US 4,302,010 AGranted

Electronic bowling scoring system with video communication interface between manager console and lane score consoles

AssigneeAMF Incorporated

InventorReginald A. Kaenel

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Abstract

An automatic bowling scoring system is disclosed including a central manager's console unit linked in parallel over a plurality of communication buses with a plurality of lane score processors having printing and CRT display monitor units. The manager's console sends commands to the score processors, and thereby gains control over the execution sequences followed by this score processor and modifies its functional sequence. In particular, the manager's console is capable of selectivity controlling the display at any lane pair processor, to cause display of locally generated game score information, or supplementary information developed at the manager's console. The manager's console can also cause the transfer of the locally generated game score information appearing on any monitor to be routed over the buses to the manager's console display monitor.

Claims12

Dependent claims

In an automatic bowling scoring system for use with a plurality of bowling lanes wherein a manager's console unit is employed for asserting selective control over at least a video display portion of the scoring system, the combination comprising

a manager's console unit,
a plurality of lane score console units,
each of said console units comprising a keyboard for providing input information, memory means coupled to said keyboard for storing at least bowler, lane, and game information, a processing unit coupled to said memory means for processing at least said input and stored information, a CRT monitor for displaying at least bowler identification, lane, and game score information, and a video display controller coupled to said memory means and said CRT monitor for controlling information displayed on said monitor,
a plurality of communication buses for connecting said manager's console and said lane score console units in parallel,
an interface unit for each said manager's console and lane score console units for selectively connecting the video display controller of each one of said lane score console and manager's console units to its respective CRT monitor and to said communication buses,
each one of said interface units being operable in response to command signals from the manager's console unit to selectively cause display at its respective console unit of video information coupled from its respective console unit or coupled from at least one other of said console units that it is connected to over said buses.

3 more elements

A bowling scoring system for a plurality of pairs of bowling lanes, including

a manager's console unit comprising a keyboard for providing input information, memory means coupled to said keyboard for storing at least bowler, lane, and game information, a processing unit coupled to said memory for processing said input and stored information, CRT monitor for displaying at least said bowler identification, lane, and game score identification, and a video display controller coupled to said processing unit and memory means and to said CRT monitor for coupling information to be displayed on said monitor,
a plurality of lane console units each comprising a keyboard for providing input information, memory means coupled to said keyboard for storing bowler, lane, and game information, a processing unit coupled to said memory for processing said input and stored information, a pair of CRT monitors for displaying bowler identification, lane, and game score information relating to a respective pair of bowling lanes, and a video display controller coupled to said processing unit and memory means and to said CRT monitor for coupling information to be displayed on said monitor,
a plurality of communication buses for connecting said manager's console and said lane score console units in parallel,
an interface unit for each of said manager's console and lane score console units for connecting said CRT monitors and video display controllers of said lane score console units in parallel with the manager's console unit over said buses,
each of said interface units including one or more local monitor output ports for connecting video signals to a respective one or more CRT monitors, first video input port means for receiving video signals from another console unit, video output port means for coupling video signals to another console unit, additional video port means for receiving video signals from the local console unit, command port means for receiving command signals, and video selective gate means responsive to command signals emanating from said manager's console unit for selectively controlling the coupling of video signals from said lane score console unit or the manager's console unit to the CRT monitors of the lane score console and manager's console units.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.