System and method for conducting endurance sporting contest and competition with intermediate event-based stages

• US 8,568,240 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2011
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roy Neves
• Original Assignee: Roy Neves
• Inventors: Neves, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kamal, Shahid
• Application Number:
  US13/199,017
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

The present invention conducts, monitors, and regulates the sporting-event that takes place over an extended geographic area, during an extended time period, with intermediate event-based stages occurring before arriving at the finish line. The sporting competition will require the participants to demonstrate a multitude of skills with each participant having to complete a task or tasks at each intermediate stage in the competition prior to proceeding to the next stage, and ultimately, to finish the race. To finish, a contestant, or team of contestants, must have accomplished a task or set of tasks at each intermediate stage for each of the designated segments along the course route of the contest. In that way, the present invention will conduct an endurance race that is more akin to marathon foot race with intermediate event-based stages, as opposed to a modern fishing competition.

Claims

1. A system for conducting and monitoring an endurance sporting competition with intermediate stages, comprising:

a computer server having a central processing unit, one or more input/output communication ports for sending and receiving electronic transmissions, associated memory for storing digital information, a database memory for storing digital information relating to the sporting competition, and a communication interface;

one or more mobile units associated with a participant in the competition transmit information signals to the computer server regarding the progress of one or more participants in the sporting competition;

a global positioning unit associated with one or more of the sporting competition participant'"'"'s vehicles, said global positioning unit receiving positioning satellite signals in order to calculate positioning and location information and transmitting positioning and location information to the computer system;

said computer server monitoring the progress of one or more participants in the sporting competition through the receipt of information signals regarding event-based information and completion of intermediate stage tasks, said wherein one or more information signals relating to the completion of tasks at said intermediate stage includes uploading of information onto the computer server, social network site or applications program devoted to the participant or the sporting competition, and computer server transmitting a first instruction to one or more of the participants in the sporting competition to proceed to a next stage in the sporting competition if all tasks in an intermediate stage in the competition have been completed, or transmitting a second instruction to one or more of the participants in the sporting competition indicating that said one or more participants is eliminated from the competition upon a failure to complete all tasks in an intermediate stage in a predetermined time period.

2. The system in claim 1 wherein the computer server receives visually recorded video signals that show the activities conducted by one or more participants in the sporting competition.

3. The system in claim 1 wherein the video signal can be accessed from the computer server in real-time or in a time-delayed recorded basis.

4. The system in claim 1 wherein interface is coupled to a communication gateway.

5. The system in claim 4 wherein a telephone switch is coupled to the gateway via a communication connection.

6. The system in claim 4 wherein the gateway is coupled to the Internet via a communication connection.

7. The system in claim 1 wherein said mobile unit is associated with a participants vehicle.

8. The system in claim 7 wherein said mobile unit is coupled by a radio signal to a radio access network antenna.

9. The system in claim 7 wherein said computer server is provided with photo documentation of a task completion.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the format of the information signals to the computer server can be electronic mail, text messages, or instant messaging.

11. A method for conducting and monitoring an endurance sporting competition with intermediate stages, comprising the steps of:

receiving one or more information signals at a computer server, said computer server having a central processing unit, one or more input/output communication ports for sending and receiving electronic transmissions, associated memory for storing digital information, a database memory for storing digital information relating to the sporting competition, and a communication interface;

receiving said one or more information signals at a computer server from one or more mobile units associated with a participant in the sporting competition, said information signals showing the progress of one or more participants in the sporting competition;

monitoring the progress of one or more participants in the sporting competition at the computer server through the receipt of said information signals showing event-based information and completion of intermediate stage tasks, wherein said one or more information signals received by the computer server relating to the completion of tasks at said intermediate stage includes uploading of information onto the computer server, social network site or applications program devoted to the participant or the sporting competition; and

,

transmitting a first instruction from the computer server to one or more of the participants in the sporting competition to proceed to a next stage in the sporting competition if all tasks in an intermediate stage in the competition have been completed, or transmitting a second instruction to one or more of the participants in the sporting competition indicating that said one or more participants is eliminated from the competition upon a failure to complete all tasks in an intermediate stage in a predetermined time period.

12. The method in claim 11 further comprising:

receiving one or more positioning and location information signals at the computer server from a global positioning unit associated with one or more of the sporting competition participant'"'"'s vehicles.

13. The method in claim 11 wherein said mobile unit is coupled by a radio signal to a radio access network antenna.

14. The method in claim 11 wherein said computer server is provided with photo documentation of a task completion.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the format of the information signals to the computer server can be electronic mail, text messages, or instant messaging.