Abstract:
A portable electronic device is provided with the capability of accepting downloaded data. In particular, the data represents sports team schedule information so as to provide the user with an alarm indicating the start of his or her favorite team&#39;s game time. The device is also provided with audio playback for associated audio tracks such as the team song or a song associated with a team sport. The device is also capable of displaying downloaded team pictorial data such as its logo or emblem.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates in general to portable time and alarm devices, and more particularly, to watches. More particularly, the present invention is directed to watches which are capable of displaying event related information, particularly information relating to sporting or similar events. Even more particularly, the present invention is directed to a watch which is capable of downloading event related information for events that are scheduled to take place in the future. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The device of the present invention is most closely related to the time and alarm device illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,907 issued Jul. 2, 2002. This device is capable of signaling to the user the start of an event such as a scheduled baseball game. In particular, the signal may comprise the playing of a stored song or tune such as “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” However, the device must somehow “know” the time, the date, and the details relating to various specific sporting events. In the device described in the aforementioned patent, the information is provided by means of a replaceable module. In this patented device, the watch is opened, the old module is removed and an updated module is inserted. Updating of this device requires module replacement on an annual or seasonal basis. Clearly this is inconvenient for the user. However, it is noted that the updating operation is necessary since events are rarely scheduled more than a year in advance or for the next season. 
         [0003]    Additionally it is noted that advances in storage capability have made it possible to add additional functionality to devices of the present kind. It is further noted that advances in computers, the Internet and software for downloading and transferring information have also occurred. In particular, it has been seen that since the above-mentioned patent was filed, the use of the USB standard has proliferated. This standard describes the signal wires and the form factors for various connectors that are intended for use with this standard. However, the usual USB standard connectors are not employable in the context of providing connections to a device such as a watch. There are several reasons for this circumstance. The first reason is that the standard USB connectors are either too thick fat or wide to be easily inserted into a corresponding structure present on a device having the size and scale of a watch. Furthermore, since it is desirable that watch devices exhibit a degree of water resistance, standard USB connectors cannot be employed. This is a particularly important factor in the design of the present invention since it is anticipated that many of its users will be sporting fans who might be quiet in the rain at the stadium where the event is occurring. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a portable clock device, such as a wrist watch comprises: an oscillator based timer; a processor for receiving time and date information from the timer; a memory coupled to the processor; a display, driven by the processor for displaying time, date and stored information from the memory, the information being related to event times stored in said memory; an alarm actuatable by said processor at a time determined by said stored event times; and a plurality of externally accessible contacts for transferring the event related information from an external source to the memory. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a sporting events watch is provided with external contacts through which a team&#39;s annual schedule may be downloaded. The downloaded event schedule is stored and used to initiate the playing of a team (professional or college level) song upon the occurrence of an event or at a predetermined time before the event. A portion of the display is also allocated to the display of a team logo, emblem or insignia. Time zone information relating to the event is also displayed since it is contemplated that the user/wearer may not be home-based in the same time zone as their favorite team whose schedule the watch is being used to track. The time zone shown is not limited to the four standard US time zones but includes any time zone in the world. 
         [0006]    Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. 
         [0007]    The recitation herein of desirable objects which are met by various embodiments of the present invention is not meant to imply or suggest that any or all of these objects are present as essential features, either individually or collectively, in the most general embodiment of the present invention or in any of its more specific embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of practice, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the face of a watch representing an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a stylized enlargement of the display shown in  FIG. 1  but showing more detail than is convenient for  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a view showing the back of the watch shown in  FIG. 1  so as to more particularly show contacts for downloading data such as team schedules; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top view similar to  FIG. 1  but more particularly illustrating a data clamp mechanism already in position for connecting a USB cable to the device; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the data clamp mechanism shown in  FIG. 4  showing the data clamp in its fully closed position with its pins (not visible in this view) in electrical contact with corresponding contacts (see  FIG. 3 ) on the device; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  but which shows the data clamp in an open position with its pins and alignment bump now visible; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a view of the data clamp in an open position showing the layout of its pins for mating with watch contacts; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a view of the data clamp together with a USB connector and a case for retraction and storage of the connection cord; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating the component systems of the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram illustrating in greater detail connections made to a processor chip for controlling the operation of the present device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment in a wrist watch form of the present invention. In particular,  FIG. 1  illustrates a portable electronic device  10  with a wrist strap  16 . The device is provided with for external button switches used for controlling the device. In particular button  20  is labeled “adjust,” but in  18  is labeled “select” and buttons  22  and  24  provide forward and backward functionality for adjusting time, date and various other informational items displayed on the watch face. But in  24  also functions to activate a light for the display. It is furthermore noted that device  10  includes a display of  14  which is divided into three different functional areas. The upper area of display  14  (reference numeral  30 ) lying above the dotted line (not present in the actual watch but only provided for convenient description of the different functional areas) is employed to provide a conventional time display. It is also noted that this section of display  14  also includes melody indicator  52 , shown in the top left of the display (musical notes) in  FIG. 1 . This indicator is turned on/off within the same function as the chime and alarm. It determines whether or not a song plays at game (more generically, event) time. Portion  28  of display  14  below the dotted line is employed to provide information relevant to scheduled events. This information is also described in greater detail in  FIG. 2  which is more particularly described below. The first line of area  28  provides the day of the week information, followed by month date and year information relevant to an event. 
         [0020]    In order to best appreciate the functioning and operation of the present invention, it is useful to consider the events as being sporting matches between competing teams. For example, the present invention is usable to determine the time and date of a future match between two baseball teams. With respect to this functionality, it is noted that the second line of area  28  indicates, in an abbreviated form, the teams that are playing and the start time of the game. In particular, it is noted that, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , line  38  indicates that Arizona is playing the New York Yankees at New York with indicator  44  further pointing out the fact that this particular game is scheduled for a “PM” time. Start time indicator  50  thus shows that the game starts at 8:05 PM. 
         [0021]    Is noted that display  14  includes a third region  100  which is employed to display team logos, emblems or insignia. Solely for the sake of example the emblem illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a selected to represent a fictitious baseball team that might call themselves the “Diamond Dogs.” The information that is displayed in region  30  of display  14  is thus seen to represent standard Time and/or date information. Region  28  of display  14  is provided to indicate the day, the date, the time and the two teams scheduled to play. Display region  28  is also preferably provided with an indication  40  of which one of the two teams is the home team. This is a particularly useful indicator if the event being displayed is a major league baseball game. In baseball, doubleheaders are common while in other sports they are not. In those circumstances indicator  44  may serve another function. 
         [0022]    In contrast to the device described in the abovementioned patent, the present device receives the information shown in areas  28  and  100  from an Internet download operation. In a typical operation, a user of the watch logs on to a website belonging to the device manufacturer or distributor. A simple mouse click causes schedule data for which a subscription has been issued to be downloaded through a USB port. The downloaded information not only includes team is scheduled data but also includes audio data associated with the particular team. For example, if the team is a college football team downloaded information includes audio data representing the teams fight song. Additionally, the downloaded data also includes, under appropriate circumstances, video information associated with the team such as the team logo or even a picture of the team mascot. This latter information is displayed in portion  100  of display  14 . 
         [0023]    Since space and size limitations in  FIG. 1  reduced the level of detail which could be easily shown and pointed out by reference numerals,  FIG. 2  is provided. However it is noted that  FIG. 2  is not drawn to scale and in particular the size of regions  30  and  100  have been reduced so as to make the inclusion of reference numerals more visible and less confusing. More particularly, it is seen that region  28  of display  14  includes two lines, line  34  indicating the time of the event and line  38  indicating the players and the event location. 
         [0024]    Line  34  in display portion  28  includes day of the week indicator  31 , month indicator  33 , date indicator  35  and year indicator  37 . Line  34  also includes two alarm indicators. Miscellaneous alarm indicator  46  corresponds to an electronic watches usual alarm function. This indicator is displayed as shown in the event that an alarm has been set by the user. Additionally, there is also provided event alarm  48  which gives an indication that alarms for upcoming events are to be recognized. 
         [0025]    Line  38  in display  14  includes a first indicator  36  which indicates a first team and a second indicator  42  which indicates the opposing team. Additionally, playing location indicator  40  is provided to indicate where the game is being played, it being understood that the home team is listed by indicator  42 . Supplemental or miscellaneous indicator  44  is provided to denote special circumstances such as doubleheaders as described above. Lastly, line  38  indicates a time before the event in terms of hours and minutes, it being particularly noted that figure to indicates a time of 8:05 p.m. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates the backside of device  10 . For purposes of clarity strap  16  is not shown.  FIG. 13  is intended to show three significant aspects of the present invention. In particular,  FIG. 3  illustrates the presence of battery cover  102  which includes slot  104  which is designed as a but a coin such as a dime may be inserted to on screw cover plate  102  for purposes of changing the devices battery. Also of importance in  FIG. 2  contacts  110  are shown. These contacts are significant for the present invention since they provide an external mechanism for storing data into the internal device memory (see  FIG. 9 ) without the need for module exchange as is required in the patent mentioned above. As shown in  FIG. 3 , five contacts are provided arranged as shown. These contacts provide a sealed electrical connection from the outside of the device  10  to its inside. Additionally,  FIG. 3  illustrates the presence of alignment depression  106  which is designed to mate with information data clamp  200 . This depression matches and a corresponding protrusion on clamp  200  to assure proper alignment between device  10  and clamp  200  during information downloading. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates information clamp  200  disposed in contact with device  10  disposed within the housing  12 . Clamp  200  includes insulated wires  202  extending to a conventional USB port connector. Clamp  200  is not a standard USB port connector. Further details pertaining to the function and operation of clamp  200  are shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Clamp  200  is provided with a spring (not visible) designed to provide a biasing force urging the jaws of clamp  200  together. In  FIG. 5 , clamp  200  is shown in a side elevation view disposed in a position for which data transfer is rendered possible. In contrast, in  FIG. 6  the jaws of clamps  200  are shown in the open position so as to render more visible pins  210  which are configured to mate with contacts  110 . Also shown in  FIG. 6  is protrusion  206  which is designed to mate with depression  106 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  provides yet another view of clamp  200 . In this drawing, pins to  10  are clearly visible and are more specifically labeled as  210 . 1  through  210 . 5 , as shown. Additionally, protrusion  206  is seen to be provided so as to match depression  106  in device  10 . Clearly the roles of depression and protrusion as between the clamp and the device can be reversed. Yet another view of information clamp  200  is provided in  FIG. 8 . In this figure, cord  202  is seen to be provided with spring driven take-up reel  215  which is supplied for convenience. Lastly cord  202  is seen to be provided with conventional USB port terminator  220 . 
         [0029]    As shown in the block diagram of  FIG. 9 , device  10  includes processor  70  or micro-controller, which, in an exemplary embodiment, is a 4-bit single-chip device with a ⅛ duty cycle direct,  320  segment display drive (such as Samsung Part No. KS57C2504). Processor  70  is connected to display  14  over segment driver lines  72  and COM lines  74 . Battery  76  provides power (V cc ) to device  10 . Processor  70  includes a 4000 byte internal ROM memory  78  which contains application programming  80  and data representing schedule and audio tune information  82 . Switches  88 ,  90 ,  92  and  94  are connected to select switch  18 , set switch  20 , forward switch  22 , and reverse switch  24 , respectively. Alarm  96  and oscillator  98  are connected to processor  70 .  FIG. 10  provides a view similar to  FIG. 9  but is more particularly directed to electrical connections relevant to processor  70 . 
         [0030]    While the device described above is characterized as a wrist watch, it is also contemplated that the present invention may also be provided in the form of a pocket watch or some other device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Furthermore, while the functionality of the device described above is presented in terms of its use with team sporting events such as baseball, football, soccer, hockey or basketball, it is also usable in connection with racing events such as NASCAR and for performances by a particular performing group or person. Any set of events having predetermined occurrence times may be downloaded and stored in the device for future notification. 
         [0031]    While the invention has been described in detail herein in accordance with certain preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and changes therein may be effected by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.