Racing management and information system

Abstract

A system that automates the resetting of race field running order following a caution period by collecting data from existing race timing and scoring systems and communicating field reordering instructions directly to racing participants.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a U.S. nonprovisional patent application of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to, provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61 / 093,317, filed Aug. 30, 2008.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In many forms of closed-circuit racing, there are times during a race when the field of race participants (sometimes generally referred to hereinafter as “racers”) is slowed or stopped to observe a “caution” period, usually attributed to a racing accident, debris on the racing surface, weather conditions, or some other condition that necessitates that racing activity pauses or at least slows temporarily. Often, the calling of a caution during a race can result in some jumbling of the field order as it slows or halts. And, sometimes, there may be penalties assessed against particular racers due to rule infractions which necessitates that they change their position in the field, usually by moving to the rear of the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]In another feature of this method, the running order reorganization requests are automatically computed so as to minimize disruption of the racing event. In further features, the running order reorganization requests are automatically computed so as to minimize the physical change in position of the racing participants; the running order reorganization requests are automatically computed so as to minimize the time necessary to implement them by the racing participants; and / or the running order reorganization requests are automatically computed so as to minimize safety risk to racing participants and race officials.

Problems solved by technology

Often, the calling of a caution during a race can result in some jumbling of the field order as it slows or halts.

Therefore, after a caution period, there is often a need to rearrange the running order of the field before resuming the race.

This activity can be time consuming, and can also be dangerous to race officials in the cases where they are required to occupy the racing surface in order to direct the resetting of the field.

Furthermore, there is sometimes controversy amongst racers as to final running order prior to the restarting of the race, and this must also be addressed by the race officials before racing can resume.

Although this activity can be dramatic and interesting to race spectators in its own right, in some cases the lengthy delays required to reset the field as well as the potential for injury to race officials necessitates that a faster and safer approach be found to reset the field.

Additionally, in some cases, racers do not heed the instructions given to them by race officials, and, in the heat of the moment, continue to occupy an incorrect position on the track in opposition to direct instruction from race officials.

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