# US 10,118,081 B2 · System for providing game-related information

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,118,081 B2
- Document ID: US10118081B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/004,000
- Filed: 2016-01-22
- Published: 2016-07-28
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-01-23
- Applicants: Michael Hunter Huebsch
- Inventors: Michael Hunter Huebsch
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118081B2

## CPC

- A63B 71/06: Indicating or scoring devices for games or players {, or for other sports activities}
- G06F 16/22: Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
- G06F 16/23: Updating
- G06F 16/25: Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
- H04M 1/72403: with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

An electronic apparatus for providing game-related information includes a computer processor, a memory device, a display screen, a transmitter, and a communication interface. The memory device stores at least one piece of computer code executable by the computer processor and data used by the computer code. The transmitter enables information to be communicated to a scoreboard. The communication interface enables information to be communicated to subscribers identified on a subscriber list stored in a database of the memory device. The computer code includes code for providing a user interface on the display screen to enable a scorekeeper to input an information item relating to a game, controlling the transmitter to transmit the information item to the scoreboard, controlling the memory device to store the information item in a memory therein, and controlling the communication interface to transmit the information item to at least one subscriber identified on the subscriber list.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for communicating game-related information, the method comprising steps of:
receiving, at an electronic device, information items relating to a game, the information items being inputted by a scorekeeper during the game;
transmitting at least some of the information items from the electronic device to a scoreboard;
storing the information items in a memory of the electronic device; and
transmitting customized information from the electronic device to electronic devices of subscribers identified on a subscriber list stored in a database of the memory, the customized information being transmitted directly using non-web-based technology and indirectly using web-based technology according to preferences of the subscribers,
wherein the customized information includes some or all of the information items, and wherein the customized information transmitted to the electronic device of one of the subscribers is different from the customized information transmitted to the electronic device of another of the subscribers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the subscribers include one or a combination of:
a sports league to which the game belongs,
a parent of a player in the game,
a school to which a player of the game belongs;
a news organization,
a sports data agency, and
an individual who registered to receive game information.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of transmitting the customized information, the customized information is transmitted directly using the non-web-based technology via one or a combination of:
an email message,
a text message,
a social media message,
a file transfer to an external storage unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein, in the step of transmitting the customized information, the electronic device communicates with a push server programmed to use push technology to push the customized information to any combination of:
an email address,
a telephone number, and
a web-based application, and
wherein the non-web-based technology is used for the email address and the telephone number, and the web-based technology is used for the web-based application.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the customized information includes information relating to a particular player of the game, and
wherein, in the step of transmitting the customized information, the customized information is transmitted to a subscriber who registered to receive game information relating to the particular player.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the step of storing includes storing the information items relating to the game in a datafile for the game, and
wherein the step of transmitting the customized information includes transmitting the datafile to at least one of the subscribers identified on the subscriber list.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6,
wherein the datafile includes a complete set of information items relating to the game, and
wherein the datafile includes a certification by at least one of:
the scorekeeper,
a referee for the game, and
a coach or a manager of each team of the game.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the information items include an indication that an event has occurred during the game, the event including at least one of:
a player scoring one or more points,
a player assisting in scoring one or more points,
a player performing a predetermined play,
an injury to player,
a player substitution,
a foul or a penalty called on a player or a team,
a time-out called by a team,
a weather-related delay,
an official end of the game,
a scoring change,
a change in team having a leading score,
a tie score, and
an overtime extension of the game.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein the information items include at least one of:
an official time corresponding to when the event occurred,
a time period of the game when the event occurred, and
a current score of the game when the event occurred.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the customized information is determined based on preference information stored in the database for each subscriber on the subscriber list, the preference information indicating types of information to be transmitted or types of information not to be transmitted to the subscriber.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the preference information for each of the subscribers is designated by the subscriber when the subscriber registers to receive game-related information.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein the preference information for each of the subscribers includes at least one of:
an email address of the subscriber,
a telephone number of the subscriber,
a social-media account name of the subscriber, and
a web address of the subscriber.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein a subscriber is added to the subscriber list by completing a registration process to register to receive game-related information.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein the registration process is completed electronically using an Internet-accessible web page.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:
receiving, at the electronic device, updated subscriber information, and
updating the subscriber list stored in the database based on the updated subscriber information.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:
calculating game statistics based a plurality of the information items relating to the game that are stored in the memory, and
storing the game statistics in the memory.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of transmitting the game statistics to at least one subscriber identified on the subscriber list.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of transmitting the at least one of the information items from the electronic device to the scoreboard, a wireless communication protocol is utilized.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method according to claim 18, wherein the communication protocol is one of:
a Zigbee® communication protocol,
a spread spectrum communication protocol, and
a Bluetooth® communication protocol.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is one of:
a desktop computer,
a laptop computer,
a tablet computer, and
a smartphone.

### Claim 21

A non-transient computer-readable storage medium storing computer code that, when executed by a computer processor, implements a method for communicating game-related information, wherein the computer code includes code for:
providing a user interface to enable a scorekeeper to input, to an electronic device, information items relating to a game, the user interface being provided on a display screen of the electronic device;
controlling a transmitter of the electronic device to transmit at least some of the information items to a scoreboard;
controlling a memory of the electronic device to store the information items therein; and
controlling a communication interface of the electronic device to transmit customized information to electronic devices of subscribers identified on a subscriber list stored in a database of the memory, the customized information being transmitted directly using non-web-based technology and indirectly using web-based technology according to preferences of the subscribers,
wherein the customized information includes some or all of the information items, and
wherein the customized information transmitted to the electronic device of one of the subscribers is different from the customized information transmitted to the electronic device of another of the subscribers.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the subscribers include one or a combination of:
a sports league to which the game belongs,
a parent of a player in the game,
a school to which a player of the game belongs;
a news organization,
a sports data agency, and
an individual who registered to receive game information.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the code for controlling the communication interface causes the customized information to be transmitted directly using the non-web-based technology via one or a combination of:
an email message,
a text message,
a social media message,
a file transfer to an external storage unit.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21,
wherein the code for controlling the communication interface causes the electronic device to communicate with a push server, the push server being programmed to use push technology to push the customized information to any combination of:
an email address,
a telephone number, and
a web-based application, and
wherein the non-web-based technology is used for the email address and the telephone number, and the web-based technology is used for the web-based application.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the customized information includes information relating to a particular player of the game, and the code for controlling the communication interface causes the customized information to be transmitted to a subscriber who registered to receive game information relating to the particular player.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21,
wherein the code for controlling the memory causes the memory to store the information items relating to the game in a datafile for the game, and
wherein the code for controlling the communication interface causes the datafile to be transmitted to at least one of the subscribers identified on the subscriber list.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 26,
wherein the datafile includes a complete set of information items relating to the game, and
wherein the datafile includes a certification by at least one of:
the scorekeeper,
a referee for the game, and
a coach or a manager of each team of the game.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the information items include an indication that an event has occurred during the game, the event including at least one of:
a player scoring one or more points,
a player assisting in scoring one or more points,
a player performing a predetermined play,
an injury to player,
a player substitution,
a foul or a penalty called on a player or a team,
a time-out called by a team,
a weather-related delay,
an official end of the game,
a scoring change,
a change in team having a leading score,
a tie score, and
an overtime extension of the game.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 28, wherein the information items include at least one of:
an official time corresponding to when the event occurred,
a time period of the game when the event occurred, and
a current score of the game when the event occurred.

### Claim 30 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21,
wherein the computer code further includes code for determining the customized information based on preference information stored in the database for each subscriber on the subscriber list, the preference information indicating types of information to be transmitted or types of information not to be transmitted to the subscriber.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 30, wherein the preference information for each of the subscribers is designated by the subscriber when the subscriber registers to receive game-related information.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 31, wherein the preference information for each of the subscribers includes at least one of:
an email address of the subscriber,
a telephone number of the subscriber,
a social-media account name of the subscriber, and
a web address of the subscriber.

### Claim 33 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, wherein a subscriber is added to the subscriber list by completing a registration process to register to receive game-related information.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 33, wherein the registration process is completed electronically using an Internet-accessible web page.

### Claim 35 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the computer code further includes code for:
controlling the communication interface to receive updated subscriber information, and
controlling the memory to update the subscriber list stored in the database based on the updated subscriber information.

### Claim 36 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the computer code further includes code for:
calculating game statistics based a plurality of the information items relating to the game that are stored in the memory, and
controlling the memory to store the game statistics.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 36, wherein the computer code further includes code for controlling the communication interface to transmit the game statistics to at least one subscriber identified on the subscriber list.

### Claim 38 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the code for controlling the transmitter of the electronic device causes the transmitter to transmit the at least one of the information items from the electronic device to the scoreboard via a wireless communication protocol.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 38, wherein the communication protocol is one of:
a Zigbee® communication protocol,
a spread spectrum communication protocol, and
a Bluetooth® communication protocol.

### Claim 40 (depends on 21)

The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the electronic device is one of:
a desktop computer,
a laptop computer,
a tablet computer, and
a smartphone.

### Claim 41

An electronic apparatus for providing game-related information, the electronic apparatus comprising:
a computer processor;
a memory device accessible by the computer processor and storing:
computer code executable by the computer processor, and
data used by the computer code;
a display screen;
a transmitter for communicating information to a scoreboard; and
a communication interface for communicating customized information to subscribers identified on a subscriber list stored in a database of the memory device,
wherein the computer code includes code for:
providing a user interface to enable a scorekeeper to input information items relating to a game, the user interface being provided on the display screen,
controlling the transmitter to transmit at least one of the information items to the scoreboard,
controlling the memory device to store the information items in a memory therein, and
controlling the communication interface to transmit the customized information to electronic devices of subscribers identified on the subscriber list, the customized information being transmitted directly using non-web-based technology and indirectly using web-based technology according to preferences of the subscribers,
wherein the customized information includes some or all of the information items, and
wherein the customized information transmitted to the electronic device of one of the subscribers is different from the customized information transmitted to the electronic device of another of the subscribers.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the subscribers include one or a combination of:
a sports league to which the game belongs,
a parent of a player in the game,
a school to which a player of the game belongs;
a news organization,
a sports data agency, and
an individual who registered to receive game information.

### Claim 43 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the code for controlling the communication interface causes the customized information to be transmitted directly using the non-web-based technology via one or a combination of:
an email message,
a text message,
a social media message,
a file transfer to an external storage unit.

### Claim 44 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41,
wherein the code for controlling the communication interface causes the electronic apparatus to communicate with a push server, the push server being programmed to use push technology to push the customized information to any combination of:
an email address,
a telephone number, and
a web-based application, and
wherein the non-web-based technology is used for the email address and the telephone number, and the web-based technology is used for the web-based application.

### Claim 45 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the customized information includes information relating to a particular player of the game, and the code for controlling the communication interface causes the customized information to be transmitted to a subscriber who registered to receive game information relating to the particular player.

### Claim 46 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41,
wherein the memory stores the information items relating to the game in a datafile for the game, and
wherein the code for controlling the communication interface causes the datafile to be transmitted to at least one of the subscribers identified on the subscriber list.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 46,
wherein the datafile includes a complete set of information items relating to the game, and
wherein the datafile includes a certification by at least one of:
the scorekeeper,
a referee for the game, and
a coach or a manager of each team of the game.

### Claim 48 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the information items include an indication that an event has occurred during the game, the event including at least one of:
a player scoring one or more points,
a player assisting in scoring one or more points,
a player performing a predetermined play,
an injury to player,
a player substitution,
a foul or a penalty called on a player or a team,
a time-out called by a team,
a weather-related delay,
an official end of the game,
a scoring change,
a change in team having a leading score,
an overtime extension of the game.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the information items include at least one of:
an official time corresponding to when the event occurred,
a time period of the game when the event occurred, and
a current score of the game when the event occurred.

### Claim 50 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41,
wherein the computer code further includes code for determining the customized information based on preference information stored in the database for each subscriber on the subscriber list, the preference information indicating types of information to be transmitted or types of information not to be transmitted to the subscriber.

### Claim 51 (depends on 50)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the preference information for each of the subscribers is designated by the subscriber when the subscriber registers to receive game-related information.

### Claim 52 (depends on 51)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the preference information for each of the subscribers includes at least one of:
an email address of the subscriber,
a telephone number of the subscriber,
a social-media account name of the subscriber, and
a web address of the subscriber.

### Claim 53 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41, wherein a subscriber is added to the subscriber list by completing a registration process to register to receive game-related information.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 53, wherein the registration process is completed electronically using an Internet-accessible web page.

### Claim 55 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the computer code further includes code for:
controlling the communication interface to receive updated subscriber information, and
controlling the memory device to update the subscriber list stored in the database based on the updated subscriber information.

### Claim 56 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the computer code further includes code for:
calculating game statistics based a plurality of the information items relating to the game that are stored in the memory, and
controlling the memory device to store the game statistics.

### Claim 57 (depends on 56)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the computer code further includes code for controlling the communication interface to transmit the game statistics to at least one subscriber identified on the subscriber list.

### Claim 58 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the transmitter transmits the at least one of the information items to the scoreboard via a wireless communication protocol.

### Claim 59 (depends on 58)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 58, wherein the communication protocol is one of:
a Zigbee® communication protocol,
a spread spectrum communication protocol, and
a Bluetooth® communication protocol.

### Claim 60 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the electronic device is one of:
a desktop computer,
a laptop computer,
a tablet computer, and
a smartphone.

### Claim 61 (depends on 41)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising a communication port, wherein the transmitter is a detachable unit that attaches to and detaches from the communication port.

### Claim 62 (depends on 61)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 61, wherein the communication port is a USB port.