Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/724,363, filed Oct. 1, 1996. This invention relates generally to a portable electronic device for selectively displaying programmed scheduling information of events and will have specific but not limited application to athletic or sporting events. 
    
    
     IDENTIFICATION OF COPYRIGHT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or of the patent disclosure as it appears in the public accessible Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all other rights of copyright. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sports fans desire easy access to information such as the location, participants, and date and time of sporting events. Conventional sources of such information include periodicals, television and radio broadcasts, and team schedule cards. Periodicals and broadcasts provide inadequate information delivery for various reasons. A typical sports page or news broadcast covers only the events of the preceding day, the current day, and the following day, leaving the fan unable to plan for future events. The fan must repeatedly consult these sources by purchasing additional periodicals or watching subsequent broadcasts. Also, the information content is over-inclusive from the perspective of a focused sports enthusiast. Periodicals and broadcasts provide information on all participants of a variety of sports. Much of this information is irrelevant to a fan interested in the schedule of a single participant. Moreover, the information has poor portability characteristics. Intact periodicals are bulky. Disassembled periodicals, such as individual newspaper pages, are delicate and easily misplaced. Obviously, information delivered through broadcast media is fleeting and cannot be subsequently consulted or transported. 
     Team schedule cards are undesirable because they use very small print and are difficult to read. The cards are easily damaged and misplaced. The fan must remember to carry the card even though, much of the time, it serves no useful purpose. 
     Some of the disadvantages of these conventional information sources are overcome by portable electronic devices capable of storing information. Conventional devices, such as electronic day planners, can store long-term information of specific interest. However, the user must provide all of the stored information and carry out the often complicated, time-consuming task of entering the data into the device. The more comprehensive the information, the longer it takes to program, the greater the likelihood for error, and the more difficult it is to access. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a pre-programmed, portable electronic device, which also serves as a timepiece, for displaying daily schedule information of a particular sports team including the dates, times, locations, and participants of events involving that team, and selectively displaying past and future scheduling information. The device comprises, in one form thereof, a display contained in a wristwatch housing, a plurality of switches, and a processor coupled to the display which receives inputs from the switches. The processor includes a timer to measure elapsed time, and a memory which stores the schedule data and the application program which controls the operation of the processor. The device provides a continuous display of the date and time in addition to information about the location, opponent, and start time of any game or match on that day involving the particular sports team. The user can manipulate the switches to sequentially review past information and preview future information. An alarm automatically alerts the user when a game or match begins. 
     Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a portable electronic device which displays scheduling information for sporting events according to the user&#39;s commands. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device which automatically provides a daily summary of the currently scheduled game activity for a desired team. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a portable electronic device which permits the user to review and preview the scheduled game activity of a desired team. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a portable electronic device which alerts the user when a scheduled game begins. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned and other objects and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a face view of the device of the present invention illustrating the normal display mode of operation; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the device in the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed schematic diagram of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 shows the display of the present invention when operating in alarm display mode; 
     FIG. 6 shows the display of the present invention when operating in schedule viewing mode; 
     FIG. 7 shows the display of the present invention when operating in time setting mode; 
     FIG. 8 shows the display of the present invention when operating in alarm setting mode; and 
     FIGS. 9-14 are listings of the memory contents of the device according to the present invention. 
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplifications set out below illustrate embodiments of the invention, in several forms, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments disclosed in the detailed description below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for the description are disclosed so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. 
     FIG. 1 shows a portable electronic device  10  packaged as a wristwatch including housing  12 , display  14  and band  16 . Extending into housing  12  are push-button switches including select switch  18 , set switch  20 , forward switch  22 , and reverse switch  24 , the operation of which will hereinafter be described. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, display  14  is a TN type ⅛ duty cycle, multiplexed liquid crystal display. Display  14  is divided into an actual time are  26  (shown for illustration purposes with broken lines) and an event data are  28  (also shown with broken lines). Actual time area  26  includes a time region  30  for displaying the time of day, an AM/PM indicator  32 , a day region  34  for displaying a three-letter abbreviation of the day of the week, and a date region  36  for displaying the year, month, and day of the month. Event data area  28  includes location region  38 , “VS” (versus) symbol  40 , opponent region  42 , special circumstances region  44 , miscellaneous alarm indicator  46 , event alarm indicator  48 , start time region  50 , and time zone region  52 . Location region  38  displays the symbol “H” or “A” to indicate home and away games respectively. The “VS” symbol is always displayed when display  14  is displaying a page of information corresponding to a scheduled event. Opponent region  42  displays a four-letter abbreviation of the name of the opposing team. Special circumstances region  44  displays the symbol “D” to indicate double-header games. Miscellaneous alarm indicator  46  and event alarm indicator  48  either contain the symbols shown in FIG. 1 or are blank, depending upon the device settings as hereinafter described. Start time region  50  displays the hour and minute corresponding to the starting time of the match. Time zone region  52  displays a one-letter abbreviation of the time zone corresponding to the starting time. 
     As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3, device  10  includes a 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. KS 5 7C2504). Processor  70  is connected to display  14  over segment driver lines  72  and COM lines  74 . A battery  76  provides power (Vcc) to device  10 . Processor  70  includes a 4000 byte internal ROM memory  78  which contains application program  80  and data representing schedule information  82 . FIGS. 9-14 provide an example of the contents of memory  78 . Switches  88 ,  90 ,  92  and  94  are connected to select switch  18 , set switch  20 , forward switch  22 , and reverse switch  24  respectively. An alarm  96  and an oscillator  98  are connected to processor  70 . 
     As seen in FIG. 2, housing  12  includes a removable backplate  13  which permits access to a module  99  which contains processor  70  and battery  76 . Since module  99  is removable, processor  70  and battery  76  can be replaced. Of course, one skilled in the art could readily select an appropriate memory and design module  99  such that memory  78  of processor  70  could be re-programmed with schedule information using standard programming techniques. 
     MODE OF OPERATION 
     During assembly, memory  78  is loaded with schedule information  82  and application program  80  using a standard memory programming device and procedures well known in the art. Schedule information  82  for the purpose of this description relates to a selected baseball team and includes data describing all games scheduled for that particular season involving the team. It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that schedule information for teams or individual players of other sports could be programmed into memory  78 . Associated with each game is data indicating the location of the game (i.e., whether “home” or “away”), the selected team&#39;s opponent, the starting time of the game, the time zone corresponding to the starting time, and whether the game is a double-header. The data is arranged in memory  78  by calendar day. The first and last calendar days that contain a corresponding page of schedule information indicate the first and last days of the season, respectively. Any calendar day between those dates which does not contain a corresponding page of schedule information (i.e., a game is not scheduled for that day), is an “off” day as explained below. 
     After processor  70  is programmed and installed, power applications (i.e., connection to battery  76 ) causes program  80  to execute an initialization sequence. During the initialization sequence, program  80  enables processor  70  to generate default values corresponding to actual time, date, day of the week, and alarm time. Timer  98  then begins incrementing this data in a manner well known in the art. During initialization, program  80  also writes data to memory  78  to indicate that the miscellaneous alarm is disabled, and the event alarm is enabled. 
     Device  10  has several modes of operation including normal display mode (FIG.  1 ), alarm display mode (FIG.  5 ), schedule viewing mode (FIG.  6 ), time setting mode (FIG.  7 ), alarm setting mode (FIG.  8 ), and a dormant mode. Immediately upon completion of the initialization procedure, program  80  enters the normal display mode and processor  70  to generate a display of information on display  14  similar to that shown in FIG.  1 . Before device  10  is shipped for distribution and sale, processor  70  is preferably put in dormant mode to extend the life of battery  76 . To enter dormant mode, switches  20 ,  22  and  24  are pressed simultaneously and held for at least two seconds. Program  80  interprets such an input as a command to disable display  14 . The purchaser or user of device  10  causes the device to return to normal display mode by again pressing and holding switches  20 ,  22  and  24 . 
     At some later time if the processor is in a dormant mode, or prior to use, either the distributor or the user sets the actual time. Device  10  enters time setting mode when select switch  18  is actuated. Select switch  18  is protected from accidental actuation by a button guard and is actuated using a pointed object such as a pen. Program  80  interprets select input signal  88  as a command to enter the time setting mode. When device  10  is in time setting mode, processor  70  enables display  14  to clear all contents of event data area  28  as shown in FIG.  7 . The seconds portion of the actual time data flashes on and off. If the user presses forward switch  22 , the seconds portion is reset to zero. All data for display in actual time area  26  is modified by first pressing the set switch  20  to select the data region (causing it to flash), then incrementing or decrementing the data by pressing forward switch  22  or reverse switch  24 , respectively. If while in the time setting mode, processor  70  receives an input  88  from select switch  18 , device  10  exits time setting mode and enters normal display mode. The device also exits time setting mode and enters normal display mode after the time setting sequence is completed or if none of the three switches  20 ,  22  and  24  are pressed for at least ten seconds. 
     During normal operation, device  10  remains in normal display mode. At the beginning of each day, when actual time reaches 12:00:00 AM, program  80  accesses memory  78  to retrieve a page of schedule information  82  corresponding to the current calendar day. A page of information is all information describing the event scheduled for a particular day. The new or current page of information is displayed in event data area  28  according to the predetermined format shown in FIG.  1 . If memory  78  does not contain a page of information corresponding to the current calendar day (i.e., no game is scheduled for that day), and the current calendar day falls between the first and last events stored in memory  78  (i.e., the season is still on), program  80  enables processor  70  to generate the message “DAY OFF” for display on display  14  in event data area  28 . If the current day is before the first day of the season or after the last day, but before the first day of the next year, program  80  enables processor  70  to generate the message “SEASON OFF” in the event data area  28  of display  14 . On the first day of the calendar year following the pre-programmed season, and for all days thereafter, program  80  enables process  70  to generate the message “GAME DAY” in event area  28 . 
     Alarm  96  functions both as an event alarm and a miscellaneous alarm. If the event alarm function of device  10  is enabled, processor  70  generates the musical symbol shown in FIG. 1 in event alarm indicator location  48 . As timer  98  advances the actual time data stored on memory  78  and displayed in actual time area  26 , program  80  compares the data to the start time data displayed in start time region  50 . When the start time data matches the actual time data, program  80  enables processor  70  to activate alarm  96 . In an exemplary embodiment, processor  70  sends a sequence of signals to alarm  96  which generates a series of tones such as to the well-known tune “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” to remind the user that the scheduled game for the day is beginning. Alarm  96  continues playing the tune for approximately twenty-five seconds or until any one of the switches  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  is actuated. If the event alarm function is disabled, event alarm indicator location  48  is blank and the event starting data is ignored for purposes of activating alarm  96 . 
     Similarly, if the miscellaneous alarm function is enabled, processor  70  generates the symbol shown in FIG. 1 in miscellaneous alarm indicator location  46 . Program  80  compares the actual time data as it is updated according to timer  98  to the miscellaneous alarm time data storage in memory  78 . When the actual time data equals the miscellaneous alarm time data, program  80  enables processor to activate alarm  96  by sending a series of signals which can generate a “beep-beep” sound. Alarm  96  continues to produce the “beep-beep” sound for approximately fifteen seconds or until set switch  20  is actuated. If the miscellaneous alarm function is disabled, miscellaneous alarm indicator location  46  is blank and the miscellaneous alarm data stored in memory  78  is ignored. 
     The miscellaneous alarm time data is changed by entering alarm setting mode. The user first presses the set switch  20  to command program  80  to enter the alarm display mode. Processor  70  causes display  14  to display the alarm time and the characters “ALM” as shown in FIG.  5 . While in alarm display mode, the user can enable and disable the vent alarm function and the miscellaneous alarm function by pressing the reverse switch  24  or the forward switch  22 , respectively. The user enters the alarm setting mode by pressing select switch  18  while in the alarm display mode. The desired alarm hour, minute, and AM/PM are selected (and displayed as flashing) by pressing set switch  20  as shown in FIG.  8 . The data is incremented or decremented by pressing forward switch  22  or reverse switch  24  in a manner similar that described above in the description of setting the actual time data. As with the actual time setting mode, the user exits the alarm setting mode by pressing the select switch  18 , completing the setting sequence, or doing nothing for at least ten seconds. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, the schedule viewing mode is entered whenever the user desires information about games scheduled for any day of the year other than the current calendar day. The schedule viewing mode is entered from the normal display mode by pressing either the forward switch  22  or the reverse switch  24 . When either switch is pressed, program  80  enables processor to clear actual time region  30  of display  14 . When the forward switch  22  is pressed, the program  80  causes processor  70  to access the portion of memory  78  corresponding to the calendar day following the current calendar day. If a page of schedule information exists in that portion of memory  78 , processor  70  causes the page of information to be displayed in event data area  28  according to the pre-determined format of FIG.  1 . The data displayed in day region  34  and date region  36  is also advanced by one day. Each time the forward switch  22  is pressed, the data displayed in day region  34  and date region  36  is advanced by one day and program  80  causes processor  70  to access a page of schedule information in memory  78  corresponding to the displayed calendar day. The page of information is displayed in event data area  28 . If no match is scheduled for the displayed day, the message “DAY OFF” is displayed in event data area  28  as shown in FIG.  3 . If the displayed day is not within the season programmed into memory  78 , but is prior to the first day of the following year, the message “SEASON OFF” is displayed in event data area  28 . Event data area  28  continuously displays the message “GAME DAY” after the year corresponding to the programmed season. The user similarly reviews past scheduling information or decrements the displayed information by one day by pressing the reverse switch  24 . 
     The user can advance the displayed schedule information in one month increments by pressing set switch  20  while in the schedule viewing mode. Each time set switch  20  is actuated, program  80  interprets input signal  90  as a command to advance to the page of information stored in memory  78  corresponding to the first day of the following month. Inputs from forward switch  22  or reverse switch  24  increment or decrement the displayed page of information by one calendar day as described above. By using a combination of the set switch  20 , the forward switch  22  and the reverse switch  24 , the user can quickly access scheduling information for any day of the year. 
     While this invention has been described as having exemplary embodiments, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 3