Method and communication device for providing a list of plays for sporting event participants

• US 8,793,321 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Williams
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAROT, BHARAT
• Application Number:
  US12/750,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20110246579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 709204-207, 463/42, 463/48
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets

Abstract

A communication device for event participants includes a communication module and a controller coupled to the communication module. The controller is configured to at least one of receive and generate a list of messages for an event participant, store the list of messages in the communication device, receive event information through the communication module, and modify the list of messages based on the received event information.

Claims

1. A communication device for use in a sporting event by sporting event participants, said communication device comprising:

a communication module;

a controller coupled to said communication module, said controller configured to;

at least one of receive and generate a list of plays to be performed by a sporting event participant;

store the list of plays in said communication device;

receive event information associated with the sporting event through said communication module; and

modify the list of plays based on the received event information.

2. A communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to prioritize the list of plays based on the received event information.

3. A communication device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a display configured to display at least one graphical indication associated with the received event information.

4. A communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to selectively display only a portion of the list of plays based on the received event information.

5. A communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said communication device is configured to associate data received with at least one of the plays in the list of plays.

6. A communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said communication device is configured to:

wirelessly communicate data associated with at least one play selected from the list of plays; and

update the list of plays in real-time during the sporting event.

7. A communication system for use in a sporting event by sporting event participants, said communication system comprising:

a plurality of communication devices configured to be communicatively coupled together, each said communication device comprising;

a communication module; and

a controller coupled to said communication module, said controller configured to;

at least one of receive and generate a list of plays to be performed by a sporting event participant;

store the list of plays in said communication device;

receive event information associated with the sporting event through said communication module; and

modify the list of plays based on the received event information.

8. A communication system in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device of said plurality of communication devices, wherein said first communication device is configured to selectively:

form a first network with said second communication device; and

form a second network with said third communication device.

9. A communication system in accordance with claim 8, wherein data transmitted within said first network is prevented from being transmitted within said second network.

10. A communication system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said first communication device is configured to selectively form a third network comprising said first network and said second network, such that data transmitted within said third network is transmitted within each of said first network and said second network.

11. A communication system in accordance with claim 7, wherein each said controller is further configured to prioritize the list of plays based on the received event information.

12. A communication system in accordance with claim 7, wherein each said communication device further comprises a display configured to display at least one graphical indication associated with the received event information.

13. A communication system in accordance with claim 7, wherein each said controller is further configured to selectively display the list of plays based on the received event information.

14. A communication system in accordance with claim 7, wherein each said communication device is configured to associate data received with at least one of the plays in the list of plays.

15. A communication system in accordance with claim 7, wherein each said communication device is configured to:

wirelessly communicate data associated with at least one play selected from the list of plays; and

update the list of plays in real-time during the sporting event.

16. A method for communicating with sporting event participants in a sporting event, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of communication devices;

communicatively coupling together a first plurality of communication devices of the plurality of communication devices to form a first network; and

transmitting, by at least one communication device of the first plurality of communication devices, data including at least one of audio signals and at least one play associated with the sporting event within the first network, wherein the at least one play is at least one play to be performed by a sporting event participant.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, further comprising:

communicatively coupling together a second plurality of communication devices of the plurality of communication devices to form a second network; and

transmitting data including at least one of audio signals and at least one play within the second network.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising configuring the first network and the second network such that data transmitted within the first network is not transmitted within the second network, and data transmitted within the second network is not transmitted within the first network.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:

communicatively coupling together a third plurality of communication devices of the plurality of communication devices to form a third network; and

transmitting data including at least one of audio signals and at least one play within the third network.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, further comprising configuring the third network to overlap at least one of the first network and the second network such that data transmitted within the third network is transmitted within the at least one of the first network and the second network.