# US 2022/0046089 A1 · System and methods of tracking game events

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- Number: US 2022/0046089 A1
- Document ID: US20220046089A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/392,559
- Filed: 2021-08-03
- Published: 2022-02-10
- Earliest claimed: 2020-08-04
- Inventors: NEIL PATRICK ADAMS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220046089A1

## CPC

- H04L 67/1095: Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
- A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user}
- A63B 71/0669: {Score-keepers or score display devices}
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
- G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
- H04L 67/306: User profiles
- H04L 67/55: Push-based network services
- H04L 67/535: {Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34)}
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- 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)

## Abstract

System and methods for tracking events in a sports game using one or more event input devices. Each event input device tracks a subset of the game events and the devices work together to provide a simplified input experience by sharing input and context from other event input devices. Since the user is only responsible for capturing a subset of the events, and because each device simplifies the input requirements of the other event input devices, the end user is still able to enjoy watching the game while also opening up the input task to users who would not have typically done so. The combined results of the devices provides a complete picture of the game in the form of a game play-by-play for the fans and statistics for the coaches. Integration with the scoreboard, communication system and player devices provide further event input simplification, rich content for viewers and simplification for traditional scorekeepers and sound controllers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for tracking events in a sports game, using a plurality of network-connected event input devices and a communication network, the method comprising:
displaying a game roles selection user interface on a display of at least one of the one or more event input devices, wherein the game roles selection interface includes editable fields to take ownership of input for zero or more game roles and an indication of which users are currently signed up for which roles;
displaying an event input user interface on a display of at least one of the one or more event input devices, wherein the event input user interface provides editable fields to record a game event;
receiving a game event at the one or more event input devices;
receiving statistics for the game event at the one or more event input devices;
sending the game event by the one or more event input devices to a server over the communication network, the server being configured to store and manage the game events;
sending the statistics by the one or more event input devices to the server over the communication network, the server being configured to store and manage the game statistics;
combining, by the server, the game events and the statistics from the event input devices to create a play-by-play of the sports game;
combining, by the server, the game events and the statistics from the event input devices to create statistics for the sports game, group of games, player or group of players;
sending, by the server, the game events and statistics to one or more client devices to display a play-by-play user interface of game events and a statistics user interface of the sports game, group of games, player or group of players; and
sending, by the server, the game events and statistics to one or more event input devices to track the events of the sports game.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon receiving the game events or statistics from the server from the first event input device, on the second event input device:
updating the event input screen to simplify the user interface;
automatically populating, user interface fields on the event input screen with received game events or statistics;
highlighting user interface fields on the event input screen based on received game events or statistics; and
simplifying event input requirements on the event input screen based on recent game events or statistics.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon receiving the game events or statistics from a plurality of event input devices and a plurality of client devices:
detecting conflicting or incorrect events by the server;
generating a resolution request message by the server;
sending a resolution request message, by the server, to the first event input device over the communication network;
receiving a resolution request message by the first event input device;
displaying a conflict resolution user interface on a display of the first event input device;
receiving a resolution response event at the first event input device; and
sending the resolution response message, by the first event input device, to the server over the communication network, the server being configured to update and store the modified game event.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein detecting conflicting or incorrect events by the server is accomplished by detecting a threshold number of down votes being received by the server from a plurality of client or event input devices.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the event input device is a traditional physical scoreboard located in a sports complex, providing game events to the server.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the game events provided by the scoreboard may be proxied through another event input device that has a communication channel to the server.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising controlling or partially controlling the scoreboard from the first event input device, the server or the server using an event input device as a proxy.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the event input device is a communication system, located in a sports complex, providing game events to the server.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the game events provided by the communication system may be proxied through another event input device that has a communication channel to the server.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising controlling or partially controlling the communication system from the first event input device, the server or the server using an event input device as a proxy.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising generating media by a first event input device or by the server and sending to the communication system to be presented.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the media generated is chosen contextually based on the current status of the game or recent events in the game.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the communication system provides information in the form of a game event, about the media being presented.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the game events provided by the communication system are alternative versions of the media being presented that are more suitable for presentation based on the output capabilities of the client devices.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the event input device is a player device providing game events related to a specific player to the server.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the game events provided by the player device may be proxied through another event input or client device that has a communication channel to the server.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the first event input device, the first client device or the server generate additional game events based on a plurality of events received from the first player device or a plurality of event input devices.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
generating, by the server, a notification message based on a plurality of events generated by player devices;
sending the notification message to the first client or event input device; and
displaying the notification message on the first client or event input device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising, restricting a subset of player game events to only be visible to a subset of client or event input devices.

### Claim 20

A system for tracking events in a sports game, the system comprising a server configured to:
receive game events from a plurality of event input devices over the communication network;
receive statistics from the plurality of event input devices over the communication network;
store and manage the game events and statistics;
combine the game events and the statistics from the event input devices to create a play-by-play of the sports game;
combine the game events and the statistics from the event input devices to create statistics for the sports game, group of games, player or group of players;
send the game events and statistics to one or more client devices to display a play-by-play user interface of game events and a statistics user interface of the sports game, group of games, player or group of players; and
send the game events and statistics to one or more event input devices to track the events of the sports game.