Automatic bowling center system

In a bowling center system including a plurality of bowling lanes, and a plurality of bowling scoring systems each connected to a manager's control system, a video distribution system comprising:

• memory means for storing data representing a plurality of video segments;
• commandable reading means for reading data from said memory means;
• means coupled to said reading means for transmitting a video signal to convey video segment information responsive to data read from said memory means;
• a plurality of video display terminals remotely located from said manager's control system and operable to display video information responsive to a received video signal;
• a plurality of remote terminals, each said remote terminal including one of said display terminals and a user input device comprising said selecting means;
• means in communication with said manager's control system for selecting one of said video segments to be displayed on one of said display terminals;
• a video communication network connected to said transmitting means and said display terminals;
• a manager's communication network connecting said manager's control system to said reading means, said manager's control system including means responsive to said selecting means for commanding said reading means to read stored data associated with the selected video segment so that said transmitting means transmits over said video communication network a video signal relative thereto;
• and
• switching means operatively associated with said selecting means and coupled in said video communication network for selectively coupling said transmitting means to the selected one of said display terminals, to receive the video signal associated with the selected video segment, wherein said switching means comprises a plurality of such switching means each electrically connected to one of said bowling scoring systems and wherein each said scoring system operates the switching means connected thereto in accordance with a command received from said manager's control system responsive to a request entered at said input device.

In a bowling center system including a plurality of bowling lanes, a video distribution system comprising:

• a scoring controller device for each lane having a score display device;
• a manager's control system operatively connected to each said scoring controller device;
• memory means for storing data representing a plurality of video segments, each said video segment comprising dynamic video display information consisting of a series of still pictures displayed in rapid succession to provide an illusion of motion;
• commandable reading means for reading data from said memory means;
• means coupled to said reading means for transmitting a video signal to convey video segment information responsive to data rad from said memory means;
• a plurality of video display terminals, one for each said scoring controller device, remotely located from said manager's control system and operable to display video information responsive to a received video signal;
• means in communication with said manager's control system for selecting one of said video segments to be displayed on one of said display terminals;
• a video communication network connected to said transmitting means and said display terminals;
• a manager's communication network connecting said manager's control system to said reading means, said manager's control system including means responsive to said selecting means for commanding said reading means to read stored data associated with the selected video segment so that said transmitting means transmits over said video communication network a video signal relative thereto;
• and
• switching means operatively associated with said selecting means and coupled in said video communication network for selectively coupling said transmitting means to the selected one of said display terminals, to receive the video signal associated with the selected video segment.

In a bowling center system including a plurality of bowling lanes, a video distribution system comprising:

• a scoring controller device for each lane having a score display device;
• a manager's control system operatively connected to each said scoring controller device;
• memory means for storing data representing a plurality of video segments;
• commandable reading means for reading data from said memory means;
• means coupled to said reading means for transmitting a video signal to convey video segment information responsive to data read from said memory means;
• a plurality of video display terminals, one for each said scoring controller device, remotely located from said manager's control system and operable to display video information responsive to a received video signal;
• means in communication with said manager's control system for selecting one of said video segments to be displayed on one of said display terminals;
• a plurality of remote terminals, each said remote terminal including one of said display terminals and a user input device comprising said selecting means;
• a video communication network connected to said transmitting means and said display terminals;
• a manager's communication network connecting said manager's control system to said reading means, said manager's control system including means responsive to said selecting means for commanding said reading means to read stored data associated with the selected video segment so that said transmitting means transmits over said video communication network a video signal relative thereto;
• and
• switching means operatively associated with said selecting means and coupled in said video communication network for selectively coupling said transmitting means to the selected one of said display terminals, to receive the video signal associated with the selected video segment,.wherein said switching means comprises a plurality of such switching means each electrically connected to one of said bowling scoring systems and wherein each said scoring system operates the switching means connected thereto in accordance with a command received from said manager's control system responsive to a request entered at said input device.

In a bowling center system including a plurality of bowling lane pairs, a video distribution system comprising:

• a scoring controller device for each lane pair having a score display device;
• a manager's control system operatively connected to each said scoring controller device;
• memory means for storing data representing a plurality of video segments;
• commandable reading means for reading data from said memory means;
• means coupled to said reading means for transmitting a video signal to convey video segment information responsive to data read from said memory means;
• a plurality of video display terminals, one for each said scoring controller device, remotely located from said manager's control system and operable to display video information responsive to a received video signal;
• means in communication with said manager's control system for selecting one of said video segments to be displayed on one of said display terminals;
• a video communication network connected to said transmitting means and said display terminals;
• a manager's communication network connecting said manager's control system to said reading means, said manager's control system including means responsive to said selecting means for commanding said reading means to read stored data associated with the selected video segment so that said transmitting means transmits over said video communication network a video signal relative thereto;
• and
• switching means operatively associated with said selecting means and coupled in said video communication network for selectively coupling said transmitting means to the selected one of said display terminals, to receive the video signal associated with the selected video segment.

In a bowling center system including a plurality of bowling lane pairs, a video distribution system comprising:

• a scoring controller device for each lane pair having a score display device;
• a manager's control system operatively connected to each said scoring controller device;
• memory means for storing data representing a plurality of video segments;
• commandable reading means for reading data from said memory means;
• means coupled to said reading means for transmitting a video signal to convey video segment information responsive to data read from said memory means;
• a plurality of video display terminals, one for each said scoring controller device, remotely located from said manager's control system and operable to display video information responsive to a received video signal;
• means in communication with said manager's control system for selecting one of said video segments to be displayed on one of said display terminals;
• a plurality of remote terminals, each said remote terminal including one of said display terminals and a user input device comprising said selecting means;
• a video communication network connected to said transmitting means and said display terminals;
• a manager's communication network connecting said manager's control system to said reading means, said manager's control system including means responsive to said selecting means for commanding said reading means to read stored data associated with the selected video segment so that said transmitting means transmits over said video communication network a video signal relative thereto;
• and
• switching means operatively associated with said selecting means and coupled in said video communication network for selectively coupling said transmitting means to the selected one of said display terminals, to receive the video signal associated with the selected video segment, wherein said switching means comprises a plurality of such switching means each electrically connected to one of said bowling scoring systems and wherein each said scoring system operates the switching means connected thereto in accordance with a command received from said manager's control system responsive to a request entered at said input device.