Apparatus, system and method for wide area networking to control sports lighting

Abstract

A system for electronic scoring and score reporting of a sporting event wherein an electronic scorebook is connected to an electronic scoreboard and electronic storage of the scoring information is provided. In one embodiment, a network is used, sending or receiving information to or from the scorebook, the scoreboard or the electronic storage. In other embodiments, the Internet is used as a conduit to communicate to and from the location of sports field lighting, to control operation of the lighting, or monitor the lighting or other events at the location. The network can also be used for last mile connectivity of end users to the Internet, and to compile information from sporting events at the locations and allow access to information about the game via the Internet.

1 . A system for remote control of a sports light comprising: 
 a sports field light;    an electronic controller electrically connected to the sports light;    a remote station;    a network communication device operatively connected to the electronic controller;    a communication channel operatively connecting the remote station and the network communication device;    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the communications channel is a broadband transmission.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the network is a wide area network.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  where in the network is the Internet.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 one or more sensors electrically connected to the Internet communication device.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the Internet communication device is further used for: 
 receiving signals from the sensors processing the signal into status information and sending the status information to the remote station.    
     
     
         7 . A method of control of sport field lighting comprising the steps of: 
 sending a command from an Internet connected remote station;    receiving the command with an Internet communication device;    creating a control signal based on the command;    applying the control signal to a sports light.    
     
     
         8 . A method of providing high speed Internet access to a plurality of geographical areas comprising: 
 utilizing existing or newly constructed members for elevating lights to elevate a wireless transceiver;    rating a communications link between the wireless transceiver and the Internet;    operating the wireless transceiver as an Internet hub for wireless Internet communications to a range of locations relative to the wireless transceiver.    
     
     
         9 . An electronic scoring system comprising: 
 a scoreboard for displaying scoring information and other message information;    a scoring entry unit for entering scoring information;    a non-volatile memory for storing scoring information;    wherein the scoreboard is electrically connected to the scoring entry unit and the non-volatile memory is electrically connected to the scoring unit.    
     
     
         10 . The electronic scoring system of  claim 1  further comprising a communications network, wherein the communications network is capable of connecting to the scoreboard, the scoring entry unit, or the memory or the storage unit of a web site which is accessible via a last mile connection system that is otherwise useable for the sports field for operational purposes of control of the facility.  
     
     
         11 . A sports field light capable of remote control from a distant location, the sports field light comprising: 
 at least one lighting element for providing illumination to a sports field;    an electronic controller operatively connected to the at least one lighting element for controlling operation of the at least one lighting element;    a network communication device operatively connected to the electronic controller for receiving control instructions from the distant location over a network and sending the control instructions to the electronic controller over the network.    
     
     
         12 . The sports field light of  claim 11  wherein the electronic controller is adapted to send status information to the network communication device.  
     
     
         13 . The sports field light of  claim 12  wherein the network communication device is adapted to send status information to the distant location.  
     
     
         14 . The sports field light of  claim 11  further comprising a support structure, the at least one lighting element operatively mounted on the support structure.  
     
     
         15 . The sports field light of  claim 14  wherein the support structure includes a light pole.  
     
     
         16 . The sports field light of  claim 11  wherein the network communication device is an Internet communication device adapted for TCP/IP communications.  
     
     
         17 . The sports field light of  claim 11  further comprising at least one sensor operatively connected to the electronic controller, the electronic controller adapted to receive a signal from the at least one sensor.  
     
     
         18 . The sports fields light of  claim 17  wherein the electronic controller provides sensor information to the network communication device and the network communication device is adapted to send the sensor information over the network.  
     
     
         19 . The sports field light of  claim 17  wherein the sensor is an environment sensor.  
     
     
         20 . The sports field light of  claim 19  wherein the environment sensor is selected from the set comprising a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a humidity sensor, a windspeed sensor, and a precipitation sensor.  
     
     
         21 . The sports field light of  claim 17  wherein the sensor is an image sensor.  
     
     
         22 . The sports field light of  claim 21  wherein the image sensor is selected from the set comprising an imaging element, a CCD camera, and a video camera.  
     
     
         23 . The sports field light of  claim 17  wherein the sensor is a transducer.  
     
     
         24 . The sports field light of  claim 23  wherein the transducer is selected from the set comprising an audio transducer, a microphone, and a pressure transducer.  
     
     
         25 . A system for remote control of a sports light comprising: 
 a sports field light;    an electronic controller operatively connected to the sports field light; 
 a network communication device operatively connected to the electronic controller;  
   a remote station positioned at a distance from the sports field light; and 
 a communication channel operatively connecting the remote station and the network communication device.  
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the communications channel is a broadband transmission.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the network is a wide area network.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the network communication device is an Internet communication device and the network is the Internet.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25  further comprising: 
 one or more sensors electrically connected to the network communication device.    
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the network communication device is further used for receiving signals from the sensors processing the signal into status information and sending the status information to the remote station.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25  further comprising a scoring unit in operative communication with the network communication device.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the remote station is a scoring unit.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 25  further comprising a scoreboard in operative communication with the network communication device.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 25  further comprising a scoring unit in operative communication with the network communication device and a scoreboard in operative communication with the network device, the scoring unit adapted to receive sporting event information and send sporting event information to the network device, the scoreboard adapted to operatively receive sporting event information from the scoring unit.  
     
     
         35 . A method of control of sport field lighting comprising the steps of: 
 sending a sports light command from an Internet connected remote station; 
 receiving the sports light command with an Internet communication device;  
   creating a sports light control signal based on the sports light command;    applying the sports light control signal to a sports light.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the sports light command activates one or more lighting elements within the sports light.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the sports light command deactivates one or more lighting elements within the sports light.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the sports light command queries one or more sensors within the sports light.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the sports light command sets one or more timers within the sports light.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising receiving a verification signal from the sports light after the step of applying the sports light control signal.  
     
     
         41 . A method of providing high speed Internet access to a plurality of geographical areas comprising: 
 utilizing existing or newly constructed structures for elevating lights to elevate a wireless transceiver;    creating a communications link between the wireless transceiver and the Internet; and    operating the wireless transceiver as an Internet hub for wireless Internet communications to a range of locations relative to the wireless transceiver.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising: 
 sending Internet communications over the communications link to the wireless receiver for controlling the lights.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising: 
 sending Internet communications over the communications link from the wireless receiver containing the state of the lights.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the lights are sports field lights associated with a sports field.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  further comprising sending sports information associated with the sports field over the communications link.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the sports information is selected from the set comprising sports scores, player information, team information, sports statistics, and sports updates.