REAL TIME SCORING, FEEDBACK, AND LONGTERM STATISTICS TRACKING SYSTEM

• US 20080300071A1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tom C. Valaika
• Original Assignee: Tom C. Valaika
• Inventors: Valaika, Tom C.
• Application Number:
  US12/129,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20080300071A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/422
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3694 for driving only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/10 for meetings, entertainments, or sports
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/14 Gymnasiums; Other sporting buildings
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

An improvement for a practice facility that simulates a sport playing environment, wherein the facility has a projectile striking region and a target region for the projectile. The improvement is a computerized feedback system that includes an input device for receiving participant credentials sufficient to activate the computerized feedback system and an output device for displaying perceptible output to a participant. A target array including at least one target is removably mounted in the target region and operative, when stimulated by the projectile, to produce at least one feedback signal. A data processing device is included that is adapted to receive each feedback signal produced by the target array, process selected feedback signals according to rules for the sport in order to generate processed data, and selectively transmit the processed data to the output device.

Claims

1. In a practice facility that simulates a sport playing environment, wherein the facility has a projectile striking region and a target region for the projectile, the improvement comprising a computerized feedback system that includes:

a. an input device for receiving participant credentials sufficient to activate the computerized feedback system;

b. an output device for displaying perceptible output to a participant;

c. a target array including at least one target removably mounted in the target region and operative, when stimulated by the projectile, to produce at least one feedback signal; and

d. a data processing device adapted to;

i. receive each said feedback signal produced by the target array;

ii. process selected said feedback signals according to rules for the sport, thereby to generate processed data; and

iii. selectively transmit said processed data to the output device.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein each said target is stimulated upon impact by the projectile.

3. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said target array includes a plurality of targets correlated to the sport.

4. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said input device and said output device are included in a kiosk.

5. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein said credentials and selected said processed data are stored on a memory device readable by said kiosk.

6. The improvement according to claim 5 wherein said data processing device is adapted to update data stored on said memory device.

7. The improvement according to claim 5 wherein said input device is a card reader.

8. A gaming system simulating a competitive sport involving a projectile, comprising:

a. a plurality of practice facilities each including;

i. a simulated playing environment correlated to the sport, wherein the playing environment has a projectile striking region and a target region for the projectile;

ii. a target array including at least one target removably mounted in the target region and operative, when stimulated by the projectile, to produce at least one feedback signal; and

iii. a kiosk including an input device for receiving participant credentials and an output device for displaying perceptible output to the participant; and

b. a data processing system including at least one data processing device associated with each facility, said data processing system adapted to;

i. receive said feedback signals produced by the target arrays;

ii. process selected ones of said feedback signals according to rules for the sport, thereby to generate processed data; and

iii. selectively transmit said processed data to the output devices.

9. A gaming system according to claim 8 wherein said data processing system is adapted to determine relative skill levels among participants, thereby to generate ranking data.

10. A gaming system according to claim 9 wherein selected said ranking data is stored on a memory device readable by said kiosk.

11. The improvement according to claim 10 wherein said data processing system is adapted to update data stored on said memory device.

12. A gaming system according to claim 8 wherein each said kiosk includes a data processing device.

13. A gaming system according to claim 8 wherein said target array includes a plurality of targets correlated to the sport.

14. A gaming system according to claim 13 wherein each said target is stimulated upon impact by the projectile.

15. A gaming system according to claim 14 wherein the sport is selected from the group consisting of baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, hockey, and golf.