GB2414189A - Electronic scoreboard - Google Patents

Abstract

A scoreboard display system comprises a scoreboard with an electrically operable display and an electronic control means, the electronic control means comprising means for inputting game data and means for processing said inputted game data, the electronic control means being connected to the scoreboard such that information relating to the inputted game data is displayed on the scoreboard. Game data can be inputted into a computer program and processed to provide statistical data.

Description

24141 89 Electronic scoring system This invention concerns a game scoring

system and scoreboard display system.

There are two scoring systems conventionally used for displaying the ongoing score at sports events. It is still common to use a fully manually operated scoreboard to show the current score.

With such manual scoreboards, numbers indicating the score are typically changed by, for example, flipping numbers over on a scorechart so that the new score is revealed, turning dials so that the new score is revealed, or changing "tin plate" numbers which hang from the scoreboard. In some cases, such manual scoreboards may be vary complicated, for example when scoring cricket matches. The necessary size of the scoreboard or "telegraph" to allow the spectators at a cricket match to view the score, together with the relatively large amount of information needed for cricket (e.g. each batsman's score, total score, overs, wickets etc), requires a large apparatus with many individually controllable number displays. These may have to be operated by a dedicated telegraph operator using a complex arrangement of ropes and pulleys to effect the changes. This is laborious work and prone to error. A further disadvantage is that as well as the telegraph operator, at least one further dedicated scorer is needed to keep track of the score by writing in a scorebook. This provides a permanent record of the score throughout the game and may subsequently be used for statistical analysis, sent to third parties e.g. for recording or reporting (for example by being posted on the internet), kept as a memento or used to update club records. The information on the scorebook will commonly need to be re entered onto computers to enable such statistical analysis and recording to be carried out, leading to further inefficiency. In addition, the scorebooks may be untidy, or even illegible, especially if mistakes have occurred in filling in the scorebook.

Presently, there are also many sports which use electronic scoreboards at all levels. With these systems, an electronically operable display is provided, which is operated by a dedicated scorer.

Typically, the scorer changes the display by pressing buttons on a scoreboard control unit. For example, pressing one button once will increase a team's score by I point. Other buttons will be provided which allow the score to be decreased, for example to correct mistakes, and which cause the display to be reset. Although these electronic scoreboards are easy to use and generally reliable, there is still the problem that a further dedicated scorer is required to keep the score using a scorebook.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide an integrated scoring system in which the game information only needs to be recorded once, effectively combining the scoreboard and scorebook updating as a single operation.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a scoreboard display system comprising a scoreboard with an electrically operable display and an electronic control means, the electronic control means comprising means for inputting game data and means for processing said inputted game data, the electronic control means being connected to the scoreboard such that information relating to the inputted game data is displayed on the scoreboard.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a game scoring system comprising a scoreboard with an electrically operable display connected to an electronic control means, the electronic control means being programmed with a computer program that processes inputted game data and controls the scoreboard display to display information relating to the inputted game data.

Advantageously, the electronic control means comprises a computer.

The electronic control means preferably has communication means for sending the game data to at least one external device. In this instance, the communication means may be arranged for sending the game data to the internet.

Means for processing the game data to provide statistical analysis of said data may be provided.

The scoreboard may comprise a plurality of display modules, each display module being 3 0 controlled by a respective control unit. One of the control units may be a master control unit, the remaining control units being slave units, with the master unit being connected to at least one slave unit. The electronic control means may be connected to the master control unit. The at least one slave unit may also be connected to at least one other slave unit. Preferably, the control units include respective manual controls.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a program for a computer for enabling driving of an electrically operable scoreboard in response to game data inputted to the computer.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer when programmed with this program.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following figures, in which: Figure 1 shows an electrically operable scoreboard suitable for use with the present invention; Figure 2 schematically shows the control system for the scoreboard according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a data entry window; Figure 4 shows a score data entry window; Figure 5 shows a data entry window; Figure 6 shows a scorebook entry window; and Figure 7 shows a scorebook print format window.

Before describing a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be noted that the examples shown in the figures particularly relate to cricket, to demonstrate the invention's flexibility at handling relatively complex scoring requirements. However, the invention is not limited to cricket applications, and may be used for scoring any sport or game.

Turning firstly to Figure 1, a scoreboard or telegraph 1 display is shown, suitable for scoring a game of cricket. In this example, eight display fields are provided for the total number of runs, batsman identities (two fields), individual batsman's run total (two fields), wickets fallen, the number of overs and the runs required. Other fields may also be provided, for example displaying the run-rate, wides, bowler identity etc. Each display field comprises at least one seven segment electromechanical display (EMD) 2, which are commonly used for existing electronically operable scoreboards.

The control system for the scoreboard is shown schematically in Figure 2. Each seven segment EMD 2 is driven by a respective control unit, which may be located on the back of the EMD.

Figure 2 shows three EMDs 2, the first being driven by a master control unit 3, the second being driven by slave control unit 4, and the third driven by slave control unit 4', which is identical to slave unit 4. Communications links are provided between master control unit 3 and slave unit 4, and between slave unit 4 and slave unit 4'. Further slave units and respective EMDs may be linked in series in a "daisy-chain" fashion to slave unit 4'. The system shown can typically maintain two hundred and fifty EMDs and control units connected in this way. Each control unit 3, 4, 4' may further be provided with a manual set / reset button 5. In the event of a system crash, each display digit can be incrementally increased by manually pushing the respective button 5.

The master control unit 3 receives display commands from a computer, e.g. a PC 6, via the PC to Master interface connector, which may be for example a Cat 6 to 9 pin serial connector.

Suitably, PIC technology and Darlington drivers may be used to interface between the PC and the master unit's respective EMD. The master unit decodes the digit change command for its respective EMD, effects the change and passes all commands to the relevant slave unit. The slave unit in turn decodes the commands passed by the master unit and drives its respective EMD. Power is distributed to the slave units through the master unit's interface and cat 6-like interconnections.

PC 6 as shown may for example be a desktop computer or a laptop, which is operated by the scorer for entering game information data, such as the score, using a scoring computer program as will be described later. A feature of the present invention is that the game data entered into the computer not only causes the direct driving of the scoreboard display, but may also be used to construct a scorebook and other score data, for example statistical analyses ofthe game. The scorebook or score data may be saved on the computer and onto storage means such as floppy disk, CD ROM, memory stick etc. and may also be permanently displayed by using a printer 7.

The score data may also be uploaded to the internet 8, so that third parties may access the data.

The computer 6 is programmed with a scoring computer program that allows the entry of game data, processes this data, and drives the scoreboard to immediately display relevant data. The computer program may for example be Windows (RTM) based. Figures 3 to 7 show example data entry / display windows that may be used for a cricket scoring program, and that are generated automatically by the program at appropriate stages in the data entry process.

Figure 3 shows a data entry window in which a player's details are entered into the program, usually prior to the commencement of the game. This information will usually not be displayed on a scoreboard, although the player's name for example may be displayed on a scoreboard during the game if the scoreboard is sufficiently big to include this display field. The player details may be saved onto fixed and or portable storage means and recalled repeatedly so that the data need not be re-entered for each new game.

Figure 4 shows a score data entry window, which would be used during the game. The six boxes on the left ofthe window correspond to the six deliveries ofthe over. The symbols shown within the boxes are standard cricket symbols showing the score or type of delivery. The scores or symbols may be entered by clicking with a mouse on the buttons on the right of the window, or on the score buttons at the bottom of the window. The data may also be entered by pressing a button on the computer keyboard. Entering score data, for example the number of runs scored off the delivery, causes the computer to send a command signal to the master control unit 3, and then onto the slave units as appropriate, so that the required digit displays are changed. Therefore as soon as the score is entered, the scoreboard display is updated.

Figure 5 shows a further data entry window which appears when the scorer informs the program that a batsman has been dismissed. A variety of options for the cause of dismissal are presented, and the scorer merely has to select the correct option to update the game record.

Figure 6 shows a blank scorebook data entry window. Game information can be entered by the scorer in this window as the game progresses. The batsmen and bowlers can for example be selected from those players entered using the window shown in Figure 3.

Figure 7 shows a partially completed scorebook, in the form that it would be printed. The scorebook is printed in a format similar to conventional, manually written scorebooks. The scorebook may be printed as and when required and may be saved onto suitable storage means.

The entered data may be processed for statistical analyses of the game, which may also be carried out by the program on request by an operator.

The system also enables the game data entered into or produced by the program to be uploaded to the internet. This enables third parties to view, use or display the data.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments above, there are many other modifications and alternatives possible within the scope ofthe claims. For example, although sevensegment electromechanical display units have been shown, any display means capable of displaying the required information can be used. While cricket with its relatively complex scoring system has been used to illustrate the principles of the present invention, any sport or game is suitable for the inventive scoring system.

Claims (14)

1. Claims I. A scoreboard display system comprising a scoreboard with an

   electrically operable display and an electronic control means, the electronic control means comprising means for inputting game data and means for processing said inputted game data, the electronic control means being connected to the scoreboard such that information relating to the inputted game data is displayed on the scoreboard.
2. 2. A game scoring system comprising a scoreboard with an electrically operable display connected to an electronic control means, the electronic control means being programmed with a computer program that processes inputted game data and controls the scoreboard display to display information relating to the inputted game data.
3. 3. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the electronic control means comprises a computer.
4. 4. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the electronic control means has communication means for sending the game data to at least one external device.
5. 5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the communication means is arranged for sending the game data to the internet.
6. 6. A system according to any preceding claim, including means for processing the game data to provide statistical analysis of said data.
7. 7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the scoreboard comprises a plurality of display modules, each display module being controlled by a respective control unit.
8. 8. A system according to claim 7, wherein one of said control units is a master control unit, the remaining control units being slave units, the master unit being connected to at least one slave unit.
9. 9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the electronic control means is connected to the master control unit.
10. 10. A system according to either of claims 8 and 9, wherein the at least one slave unit is connected to at least one other slave unit.
11. 1 1. A system according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the control units include respective manual controls.
12. 12. A program for a computer for enabling driving of an electrically operable scoreboard in response to game data inputted to the computer.
13. 13. A computer when programmed with the program of claim 12.
14. 14. A system as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.