BACKGROUND ART One of the most popular and fastest growing spectator sports in the United States, as well as in other parts of the world, is motor vehicle racing. In the United States, stock cars sanctioned by the National Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR) qualify in time trials and race at various racetracks across the country before millions of spectators each year. Similarly, sports cars sanctioned by organizations such as Championship Automobile Racing Teams (CART) and Indy Racing League (IRL) hold time trials and race on some of the same race tracks, as well as others, again before millions of spectators each year. Furthermore, international organizations, such as the Grand Prix circuit, sanction motor vehicle time trials and races in various countries throughout the world before millions of spectators.

To assist in tracking the status of these motor vehicles while they are racing, a high-end timing and scoring system monitors each vehicle. This timing and scoring system has been specifically developed for professional circuits and race series, where timing and scoring needs to be very accurate and is often not limited to start/finish. This system may provide detailed race information at multiple intermediate points for an unlimited number of competitors.

Timing and scoring with this system can add great value to a race, due to the sensors located at multiple intermediate points. Race officials and pit crews have access, through the system, to split times, speeds, and differential times at various parts of the circuit. Additionally, the system may provide competitor names, sponsor names, <BR> <BR> nationality (state), leading competitor, amount of time lagging of 2nd, 3rd, etc. , fastest lap,

and much more information. For a television audience, the race is more exciting, as the field may be monitored very closely. Unfortunately, while access to this information makes the race more exciting for a television audience, race fans located at the track do not have easy access to this information. Also, individual race fans present at the track may prefer access to different types of information at different times.

The disadvantages associated with these conventional timing and scoring techniques have made it apparent that a new technique for hand held spectator timing and scoring is needed. The new technique should allow spectator access to all race information. The new technique should also allow each spectator to customize what information he receives. The present invention is directed to these ends.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved and reliable hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system. Another object of the invention is to allow spectator access to all race information. An additional object of the invention is to allow each spectator to customize what information he receives.

In accordance with the objects of this invention, a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a timing and scoring system to allow a spectator to track a plurality of variables relating to various participates of a race includes a controller and a hand held monitor. The controller tracks and monitors the plurality of variables, such as, driver number, driver lap time, current standing, and what lap the drivers are currently on. The controller then broadcasts a signal containing this information, principally for use by race officials and pit crews. The hand held monitor is located on the spectator and contains an integrated wireless communication device for receiving the same signal. In this way, the hand held monitor has access to the plurality of variables relating to the various participates of the race. This information can then be displayed on a display screen located on the hand held monitor.

The invention also allows the spectator to choose what kind of race information to display in a variety of formats.

The present invention thus achieves an improved hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system. The present invention is advantageous in that it will make the race more exciting and interesting for race fans located at the track by providing access to detailed race information.

Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the description that follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described some embodiments thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of a timing and scoring system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 3 is a block diagram of a default screen for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 4 is a block diagram of a leader screen showing time differential for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 5 is a block diagram of a lap screen showing lap times for each car for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a block diagram of a leader screen showing speed for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 7 is a block diagram of a lap leader screen for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and FIGURE 8 is a block diagram of a leader screen showing vehicle type for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention is illustrated herein with respect to a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system, particularly suited for tracking automotive racing. However, the present invention is applicable to various other uses that may require hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor systems.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a block diagram of a timing and scoring system 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Timing and scoring system 10 is used to track various parameters of several automobiles 12 as they race on track 14. Each automobile 12 includes a transponder 16 that communicates with one of several detection loops 18. As each car 12 passes over each loop 18, transponder 16 transmits a unique car ID. This information is transmitted to a controller 20. In this way, controller 20 can associate a specific time to each unique car ID and track the performance and position of each car 12 as it passes over one or more loops 18. Spectators 22 are located near track 14 to observe the race.

Timing and scoring with system 10 can add great value to a race, due to one or more sensor loops 18. While the present invention is illustrated using several loops 18

located at multiple intermediate points around track 14, the present invention may also be practiced using a single loop 18. Controller 20 broadcasts a signal that includes, but is not limited to, split times, speeds, and differential times at various parts of the circuit.

Additionally, the system 10 may provide competitor names, sponsor names, nationality (state), leading competitor, amount of time lagging of 2nd, 3rd, etc. , fastest lap, and much more information. Race officials and pit crews commonly have access to a monitor 24 in communication with controller 20.

Referring to FIGURE 2, a block diagram of a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system 26 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system 26 includes a hand held monitor 28 receiving a signal from controller 20. The signal from controller 20 includes, but is not limited to, split times, speeds, differential times at various parts of the circuit, competitor names, sponsor names, nationality (state), leading competitor, amount of time lagging of 2nd, 3rd, etc. , fastest lap, and much more information. To receive the signal from controller 20, hand held monitor 28 includes a wireless communication device 30.

Using the information present in the signal from controller 20, hand held monitor 28 may display this information in a variety of ways. The information is displayed on screen 32. The way in which this information is displayed is controlled by an individual user through a user interface 34, such as buttons or hand writing recognition and may be customized.

Referring to FIGURE 3, a block diagram of a default screen 36 for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system 26 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The default screen 36 includes several user selectable options to change screens and allow the user to choose how data is displayed.

The default screen 36 includes a main display area 38 and a scroll bar 40 for browsing data.

Screen 36 also includes a race identification area 42, a practice menu button 44, a

qualification menu button 46, a race status area 48, a driver selection menu button 40, a lap leader menu button, and a fast laps menu button 54.

Referring to FIGURE 4, a block diagram of a leader screen showing time differential 56 for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system 26 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In one aspect of the present invention, a leader screen showing time differential 56 would display several variables. These variables would include; driver number 58, driver lap time 60, current standings 62, what lap the drivers are on (if they are a lap down), how far behind the leader 62 the field is (2nd place is 1 sec behind, 3rd place is 1.5 sec behind etc. ). In addition to these, a user may select additional data.

Referring to FIGURE 5, a block diagram of a lap screen 64 showing lap times for each car for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system 26 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment of the present invention, a user may choose to display all completed laps along with lap times for each selected car. A bottom scroll bar 70 is provided to browse multiple vehicle standings.

Referring to FIGURE 6, a block diagram of a leader screen showing speed 70 for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system 26 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, current speed of each vehicle 72 is displayed.

Referring to FIGURE 7, a block diagram of a lap leader screen for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system 26 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In another aspect of the current invention, a user may select additional information. This information may include the number of laps led by the drivers 76 or number of laps led by a manufacturer 78 (Ford, Chevy, Pontiac, etc. ). The user may also customize each screen to change how lap times are shown (from seconds, to mph, to kph), or select a highlighting system showing which drivers have changed position

since the previous lap. Additionally, a user can choose to view the average speed of last ten laps for a specific driver, or show the last 10 lap speeds for a specific driver.

A user may also modify the way in which data is displayed by allowing the data to be shown on screen 32 either vertically or horizontally. Also, hand held monitor 28 may include a selectable menu that allows the user to pick which drivers he/she wants shown on the screen. This would also work similar to a web browser's favorites menu.

The drivers the user picked would remain stored and a push of a button would allow them to show those drivers, instead of having to choose them again.

Referring to FIGURE 8, a block diagram of a leader screen showing vehicle type 80 for a hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system 26 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In a further aspect of the present invention, a user may choose several different menus. These menus would allow the user to show top 10 drivers and track flag conditions (green, yellow, red etc). The user may also show the whole field on the screen as the default does, but pick several favorite drivers that would be highlighted within the main field, with bold type, italics, white font black highlight etc. or alternatively just show their favorite drivers.

Additionally, the present invention may allow a separate window that would show the users favorite driver's lap time and distance form the leader, instead of having to scroll down and find him in the list. Hand held monitor 28 would also be able to sort the <BR> <BR> drivers in field by car make, i. e. , the user could select show top five fords and it would display them as position and car number e. g. 1st #88, 3rd #28, 5th #6, 6th #99, 7th #94.

The present invention may also sort drivers by who has changed their position the most number of positions during the race (#88 started in 18th and is now in 2nd, meaning they improved 16 positions). Position changes would be shown by each car <BR> <BR> number and the number of positions they have improved, e. g. #88-16, #24-15, #3-12, etc. ).

Hand held monitor 28 would also have slightly different screens and programming for practice and qualifying which would organize the drivers by lap speed instead of position on the track. Additionally, there would be a separate window to allow for the streaming of ads, or company logos.

The present invention thus achieves an improved and reliable hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system by using an existing radio signal to provide specific race information. The present invention allows spectator access to all race information. Additionally, the present invention allows each spectator to customize what information he receives. Also, the present invention will make the race more exciting for race fans located at the track by providing access to specific detailed race information customized for each user.

, From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been brought to the art a new and improved hand held spectator timing and scoring monitor system. It is to be understood that the preceding description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative of some of the many specific embodiments that represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Clearly, numerous and other arrangements would be evident to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.