Patent ID: 12223217

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a portable electronic scoreboard10is operationally connected, preferably wirelessly, to remote control device12, which is preferably a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer or other portable or handheld computing device. The portable scoreboard10itself may take any suitable form and be of any suitable size. Suitable forms include any type of suitable video screen or monitor, such as a television, computer monitor, touchscreen, LED display, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the scoreboard10may include a stand14, or may include attachment means such as hooks34for attaching the scoreboard to a ballpark fence32, for example, as shown inFIGS.1and2. The portable electronic scoreboard10may include its own power source, such as a rechargeable battery or non-rechargeable battery (or batteries), or it may include a cord to plug into a standard electrical outlet or a USB type of outlet, or the like. The scoreboard10may be of any appropriate size, and may resemble a flat screen television or computer monitor, and is preferably waterproof or water resistant, as it will be likely be used in outdoor settings, as shown inFIG.1.

The scoreboard10may include a dedicated remote control12, but preferably comprises a smartphone or similar handheld electronic device with a wireless connection to the scoreboard10, through a software app, as shown inFIGS.3-7. The app preferably includes at least two levels of interactive control. A scorekeeper interface, which is password protected (or otherwise includes restricted access), allows one user to be the scorekeeper, who enters information into various fields displayed on the scorekeeper interface16for display on the scoreboard10as the game progresses, as shown inFIG.3. The scorekeeper interface16may be divided into various sports, with a screen for each sport, and each individual sport screen includes input fields appropriate for that particular sport. For example, the scorekeeper interface16for a baseball or softball game may include input fields for the current score, the current inning, the pitch count, and the location of baserunners currently positioned on the base paths. It may also include the lineup of players on each team, and may display the names of each player as they come up to bat. In another example, for a football game, the scorekeeper interface may include input fields for the score, the quarter, down and distance, time left in the quarter, number of timeouts left, or any other relevant information. Although the scorekeeper interface may be used for any desired sport, for purposes of simplicity (and as an example only), the scorekeeper interface is described herein primarily as it relates to baseball or softball. It is contemplated that any appropriate information may be included for each sport screen, and access to the scorekeeper interface is restricted in any suitable manner, such as a password or facial recognition feature, so that only the scorekeeper may access scorekeeper interface.

A second interface, the fan interface18, is preferably used for fans, parents, and other non-scorekeepers who wish to keep up with the current score of the game. Fans can download the app onto their smartphones or other remote control devices12, and under the the scoreboard tab20within their app, they can see the same game information that is shown on the portable scoreboard10on their own handheld remote control device12, as shown inFIG.4A. Additionally, the fan interface18further includes a photo/video upload tab22allows fans to take photos or videos of the game, the players, or other fans during the game, and to upload those photos and/or videos24for display on the portable scoreboard10during timeouts, between innings, or during other stoppages of play on the field or court, as shown inFIG.4B.

In one preferred embodiment, the pictures and videos24are uploaded to a cloud service (or, alternatively, pictures and videos may be transmitted directly to a designated audio/video manager, as discussed below), and are received by the scorekeeper, who can then select specific photos or videos24to be shown on the scoreboard. This gatekeeping function allows the scorekeeper to prevent any photos or videos24that he or she believes are inappropriate from being displayed on the scoreboard10. In this way, the scorekeeper may select which photos and/or videos will be displayed on the scoreboard10, in what order, and when. It is contemplated that video highlights of exciting moments during the game may be replayed on the scoreboard10, and those video highlights and pictures24are provided by parents, fans, and other app users who are present at the game, so that the video highlights are collected from a wide variety of sources, and are selectively displayed after review by the scorekeeper.

It is also contemplated that the video and photo review functions may be performed by another designated user, such as an audio/video manager, rather than the scorekeeper, and that party may be designated by the scorekeeper and provided restricted access to a third interface called ‘audio-video interface26,’ as shown inFIG.5. Because the scorekeeper may be busy simply keeping up with and inputting the scoring and other information that has to be constantly updated through the scorekeeper interface16throughout the game, another designated party (an audio/video manager) may be provided restricted access to the audio/video interface26, which receives pictures and video24from other fans using the interactive app. The designated audio/video manager may then select appropriate photos and videos24from the game that have been uploaded or submitted by other fans, and may submit or upload those selected photos and videos24to the scoreboard10for display during timeouts, between innings, and at other appropriate times. Optionally, the audio/video interface26may include video editing software, allowing the audio video manager to select photos and videos to produce slide shows or other edited video productions, add text, music and sound effects to the video productions to be displayed on the portable electronic video screen or monitor.

The portable scoreboard10may be operationally connected to a smartphone or other remote control device12through any suitable means, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or the like. It is also contemplated that the portable scoreboard10may include speakers to play audio during video highlights, or may allow the scorekeeper (or another designated user) to serve as an announcer, for instance, announcing the name of the next batter up to bat, or the name of a new pitcher called in from the bullpen. Alternatively, the announcing duties may be passed on to a designated announcer, who may obtain access to yet another interface, the ‘announcer interface28,’ as shown inFIG.6. The announcer interface28allows a designated announcer to activate the microphone on his smartphone or other remote control device12, and to transmit his or her voice through the speakers that are part of, or operatively connected to, the portable scoreboard10. Further, the announcer interface28may include a menu or list of pre-recorded audio sounds30that may be broadcast at any time via the announcer interface28, such as crowd cheers, music, drums, trumpets, or any desired sound effects. Additionally, the fan interface18may be programmed to broadcast the announcer's audio announcements through their own smartphone or remote control devices12, or they may elect to mute or otherwise silence that function, in their personal discretion.

In use, a primary user, such as a parent or fan, may bring the portable scoreboard to a game, set it up, and allow other fans to download the app onto their own smartphone, tablet or other handheld computing device (collectively referred to herein as a “remote control device”). The primary user may either serve all functions as scorekeeper, announcer, audio/video manager and fan for taking and displaying photographs and video, or the primary user may designate one or more other users for any or all of those roles. Anyone not designated in one of those roles only has access to the fan interface, allowing them to view the same game information on their smartphone or other remote control device as that which is displayed on the scoreboard10, preferably to select and upload video and photographs24for display on the scoreboard, and in some cases, to hear the audio feed from the announcer interface28. The other interfaces, in a preferred embodiment, may be restricted so that they may only be operated by a single designated user, such as the announcer interface28, the scorekeeper interface16, and the audio/video interface26, as those interfaces require some type of verification for access, such as a password, facial recognition, or any limited access protocol to restrict access to those interfaces. For restricted access interfaces, it should be understood that one user may serve multiple roles, but the concept is that multiple users should not be able to alter the scores on the scoreboard, or be able to transmit audio through the announcer interface28, for example. When the game is over, the primary user (owner of the system, for instance) simply packs up the scoreboard for storage or transport.

In yet another embodiment, the portable scoreboard10is attached to a backpack50, as shown inFIG.7. In this embodiment, the portable scoreboard may be removable from the backpack, or it may be integrated into the backpack. In this embodiment, the backpack may simply be hung from a hook, or attached to a fence or other structure, as desired in any number of ways, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Additionally, it should be understood that the portable screen may be wirelessly (or via a wired connection such as an HDMI cord) transmitted to and displayed by any type of smart video monitor from any smart device that runs the app, similarly to the screen mirroring function utilized by most devices from Apple, Inc. In other words, a user may view the app on their smartphone or tablet, and may also choose to wirelessly transmit the same information shown on their smartphone to smart television, and Apple TV, or the like, so that the wireless transmission feature works similarly to the screen mirroring feature that is commonly found on iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, and the like from Apple, Inc., as well as Android devices or similar operating systems, both future and present.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.