Automatic scoring and performance measurement method and apparatus

Abstract

Method and corresponding apparatus for automated scoring, performance measurement/reporting and interactive entertainment and more particularly automated scoring for games, such as multiple basketball games and baseball, soccer, football, as well as other games with projectiles or other objects-of-interest. Generally players are automatically scored, their performance is measured and presented to them, entertainment devices are controlled and they are interactively entertained. One too many players can be entertained individually and/or as teams. Additionally, multiple games, of the same sport or different sports, can be played with this single method and apparatus. The method or apparatus may be utilized in conjunction with communication devices.

1 . A method of automatically measuring and indicating scoring or performance to a player or set of players, the method comprising:
 sensing a success, attempt or failure;   computing the score or performance;   generating indication(s) of score or performance for the player(s) or remote observer(s); and   indicating the score or performance to the player(s) or other observers.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the automatically measuring and indicating scoring or performance further comprises players corresponding to sport or game participation. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the player interactively controls remote entertainment devices producing any form of media entertainment for the player, including audio, video, displays, and other media that the player may find entertaining. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the sensing a success, attempt or failure corresponding to sport or game participation further comprises sensing the path or impact of a ball, puck, projectile, hand or other object-of-play. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the sensing the path or impact of the object-of-play further comprises determining whether ball, puck or other object-of-play succeeded, or that an attempt was made to succeed, in its scoring or performance action corresponding to a sport or game. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the sport or game participation further comprises the sport or game participation in basketball, football, baseball, golf, hockey, cricket, volleyball, running or other moving-object-focused activity. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the sport or game participation further comprises multiple basketball game types, such as shooting percentage, 1-on-1, 2-on-2, team-on-team, and/or HORSE-shooting games. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the computing the score or performance further comprises processing the sensing a success, attempt or failure measures to produce a score or performance for presentation to the player(s). 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the score or performance for presentation to the player(s) that is produced further comprises a processor, memory and information transfer components. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the score or performance for presentation to the player(s) that is produced indicates a single player's success quantification or indicates scores or performances of multiple players for competition. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the generating indication(s) of score or performance for the player(s) or remote observers further comprises transforming the computed score or performance into sounds, speech, visual displays, infrared or radio frequency remote control signals, radio signals, or sound waves for direct or indirect indication(s) of score or performance to the player(s). 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the transformed representation of the score or performance generate the indication(s) of score or performance further comprises generation of remote control signals or other transmissions to operate external generating methods for presentation to the player(s) or remote observer(s). 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the indicating the game/mode, score and/or performance to the remote observer(s) further comprises transforming generated indicator(s) into a signal or representation suitable for remote observers to collect, compile, process and/or report. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the transforming of generated indicator(s) further comprises one or more of the following signals or representations suitable for remote observer utilization:
 storing the game/mode, score and/or performance to a memory for remote observer utilization; and/or   communicating the game/mode, score and/or performance with wired or wireless communications methods.   
   
   
       15 . An apparatus arranged and constructed for automatically measuring and indicating scoring or performance to a player or set of players, the apparatus comprising:
 a sensing section configured to provide sensor signals corresponding scoring, performance or apparatus configuration and option selection;   a computing section configured to transform the sensor signals into score, performance, and/or apparatus configuration representations;   a generating section configured to transform the score, performance, and/or configuration representations into a player or remote observable representation that corresponds to the computed score, performance or apparatus configuration; and   a player indicating section configured to transduce the player observable representation into an energy form that can propagate to the player(s) and/or the remote observer(s).   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of claim  0  further comprising a computing section comprising a signal processor configured to process the sensed signals to facilitate:
 configuring the apparatus state and mode of operation by enabling the player to select a game or performance measuring mode of operation;   calculating score or performance measures; and   mapping the updated apparatus state/mode, score, performance, and/or apparatus configuration into the proper representations for the generating section.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of claim  0  further comprising a generating section comprising a processor configured to process the updated apparatus state/mode of operation, score, performance, and/or apparatus configuration representation to facilitate:
 generating the appropriate player observable representation depending upon the state of the apparatus and the player selected game or performance mode;   mapping score or performance measures to appropriate game or performance measure dependent responses;   mapping the player observable representation of the updated state/mode of operation, score, performance, and/or apparatus configuration into the proper representation for the indicating section; and   generating the player or remote observable representation signals that will be transduced into propagating energy by the indicating section of the apparatus.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of claim  0  further comprising an indicating section further comprising a set of transducers configured to facilitate transducing the player observable representation signals into energy that will eventually lead to energy propagating to the player(s) or remote observer that conveys the updated apparatus state/mode of operation, score, performance, and/or apparatus configuration to the player. 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus arranged and constructed for automatically measuring and indicating scoring or performance of basketball game(s) and/or performance measurement mode(s) to the player(s) and/or remote observer(s), the apparatus comprising:
 a sensing section configured to provide sensor signals corresponding to attempted basketball shots, successful/made basketball shots, and/or failed/missed basketball shots apparatus configuration and option selection;   a computing section configured to transform the attempt/made/missed sensor signals into basketball score, performance, and/or apparatus configuration representations into appropriate update calculations for each basketball game/mode selection update, game update or performance measure update;   a generating section transforms the updated game/mode selection, basketball score, performance, and/or apparatus configuration representations into a player or remote observable representation that corresponds to the game/mode selection, computed score, performance or apparatus configuration suitable for indication to the player(s) and/or the remote observer(s); and   a player or remote observer indicating section configured to transduce the player observable representation into an energy form that can propagate directly and/or indirectly to the player(s) and/or the remote observer(s).   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising basketball game(s) and/or performance measurement mode(s) comprising the alternative basketball game and/or performance measuring mode selections corresponding to:
 shooting percentage game and/or the numbers of attempted, made and missed shots;   HORSE game, where multiple players score by making shots that the other player(s) cannot repeat;   timed one-on-one (or one-on-multiple; or multiple-on-multiple) where each player attempts to score while being defended by the other player(s), and the scoring player receives more points for a faster score;   timed shooting percentages from constrained locations on the court; and   jumping training, where the player must trigger the make and/or miss indicators by jumping up and hitting/slapping them while being timed.