Method and system for remotely directing a fishing tournament

Abstract

A method for remotely directing a fishing tournament makes use of a data network over which participants transmit submissions indicating sizes of fish caught. The submissions may include digital images of fish, and size may be determined from a scale established using a reference object depicted in the image. The data network may also be used to register participants and provide them with tournament results. Participants may register for a fishing period, or multiple fishing periods of the tournament, and may be issued a code to be displayed in images of fish. Validation of entries may include an examination of metadata in submitted digital images.

1 . A method for remotely directing a fishing tournament, the method comprising:
 registering participants for the tournament;   receiving over the data network digital images of fish caught by tournament participants, said images containing a reference object adjacent to the fish to allow a determination of scale; and   determining a size of fish from said images by using the scale provided by the reference object.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the size is determined in one dimension. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the reference object comprises a linear measurement device. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the size is measured in two dimensions. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the reference object comprises a human biometric indicium. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the biometric indicium is based on the limbus of a human eye. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising registering participants by receiving data transmitted over the data network. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising providing to the participants, at the end of the tournament, an indication of one or more winning submissions by transmission over the data network. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein each participant is issued a code which must be displayed in the digital images submitted by that participant. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the code is issued to a participant a fixed time prior to the commencement of a fishing period or periods for which that participant is registered. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein each participant is issued a different code that uniquely identifies that participant. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the data network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         13 . A method for remotely directing a fishing tournament, the method comprising:
 registering participants by receiving data transmitted over a data network, the participants registering to participate in one or more of a number of fishing periods within a tournament period;   receiving tournament participation submissions over the data network, the submissions including indications of sizes of fish caught by participants;   validating participation submissions as relating to fish caught during the fishing periods for which the corresponding participants were registered;   determining, at an end of the tournament period, at least one winning participant based on sizes of fish caught by participants; and   providing to the participants, at the end of the tournament, an indication of one or more winning submissions by transmission over the data network.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein there are a plurality of fishing periods within the tournament period. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the participation submissions include digital files containing images of fish caught. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the images each contain a reference object adjacent to a fish to allow a determination of scale for assessing the size of said fish. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein metadata in the digital files relative to various image parameters is used in determining the authenticity of the images. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  where the absence of metadata from a digital image file is used to invalidate a participation submission. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein an indication in the metadata of a prohibited type of editing of the image is used to invalidate a participation submission. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein each participant is issued a code which must be displayed in the digital images submitted by that participant. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the code is issued to a participant a fixed time prior to the commencement of a fishing period or periods for which that participant is registered. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein each participant is issued a different code that uniquely identifies that participant. 
     
     
         23 . A method for remotely directing a fishing tournament, the method comprising:
 registering participants for the tournament;   receiving tournament participation submissions including indications of sizes of fish caught by participants;   determining, at an end of a tournament period, at least one winning participant based on sizes of fish caught by participants; and   providing to the participants during the tournament period, by transmission over a data network, an indication of one or more submissions that lead in the tournament, said indication of leading submissions being provided without disclosing the size of fish caught.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the indication of leading submissions is updated repeatedly during the tournament period. 
     
     
         25 . A method of remotely recording a fishing catch via information transmitted over a data network, the method comprising:
 receiving over the data network a digital file containing an image of a fish caught, the image depicting the fish and a reference object adjacent to said fish;   determining a scale in the image from the reference object and establishing a size of the fish based on the determined scale; and   storing said established size together with related data regarding the catch.   
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the size is determined in one dimension. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the reference object comprises a linear measurement device. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the size is measured in two dimensions. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein metadata in the image file relative to various image parameters is used in determining the authenticity of the images. 
     
     
         30 . A method of remotely recording a fishing catch via information transmitted over a data network, the method comprising:
 receiving over the data network a digital file containing an image of a fish caught;   examining the digital image file to verify the presence of metadata relative to various image parameters corresponding to the image; and   validating and storing information regarding the fishing catch if the presence of the metadata is verified.   
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein the image depicts a reference object adjacent to the fish, and wherein the method further comprises determining a scale in the image from the reference object and establishing a size of the fish based on the determined scale.