Computer system for trapshooting competitions

• US 6,129,549 A
• Filed: 08/22/1997
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clyde H. Thompson
• Original Assignee: Clyde H. Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Clyde H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US08/918,549
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/407, 473/409, 700/91, 700/92, 700/93, 463/2, 273/371
• US Class Current: 434/16
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 11/00 Target ranges timetables, lists or forms for shooter enlistment B42D15/0066
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics

Abstract

A computer system utilizing a local area network and multiple computers used in association with a trapshooting competition of the type wherein each entrant in each event is, at one of multiple squad-assignment stations, assigned to a squad (of particular entrants) scheduled for shooting at a specific time and place. This system'"'"'s operators, software, and hardware efficiently manage the competition, including computer-assisting assignment of each entrant to a position in a squad. The computer system has a method for temporarily restricting access to an entrant list for a squad of an event to a particular computer workstation, enabling efficient assigning of an additional entrant to a temporarily-restricted entrant list, as well as handling functions like handicapping, scoring, fees, prizes, etc.

Claims

1. In association with a trapshooting competition of the type wherein each entrant in each event is, at one of multiple squad-assignment stations, assigned to a squad of particular said entrants scheduled for shooting at a specific time and place, a computer system for assisting assignment of each said entrant to a position in one said squad, comprising:

a. multiple first computer workstations each respectively situated at one said squad-assignment station;

b. a local area network, including a central server, connected with each said first computer workstation;

central computer storage means for storing event data linking each said squad of each said event to an entrant list of said particular entrants assigned to said squad;

d. computer software means for, during a particular time, temporarily permitting access to one said entrant list of said particular entrants for any one said squad of any one said event to a user-selected one said first computer workstation while temporarily barring all other said first computer workstations from access to said entrant list of said particular entrants for said one squad of said one event in order to prevent overfilling of said one squad; and

e. computer software means for assigning, at said particular first computer workstation, during said particular time, an additional entrant to one said entrant list of said particular entrants for said one squad of said one event.

2. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising:

computer storage means for storing event handicap data for a large list of potential said entrants to said trapshooting competition; and

computer software means for assigning to each said entrant for each said event an event handicap from said handicap data.

3. A computer system according to claim 2 further comprising:

a second computer workstation, connected to said local area network, situate at a handicap-assignment station; and

computer software means for assigning, at said second computer workstation, to each said entrant for each said event an event handicap from said handicap data.

4. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising:

computer storage means for storing fee payment data of fees paid by each said entrant for each said event; and

computer software means for assigning to each said entrant for each said event said fee payment data.

5. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising:

computer storage means for storing scoring data for each said entrant for each said event; and

computer software means for assigning to each said entrant for each said event said scoring data.

6. A computer system according to claim 5 further comprising

computer software means for providing scoreboard-type information to a scoreboard.

7. A computer system according to claim 5 further comprising

computer software means for computing prize allocations among entrants in said trapshooting competition.

8. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising

computer software means for restoring said access to said entrant list for said squad of said event to any said first computer workstation.

9. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising

computer storage means for storing an event data record for each said position of each said squad, each said event data record comprising data fields for holding shooting data relevant to said event of said trapshooting competition;

each said event data record being ordered according to successively numbered positions on successively numbered squads; and

computer software means for providing indexing showing the location of each said event data record.

10. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising

computer storage means for storing an ordered-name data file for showing the said events entered by each said entrant;

and

computer software means for temporarily restricting data-writing access to said ordered-name data file to a particular said first computer workstation until said data-writing is complete, whereby said data file may be efficiently maintained in order.

11. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising

computer software means for enabling a computer operator at at least one said first computer workstation to back up one screen at a time for efficient error correction.

12. In association with a trapshooting competition of the type wherein each entrant in each event is, at one of multiple squad-assignment stations, assigned to one squad of particular said entrants scheduled for shooting at a specific time and place, a computer system for assisting assignment of each said entrant to a position in said one squad, comprising the steps of:

a. for each said event, using a computer, making a set of event data records for storing event data for each said position of each said squad, each said event data record comprising data fields for holding shooting data relevant to said event of said trapshooting competition, each said event data record being ordered according to successively numbered positions on successively numbered squads;

b. using one of a set of first computer workstations connected to a server in a local area network, temporarily restricting access to said event data records for a particular one of said squads of only one said event to a particular said first computer workstation; and

c. using said particular first computer workstation, assigning an additional entrant to said temporarily-restricted particular one squad event data records in order to prevent overfilling of said particular one squad.

13. A computer system according to claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

storing in said computer system event handicap data for a large list of potential said entrants to the trapshooting competition; and

computing in said computer system and assigning to each said entrant for each said event an event handicap from said handicap data.

14. A computer system according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

using said particular first computer workstation, unblocking restricted access to said temporarily-restricted squad event data records, whereby any said first computer workstation may access said temporarily-restricted squad event data records.

15. A computer system according to claim 14 further comprising the step of

using said particular first computer workstation, computing a fee due from an entrant and issuing a receipt for said fee due.

16. A computer system according to claim 15 further comprising the step of

writing, to said event data records, scoring data for each said entrant to said event.

17. A computer system according to claim 16 further comprising the step of

providing to a monitor of a second computer workstation scoring data in the form of a scoreboard-leaderboard.

18. In a computer system of the type wherein multiple computer workstations are linked in a local area network, and for use in association with a clay sporting competition of the type wherein each entrant in each event is assigned to a position on a squad of particular said entrants, computer means for assisting the running of said clay sporting competition comprising:

a. computer software means for making, for each said event, a set of event data records for storing event data for each said position of each said squad, each said event data record comprising data fields for holding shooting data relevant to said event of said clay sporting competition;

b. computer storage means for storing said set of event data records;

c. computer software means for reading data from and writing data to said event data records, including scoring data for each said entrant in each said event; and

d. computer software means for temporarily restricting access to said event data records for a particular said squad of one said event to a particular said computer workstation in order to prevent overfilling of said particular squad.

19. Computer means according to claim 18 further comprising

computer software means for computing a handicap for the entrant from data supplied for potential entrants by a large organization overseeing rules and regulations of said clay sporting competition;

and

computer software means for providing a storage record, for said large organization overseeing rules and regulations of said clay sporting competition, of final data from said clay sporting competition.

20. Computer means according to claim 19 further comprising

computer software means for assigning, at said particular computer workstation, an additional entrant to said temporarily-restricted squad event records.