Method and apparatus for officiating an athletic contest

Abstract

Apparatus and method for controlling and officiating an athletic contest such as a hockey game. The official utilises a control unit removably mounted on his arm. A spring mounted button allows the official to signal time starting and time stoppage events. A keyboard allows the entry of further data relating to the time starting and time stoppage events such as a score or penalty. A bar code scanner allows the official to scan a bar code associated with each player to obtain information of that player. All data and time starting and time stopping events are transmitted wirelessly by the control unit to a receiver-processor located remotely from the control unit.

1 . Apparatus for officiating an athletic contest comprising a control unit operable to be carried by an individual officiating said athletic contest, said apparatus including an input device operable by said individual to signal time stoppage and time starting events, a wireless transmitter to transmit said time stoppage and time starting signals wirelessly to a remotely controlled receiver and a display operable to show said time stoppage and time starting events. 
   
   
       2 . Apparatus as in  claim 1  and further comprising a bar code scanner associated with said control unit to scan a bar code associated with a player, said control unit being operable to transmit said data received from said bar code scanner to said receiver, said receiver allowing said data to be shown on said display. 
   
   
       3 . Apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said athletic contest is a hockey game with a plurality of players, each of said players carrying a bar code unique to each of said players. 
   
   
       4 . Apparatus as in  claim 3  wherein said player data and said data relating to said time stoppage and time starting events is transmitted wirelessly from said control unit and is stored and processed at a location remote from said control unit. 
   
   
       5 . Apparatus as in  claim 4  wherein said location remote from said control unit is an arena server. 
   
   
       6 . Apparatus as in  claim 4  wherein said location remote form said control unit is a central server. 
   
   
       7 . Apparatus for controlling a hockey game comprising a control unit carried by an official which control unit generates signals corresponding to time starting and time stoppage events, said control unit allowing the entry of data relating to said time starting and time stoppage events, said control unit allowing wireless transmission of said signals and said data to a server located remotely from said control unit, said control unit having a bar code scanner allowing said official to scan a bar code associated with each of the players in said hockey game to obtain bar code data, said control unit allowing the wireless transmission of said bar code data to said server. 
   
   
       8 . Method for controlling and officiating an athletic contest comprising the steps of providing an official with a control unit which allows for the entry of a signal for a time stoppage and a time starting event, said control unit further allowing the entry of data by said official relating to said time stoppage and time starting event, scanning a bar code uniquely identified with each of the players in said athletic contest with a bar code scanner associated with said control unit to obtain unique bar code data from each of said players and wirelessly transmitting said signals of said time starting and time stoppage events and bar code data to a receiver located remotely from said control unit. 
   
   
       9 . Method as in  claim 8  wherein said data relating to said time starting and time stoppage events and said bar code data are processed remotely from said control unit. 
   
   
       10 . Method as in  claim 9  wherein said signals from said time starting and time stoppage events are used, respectively, to commence and terminate the running of a clock. 
   
   
       11 . Method as in  claim 10  wherein said data relating to said time starting and time stoppage events and said bar code data are publicly displayed on a scoreboard. 
   
   
       12 . Method for controlling and officiating a hockey game comprising providing an individual with a wireless transmitting control unit having bar code scanning and timing stop and start capabilities, said capabilities being initiated by said individual, the data relating to said bar code scanning and timing stop and start capabilities being wirelessly transmitted to a processing unit located remotely from said control unit.