Scorekeeper, spectator and sponsor interactive scoreboard system and method of use

Abstract

A system and digital scoreboard of this disclosure continuously runs advertisements until interrupted by a game or portion of the game as scored by a user. A user captures control of the scoreboard, which may have its own unique URL, by visiting a website and entering the board's unique identifier. Once captured, the user enters the score or game-related statistics through a scorekeeping webpage and those statistics are displayed on the scoreboard. Certain scoring events may then move the advertisements from their interrupted condition to a non-interrupted condition. Advertising related statistics are collected by the scoreboard and stored in a database for subsequent reporting to advertisers.

Description

SCOREKEEPER, SPECTATOR AND SPONSOR INTERACTIVE SCOREBOARD SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USEBACKGROUND

[0001] This disclosure is in the field of scoreboards like those typically associated with municipal baseball fields and youth baseball.SUMMARY

[0002] In embodiments of this disclosure, a user gains partial control over a digital scoreboard by accessing a webpage and entering a pin code corresponding to a digital scoreboard.. The scoreboard may be accessed through a webpage. The URL of the webpage may be provided by a QR code posted at the field where the digital scoreboard is located. By entering a identifier unique identifier or pin code of the scoreboard, the user can communicate with the scoreboard.

[0003] . The pin code may be temporarily or permanently displayed on the scoreboard. In some embodiments the pin code is randomly generated at a predetermined intervals until a user enters it in the access webpage, after which the scoreboard is under the user’s control until such time as the user releases it or a predetermined amount of time has expired.

[0004] Once in communication with the scoreboard, the user enters one or more game scoring statistics in a scorekeeping webpage and those statistics are displayed on the scoreboard. The scoreboard, which may have its own unique URL, continuously runs advertisements until interrupted by a game or portion of the game as scored by the user. Certain scoring events may then move the advertisements from their interrupted condition to a non-interrupted condition. Advertising related statistics are collected by the scoreboard and stored in a database for subsequent reporting to advertisers.

[0005] A system and digital scoreboard of this disclosure is adapted to continuously display advertisements when in an on state and periodically display sport-related scorekeeping statistics. In other words, the game interrupts the advertisements. The digital scoreboardincludes a scoreboard-side non-transitory machine readable storage medium containing instructions thereon that, when executed by a processor: select and display at least one advertisement on the digital scoreboard, collect data related to the selecting and displaying; and send the collected data over a network to a database.

[0006] The instructions also generate, at a predetermined time interval, an access code corresponding to the scoreboard portion of digital scoreboard; and check to determine whether a request for control has been received over a network for access to the digital scoreboard. If no request for control has been received, and if the predetermined time interval has expired, the instructions generate another access code. If a first request for control has been received, the instructions send the random access code over the network to a computing device that originated the first request for control.

[0007] Upon receiving the access code from the computing device, the instructions permit control of the scorekeeping portion to the computing device, receive one or more game-related statistics from the computing device, and display the received one or more game related statistics on the scorekeeping portion of the digital scoreboard. During the control, if a second request for control has been received from another computing device for control of the scorekeeping portion of the digital scoreboard, the instructions deny the second request.

[0008] The instructions end the control if a request to end control has been received from the computing device or if a predetermined condition for ending control has been satisfied. The instructions further query at least one game-related statistic and, based upon a result of the query, pause the display of the one or more of the advertisements until a second predetermined condition occurs.

[0009] A system of this disclosure may also include a user-side non-transitory machine readable storage medium containing instructions thereon, the instructions when executed by a processor, send a request for control over a network for access to the scorekeeping portion ofthe digital scoreboard; and receive the access code from the digital scoreboard and return the access code to the digital scoreboard. After being granted the control, the instructions transmit one or more game-related statistics from the computing device to the digital scoreboard. The scoreboard-side instructions further display one or more advertisements in response to the one or more game-related statistics.

[0010] The digital scoreboard may be an existing scoreboard retrofitted for use with a system of this disclosure or it may be a new digital scoreboard of this disclosure. Embodiments of the digital scoreboard include a mounting structure having two columns spaced apart from one another. A beam connects to the uppermost end of, and extends between, the columns. A lower plate connects to the lowermost end of each column and includes a plurality of anchors surrounding the column. The anchors extend above and below the lower plate, with a length of each anchor extending below the lower plate being greater than that extending above the lower plate.DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic of an embodiment system and method of a scorekeeper-, spectator- and sponsor-interactive scoreboard system and method of this disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2A is a schematic of an example digital scoreboard of FIG. 1 when displaying game statistics. The YOUTH SCOREBOARDS represents an advertisement that may be displayed in a rotation with other advertisements. The 3162 is an example of a code that may be displayed as a unique identifier of the scoreboard or which may be randomly generated and changed from time-to-time. .

[0013] FIG. 2B is a a schematic of the digital scoreboard of FIG. 2A when displaying an advertisement on the entire scoreboard. In embodiments, the advertisements may run until interrupted by a portion of the game being scored by the user who has control of the scoreboard for scorekeeping purposes.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic of a portion of the scoreboard of FIG. 2 A showing another unique identifier connected to the scoreboard. The unique identifier may serve as a pin code, the identifier being randomly updated until captured by a user.

[0015] FIG. 4A is an embodiment of a graphical user interface or portal to a website running a scoreboard software of this disclosure. The scoreboard software connects a user (scorekeeper) to the scoreboard.

[0016] FIG. 4B is an embodiment a graphical user interface for entering a pin code associated with a corresponding one of the digital scoreboards.

[0017] FIG 4C is an embodiment of a graphical user interface for entering scorekeeping or game statistics to be displayed on the digital scoreboard.

[0018] FIG. 4D is an embodiment of a graphical user interface for setting a timer to be displayed on the digital scoreboard.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic of another embodiment of a system and method of a scorekeeper- , spectator- and sponsor-interactive scoreboard system and method of this disclosure. In addition to game-related scoring statistics, some embodiments permit the scorekeeper to upload a photograph or video or permit one or more spectators to upload a photograph or video. An advertiser may be permitted to change the advertisement displayed on the scoreboard.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an embodiment of this disclosure for controlling user access to at least a portion of the scoreboard.

[0021] FIG. 6A is another flowchart of an embodiment of this disclosure in which a user, who had been granted control of at least a portion of the scoreboard, may grant control to other users for their posting of videos and photographs to the scoreboard.

[0022] FIG. 7 is an embodiment of the physical structure of a scoreboard of this disclosure and its mounting.

[0023] FIG. 8A is a detail view taken along section line 8 A of FIG. 7.

[0024] FIG. 8B is a detail view taken along section line 8B of FIG. 7.

[0025] FIG. 8C is a detail view taken along section line 8C of FIG. 7.

[0026] FIG. 8D is a detail view taken along section line 8D of FIG. 7.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, embodiments of this disclosure allow a scorekeeper using a computing device 10 to communicate with a scoreboard 50 over a network 70 and send game or scorekeeping statistics to the scoreboard 50 via a website 80. In some embodiments, the scorekeeper may be permitted to upload photographs and videos 25 to the scoreboard 50. Advertisements 35 can be displayed by the scoreboard 50 until interrupted by a scorekeeper data or a predetermined scorekeeping event. The advertisements 35 can remain paused until another predetermined scorekeeping event occurs or a predetermined amount of time has passed. The scoreboard 50 may send data 55 to the device 10 (or other computing devices 10) including but not limited to score updates, photographs or videos.

[0028] A database 90 in communication with the network 70 may be provided to store data related to the advertisements 35, including but not limited to the frequency at which each advertisement 35 was displayed and where it was displayed. In embodiments, advertisements 35 may rotate at a predetermined interval and frequency. By way of a non-limiting example, one or more shorter advertisements 35 may run after each out in a baseball game and one or more longer advertisements 35 may run after each inning.

[0029] To gain access to the scoreboard 50, the user first navigates to a website 80 that displays a first graphical user interface 11 A, see e.g. FIGS. 4A & 4B. Navigation to the website 80 may be by way of a QR code posted on a dugout, bench, or backstop of the field where the scoreboard 50 resides. The computing device 10 may be a mobile phone or a tablet. To gain control of the scoreboard 50, the user enters the scoreboard’s pin code into a second graphical user interface 1 IB. In embodiments, the scoreboard identifier 100 serves as the pin code, theidentifier 100 being continually updated at a predetermined time interval until it is captured by a user. In other embodiments, the scoreboard identifier 100 may be permanent and the pin code may be sent to the computing device via email or text to the device 10 after the user enters the identifier 100.

[0030] The pin code may be a numeric code or alphanumenc code and updated at predetermined time intervals, for example, once every 10 seconds to 30 seconds, there being discrete values within this range. Other updating time intervals may be used. In some embodiments, a 4-digit numeric pin code is used.

[0031] A user who first enters the current scoreboard identifier (pin code) 100 associated with the scoreboard 50 maintains control of the scoreboard 50 until the user releases control by exiting the game, see e.g. FIG. 4C, or a predetermined amount of time has lapsed. See e.g. FIG 4D; see also FIGS. 6 & 6A. Using a third graphical interface 11C, the scorekeeper can now upload scoring statistics to the scoreboard 50.

[0032] In embodiments, each scoreboard 50 has its own unique URL. The scoreboard 50 also includes a microprocessor with associated software 57. The scoreboard software 57 may control, as well as track, advertisements 35, including frequency and duration, and the scoreboard 50 may send this tracking data to the database 90. The advertising statistics collected by scoreboard 50 may be combined with other types of data, including but not limited to attendance-related data at the field where the scoreboard 50 resides.

[0033] Unlike other media, in which advertisements intermpt the game being broadcasted, in embodiments of this disclosure the game interrupts the advertisements. The advertisements 35, which may be in a predetermined rotation, are displayed on the scoreboard 50 until such time as, for example, an inning begins in a baseball game. When the scorekeeper sends the third out of the inning to the scoreboard 50, the advertisements 35, which have been temporarily paused or interrupted for the game, resume for at least a predetermined period of time or until an evententered by the scorekeeper triggers their interruption. In some embodiments, when the scorekeeper sends the first out or the second out to the scoreboard 50, the advertisements 35 may resume for another predetermined period of time. The advertisements 35 may also run until the scorekeeper indicates that another inning is about to begin.

[0034] There may be a single scoreboard 50 at a sports complex or field, or multiple scoreboards 50, each scoreboard 50 being controlled by a corresponding one of the users / scorekeepers and running advertisements 35 until temporarily interrupted by data 15 from a scorekeeper. The data 15 may be displayed for a predetermined period of time or until the end of an inning (or other game period).

[0035] Referring to FIG. 5, the scoreboard 50 may include a digital or video section 51 for displaying statistics, a digital or video section 53 for displaying photographs and videos, and another digital or video section 55 for displaying sponsor advertisements. The sections 51, 53, 55 may be oriented horizontally or vertically and any size appropriate for the board 50.

[0036] In some embodiments, the scorekeeping portion 51a of the scoreboard 50 presents basic game information. See e.g. FIGS. 2A to 3. Using baseball as a non-limiting example, the scorekeeping portion 51a may display inning, number of outs, and the score. The pin code may permit the scorekeeper to have complete control over the digital or video section 51 in addition to the scorekeeping portion 51a. In some embodiments, other users, using a computing device 20, may send their photographs or videos 25 to the scorekeeper for upload to the scoreboard 50. In yet other embodiments, a second control code 100a, which may be updated at a predetermined interval, captured and then sent from the scorekeeper to the other users, may be used so that the other users can upload directly to the scoreboard 50.

[0037] In other embodiments, one or more advertisers or sponsors using a computing device30 may upload different advertisements 35 to the scoreboard 50. Access to the scoreboard 50 may be by way of pin code 100a in substantially the same way as, or similar to, the methodused by computing device 10. An administrator using a computing device 40 may set permissions for the devices 10, 20, and 30 and map one or more of the devices 10, 20, 30 to a predetermined scoreboard 50.

[0038] Each computing device 10, 20, 30includes a graphical user interface 11, 21, 31, respectively, and a microprocessor with associated software or web browser 13, 23, 33respectively, that permit a user, via the website or app, to input the statistics, photographs, and videos 15, 25, 35and communicate with the scoreboard 50. In some embodiments, there may be n spectators or scorekeepers communicating with a corresponding one of an N number of scoreboards 50, and there may be an M number of advertisers or sponsors 30 for each scoreboard 50.

[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 8D, digital scoreboard 50 includes a mounting structure 200 comprising a first and second column 201 spaced apart from one another, each column 201 having an uppermost end 203 and lowermost end 205. A beam 207 connects to the uppermost end 203 of, and extends between, the first and second columns 201. A lower plate 209 connects to the lowermost end 205 of each column 201. The lower plate 209 including a plurality of anchors 211 surrounding the column 201 and extends above and below the lower plate 209. A length of each anchor 211 extends below the lower plate 209 and is greater than that extending above the lower plate 209..

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED1. A digital scoreboard system adapted to continuously display advertisements on a digital scoreboard when the digital scoreboard is in an on state and periodically display sport- related scorekeeping statistics, the digital scoreboard including scoreboard-side non-transitory machine readable storage medium containing instructions thereon; the scoreboard-side instructions, when executed by a processor, perform: selecting and displaying at least one advertisement on the digital scoreboard, collecting data related to the selecting and displaying; and sending the collected data over a network to a database; generating, at a predetermined time interval, a random access code corresponding to the scoreboard portion of digital scoreboard; checking to determine whether a request for control has been received over a network for access to the digital scoreboard; and wherein, if no request for control has been received, and if the predetermined time interval has expired, generating another access code; and wherein, if a first request for control has been received, sending the random access code over the network to a computing device that originated the first request for control; and upon receiving the access code from the computing device, permitting control of the scorekeeping portion to the computing device, receiving one or more game-related statistics from the computing device, and displaying the received one or more game related statistics on the scorekeeping portion of the digital scoreboard;ending the control if a request to end control has been received from the computing device or if a predetermined condition for ending control has been satisfied; querying at least one game-related statistic and, based upon a result of the query, pausing the displaying of the one or more of the advertisements until a second predetermined condition occurs.

2. The digital scoreboard system of claim 1 , wherein during the control if a second request for control has been received from another computing device for control of the scorekeeping portion of the digital scoreboard, denying the second request;3. The digital scoreboard system of claim 1, further comprising a user-side non- transitory machine readable storage medium containing instructions thereon, the instructions when executed by a processor, perform: sending a request for control over a network for access to the scorekeeping portion of the digital scoreboard; receiving the random access code from the digital scoreboard and returning the random access code to the digital scoreboard; and after being granted the control, transmitting one or more game-related statistics from the computing device to the digital scoreboard; wherein, the scoreboard-side instructions further display one or more advertisements in response to the one or more game-related statistics.The digital scoreboard system of claim 1, wherein the digital scoreboard includes a mounting structure comprising a first and second column spaced apart from one another, each column having an uppermost end and lowermost end; a beam connected to the uppermost end of, each column, the beam extending between the first and second columns a lower plate connected to the lowermost end of each column, the lower plate including a plurality of anchors surrounding the column and extending above and below the lower plate, a length of each anchor extending below the lower plate being greater than that extending above the lower plate.

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