# US 6,725,107 B2 · Electronic scorekeeping device and system therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,725,107 B2 - Document ID: US6725107B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/011,482 - Filed: 2001-12-11 - Published: 2002-09-26 - Granted: 2004-04-20 - Earliest claimed: 2000-12-11 - Assignees: Hockeyline Inc. - Inventors: Ray MacPherson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6725107B2 ## CPC - A63B 71/0669: {Score-keepers or score display devices} - G06F 16/954: Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing - A63B 71/0616: {Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings} - A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games - A63B 2102/182: {Softball} - A63B 2102/24: Ice hockey - A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry - A63B 2243/0025: Football - A63B 2243/0037: Basketball - A63B 2243/007: American football - 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 An electronic scorekeeping device is disclosed which allows a user to electronically document data relating to events of a sports game. This data is transferred in real-time in a system according to the invention via a communications means to a central database. The central database may be coupled to a server computer which presents a web site whereby public users may access statistical information relating to a given sports game while the game is still in progress, as well as at and following the conclusion of the game. The web site may present archives of previously played games, and access thereto may be restricted by the use of a username and/or password. The data transfer to the database may be a live feed, or automatic transfers may be scheduled at predetermined time intervals. The device itself is customizable such that the data being gathered can be tailored to suit the specific sport being played. The user may further customize the menu-based screens displayed on the device in order to eliminate the prompting for any extraneous data that is not desired by the particular user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic scorekeeping device for gathering, processing and distributing statistical information related to a sports game, comprising: a processor; input means coupled to said processor for inputting data related to events of said sports game in real-time; memory means coupled to said processor for storing such inputted data; display means coupled to said processor for facilitating the entry of such data by a user; information transfer means for transferring statistical information based on such inputted data to a central database via communication means; wherein the display means displays a plurality of hierarchical menu-based screens that may be customized by the user to reflect desired data that is to be gathered for said sports game. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1 wherein the transfer of statistical information is performed automatically. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A device according to claim 2 wherein the user is able to configure the time interval between automatic transfers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1 wherein the information transfer means is adapted to transfer statistical information to a location other than the central database. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A device according to claim 4 wherein the information transfer means is further adapted to import other data from an external source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A device according to claim 5 wherein the external source is the Internet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A device according to claim 5 wherein the external source is another electronic scorekeeping device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1 wherein the central database is further coupled to a server computer that provides access to the information in the central database to a plurality of public users. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A device according to claim 8 wherein the server computer hosts a web site which provides access to information in the central database, and optionally provides access to additional information furnished by a web site operator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A device according to claim 8 wherein the server computer provides a service to an external web site such that the external web site is given access to information in the central database. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A device according to claim 8 wherein the public users' access to the information in the central database is regulated by a security measure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A device according to claim 11 wherein said security measure comprises the use of a username and a password. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1 further comprising clock interface means for coupling said processor with a game clock. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A device according to claim 13 wherein the coupling between the clock interface means and the game clock allows for bi-directional communication. ### Claim 15 An electronic scorekeeping device for gathering, processing and distributing statistical information related to a sports game, comprising: a processor; input means coupled to said processor for inputting data related to events of said sports game in real-time; memory means coupled to said processor for storing such inputted data; display means coupled to said processor for facilitating the entry of such data by a user; information transfer means for transferring statistical information based on such inputted data to a central database via communication means; and clock interface means for coupling said processor with a game clock; wherein the coupling between the clock interface means and the game clock allows for bi-directional communication. ### Claim 16 A system for gathering, processing and distributing statistical information related to a sports game, comprising: an electronic scorekeeping device; a central database; communication means for effecting communication between said electronic scorekeeping device and said central database; wherein said electronic scorekeeping device comprises: a processor; input means coupled to said processor for inputting data related to events of said sports game in real-time; memory means coupled to said processor for storing such inputted data; display means coupled to said processor for facilitating the entry of such data by a user; and information transfer means for transferring statistical information based on such inputted data to a central database via communication means; wherein the display means displays a plurality of hierarchical menu-based screens that are customized to reflect the desired data that is to be gathered for said sports game; and wherein the user is able to further customize the menu-based screens in order to determine which specific data is to be collected at said sports game. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A system according to claim 16 wherein the device further comprises clock interface means for coupling said processor with a game clock. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A system according to claim 17 wherein the coupling between the clock interface means and the game clock allows for bi-directional communication. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A system according to claim 16 wherein the transfer of statistical information is performed automatically. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A system according to claim 19 wherein the user is able to configure the time interval between automatic transfers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) A system according to claim 16 wherein the information transfer means is adapted to transfer statistical information to a location other than the central database. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A system according to claim 21 wherein the information transfer means is further adapted to import other data from an external source. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22 wherein the external source is the Internet. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22 wherein the external source is another electronic scorekeeping device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) A system according to claim 16 wherein the central database is further coupled to a server computer that provides access to the information in the central database to a plurality of public users. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A system according to claim 25 wherein the server computer hosts a web site which provides access to information in the central database, and optionally provides access to additional information furnished by a web site operator. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) A system according to claim 25 wherein the server computer provides a service to an external web site such that the external web site is given access to information in the central database. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) A system according to claim 25 wherein the public users' access to the information in the central database is regulated by a security measure. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A system according to claim 28 wherein said security measure consists of the use of a username and a password. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1 wherein the central database is arranged to receive data from a plurality of electronic scorekeeping devices, each of said devices being located at a separate sports game. ### Claim 31 (depends on 16) A system according to claim 16 wherein a plurality of electronic scorekeeping devices is provided for gathering game-related data at said sports game, and wherein a particular device of said plurality of electronic scorekeeping devices is a master device; and the remainder of said plurality of electronic scorekeeping devices are slave devices with respect to said master device. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A plurality of systems according to claim 31 wherein each of said systems may communicate with the central database.