Wearable device and method for indicating scoring and scoring athority

Abstract

A wearable device and method includes a receiver, a transceiver, a processor, an authority indicator, and a scoring indicator for providing indication of authority and scoring from sporting equipment or user information. The sport of fencing benefits in particular from this device and method.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable device comprising:
 a receiver for receiving at least:
 a first signal from at least one piece of sporting equipment external to said wearable device, said first signal corresponding to at least one physical event of said sporting equipment; 
   a transceiver capable of sending and receiving at least one second signal corresponding to authorization information;   a processor capable of processing said first signal and said second signal based on logic corresponding to a plurality of rules of play, and capable of generating an authority signal and a scoring signal based on said first signal, said second signal, and said program logic;   at least one authority indicator for indicating scoring authorization based on said authority signal;   at least one scoring indicator for indicating scoring based on said scoring signal; and   wherein said receiver, transceiver, processor, at least one authority indicator, and at least one scoring indicator are disposed on or within an accessory capable of being worn on the human body.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein said authorization information comprises information about at least one physical event of said sporting equipment different from the physical event corresponding to said first signal. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable device of  claim 2 , wherein said authorization information corresponds to motion, location, position, contact with another piece of sporting equipment, location of contact with another piece of sporting equipment, sound, current, resistance, capacitance, angle, rotation, or contact location of said at least one piece of sporting equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one authority indicator can be activated, deactivated, or otherwise modified based on the authorization information and the program logic. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable device of  claim 4 , wherein said processor only generates a scoring signal when said at least one authority indicator indicates scoring authorization. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein said authorization information comprises information about at least one physical event of the wearer of said wearable device. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable device of  claim 6 , wherein said authorization information corresponds to at least one of the group selected from: motion, location, body position, distance from an opponent, distance from opponent's equipment, position within the area of play, electrical signal, speed, acceleration, timing, direction, equipment angle, or equipment contact . 
     
     
         8 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor for generating additional authorization information. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable device of  claim 8 , wherein said processor is capable of processing said second signal and said authorization information from said sensor based on the program logic to generate said authority signal. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , said receiver capable of receiving a signal from a second wearable device. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein said transponder is capable of communication with a second wearable device. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable device of  claim 11 , wherein said transponder is capable of connecting wirelessly to said second wearable device,
 and said processor generates at least one of said authority signal and said scoring signal based at least in part on the second signal, additional authorization information received from said second wearable device, and the program logic.   
     
     
         13 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein said processor is capable of processing said first and second signal according to logic according to rules of play associated with said sporting equipment. 
     
     
         14 . The wearable device of  claim 13 , wherein said wearable device further comprises a memory for storing logic corresponding to multiple sets of rules of play according with different types of sporting equipment or methods of play. 
     
     
         15 . The wearable device of  claim 14 , wherein said processor processes logic corresponding to a set of rules selected from said multiple sets of rules in said memory upon detecting the type of sporting equipment. 
     
     
         16 . The wearable device of  claim 15 , wherein said processor detects the type of sporting equipment from a signal from said sporting equipment. 
     
     
         17 . The wearable device of  claim 14 , wherein said processor processes logic corresponding to set of rules selected from said multiple sets of rules in said memory based on a selection input to said wearable device. 
     
     
         18 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver capable of receiving data for programming said processor with said logic. 
     
     
         19 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver is capable of receiving a position signal from an area of play and generating said authority signal based at least in part on said position signal. 
     
     
         20 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver is capable of receiving a signal from a referee device, and generating said authority signal based at least in part on said signal from referee device. 
     
     
         21 . The wearable device of  claim 20 , wherein said signal from said referee device further comprises a clock start signal and said processor is capable of generating an authority signal and a scoring signal when at least one of said first signal, said second signal, said clock start signal and said program logic dictate; 
     
     
         22 . A method of indicating scoring authorization and scoring on a wearable device comprising the steps of:
 receiving at least a first signal from at least one piece of sporting equipment external to said wearable device, said first signal corresponding to at least one physical event of said sporting equipment;   receiving a second signal corresponding to authorization information;   processing said first signal and said second signal based on program logic corresponding to a plurality of rules of play,   generating an authority signal and a scoring signal when at least one of said first signal, said second signal, and said program logic dictate;   indicating scoring authorization based on said authority scoring signal; and   indicating scoring based on said scoring signal.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising only generating a scoring signal when said at least one authority indicator indicates scoring authorization. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising only generating an authority signal when at least one of said first signal, said second signal, a referee signal, and said program logic dictate.