition to or replacing the timer signal.

7. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the receiver means and the time display means outside the field of play are mobile.

8. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frequency of transmission between the controller and the receiver are so coded , using an encoder / decoder, as to prevent interference from alternative transmission means.

9. A system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein at least one signal transmits a pseudo-random number from over 16 million possible combinations and changes combination on each actuation of the mobile device switch. {Previous inventions used at least two signals).

10. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver means located outside the field of play can be adapted to accept any time means of display already in use in stadiums.

11. A timing system for a timed event substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.