Electronic competition network system, electronic competition method, a server, and a computer program for operating the server

Abstract

The competition progress or competition results of a competition that is held at each of a plurality of competition sites in which electronic competition systems are installed are transmitted to a relay server by way of the Internet. In the relay server, the competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted in are transmitted to electronic competition systems that are installed in competition sites that have been determined in advance by the transmission source of the competition progress or competition results. In the electronic competition systems to which the competition progress or competition results have been transmitted from the relay server, the competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted from the relay server are accumulated together with the competition progress and competition results of a competition that is held at competition sites at which the electronic competition systems are installed, and the accumulated competition progress and competition results are published on the Internet.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electronic competition network system for using electronic competition means that are installed in each of a plurality of competition sites to hold a same type of electronic competition, said electronic competition network system comprising: 
 a plurality of first servers that are installed in each of said plurality of competition sites and connected to said electronic competition means by way of a communication network for successively accumulating competition progress and competition results of a competition that is held using said electronic competition means, managing the accumulated competition progress and competition results as a database, and further, transmitting the competition progress or competition results of the competition that is held using said electronic competition means on a communication network; and    a second server for transmitting, by way of a communication network, said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted on said communication network to first servers that have been determined in advance of said plurality of first servers; 
 wherein said first servers successively accumulate competition progress or competition results of a competition that is held using said electronic competition means that is connected to the first servers by way of said communication network together with said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted in from said second server and manage the accumulated competition progress and competition results as a database.  
   
     
     
         2 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 1 , wherein said second server transmits, by way of a communication network, said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted on said communication network to, of said plurality of first servers, first server that have been determined in advance by the first server that is a transmission source of the competition progress or competition results.  
     
     
         3 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 1 , wherein said second server transmits, by way of a communication network, said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted on said communication network to first servers that have been determined in advance by another computer.  
     
     
         4 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 2 , wherein said second server registers, for each of said plurality of first servers, first servers that are to be transmission destinations of competition progress or competition results when that first server is the transmission sources of said competition progress or competition results.  
     
     
         5 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 4 , wherein said second server transmits, of information that is included in said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted on a communication network, only information that is determined according to said transmission destinations to first servers that have been determined in advance.  
     
     
         6 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 5 , wherein said second server changes the information that is transmitted to said first servers according to a time or a time period.  
     
     
         7 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 6 , wherein said second server changes the transmission destinations of said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted on a communication network according to the time or time period.  
     
     
         8 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first servers publish said competition progress or competition results on said communication network.  
     
     
         9 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first servers include a display means for displaying said competition progress or competition results.  
     
     
         10 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said first servers transmit said competition progress or competition results to a third server that can be connected to a communication network; and    said third server publishes said competition progress or competition results.    
     
     
         11 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a fourth server that is connected to said second server by way of a communication network for integrating and managing said competition progress or competition results that are managed by said plurality of first servers; 
 wherein said second server transmits said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted on said communication network to said fourth server by way of the communication network.    
     
     
         12 . An electronic competition network system for using electronic competition means that are installed at each of a plurality of competition sites to hold a same type of electronic competition, said electronic competition network system comprising: 
 a plurality of first servers that are installed in each of said plurality of competition sites and connected to said electronic competition means by way of a communication network for both controlling a progress of a competition that is held using said-electronic competition means and transmitting, on a communication network, control information for controlling the progress of the competition that is held using said electronic competition means; and    a second server for transmitting, by way of a communication network, said control information that has been transmitted on said communication network to first servers that have been determined in advance of said plurality of first servers; 
 wherein each of said first servers, based on said control information that has been transmitted in from said second server, controls said electronic competition means that is connected to that first server by way of the communication network.  
   
     
     
         13 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 12 , wherein said second server transmits, by way of a communication network, said control information that has been transmitted on said communication network to first servers of said plurality of first servers that have been determined in advance by the first server that is a transmission source of said control information.  
     
     
         14 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 12 , wherein said second server transmits, by way of a communication network, said control information that has been transmitted on said communication network to first servers that have been determined in advance by another computer.  
     
     
         15 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 12 , wherein said second server changes transmission destinations of said control information that has been transmitted on said communication network according to a time or a time period.  
     
     
         16 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first servers manage participant registrations of competitors that are to compete.  
     
     
         17 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 12 , wherein said first servers manage participant registrations of competitors that are to compete.  
     
     
         18 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 16 , wherein said first servers publish, on said communication network, information relating to competitors who have completed said participant registration.  
     
     
         19 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 18 , wherein said first servers perform scheduling of said competitors.  
     
     
         20 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 19 , wherein said first servers manage a progress of a competition of said competitors.  
     
     
         21 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 16 , wherein said first servers, based on said competition results, select competitors who are to participate in a next competition to be held from among competitors that have completed said participant registration.  
     
     
         22 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 21 , wherein said first servers publish, on said communication network, information relating to said competitors that have been selected.  
     
     
         23 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 22 , wherein information relating to said competitors that have been selected includes pictures of said competitors.  
     
     
         24 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 1 , wherein said electronic competition means comprises: 
 a light-beam gun for emitting light bullets;    a strike point detection means for detecting strike points when light bullets that have been emitted from said light-beam gun strike a target; and    a competitor computer that is connected to said strike point detection means by way of a communication network for calculating scores based on strike points of said light bullets, and for displaying scores that have been calculated or strike points of said light bullets.    
     
     
         25 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 12 , wherein said electronic competition means comprises: 
 a light-beam gun for emitting light bullets;    a strike point detection means for detecting strike points when light bullets that have been emitted from said light-beam gun strike a target; and    a competitor computer that is connected with said strike point detection means by way of a communication network for calculating scores based on strike points of said light bullets and for displaying scores that have been calculated or strike points of said light bullets.    
     
     
         26 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 24 , wherein said competitor computer has data base clients that are capable of accessing data that are managed by said first server.  
     
     
         27 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 24 , wherein said competitor computer comprises: 
 identification information input means for receiving identification information that enables identification of competitors that are to take part in said competition;    and wherein said first servers comprise: 
 authentication means for collating identification information that has been received by way of said identification information input means with identification information that has been registered in advance, and, when two forms of identification information match, for recognizing that a person who has applied identification information as input by way of said identification information input means is a competitor that is identified by said identification information.  
   
     
     
         28 . An electronic competition network system according to  claim 24 , wherein a resolution of said strike point detection means is set based on a competition level.  
     
     
         29 . An electronic competition method for using electronic competition means that are installed at each of a plurality of competition sites to hold the same type of electronic competition, said electronic competition method comprising the steps of: 
 successively accumulating competition progress and competition results of a competition that is held using said electronic competition means at said plurality of competition sites and managing the accumulated competition progress and competition results as a database by means of servers that are installed at each of said plurality of competition sites;    transmitting the competition progress or competition results of a competition that is held using said electronic competition means at said plurality of competition sites, from said servers onto a communication network;    transmitting, by way of a communication network, said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted onto said communication network, to servers that have been determined in advance from among servers that are installed at each of said plurality of competition sites; and    successively accumulating said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted by way of said communication network together with competition progress and competition results that are managed as said database, and managing said accumulated competition progress and competition results as a database.    
     
     
         30 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 29 , wherein said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted onto said communication network are transmitted by way of a communication network to, of servers that are installed at each of said plurality of competition sites, servers that have been determined in advance by a server that is a transmission source of said competition progress or competition results.  
     
     
         31 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 29 , wherein said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted onto said communication network are transmitted by way of a communication network to servers that have been determined in advance by another computer.  
     
     
         32 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 29 , further comprising the step of transmitting to servers that have been determined in advance, of information that is included in said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted onto said communication network, only information that has been determined according to transmission destinations.  
     
     
         33 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 32 , wherein the information that is transmitted to said servers changes according to a time or a time period.  
     
     
         34 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 32 , wherein the transmission destinations of said competition progress or competition results that are transmitted onto the communication network change according to a time or a time period.  
     
     
         35 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 32 , further comprising the step of publishing said competition progress or competition results on a communication network that is provided at said competition sites.  
     
     
         36 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 32 , further comprising the step of displaying said competition progress or competition results on a display means that is provided at said competition sites.  
     
     
         37 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 32 , wherein: 
 said competition progress or competition results are transmitted to a Web server that can connect to a communication network; and    said competition progress or competition results are published by means of said Web server.    
     
     
         38 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 32 , further comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted onto said communication network to an integrative server that is connected by way of said server; and    integrating and managing said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted in by way of said server, by means of said integrative server.    
     
     
         39 . An electronic competition method for using said electronic competition means that are installed at each of a plurality of competition sites to hold a same type of competition, said electronic competition method comprising the steps of: 
 controlling a progress of a competition that is held using said electronic competition means at said plurality of competition sites;    transmitting, on a communication network, control information from a server for controlling the progress of a competition that is held using said electronic competition means at said plurality of competition sites;    transmitting, by way of a communication network, said control information that has been transmitted onto said communication network to, of servers that are installed at each of said plurality of competition sites, servers that have been determined in advance; and    controlling said electronic competition means based on said control information that has been transmitted in by way of said communication network.    
     
     
         40 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 39 , wherein said control information that has been transmitted on said communication network is transmitted by way of a communication network to, of servers that are installed at each of said plurality of competition sites, servers that have been determined in advance by a server that is a transmission source of said control information.  
     
     
         41 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 39 , wherein said control information that has been transmitted onto said communication network is transmitted by way of a communication network to servers that have been determined in advance by another computer.  
     
     
         42 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 39 , wherein transmission destinations of said control information that has been transmitted onto said communication network changes according to a time or a time period.  
     
     
         43 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 29 , further comprising the step of managing, by means of said servers, a participant registration of competitors that are to take part in said competition.  
     
     
         44 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 39 , further comprising the step of managing, by means of said servers, a participant registrations of competitors that are to take part in said competition.  
     
     
         45 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 43 , further comprising the step of publishing, on a communication network that is provided in said competition sites, information that relates to competitors that have completed said participant registration.  
     
     
         46 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 43 , further comprising the step of performing scheduling of said competitors by means of said servers.  
     
     
         47 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 46 , further comprising the step of managing a progress of competition of said competitors by means of said servers.  
     
     
         48 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 43 , further comprising the step of using said servers to select, from among competitors that have performed said participant registration, those competitors that are to participate in a next competition based on competition results.  
     
     
         49 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 48 , wherein information that relates to said competitors that have been selected is published on a communication network that is provided at said competition sites.  
     
     
         50 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 49 , wherein information that relates to said competitors that have been selected includes pictures of these competitors.  
     
     
         51 . An electronic competition method according to  claim 43 , further comprising the steps of: 
 registering in advance identification information that can identify competitors that are to take part in said competition;    collating identification information that has been registered in advance with the identification information that has been applied as input from an outside, when identification information that can identify a competitor that is to take part in said competition is applied as input from the outside; and    recognizing a person that applied said identification information as input from the outside as the competitor identified by said identification information, when two forms of identification information match.    
     
     
         52 . A server for use in an electronic competition network system for using electronic competition means that are installed in each of a plurality of competition sites to hold a same type of electronic competition, said server comprising: 
 a database for registering, of said plurality of competition sites, those competition sites to which competition progress or competition results at said plurality of competition sites are to be transmitted; and    a relay control means for, when competition progress or competition results at said competition sites are transmitted from said competition sites by way of a communication network, transmitting competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted from said competition sites to competition sites that have been registered in said database as transmission destinations of the competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted from said competition sites.    
     
     
         53 . A server according to  claim 52 , wherein, of information that is included in said competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted onto a communication network, only information that is determined according to said transmission destinations is transmitted to competition sites that have been determined in advance.  
     
     
         54 . A server according to  claim 53 , wherein said information that is transmitted to said competition sites changes according to a time or a time period.  
     
     
         55 . A server according to  claim 52 , wherein said transmission destinations of said competition progress or competition results that has been transmitted onto a communication network changes according to a time or a time period.  
     
     
         56 . A server for use in an electronic competition network system for using electronic competition means that are installed in each of a plurality of competition sites to hold a same type of electronic competition, said server comprising: 
 a database for registering, of said plurality of competition sites, those competition sites to which control information for controlling a progress of a competition at said plurality of competition sites is to be transmitted; and    a relay control means for, when said control information is to be transmitted from said competition site by way of a communication network, transmitting control information that has been transmitted from that competition site to competition sites that have been registered in said database.    
     
     
         57 . A server according to  claim 56 , wherein transmission destinations of said control information that is transmitted onto a communication network changes according to a time or a time period.  
     
     
         58 . A server according to  claim 52 , said server being provided with a computer program for executing procedures of: 
 receiving, by way of a communication network, competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted from said competition sites; and    transmitting said competition progress or competition results that have been received to competition sites that have been determined in advance.    
     
     
         59 . A server according to  claim 52 , said server being provided with a computer program for executing procedures of: 
 receiving, by way of a communication network, competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted from said competition sites;    identifying the competition site of a transmission source of said competition progress or competition results that have been received;    referring to said database and determining transmission destinations of competition progress or competition results that have been transmitted from said competition site that has been identified; and    transmitting said competition progress or competition results that have been received to said competition sites that have been determined.    
     
     
         60 . A server according to  claim 56 , said server being provided with a computer program for executing procedures of: 
 receiving, by way of a communication network, control information that has been transmitted from said competition sites; and    transmitting said control information that has been received to competition sites that have been determined in advance.    
     
     
         61 . A server according to  claim 56 , said server being provided with a computer program for executing procedures of: 
 receiving, by way of a communication network, control information that has been transmitted from said competition sites;    identifying the competition sites that are transmission sources of said control information that has been received;    referring to said database and determining transmission destinations of control information that has been transmitted from said identified competition sites; and    transmitting said received control information to said determined competition sites.