Process and apparatus for managing signals at a bowling alley or the like
AssigneeQubicaamf Europe S.P.A.
InventorRoberto Vaioli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a process and apparatus for managing signals to be broadcast at a bowling alley or the like a video signal comprising an image captured at the bowling alley is displayed at the bowling lane.
Claims141
A process for managing signals at a bowling centre or the like, where a signal is broadcast, which comprises a video signal including an image of a person (41), the process being characterized in that the image of the person (41) is broadcast when a predetermined event occurs and comprises the image of a person in some way connected with the event that has occurred.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of predetermined events designed to cause the signal including the image of the person to be broadcast.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 4 to 18, characterized in that it comprises entering or selecting data relating to a special occasion.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the video signal is broadcast at the lane.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 21, characterized in that the basic image comprises respective component portions (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d).
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 22, characterized in that a plurality of predetermined basic images (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) is used.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 23, characterized in that the basic image comprises a predetermined character (42b, 42c, 42d) with which the image of the person (41, 43, 45) is associated.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 25, characterized in that the basic image comprises an alphanumeric string (42′) indicating a corresponding event or occasion.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 26, characterized in that a respective plurality of basic images (63a, 63b, 63c) corresponds to each other to define a common theme.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 27, characterized in that respective pluralities of default images (63a, 63b, 63c, 63d), corresponding to respective themes, are used.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 28, characterized in that one or more default images (63a, 63b, 63c, 63d), corresponding to respective occasions, are used.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 29, characterized in that a respective plurality of default images (63a, 63b or 63c, 63d) corresponds to a characteristic of the person.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 31, characterized in that each basic image (163a) of the plurality of basic images corresponds to a respective predetermined event.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 33, characterized in that many basic images (163a, 263a, 363a, 463a) of the plurality of basic images are associated with a single predetermined event.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 21 to 36, characterized in that the combined image (44) has a hierarchy for displaying the plurality of images of persons (41, 43, 45) present in the combined image.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the player and the video signal to be displayed (44) are associated with one another by the lane management means (36).
The process according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the predetermined event and the video signal to be displayed (44) are associated with one another by the lane management means (36).
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 42, characterized in that the image of the person (41) and the basic image (42) are associated with one another by the lane management means (36).
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 43, characterized in that the image of the person (41) and the basic image (42) are associated with one another by the bowling alley central management means (26).
The process according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the image of the person (41) is transmitted to the central management means (26).
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 45, characterized in that the combined image to be displayed (44) is transmitted to the lane management means (36).
The process according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the image of the person (41) is in the form of a substantially static image.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the basic image (42) comprises animated portions.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 11 to 48, characterized in that it comprises facilitating image capture.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 11 to 49, characterized in that it comprises defining the image of the person.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 11 to 50, characterized in that it comprises manipulating the image of the person to be displayed.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 52 to 54, characterized in that a plurality of figurative elements (61, 62, 63, 64, 65) is used.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 55, characterized in that the combined images (44) are supplied to the person.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that an animation captured is transmitted to lane management means (36).
The process according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a call signal from the player is broadcast.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the call signal is sent through the lane management means (36).
The process according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the signal broadcast comprises an audio signal.
The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 27 to 69, characterized in that it comprises selecting the specific theme.
An apparatus for managing signals at a bowling centre or the like, comprising means for broadcasting a video signal including an image of a person (41), the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises means which, in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event, broadcast a signal which includes the image of a person related to that event.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 74 to 83, characterized in that it comprises means for entering data or selections relating to a specific occasion.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 71 to 84, characterized in that it comprises means for displaying the image of the person and comprising at least one display (21, 22) at the respective lane.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 86, characterized in that the basic image comprises respective component portions (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d).
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 87, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of basic default images (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d).
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 88, characterized in that the means for generating the image are designed to associate the image of the person (41, 43, 45) with a respective predetermined character (42b, 42c, 42d) of the basic image.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 90, characterized in that the basic image comprises an alphanumeric string (42′) defining a respective predetermined event or occasion.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 91, characterized in that it contemplates respective pluralities of default images (63a, 63b, 63c, 63d), corresponding to respective themes.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 75 to 93, characterized in that it contemplates one or more basic default images (63a, 63b, 63c, 63d), corresponding to respective occasions.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 71 to 94, characterized in that a respective plurality of default images (63a, 63b or 63c, 63d) corresponds to a characteristic of the person.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 71 to 95, characterized in that a respective plurality of default images (63a, 63b or 63c, 63d) corresponds to a respective theme connected with a corresponding characteristic of the person.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 96, characterized in that each basic image (163a) of the plurality of basic images corresponds to a respective event.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 97, characterized in that each basic image (163a) of the plurality of basic images corresponding to a respective theme is associated with a corresponding event.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 98, characterized in that many basic images (163a, 263a, 363a, 463a) of the plurality of basic images are associated with the same event.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 99, characterized in that a plurality of basic images (163a, 263a, 363a, 463a) of the plurality of basic images corresponding to a respective theme is associated with a corresponding event.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 100, characterized in that it comprises means which associate a predetermined image of the person with each basic image (163a) in order to obtain the combined image.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 101, characterized in that the means for generating the combined image (44) associate a predetermined image of the person (41a, 41b, 41c) with each basic image (163a).
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 102, characterized in that it comprises means for saving the basic image (42).
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 103, characterized in that the combined image (44) has a hierarchy for displaying the plurality of images of persons (41, 43, 45) present in the combined image.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 71 to 104, characterized in that it comprises means for associating respective signals to be broadcast (44) with a plurality of predetermined events.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 71 to 106, characterized in that it comprises means which associate respective signals to be broadcast (44) with a plurality of players.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 108 to 110, characterized in that it comprises means designed to transmit the image to be broadcast from the lane management means (36) to the display means (21, 22) at the lane.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 108 to 111, characterized in that the lane management means (36) associate the image of the person (41) with the basic image (42).
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 113 to 115, characterized in that comprises means designed to transmit the combined image to be displayed to the lane management means (36).
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 71 to 116, characterized in that it comprises means for capturing one or more images (41a, 41b, 41c) relating to a respective person.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 118, characterized in that the basic image (42) comprises animated portions.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 117 to 119, characterized in that said means for capturing the image are in the form of a stills camera (29).
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 117 to 120, characterized in that said means for generating the image comprise a processor.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 117 to 121, characterized in that it comprising means (50) for facilitating image capturing.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 117 to 123, characterized in that it comprises means designed to define the image of the person (41).
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 117 to 124, characterized in that it comprises means for manipulating the image of the person.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 117 to 127, characterized in that it comprises means designed to add figurative elements to the basic image, said figurative elements forming an image corresponding to characteristics of the person.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 126 to 128, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of figurative elements (61, 62, 63, 64, 65).
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 129, characterized in that it comprises means for supplying the combined images to the person.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 71 to 130, characterized in that it comprises means for positioning the images of the person at the scoreboard.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 71 to 137, characterized in that it comprises means for capturing the image of a bowling alley operator.
The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 92 to 138, characterized in that it comprises selecting the specific theme.
A bowling centre or the like, characterized in that it comprises an apparatus for managing signals according to any of the claims from 71 to 139.
A bowling centre or the like, characterized in that it comprises a kiosk for capturing the images of the persons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.