Method for determining sequence of arrival and racing time of runners at finish line by use of bar codes

• US 5,245,162 A
• Filed: 12/13/1990
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kazuo Takahashi
• Original Assignee: Kazuo Takahashi
• Inventors: Takahashi, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GLEMBOCKI, CHRISTOPHE
• Application Number:
  US07/627,100
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 346/107 B, 368/2, 235/380, 235/384, 235/385, 235/382, 235/377
• US Class Current: 235/377
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders

Abstract

A method for determining the sequence of arrival or the racing time of a large number of participants in the track and field events, the method comprising steps of bar-coding a racing number of each participant; causing a bar-code label to be carried by each participant; sequentially reading, by a bar-code reader, the racing number on the bar code label carried by each participant who has passed the finish line; and introducing, as inputs, into a computer with timers being incorporated therein, those data as read by the bar code reader.

Claims

1. A method for determining the sequence of arrival and/or the racing time of a large number of participants in a racing event, which comprises steps of:

assigning a respective distinct bar-code to each participant;

providing individual bar code labels bearing the bar-coded racing number thereon to be carried by each participant;

providing a computer having a preset idle running time corresponding to an idle running zone located after a designated racing event finish line and before a designated bar code reading line, wherein, participants who have passed the finish line must continue to run to said bar code reading line;

transmitting a respective timer-triggering signal each time one of said participants passes said finish line to the computer which incorporates therein at least one timer tracking the elapsed time of said racing event;

storing in said computer a sequential plurality of racing times corresponding to said timer-triggering signals;

sequentially reading at said reading line the bar code label of each participant by means of bar code readers;

storing in said computer in corresponding relationship the reading time and the corresponding bar code; and

determining an assumed racing time of each finishing participant by subtracting said idle time from said reading time as stored in the computer to arrive at an assumed racing time;

correlating said sequence of assumed racing times with said sequence of racing times, thereby determining an official racing time of each and every finishing participant runner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said correlating step includes:

eliminating excess racing times not corresponding to an assumed racing time;

accepting an assumed racing time as said official racing time when no racing time corresponds to said assumed racing time.