System and related method for transmitting data during a sporting event

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic computer system (10) for transmitting data during a sporting event comprising a system server (2), a team client (1), configured to transmit to the system server (2) a data set related to a plurality of possible substitutions during a sporting event, a display device (3), configured to receive from the system server (2) said data set, said display device (3) comprising a command and control interface (31), to set a substitution to be carried out and verify the match between said substitution and the data set, and a display interface (32) to display the substitution to be carried out. The team client (1) and the display device (3) are in signal communication with the system server (2) by means of an internet network (6). The system (10) also comprises a control client (4) configured to receive data related to the substitution to be carried out and the plurality of possible substitutions from the display device (3) by means of said internet network (6) or from the system server (2), the control client (4) also being configured to transmit at least said data related to the substitution to be carried out to one or more radio communication systems (5) by means of a broadcast network (7).

Description

[0001] TITLE: "System and related method for transmitting data during a sporting event".

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Field of application

[0004] The object of the present invention finds useful application during the course of a sporting event that provides for the possibility of implementing one or more substitutions of one or more players, during for example a game with one or more teams such as a football, basketball, water polo or volleyball game.

[0005] Description of the prior art

[0006] It is known in the state of the art, during the course of a sporting event between one or more teams, such as a football match, basketball game, etc., to use a reporting tool, or tablet (so-called "referee board"), adapted to signal to those interested (i.e. the public, members of the teams on the field, industry professionals) the number of the shirt of the substituted player, as well as the number of the player who will take over on the field or playing area.

[0007] Taking a football event as a reference, the use of said reporting tool is entrusted to the fourth man on the field. The tablet is equipped with pre-loaded memories, containing the indication of the pair of numbers involved in the substitution.

[0008] The fourth man then selects the pair of numbers that is going to be engaged in the substitution, and with a confirmation key activates the lighting of the LEDs of the reporting device, once the manager of a team has communicated to the fourth man the planned substitution.

[0009] Furthermore, during the course of the sporting event, the substitution must also be reported to the television director (i.e. to the body, if any, that deals with the filming and / or broadcasting on the entertainment systems, such as broadcast / intemet of the event), who prepares the graphics projected on the various radio communications systems.

[0010] The procedure for reporting the substitution is completed by sending a communication of the substitution to the person in charge of the sporting competition, such as the league manager.

[0011] Limits of the prior art

[0012] However, the systems known in the state of the art have several limitations.

[0013] In particular, the communication relating to the substitutions carried out to date takes place manually, through the use of sheets of paper, which are also necessary for the compilation of the end-of-competition report.

[0014] Disadvantageously, this procedure significantly increases the delivery times of the information, as well as the complexity in the management and archiving of the same.

[0015] In addition, communication to the director still takes place by voice, radio or telephone, thus causing a non-immediate transmission of information related to the substitutions of the players involved. This can be particularly problematic, for example, if teams make multiple substitutions close together or at the same time. This, in addition to increasing the probability of sharing graphics showing incorrect data relating to the substitutions in place, means that such sharing by means of radio communication systems takes place only after some time (usually minutes) from the time when the substitution actually took place.

[0016] Object of the invention

[0017] In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to provide a data transmission system during a sporting event, capable of overcoming the limits of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system capable of transmitting and checking the data relating to a plurality of substitutions in a simple and immediate manner.

[0018] It is a further object of the present invention to obtain a method for transmitting data during a sporting event as an alternative to the known methods.

[0019] The specified technical task and the specified objects are substantially achieved by a system and a related method for transmitting data during a sporting event in accordance with one or more of the appended claims.

[0020] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention relates to an electronic computer system for transmitting data during a sporting event.

[0022] The system comprises a system server and at least one team client, in signal communication with the system server.

[0023] The team client comprises a database having a first list of starting players and a second list of substitute players.

[0024] The team client is configured to transmit to the system server a data set related to a plurality of possible substitutions between a starting player of the first list and a substitute player of the second list during the sporting event,

[0025] The system further comprises a display device, in signal communication with the system server.

[0026] The display device is configured to receive the data set from the system server. In particular, the display device comprises a command and control interface, for setting a substitution to be carried out and checking the match between said substitution and each datum of the data set related to the plurality of possible substitutions, and a display interface, for displaying the substitution to be carried out. In the system of the present invention, at least one team client and the display device are in signal communication with the system server by means of an internet network.

[0027] The system further comprises a control client configured to receive data related to the substitution to be carried out and the plurality of possible substitutions from the display device or from the system server by means of said internet network. The control client is further configured to transmit at least said data related to the substitution to be carried out to one or more radio communication systems by means of a broadcast network.

[0028] Advantages of the invention

[0029] Advantageously, by means of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a transmission system capable of transmitting data relating to possible substitutions to the display device. In fact, the transmission of data in digital format allows not only a rapid transmission but also a direct control between the substitution to be made and the plurality of possible substitutions.

[0030] Still advantageously, thanks to one embodiment, it is possible to store all the activities with the actual timestamps of the substitutions, thus allowing a more efficient management of any instant corrections that may be required by a representative of the sports team.

[0031] Thanks to a specific embodiment, advantageously, it is possible to transmit the data set relating to the plurality of possible substitutions by means of encrypted packets. In this way, the information cannot be read or modified by unauthorized users.

[0032] Always advantageously, by means of one embodiment, it is possible to inform the management systems in real time in such a way as to transmit on the broadcast / internet systems the substitution that is actually taking place, without incurring delays due to the passage of information used in the prior art.

[0033] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The advantages and features of the present invention will be extensively elucidated by the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a system and a related method for transmitting data during a sporting event, shown by way of example in the set of drawings of which:

[0035] - figure 1 shows a block diagram of the steps of a data transmission system in a sporting event according to the present invention,

[0036] - figure 2 shows a flowchart of a data transmission method in a sporting event according to the present invention.

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] As shown in figure 1, reference numeral 10 indicates an electronic computer system for transmitting data during a sporting event, that is the object of the present invention.

[0039] It should be noted that the expression "sporting event" refers to any type of sporting competition, competitive or non-competitive, professional or amateur, in which the rules of the game provide that a team has the opportunity to make one or more substitutions within the playing time, such as, for example, basketball, volleyball, football or water polo.

[0040] The system 10 of the present invention comprises a system server 2, and at least one team client 1, in signal communication with the system server 2.

[0041] Preferably, the system server 2 is an application server, which provides the infrastructure and the logical functions for the development, support and execution of applications, generally accessible and usable via the web by means of an internet network. The term "client" means an electronic device equipped with a processing unit capable of entering into signal communication with the system server 2 and exploiting the services made available by the system server 2 itself. As the definition of client is known to a person skilled in the art, it will not be described further in the remainder of this description.

[0042] Preferably, the number of team clients 1 is equal to the number of teams involved in the sporting event, such as for example two opposing teams.

[0043] The at least one team client 1 comprises a database 11 having a first list of starting players and a second list of substitute players. In other words, the team client 1 comprises a database 11 having the list and the relative training of the players summoned in the sporting event.

[0044] Alternatively, the database 11 may be on the system server 2.

[0045] The at least one team client 1 is configured to transmit to the system server 2 a data set related to a plurality of possible substitutions between a starting player of the first list and a substitute player of the second list during the sporting event.

[0046] It should be noted that the term "possible" indicates that the data set relating to substitutions takes into account the rules of a specific sporting event. As an example, in the game of football, the number of substitutions currently possible is five, in which the substituted player can no longer return to the field, unlike alternative sports, such as volleyball, in which there can be a continuous turnover of all the players called up.

[0047] Preferably, the signal communication between the at least one team client 1 and the system server 2 requires an authentication by entering specific credentials for each team, so as to guarantee security.

[0048] The system 10 of the present invention also comprises a display device 3, in signal communication with the system server 2. The display device 3 is configured to receive from the system server 2 the data set related to the plurality of possible substitutions.

[0049] In accordance with the present invention, the display device 3 comprises a command and control interface 31 configured to:

[0050] - set one or more substitutions to be made;

[0051] - check the match between said substitution and each datum of the data set related to the plurality of possible substitutions.

[0052] In alternative embodiments, the match between the substitution and each datum of the data set related to the plurality of possible substitutions is verified by the system server 2.

[0053] Furthermore, the display device 3 comprises a display interface 32 configured to, if the verification is successful, display the substitution to be carried out.

[0054] In other words, taking the game of football as an example, the display device 3 is used by a substitution operator (fourth man), who, through the command and control interface 31, sets the number of the starting player to be replaced and the number of the reserve player who takes over.

[0055] Preferably, the command and control interface 31 comprises a plurality of selection keys, configured to select the number of the outgoing player and that of the incoming player, and a confirmation key, configured to send a command for displaying the numbers of the players involved in the substitution.

[0056] In accordance with the present invention, the at least one team client 1 and the display device 3 are in signal communication with the system server 2 by means of an internet network 6.

[0057] Advantageously, this allows a rapid and always up-to-date transfer of data and exchange of information, also with a view to possible sudden changes, for example during the course of the sporting event, to the list and / or formation of the team.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment, the display device 3 comprises an internal memory (not shown in the attached figures) configured to locally store the data set contained in the system server 2 related to the plurality of possible substitutions.

[0059] Advantageously, this allows a verification of the match between the substitution to be made and the possible substitutions quickly, even in case of possible slowdowns / disconnections from the internet network 6.

[0060] According to the invention, the system 10 comprises a control client 4 in signal communication with the system server 2. The control client 4 is configured to receive data related to the substitution to be carried out and the plurality of possible substitutions from the display device 3 by means of the internet network 6.

[0061] Note that, alternatively, the control client 4 is configured to receive data related to the substitution to be carried out and the plurality of possible substitutions from the system server 2.

[0062] The data relating to the substitution to be made may include various information, such as the jersey number, the name, the role, the age and the physical characteristics, relating to the substituted player and the substituting player. Additionally, the data relating to the substitution to be carried out preferably comprises the timestamp relating to the substitution itself.

[0063] Preferably, the control client 4 is configured to receive the list and related training of the players summoned in the sporting event.

[0064] The control client 4 is also configured to transmit at least said data related to the substitution to be carried out to one or more radio communication systems 5, such as radio and television, by means of a broadcast network 7 or on the internet network 6.

[0065] In other words, the control client 4 allows the transmission of the data related to the substitution to be carried out and the effective display thereof to the radio communication systems 5.

[0066] Advantageously, in this way, the transmission of information to the control client 4 takes place in digital format and, above all, directly. In fact, in the case of several close substitutions or at the same time, the control client 4 is able to receive the information in real time and therefore to provide for its immediate dissemination and display through the radio communication systems 5.

[0067] Advantageously, compared to the known systems, the present invention makes it possible to avoid errors in substitutions due to an incorrect choice of the player to be replaced and / or the player to be placed on the field. In fact, by means of this system, it is not possible for the team leader or the fourth man to enter a number not present in the first list of starting players and / or in the second list of substitute players.

[0068] Additionally, in the event that multiple substitutions occur, this system takes into account the order in which the substitutions are made, making sure that the control client 4 transmits to the radio communication systems 5 the substitutions in the time order in which they were requested and that, at the same time, the display device 3 shows the substitutions to be made in the same order.

[0069] It should be noted that, according to a further preferred aspect the command and control interface 31 of the display device 3 is further configured to send a command for transmitting the at least one datum related to the substitution to be carried out to the control client 4 when the substitution to be carried out is displayed in the display interface 32.

[0070] Preferably, the display device 3, when said transmission command is sent, transmits to the control client 4 both the data set related to the plurality of possible substitutions and the data related to the substitution to be carried out. In one embodiment, the command and control interface 31, in addition to the plurality of selection keys and the confirmation key, can comprise a send key with which it is possible to send said transmission command to the control client 4.

[0071] In the preferred embodiment, the send key and the confirmation key are the same key with which it is in fact possible to simultaneously send both a command for displaying the substitution, and to send a command for transmitting the data related to the same.

[0072] In this way, advantageously, the data relating to the substitution is transmitted to the control client 4 at the exact moment when the substitution is displayed in the graphical interface 32.

[0073] In other words, in this way, the transmission of the data relating to the substitution to be carried out is transmitted to the control client 4 only when the substitution itself is confirmed.

[0074] It should also be noted that, as previously described, the display device 3 compares the match between the substitution set by the substitution operator by means of the plurality of selection keys with the data set related to the plurality of possible substitutions. In case of a confirmed match, the display device 3 therefore allows the display of the substitution to be carried out and the consequent transmission of the data related to the substitution to be carried out to the control client 4. Otherwise, in the event of a mismatch, the display device 3 does not allow the display and transmission to the control client 4, preferably showing an error message.

[0075] In the preferred embodiment, the display interface 32 of the display device 3 comprises an LED panel, of suitable dimensions so as to be visible from every point of the playing field.

[0076] It should also be noted that, according to a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the signal communication between the at least one team client 1, the display device 3 and the system server 2 includes a transmission and reception of the data set by means of SOAP XML protocol with appropriate encryption algorithm, such as for example a symmetric or asymmetric key encryption algorithm.

[0077] In this way, advantageously, it is possible to transmit the data set related to the plurality of possible substitutions by means of encrypted packets, thus preventing the data related to the list, the plurality of substitutions and the substitution to be made from being understandable or intelligible by unauthorized users.

[0078] Still advantageously, the SOAP communication protocol is based on XML which allows communication via an internet network 6 between a plurality of devices regardless of the programming language and the communication platform (i.e. software) used.

[0079] In accordance with the system 10 of the present invention, the signal communication between the at least one team client 1, the display device 3, the system server 2 and the control client 4 has a frequency equivalent to the clock frequency of the transmission of the radio communication systems 5.

[0080] Advantageously, in this way, the transmission takes place in real time, preferably by means of the communication protocol NTP (Network Time Protocol). In fact, through the NTP client-server protocol it is possible to synchronize the clocks of all computers within a packet-switched network environment, in which latency times can vary.

[0081] A further object of the present invention is a method for transmitting data in a sporting event comprising the steps of a) providing a system 10 comprising at least one team client 1, a system server 2 and a display device 3 to each other in signal communication as described above. The method comprises the step of b) transmitting, by means of the internet network 6, at least from the team client 1 to the system server 2 the data set related to a plurality of substitutions between a player of the list of starting players and a player of the list of substitute players during a sporting event.

[0082] Further, the method envisages the step of c) receiving said data set on the display device 3.

[0083] In the preferred embodiment, the step of b) transmitting and c) receiving respectively include authenticating the at least one team client 1 and the display device 3 to the system server 2 by entering login credentials.

[0084] It should be noted that, in this way, the privacy and security of the data entered relating to the list of players and possible substitutions is guaranteed.

[0085] Subsequently, the method comprises the step of d) setting on the display device 3 at least one substitution to be carried out by means of the command and control interface 31.

[0086] Further, the step of d) setting on the display device 3 at least one substitution to be carried out additionally provides checking the match between the set substitution and each datum of the data set related to the plurality of possible substitutions.

[0087] Further, the method provides the step of e) displaying said substitutions to be carried out through the graphic interface 32 of the display device 3.

[0088] In accordance with the invention, the method also provides the step of f) transmitting, by means of the internet network 6, at least said data related to the substitution to be carried out, selected in step d), to the control client 4 by means of the command and control interface 31 of the display device 3 or by the system server 2.

[0089] In other words, when a substitution is to be carried out, the substitution operator, after receiving instructions from a representative of the team, sets the substitution to be carried out on the display device 3 by means of the command and control interface 31, preferably by means of the plurality of selection keys on the display device 3. The display device 3 then verifies the match between the substitution to be carried out, set for example by the substitution operator, and, once said match has been verified, sends the command for displaying the substitution and the simultaneous transmission to the control client 4 of the data related to the substitution to be carried out and, preferably, related to the plurality of possible substitutions.

[0090] Finally, the method of the present invention comprises the step g) of transmitting, by means of the broadcast network 7, at least said data related to the substitution to be carried out by the control client 4 to the radio communication systems 5.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Electronic computer system (10) for transmitting data during a sporting event comprising:- a system server (2),- at least one team client (1), in signal communication with the system server (2),- a database (11) having a first list of starting players and a second list of substitute players,- the at least one team client (1) being configured to transmit to the system server (2) a data set related to a plurality of possible substitutions between a starting player of the first list and a substitute player of the second list during the sporting event,- a display device (3), in signal communication with the system server (2), the display device (3) being configured to receive from the system server (2) said data set, the display device (3) comprising a command and control interface (31) configured to set a substitution to be made and verify the match between said substitution and each datum of the data set related to the plurality of possible substitutions, the display device (3) comprising a display interface (32) configured to display the substitution to be carried out,- the at least one team client (1) and the display device (3) being in signal communication with the system server (2) by means of an internet network (6), characterized by comprising- a control client (4) in signal communication with the system server (2), the control client (4) being configured to receive data related to the substitution to be carried out and the plurality of possible substitutions from the display device (3) or the system server (2) by means of said internet network (6), the control client (4) also being configured to transmit at least said data related to the substitution to be carried out toone or more radio communication systems (5) by means of a broadcast network (7).

2. System (10) according to claim 1, wherein the display device (3) comprises an internal memory configured to locally store the data set contained in the system server (2) related to the plurality of possible substitutions.

3. System (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the command and control interface (31) of the display device (3) is further configured to send a command for transmitting the at least said data related to the substitution to be carried out to the control client (4) when the substitution to be carried out is displayed in the display interface (32).

4. System (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the display interface (32) of the display device (3) comprises a LED panel.

5. System (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the signal communication between the at least one team client (1), the display device (3) and the system server (2) includes a transmission and reception of the data set by means of SOAP XML protocol with appropriate encryption algorithm.

6. System (10) according to any of preceding claims, wherein the signal communication between the at least one team client (1), the display device (3), the system server (2) and the control client (4) has a frequency equivalent to the clock frequency of the transmission of the radio communication systems (5).

7. System (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system server(2) is an application server.

8. Method for transmitting data in a sporting event characterized by comprising the steps of: a) providing a system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, b) transmitting, by means of the internet network (6), from the at least team client (1) to the system server (2) the data set related to a plurality of substitutions between two players during a sporting event, c) receiving said data set on the first display device (3), d) setting on the display device (3) at least one substitution to be carried out by means of the command and control interface (31) and checking the match between the set substitution and each datum of the data set related to the plurality of possible substitutions. e) displaying said substitutions to be carried out through the graphic interface (32) of the display device (3), f) transmitting, by means of the internet network (6), at least said data related to the substitution to be carried out, selected in step d), to the control client (4) by means of the command and control interface (31) of the display device (3) or from the server system (2), g) transmitting, by means of the broadcast network (7), at least said data related to the substitution to be carried out by the control client (4) to the radio communication systems (5).

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the step of b) transmitting and c) receiving respectively include authenticating the at least one team client (1) and the display device (3) to the system server (2) by entering login credentials.

Images