U.S. Pat. No. 8,964,980

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following discussion describes in detail an embodiment of the system and method of distributing game play instructions to players during a game. This discussion should not be construed as limiting the invention to these particular embodiments as practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.

For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views.

FIGS. 1 & 2respectively show an illustrative view of a system100according to an embodiment of the present invention and an exemplary method200of distributing game play instructions102(not shown) to at least one player according to an embodiment of the present invention. A game play instruction102(not shown) may include but is not limited to the following: game instructions, game strategies, play or location information and/or any other allowable information that may be communicated to a player on/off the field by a coach or another player during a game.

As shown inFIG. 1, the player is provided with a headgear104which illustratively is a helmet, where the headgear is configured for receipt of digital audio transmissions from a game apparatus106or PRT to a teammate. It is understood that the headgear104may include but is not limited to: a helmet, goggles, hat, mask, cap, hood, headband or any other types of headgear104that are well known and used in the arts suitable for practicing the invention. The player is also wearing a game apparatus106which in the exemplary embodiment is a wristband. Here too, it is understood that the game apparatus106as referenced herein may include any one of the following embodiments: a wristband, ankle band, neckband, armband, waistband, knee band, thigh band or with a belt.

In one embodiment, the headgear104provided to the player includes a game apparatus106(not shown) affixed to the headgear's interior108(not shown), which is in wireless communication with the game apparatus106being worn as a wristband by that player. However, it is understood that the headgear104provided to the player may also be in wireless communication with a game apparatus106worn as a wristband by another teammate. In an alternate embodiment the headgear104is not provided with a game apparatus106(not shown) but includes at least a transceiver110(not shown) positioned within the headgear's interior108. In either embodiment, the transceiver110is configured for transmitting and/or receiving digital audio signals112,112′ containing game play instructions102,102′ (not shown) to or from a game apparatus106, other game apparatuses106,106positioned within other teammates' headgears104,104′, another headgear104similarly configured for receiving digital audio signals112,112′ (not shown) and/or a PRT114. The received digital audio signal112containing the game play instruction102may be aired via a speaker116(not shown), which is similarly positioned within the headgear's interior108(not shown). The game apparatus106may be permanently or temporarily affixed to the headgear104. The headgear104may include the speaker116(not shown) positioned within the headgear104for airing the received digital audio signal112containing the game play instruction102. As such, the headgear104may receive the digital audio signal112containing the game play instruction102from any one or more of the following: game apparatus106, PRT114or another headgear104similarly configured for receipt of digital audio signals112,112′.

Illustratively a seen inFIG. 1, as a football game progresses a coach located on the field, in the viewing box or anywhere else on or off the field including the nearby vicinity may require for example, a quarterback to execute a particular intended game play instruction102(not shown). The coach may activate the PRT114(step202) to select an intended game play instruction102(not shown) stored thereon, using a user interface118(not shown) of the game application program120(not shown) which is executable on the PRT114and from which a game play instruction102may be inputted and communicated wirelessly to the game apparatus106. The PRT114may include but is not limited to any one of the following: a cellular phone, computer122(not shown) such as a network enabled personal computer122(not shown), laptop, PDA and/or other WLAN communication devices that are known and readily used in the art to transmit and/or receive wireless communications. The PRT114is provided with a game application program120(not shown) which includes a playlist of game play instructions102,102′ (not shown) stored thereon in text, codes and/or visual format. The game application program120includes game transaction programming and or other programs for operation within and is configured for wireless connectivity over a network, such Internet. The PRT114is also configured for receiving input of a game play instruction102intended for execution on a field during a game and to be distributed to at least one game apparatus106or headgear104provided to players.

Alternatively, the coach may provide an audio game play instruction102(not shown), which is converted to digital data format via the speech recognition means124(not shown). In another embodiment of the invention, the PRT114includes a digital audio converter140for converting the select game play instruction102into a digital audio signal112that may be readily transmitted directly to the headgear104. The coach and or another player may also input a text message or sketch of the intended game play instruction102(not shown) to the PRT114to be transmitted to at least one game apparatus106, e.g. wristband unit, that was provided to a player for use during the game.

If the game play instruction102is being selected from the playlist, the PRT114may display the game play instructions102,102′ (step204) from which a coach (and/or another player) may select the intended game play instruction102(not shown). Once the intended game play instruction102has been selected, texted, sketched or provided orally to the PRT114, the PRT114receives the select game play instruction102(step206) and encrypts the game play instruction102(step208) to create an encrypted signal126containing the select game play instruction102. PRT114then transmits in real-time the encrypted signal126containing the game play instruction102,102′ (not shown) (step210) intended to be executed on the field during the game, to the transceiver110(not shown) of a receiving game apparatus106.

The receiving game apparatus106, i.e. the wristband unit, is configured with a transceiver110(not shown), antennae128(not shown), a microprocessor130(not shown), displaying means132(not shown), circuit board134(not shown), electrical wiring136(not shown), battery138(not shown), a digital audio converter140(not shown) all enclosed within a housing142. The receiving game apparatus106is in wireless communication with the headgear104, wherein the game apparatus106is configured with a transceiver110(not shown) for receiving an encrypted signal124containing a game play instruction102intended for execution on a field during a game, wherein the encrypted signal124containing the game play instruction102is received by the game apparatus106. The receiving game apparatus' transceiver110(not shown) uses for example WiHLoN™, ZigBee, Blue Tooth, 802.11 series, or any other short range wireless protocol that is well known and used in the art to transmit the encrypted signal126. The transceiver110(not shown) may comprise of a transceiver110(not shown) with integrated radio and shared antennae128; direct conversion receivers; digital radio receivers; super heterodyne receivers; or any other receivers or transceivers110,110′ that are well known and used in the art. The transceiver110(not shown) may include but is not limited to Blue Tooth, ZigBee, 802.11 series, or any other short range wireless protocol that is well known and used in the art and other future short range wireless protocol suitable for transmitting and receiving data over a short distance. Preferably the transceiver110(not shown) includes a combined wireless transceiver110(not shown), e.g. a ZigBee transceiver110with integrated radio and shared antennae128. However, other wireless transceivers110,110′ that are well known and used in the art may be used to practice the invention.

FIG. 3is an illustrative view of an exemplary method of distributing oral game play instructions102(not shown) to at least one player according to another embodiment of the invention. The receiving game apparatus' transceiver110receives the encrypted signal126(step302) containing the game play instruction102(not shown) intended to be executed on the field during the game. Upon receipt, the receiving game apparatus' microprocessor130decrypts the received encrypted signal126(step304) containing the game play instruction102(not shown) intended for execution on the field during the game. The digital audio converter140(not shown) converts the decrypted signal124containing the game play instruction102(not shown) into a digital audio signal112(not shown) containing the game play instruction102(step306). The receiving game apparatus' transceiver110(not shown) then transmits the converted digital audio signal124(not shown) (step308) containing the game play instruction102via its antennae128(not shown) to the transceiver110(not shown) of at least one headgear104configured for receipt of transmissions, i.e. digital audio signals124,124″ (not shown) from the game apparatus106, another headgear104similarly configured and/or a PRT114, where the digital audio signal124(not shown) is aired via speakers116,116′ (not shown) that is positioned within the headgear104. The converted digital audio signal124containing the game play instruction102may be transmitted to any one of the following: one, two, a plurality, or all headgears104,104′ provided to teammates on or off the field. In this manner, the coach's game play instructions102,102′ (not shown) and/or the players' communications of intended game play instructions102,102′ to be implemented on the field during the game are transmitted in real-time in a secure environment to the intended recipients only that will not be intercepted, overheard, and/or anticipated by the opposing team or side.

One, some, a plurality or all players on the same team on or off the field provided with the headgear104configured for transmitting and/or receiving digital audio signal112containing game play instruction102(not shown) to or from a game apparatus106, e.g. a wristband unit, other headgear104similarly configured for receipt of digital audio signals112(not shown), and/or a PRT114. In this manner, one, a couple, a plurality or all players wearing the headgear104may simultaneously receive in real-time an encrypted signal126containing the game play instruction102(not shown) via the game apparatus' transceiver110(not shown) as transmitted by the coach and/or another player for a coordinated team execution on the field, regardless of whether the player and/or coach is on or off the field.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with football, it is understood that the game apparatus106, headgear104, system100and method200,300of distributing game play instructions102,102′ to players during a game may be used for several other games and/or other sporting events which include but is not limited to any one or more of the following: football, baseball, volleyball, soccer, paintball and basketball. While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the system and method illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.