Timeout Synchronized System for Sports Referee Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

In organized sports, such as basketball, it can be difficult for referees to hear or see a coach's timeout call, leading to potential miscommunication during games.

Innovation Solution

A time-out synchronized system comprising a coach's device and a referee's wristband, where the coach uses a button to call a timeout and alert the referee, with the wristband providing visual, tactile, or audible alerts, and potentially stopping the game clock automatically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a coach calls timeout by yelling or signaling during a game, then the timeout call can be made quickly, but the referee may not hear or see the signal leading to miscommunication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidtimeout signal transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an electronic intermediary device (wristband or pager) that mediates the communication between coach and referee. The coach's device sends an electronic signal through a communication interface to the referee's wearable device, ensuring the timeout signal is transmitted reliably without relying on the referee's ability to hear or see traditional signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/acoustic signaling method (yelling or hand signals) with an electronic communication system. The coach's device generates an electronic timeout signal that is transmitted wirelessly to the referee's device, which displays or alerts the referee, eliminating the limitations of human sensory perception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If the referee manually monitors for timeout signals, then no additional equipment is needed, but miscommunication and errors may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidtimeout detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service communication where the coach's device automatically transmits the timeout signal to the referee's device without requiring manual intervention from the referee to detect or interpret signals. The referee's wearable device receives and processes the signal autonomously, reducing human error while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If traditional timeout signaling is used, then the system remains simple, but game flow may be disrupted due to miscommunication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame flow efficiencyVSAvoidtimeout signal clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the referee's wearable device provides immediate visual or tactile confirmation of the received timeout signal. This feedback loop ensures the referee is reliably notified and can promptly stop the game clock, maintaining game flow efficiency while eliminating signal transmission losses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11759692B2Time-out synchronized system

Publication Date: 2023.09.19 CARTHON MARIA ESTER

AI summary

Implementations of a time-out synchronized system are provided. In some implementations, the time-out synchronized system comprises a coach's device and a referee's device (“referee's wristband”).In some implementations, a method of using the time-out synchronized system comprises a coach using the coach's device to make a timeout call and a referee using the referee's wristband to be alerted and/or informed of the timeout call during an organized sports event, such as a basketball game.