System, method and computer program product for determining a tennis player rating

• US 7,813,821 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2005
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Howell
• Original Assignee: David Howell
• Inventors: Howell, David
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan; James S
• Assistant Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US11/265,009
• Time in Patent Office: 1,805 Days
• Field of Search: 700 91- 93, 473/415, 463/7, 273/317.4
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products for determining a player rating for at least one tennis player enhances the tennis playing experience of by matching tennis players of comparable tennis skills. The methodology comprises assigning numerical player ratings generally corresponding to each player'"'"'s individual tennis skill level. A competitive threshold is established, corresponding to a minimum number of games that a player must win in a match between players having the same player rating. A player is considered to be competitive within a rating level, regardless of whether the player wins or loses matches, provided the player wins at least the minimum number of games that corresponds to the established competitive threshold. Adjustments are made to a player'"'"'s rating only if/when the player has a sustained record of “non-competitive” matches with similarly rated players.

Claims

1. A process for determining at least one tennis player rating level for at least one tennis player, comprising:

1) assigning a first rating value to a first tennis player;

2) assigning a first rating value to a first opponent;

3) assigning a first rating value to a second opponent;

4) defining a competitive threshold, said competitive threshold being associated with a total number of games to be won in a tennis match;

wherein said total number of games to be won in a tennis match associated with said competitive threshold is less than a number of games that is required to win said tennis match;

5) storing first match outcome data on an electronic archive database,

said first match outcome data being indicative of a tennis match score of a first tennis match, said first tennis match being between said first tennis player and said first opponent;

6) communicating said first match outcome data to a processing element;

7) comparing said first match outcome data to said competitive threshold, wherein said step of comparing said first match outcome data to said competitive threshold is implemented by said processing element;

and wherein said step of comparing said first match outcome data to said competitive threshold comprises;

A) determining whether said first tennis player won or lost said first tennis match;

B) determining whether, in said first tennis match, said first tennis player won at least said total number of games associated with said competitive threshold;

C) determining whether, in said first tennis match, said first opponent won at least said total number of games associated with said competitive threshold;

8) storing second match outcome data on said electronic archive database,

said second match outcome data being indicative of a tennis match score of a second tennis match, said second tennis match being between said first tennis player and said second opponent, and wherein said first tennis match was played prior to said second tennis match;

9) communicating said second match outcome data to said processing element;

10) comparing said second match outcome data to said competitive threshold, wherein said step of comparing said second match outcome data to said competitive threshold is implemented by said processing element;

wherein said step of comparing said second outcome data to said competitive threshold comprises;

A) determining whether said first tennis player won or lost said second tennis match;

B) determining whether, in said second tennis match, said first tennis player won at least said number of games associated with said competitive threshold;

C) determining whether, in said second tennis match, said second opponent won at least said number of games associated with said competitive threshold;

11) assigning a second rating value to said first tennis player based on comparison of said first match outcome data to said competitive threshold and based on comparison of said second match outcome data to said competitive threshold;

wherein said second rating value assigned to said first tennis player is equal to said first rating value of said first tennis player whenever said first tennis player loses said first tennis match and wins said second tennis match, regardless of the number of games won by said first tennis player in said first tennis match and regardless of the number of games won by said first tennis player in said second tennis match;

wherein said second rating value assigned to said first tennis player is equal to said first rating value of said first tennis player whenever said first tennis player wins said first tennis match and loses said second tennis match, regardless of the number of games won by said first tennis player in said first tennis match and regardless of the number of games won by said first tennis player said second tennis match;

wherein said second rating value assigned to said first tennis player is equal to said first rating value of said first tennis player whenever said first tennis player loses said first tennis match and loses said second tennis match and the number of games won by said first tennis player in said first or second tennis match is at least as great as said number of games associated with said competitive threshold;

wherein said second rating value assigned to said first tennis player is equal to said first rating value of said first tennis player whenever said first tennis player wins said first tennis match and wins said second tennis match and the number of games won by said first or second opponent in said first or second tennis match is as least as great as said number of games associated with said competitive threshold;

wherein said second rating value assigned to said first tennis player is lower than said first rating value of said first tennis player if and only if said first tennis player loses said first tennis match and the number of games won by said first tennis player in said first tennis match is less than said number of games associated with said competitive threshold, and said first tennis player loses said second tennis match and the number of games won by said first tennis player in said second tennis match is less than said number of games associated with said competitive threshold;

wherein said second rating value assigned to said first tennis player is higher than said first rating value of said first tennis player if and only if said first tennis player wins said first tennis match and the number of games won by said first opponent in said first tennis match is less than said number of games associated with said competitive threshold, and said first tennis player wins said second tennis match and the number of games won by said second opponent in said second tennis match is less than said number of games associated with said competitive threshold.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein said first tennis match and said second tennis match are consecutive matches played by said first tennis player.

3. The process according to claim 2,

wherein said first rating value assigned to said first tennis player and said first rating value assigned to said first opponent and said first rating value assigned to said second opponent are all the same value.