Sports Timing System Communication Protocol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sporting event timing systems face challenges in efficiently communicating timing information across multiple components and systems, particularly in sharing participant data and event timing details in real-time, due to limitations in current communication protocols and technologies.
Innovation Solution
The Sports Timing System (STS) Integrated Communication System (ICS) employs a stateless packet data communication network using variable length messages with customizable formats, enabling multicast and unicast messages over wired, wireless, satellite, cellular, or private networks, and allows for the creation of new information packets to accommodate unique needs, facilitating communication between multiple STS systems and auxiliary systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional communication protocol is used for sharing timing information between multiple sports timing systems, then the system can maintain simplicity in implementation, but the system suffers from inefficiency in real-time data transmission and lacks flexibility in accommodating different communication needs
Solution Approach 1:
The communication protocol is segmented into distinct functional layers: a transport layer for reliable data delivery and an application layer for specific timing operations. This segmentation allows the system to achieve real-time transmission efficiency through optimized packet structures while maintaining implementation simplicity through standardized interface definitions. The protocol divides communication into discrete message types (announcements, requests, responses) that can be independently processed.
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol introduces a new dimension of communication flexibility by supporting multiple message formats (unicast, multicast, broadcast) and variable-length data fields within a unified packet structure. This dimensional expansion allows the system to accommodate diverse communication needs without requiring multiple separate protocols, thereby improving productivity while controlling complexity through a single standardized framework.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-format communication protocol is used, then the system can maintain ease of implementation, but the system lacks adaptability to accommodate unique communication needs and custom information packets
Solution Approach 1:
The protocol employs dynamic field structures where data elements can be selectively included or excluded based on message type and specific communication needs. The packet format allows for variable-length fields and optional elements, enabling the system to adapt to unique communication requirements while maintaining a consistent base structure. This dynamic approach allows customization without requiring complete protocol redesign, preserving ease of implementation through incremental adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication protocol is designed as a universal framework that can handle multiple message types (announcements, requests, responses, errors) and support various data formats within a single standardized structure. This multi-functionality allows the system to accommodate custom information packets and unique communication needs while maintaining ease of implementation through a unified protocol that covers all scenarios rather than requiring separate specialized protocols.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive participant data is transmitted across all sports timing systems, then the system achieves complete information sharing, but the system experiences increased network traffic and potential data redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The protocol implements local quality optimization by allowing each sports timing system to selectively receive and process only the specific data elements relevant to its function. The standardized message formats enable systems to filter and process information locally based on their specific needs, achieving complete information sharing for required data while reducing network traffic by eliminating unnecessary data transmission to systems that don't need it.
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol uses efficient data representation and compression techniques where participant data is transmitted in optimized formats rather than redundant copies. The standardized packet structures allow for compact encoding of participant information, and the protocol enables systems to request specific data subsets rather than transmitting complete participant databases to all systems, thereby reducing network bandwidth consumption while maintaining information completeness where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for an integrated communication system for sports timing systems having a data interface, a memory and a processor. The data interface is for communicating over a data communication network. The memory includes executable instructions for operating the data interface to communicate over the data communication network and for storing participant data including participant data that includes a participant identifier for uniquely identifying each participant and participant timing data. The processor is coupled to the memory and the data interface and executes the executable instructions for operating the data interface to transmit datagram messages over a stateless packet data communication network wherein the datagram messages include multicast and unicast messages, each of which includes at least a portion of the participant data.