Automated league and tournament system for electronic games

• US 5,971,397 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward Kendal Miguel, Eugene Brooks Lilly, Martin Georg Bohn, Stephen Robert Zastera
• Original Assignee: Edward Kendal Miguel, Eugene Brooks Lilly, Martin Georg Bohn, Stephen Robert Zastera
• Inventors: Lilly, Eugene Brooks, Miguel, Edward Kendal, Zastera, Stephen Robert, Bohn, Martin Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US08/771,638
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 273/371, 273/148 R, 273/408, 273/409, 364/410, 364/411, 463/1, 463/30, 463/40, 463/36
• US Class Current: 273/371
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 3/00 Targets for arrows or darts, e.g. for sporting or amusement purposes targets for shooting or hurling games A63F9/0204
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 3/02 Indicators or score boards for arrow or dart games F41J5/00 takes precedence; timetables, lists or forms for shooter enlistment B42D15/0066
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A league and tournament system is disclosed which includes a centralized league machine that transmits data to one or more of a plurality of electronic dart games via modem or using a wireless portable data storage device. Transmission of information from the electronic dart machines can be via modem, facsimile transmission, or using the portable data storage device. The electronic dart machines are configured to receive and utilize league and tournament database information from the league machine for a variety of purposes, including automatic implementation of player handicaps, automatic control of match play, and team and player registration using the dart machine. The dart machine has a monitor that displays context sensitive menus using information obtained from the league or tournament database. The dart machine includes a barcode card reader that permits identification of league and tournament participants using barcode cards. The dart machine can also respond to other types of barcode cards for such purposes as crediting games and providing access to machine performance data and certain machine servicing functions. Intergame communication within an establishment is provided either by hardwiring the dart machines or using infrared communication.

Claims

1. An electronically scored dart machine for use as a part of a dart league system comprising:

a microprocessor;

an electronic target board coupled to said microprocessor;

an input device coupled to said microprocessor to provide said microprocessor with input data entered by a player;

a first area of memory coupled to said microprocessor for nonvolatile storage;

a main program stored in said first area of memory and including a plurality of game programs, at least one of said games programs having a plurality a game options associated therewith; and

a second area of memory coupled to said microprocessor for storage of contest data that include a plurality of match data items which identify one or more planned games between different players and that further include game setup data associated with each of said match data items, wherein the game setup data identify one of said game programs and one or more of said game options,

said microprocessor being operable under control of said main program and in response to the input data to access at least one of said match data items and retrieve the game setup data associated with the accessed match data items,

said microprocessor further being operable under control of said main program to initiate execution of the one of said game programs associated with the accessed match data item using the one or more game options associated with the accessed match data item.

2. An electronically scored dart machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said input device is a card reader.

3. An electronically scored dart machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said input device includes a monitor having a user interface that includes user-selectable menu items.

5. An electronically scored dart machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said input device further includes at least one switch for selecting one of said menu items.

6. An electronically scored dart machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said game programs are routines included within said main program.

4. An electronically scored dart machine for use as a part of a dart league system, the electronically scored dart machine comprising:

a microprocessor;

an electronic target board coupled to said microprocessor;

an input device coupled to said microprocessor to provide said microprocessor with input data entered by a player;

a first area of memory coupled to said microprocessor for nonvolatile storage;

a main program stored in said first area of memory and including a plurality of game programs, at least one of said game programs having a plurality of game options associated therewith; and

a second area of memory coupled to said microprocessor for storage of contest data,

said microprocessor being operable under control of said main program and in response to the input data to access a portion of the contest data that is associated with the input data, said portion of the contest data including game setup data that identified one of said game programs and one of said game options,

said microprocessor further being operable under control of said main program to initiate execution of the identified one of said game programs and to select the identified one of said game options;

wherein said input device includes a monitor having a user interface that includes user-selectable menu items and wherein data from the contest data is incorporated into said user-selectable menu items.

7. An electronically scored dart machine, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a first area of memory coupled to said microprocessor for nonvolatile storage;

a game program stored in said first area of memory;

a second area of memory coupled to said microprocessor for storage of players'"'"' scores;

an electronic target coupled to said microprocessor;

an input device coupled to said microprocessor; and

a monitor coupled to said microprocessor, said microprocessor being operable under control of said game program to display a number scroller screen on said monitor and to permit player control of said number scroller screen using said input devices,

said microprocessor being operable under control of said game program to permit a number of players to play a dart game organized into a first round and a plurality of subsequent rounds with the players'"'"' scores being inputted via said target and being accumulated in said second area of memory,

said microprocessor being operable under control of said game program to utilize player handicaps to adjust the players'"'"' scores prior to the play of the first round.

8. An electronically scored dart machine, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a first area of memory coupled to said microprocessor for nonvolatile storage;

a game program stored in said first area of memory;

a second area of memory coupled to said microprocessor for storage of players'"'"' scores;

an electronic target coupled to said microprocessor;

said microprocessor being operable under control of said game program to permit a number of players to play a dart game, with the players'"'"' scores being inputted via said target and being accumulated in said second area of memory;

an infrared sensor oriented to detect human movement in front of said target;

an IR sensor circuit connected to said sensor and coupled to said microprocessor, said sensor circuit being operable in a first mode to detect human movement within a first distance of said target and in a second mode to detect human movement within a second distance of said target; and

said microprocessor being operable under control of said game program to place said sensor circuit in said first mode during game play and to place said sensor circuit in said second mode during idle periods.

9. An electronically scored dart machine as defined in claim 8, wherein said sensor circuit comprises a digitally controlled potentiometer coupled to said microprocessor to change said sensor circuit between said first and second modes in response to an output of said microprocessor.