Timing system and method with integrated event participant tracking management services

• US 9,485,404 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2014
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Timing Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Timing Systems LLC
• Inventors: Hansen, Kurt S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thieu, Benjamin M
• Application Number:
  US14/341,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20140337434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00185 Image output for details of particular output arrangements see the relevant sub-class, e.g. B41J, G03B, G09G, G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

An automated system and method for managing a tracking and an automated real-time remote reporting thereof of a participant'"'"'s participation in an event having a participant event management system (PEMS) that receives a request for tracking of the participant, a participant proximity detector detects the proximity of the participant to a detection point, a location detection system receiving and transmitting participant location data, the timing system receives the preorder request from the PEMS, determines a time of passing of the detection point of the participant, receives the location data and associates the participant event number with the participant identifier number, and transmits the location data forming at least a part of the participant tracking data to an output interface.

Claims

1. An automated system for managing a tracking and an automated real-time remote reporting thereof of a participant'"'"'s participation in an event using an participant identifier having a unique participant identifier number, the automated system comprising:

a participant event management system (PEMS) including a user interface receiving an input from the participant including participant data and a registration of the participant in the event, the PEMS assigning the participant a participant event number responsive thereto, the PEMS also receiving a preorder request for tracking of the participant during the event, the PEMS having a communication interface transmitting the assigned participant event number and the preorder request;

a participant proximity detector having a processor, a memory, a clock, an RFID transceiver receiving the participant identifier number from the participant identifier when the participant identifier comes within a proximity of the participant proximity detector when placed at a detection point of the event, identifying from the clock a read time of the received participant identifier read, and a data interface for transmitting the participant identifier number and the identified participant identifier read time;

a location device associated with the participant identifier of the participant, the location device having a location data receiver for receiving location data from a location providing source, and a wireless communication interface, the location detection device receiving location information from the location providing source, time stamping each received location information, and transmitting participant location data over the wireless interface;

a location detection device in at least periodic wireless communication with the location device for receiving the transmitted participant location data, and transmitting the received location data to the timing system;

a timing system having a data communication interface, a memory and computer executable instructions, the timing system receiving the participant identifier number and the participant identifier read time from the participant proximity detector, and receiving the location data, the timing system determining a time of passing of the detection point of the participant responsive to the received participant identifier number and participant identifier read time, storing the determined time of passing and the received location data in the memory associated with the participant identifier number of the participant, receiving the transmitted assigned participant event number and the preorder request from the PEMS, associating the participant event number with the participant identifier number and transmitting the received location data forming at least a part of the participant tracking data to an output interface.

2. The automated system of claim 1 wherein the preorder request includes a designation for the delivery of the location data, wherein the PEMS transmits the delivery designation and the timing system receiving the transmitted delivery designation, wherein the timing system is configured to transmit the received location data over the data communication interface responsive to the received delivery designation.

3. The automated system of claim 2 wherein the delivery designation is selected from the group consisting of a web page URL, a web page URL of the PEMS, a mobile phone address, an email address, a text message address, a social network wall URL;

and an internet address.

4. The automated system of claim 2 wherein the preorder request includes a designation for delivery of the tracking data during or following the event, wherein such delivery designation includes one or more of the following:

a) updating the participant'"'"'s social network wall with the tracking data;

b) updating a third parties social network wall with the tracking data;

c) transmitting an email to an email address including the tracking data;

d) transmitting a text message to telephone number including the tracking data;

e) posting on a webpage a map showing the location or path traveled by the participant based on the tracking data;

f) updating an application with the tracking data and/or determined time of passing;

g) displaying on a coupled display a map using the tracking data; and

h) updating a webpage or display or data file in the PEMS with the tracking data.

5. The automated system of claim 1 wherein the PEMS includes a payment receipt interface for receiving a payment by the participant in response to the participant registering for the event and/or submitting the preorder request for tracking the participant during the event.

6. The automated system of claim 5 wherein the PEMS transmits a payment indicator reflecting said payment and identifying services associated with said received payment, and wherein the timing system receives the payment indicator for the participant and stores the payment indicator and identifies the services associated with the payment in a data file associated with the participant, such as the bib number, participant number, or an RFID tag number.

7. The automated system of claim 1 wherein location device is a GPS receiver and wherein the tracking data includes a plurality of GPS locations.

8. The automated system of claim 1 wherein the participant identifier is an RFID tag having an RFID tag number as the participant identifier number and the participant proximity detector is an RFID tag reader.

9. An automated method for managing a tracking and an automated real-time remote reporting thereof of a participant'"'"'s participation in an event using an participant identifier having a unique participant identifier number, the automated method comprising:

a) in a participant event management system (PEMS) including a user interface;

receiving an input from the participant including participant data and a registration of the participant in the event,

assigning the participant a participant event number responsive thereto,

receiving a preorder request for tracking of the participant during the event, and

transmitting the assigned participant event number and the preorder request;

b) in a participant proximity detector having a processor, a memory, a clock, an participant transceiver;

receiving the participant identifier number from the participant identifier when the participant identifier comes within a proximity of the participant proximity detector when placed at a detection point of the event,

identifying a read time of the received participant identifier read,

transmitting the participant identifier number and the identified participant identifier read time;

c) in a location device associated with the participant identifier of the participant;

receiving location data from a location-providing source,

time stamping each received location information, and

transmitting participant location data over the wireless interface;

d) in a location detection device in at least periodic wireless communication with the location device;

receiving the transmitted participant location data, and

transmitting the received location data to the timing system;

e) in a timing system having a processor, a data communication interface, a memory and computer executable instructions;

receiving the participant identifier number and the participant identifier read time from the participant proximity detector,

receiving the location data,

determining a time of passing of the detection point of the participant responsive to the received participant identifier number and participant identifier read time,

storing the determined time of passing and the received location data in the memory associated with the participant identifier number of the participant,

receiving the assigned participant event number and the preorder request from the PEMS,

associating the participant event number with the participant identifier number, and

transmitting the received location data to an output interface.

10. The automated method of claim 9 in the PEMS receiving in the preorder request a designation for the delivery of the location data captured image, and in the timing system receiving the transmitted delivery designation in the preorder request and transmitting the received tracking data over the data communication interface responsive to the received delivery designation.

11. The automated method of claim 10 wherein the delivery designation is selected from the group consisting of:

a web page, a web page of the PEMS, a mobile phone, an email address, a text message, a social network wall, and an internet address.

12. The automated method of claim 10 wherein the preorder request includes a designation for delivery of the tracking data during or following the event, wherein such delivery designation includes and the timing system responsively performs and/or initiates one or more of the following:

a) updating the participant'"'"'s social network wall with the tracking data,

b) updating a third parties social network wall with the tracking data,

c) transmitting an email to an email address including the tracking data,

d) transmitting a text message to telephone number including the tracking data,

e) posting on a webpage a map showing the location or path traveled by the participant based on the tracking data,

f) updating an application with the tracking data and/or determined time of passing,

g) displaying on a coupled display a map using the tracking data, and

h) updating a webpage or display or data file in the PEMS with the tracking data.

13. The automated method of claim 9 wherein the PEMS includes a payment receipt interface for receiving a payment by the participant in response to the participant registering for the event and/or submitting the preorder request for tracking the participant during the event.

14. The automated method of claim 13 wherein the PEMS transmits a payment indicator reflecting said payment and identifying services associated with said received payment, and wherein the timing system receives the payment indicator for the participant and stores the payment indicator and identifies the services associated with the payment in a data file associated with the participant, such as the bib number, participant number, or the participant identifier number.