U.S. patent application number 10/443816 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-11 for electronic competition network system, electronic competition method, a server, and a computer program for operating the server.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Abe, Yusuke.
Application Number | 20030228557 10/443816 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29545886 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030228557 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Abe, Yusuke |
December 11, 2003 |
Electronic competition network system, electronic competition
method, a server, and a computer program for operating the
server
Abstract
The competition progress or competition results of a competition
that is held at each of a plurality of competition sites in which
electronic competition systems are installed are transmitted to a
relay server by way of the Internet. In the relay server, the
competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted in are transmitted to electronic competition systems
that are installed in competition sites that have been determined
in advance by the transmission source of the competition progress
or competition results. In the electronic competition systems to
which the competition progress or competition results have been
transmitted from the relay server, the competition progress or
competition results that have been transmitted from the relay
server are accumulated together with the competition progress and
competition results of a competition that is held at competition
sites at which the electronic competition systems are installed,
and the accumulated competition progress and competition results
are published on the Internet.
Inventors: |
Abe, Yusuke; (Ota-ku,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
NEC CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
29545886 |
Appl. No.: |
10/443816 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
434/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/35 20140902;
A63F 13/04 20130101; A63F 2300/8076 20130101; G07F 17/3276
20130101; A63F 2300/50 20130101; A63F 13/335 20140902; A63F 13/12
20130101; A63F 13/837 20140902 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/21 |
International
Class: |
F41G 003/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 7, 2002 |
JP |
2002-167323 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic competition network system for using electronic
competition means that are installed in each of a plurality of
competition sites to hold a same type of electronic competition,
said electronic competition network system comprising: a plurality
of first servers that are installed in each of said plurality of
competition sites and connected to said electronic competition
means by way of a communication network for successively
accumulating competition progress and competition results of a
competition that is held using said electronic competition means,
managing the accumulated competition progress and competition
results as a database, and further, transmitting the competition
progress or competition results of the competition that is held
using said electronic competition means on a communication network;
and a second server for transmitting, by way of a communication
network, said competition progress or competition results that have
been transmitted on said communication network to first servers
that have been determined in advance of said plurality of first
servers; wherein said first servers successively accumulate
competition progress or competition results of a competition that
is held using said electronic competition means that is connected
to the first servers by way of said communication network together
with said competition progress or competition results that have
been transmitted in from said second server and manage the
accumulated competition progress and competition results as a
database.
2. An electronic competition network system according to claim 1,
wherein said second server transmits, by way of a communication
network, said competition progress or competition results that have
been transmitted on said communication network to, of said
plurality of first servers, first server that have been determined
in advance by the first server that is a transmission source of the
competition progress or competition results.
3. An electronic competition network system according to claim 1,
wherein said second server transmits, by way of a communication
network, said competition progress or competition results that have
been transmitted on said communication network to first servers
that have been determined in advance by another computer.
4. An electronic competition network system according to claim 2,
wherein said second server registers, for each of said plurality of
first servers, first servers that are to be transmission
destinations of competition progress or competition results when
that first server is the transmission sources of said competition
progress or competition results.
5. An electronic competition network system according to claim 4,
wherein said second server transmits, of information that is
included in said competition progress or competition results that
have been transmitted on a communication network, only information
that is determined according to said transmission destinations to
first servers that have been determined in advance.
6. An electronic competition network system according to claim 5,
wherein said second server changes the information that is
transmitted to said first servers according to a time or a time
period.
7. An electronic competition network system according to claim 6,
wherein said second server changes the transmission destinations of
said competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted on a communication network according to the time or
time period.
8. An electronic competition network system according to claim 7,
wherein said first servers publish said competition progress or
competition results on said communication network.
9. An electronic competition network system according to claim 7,
wherein said first servers include a display means for displaying
said competition progress or competition results.
10. An electronic competition network system according to claim 7,
wherein: said first servers transmit said competition progress or
competition results to a third server that can be connected to a
communication network; and said third server publishes said
competition progress or competition results.
11. An electronic competition network system according to claim 10,
further comprising a fourth server that is connected to said second
server by way of a communication network for integrating and
managing said competition progress or competition results that are
managed by said plurality of first servers; wherein said second
server transmits said competition progress or competition results
that have been transmitted on said communication network to said
fourth server by way of the communication network.
12. An electronic competition network system for using electronic
competition means that are installed at each of a plurality of
competition sites to hold a same type of electronic competition,
said electronic competition network system comprising: a plurality
of first servers that are installed in each of said plurality of
competition sites and connected to said electronic competition
means by way of a communication network for both controlling a
progress of a competition that is held using said-electronic
competition means and transmitting, on a communication network,
control information for controlling the progress of the competition
that is held using said electronic competition means; and a second
server for transmitting, by way of a communication network, said
control information that has been transmitted on said communication
network to first servers that have been determined in advance of
said plurality of first servers; wherein each of said first
servers, based on said control information that has been
transmitted in from said second server, controls said electronic
competition means that is connected to that first server by way of
the communication network.
13. An electronic competition network system according to claim 12,
wherein said second server transmits, by way of a communication
network, said control information that has been transmitted on said
communication network to first servers of said plurality of first
servers that have been determined in advance by the first server
that is a transmission source of said control information.
14. An electronic competition network system according to claim 12,
wherein said second server transmits, by way of a communication
network, said control information that has been transmitted on said
communication network to first servers that have been determined in
advance by another computer.
15. An electronic competition network system according to claim 12,
wherein said second server changes transmission destinations of
said control information that has been transmitted on said
communication network according to a time or a time period.
16. An electronic competition network system according to claim 1,
wherein said first servers manage participant registrations of
competitors that are to compete.
17. An electronic competition network system according to claim 12,
wherein said first servers manage participant registrations of
competitors that are to compete.
18. An electronic competition network system according to claim 16,
wherein said first servers publish, on said communication network,
information relating to competitors who have completed said
participant registration.
19. An electronic competition network system according to claim 18,
wherein said first servers perform scheduling of said
competitors.
20. An electronic competition network system according to claim 19,
wherein said first servers manage a progress of a competition of
said competitors.
21. An electronic competition network system according to claim 16,
wherein said first servers, based on said competition results,
select competitors who are to participate in a next competition to
be held from among competitors that have completed said participant
registration.
22. An electronic competition network system according to claim 21,
wherein said first servers publish, on said communication network,
information relating to said competitors that have been
selected.
23. An electronic competition network system according to claim 22,
wherein information relating to said competitors that have been
selected includes pictures of said competitors.
24. An electronic competition network system according to claim 1,
wherein said electronic competition means comprises: a light-beam
gun for emitting light bullets; a strike point detection means for
detecting strike points when light bullets that have been emitted
from said light-beam gun strike a target; and a competitor computer
that is connected to said strike point detection means by way of a
communication network for calculating scores based on strike points
of said light bullets, and for displaying scores that have been
calculated or strike points of said light bullets.
25. An electronic competition network system according to claim 12,
wherein said electronic competition means comprises: a light-beam
gun for emitting light bullets; a strike point detection means for
detecting strike points when light bullets that have been emitted
from said light-beam gun strike a target; and a competitor computer
that is connected with said strike point detection means by way of
a communication network for calculating scores based on strike
points of said light bullets and for displaying scores that have
been calculated or strike points of said light bullets.
26. An electronic competition network system according to claim 24,
wherein said competitor computer has data base clients that are
capable of accessing data that are managed by said first
server.
27. An electronic competition network system according to claim 24,
wherein said competitor computer comprises: identification
information input means for receiving identification information
that enables identification of competitors that are to take part in
said competition; and wherein said first servers comprise:
authentication means for collating identification information that
has been received by way of said identification information input
means with identification information that has been registered in
advance, and, when two forms of identification information match,
for recognizing that a person who has applied identification
information as input by way of said identification information
input means is a competitor that is identified by said
identification information.
28. An electronic competition network system according to claim 24,
wherein a resolution of said strike point detection means is set
based on a competition level.
29. An electronic competition method for using electronic
competition means that are installed at each of a plurality of
competition sites to hold the same type of electronic competition,
said electronic competition method comprising the steps of:
successively accumulating competition progress and competition
results of a competition that is held using said electronic
competition means at said plurality of competition sites and
managing the accumulated competition progress and competition
results as a database by means of servers that are installed at
each of said plurality of competition sites; transmitting the
competition progress or competition results of a competition that
is held using said electronic competition means at said plurality
of competition sites, from said servers onto a communication
network; transmitting, by way of a communication network, said
competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted onto said communication network, to servers that have
been determined in advance from among servers that are installed at
each of said plurality of competition sites; and successively
accumulating said competition progress or competition results that
have been transmitted by way of said communication network together
with competition progress and competition results that are managed
as said database, and managing said accumulated competition
progress and competition results as a database.
30. An electronic competition method according to claim 29, wherein
said competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted onto said communication network are transmitted by way
of a communication network to, of servers that are installed at
each of said plurality of competition sites, servers that have been
determined in advance by a server that is a transmission source of
said competition progress or competition results.
31. An electronic competition method according to claim 29, wherein
said competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted onto said communication network are transmitted by way
of a communication network to servers that have been determined in
advance by another computer.
32. An electronic competition method according to claim 29, further
comprising the step of transmitting to servers that have been
determined in advance, of information that is included in said
competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted onto said communication network, only information that
has been determined according to transmission destinations.
33. An electronic competition method according to claim 32, wherein
the information that is transmitted to said servers changes
according to a time or a time period.
34. An electronic competition method according to claim 32, wherein
the transmission destinations of said competition progress or
competition results that are transmitted onto the communication
network change according to a time or a time period.
35. An electronic competition method according to claim 32, further
comprising the step of publishing said competition progress or
competition results on a communication network that is provided at
said competition sites.
36. An electronic competition method according to claim 32, further
comprising the step of displaying said competition progress or
competition results on a display means that is provided at said
competition sites.
37. An electronic competition method according to claim 32,
wherein: said competition progress or competition results are
transmitted to a Web server that can connect to a communication
network; and said competition progress or competition results are
published by means of said Web server.
38. An electronic competition method according to claim 32, further
comprising the steps of: transmitting said competition progress or
competition results that have been transmitted onto said
communication network to an integrative server that is connected by
way of said server; and integrating and managing said competition
progress or competition results that have been transmitted in by
way of said server, by means of said integrative server.
39. An electronic competition method for using said electronic
competition means that are installed at each of a plurality of
competition sites to hold a same type of competition, said
electronic competition method comprising the steps of: controlling
a progress of a competition that is held using said electronic
competition means at said plurality of competition sites;
transmitting, on a communication network, control information from
a server for controlling the progress of a competition that is held
using said electronic competition means at said plurality of
competition sites; transmitting, by way of a communication network,
said control information that has been transmitted onto said
communication network to, of servers that are installed at each of
said plurality of competition sites, servers that have been
determined in advance; and controlling said electronic competition
means based on said control information that has been transmitted
in by way of said communication network.
40. An electronic competition method according to claim 39, wherein
said control information that has been transmitted on said
communication network is transmitted by way of a communication
network to, of servers that are installed at each of said plurality
of competition sites, servers that have been determined in advance
by a server that is a transmission source of said control
information.
41. An electronic competition method according to claim 39, wherein
said control information that has been transmitted onto said
communication network is transmitted by way of a communication
network to servers that have been determined in advance by another
computer.
42. An electronic competition method according to claim 39, wherein
transmission destinations of said control information that has been
transmitted onto said communication network changes according to a
time or a time period.
43. An electronic competition method according to claim 29, further
comprising the step of managing, by means of said servers, a
participant registration of competitors that are to take part in
said competition.
44. An electronic competition method according to claim 39, further
comprising the step of managing, by means of said servers, a
participant registrations of competitors that are to take part in
said competition.
45. An electronic competition method according to claim 43, further
comprising the step of publishing, on a communication network that
is provided in said competition sites, information that relates to
competitors that have completed said participant registration.
46. An electronic competition method according to claim 43, further
comprising the step of performing scheduling of said competitors by
means of said servers.
47. An electronic competition method according to claim 46, further
comprising the step of managing a progress of competition of said
competitors by means of said servers.
48. An electronic competition method according to claim 43, further
comprising the step of using said servers to select, from among
competitors that have performed said participant registration,
those competitors that are to participate in a next competition
based on competition results.
49. An electronic competition method according to claim 48, wherein
information that relates to said competitors that have been
selected is published on a communication network that is provided
at said competition sites.
50. An electronic competition method according to claim 49, wherein
information that relates to said competitors that have been
selected includes pictures of these competitors.
51. An electronic competition method according to claim 43, further
comprising the steps of: registering in advance identification
information that can identify competitors that are to take part in
said competition; collating identification information that has
been registered in advance with the identification information that
has been applied as input from an outside, when identification
information that can identify a competitor that is to take part in
said competition is applied as input from the outside; and
recognizing a person that applied said identification information
as input from the outside as the competitor identified by said
identification information, when two forms of identification
information match.
52. A server for use in an electronic competition network system
for using electronic competition means that are installed in each
of a plurality of competition sites to hold a same type of
electronic competition, said server comprising: a database for
registering, of said plurality of competition sites, those
competition sites to which competition progress or competition
results at said plurality of competition sites are to be
transmitted; and a relay control means for, when competition
progress or competition results at said competition sites are
transmitted from said competition sites by way of a communication
network, transmitting competition progress or competition results
that have been transmitted from said competition sites to
competition sites that have been registered in said database as
transmission destinations of the competition progress or
competition results that have been transmitted from said
competition sites.
53. A server according to claim 52, wherein, of information that is
included in said competition progress or competition results that
have been transmitted onto a communication network, only
information that is determined according to said transmission
destinations is transmitted to competition sites that have been
determined in advance.
54. A server according to claim 53, wherein said information that
is transmitted to said competition sites changes according to a
time or a time period.
55. A server according to claim 52, wherein said transmission
destinations of said competition progress or competition results
that has been transmitted onto a communication network changes
according to a time or a time period.
56. A server for use in an electronic competition network system
for using electronic competition means that are installed in each
of a plurality of competition sites to hold a same type of
electronic competition, said server comprising: a database for
registering, of said plurality of competition sites, those
competition sites to which control information for controlling a
progress of a competition at said plurality of competition sites is
to be transmitted; and a relay control means for, when said control
information is to be transmitted from said competition site by way
of a communication network, transmitting control information that
has been transmitted from that competition site to competition
sites that have been registered in said database.
57. A server according to claim 56, wherein transmission
destinations of said control information that is transmitted onto a
communication network changes according to a time or a time
period.
58. A server according to claim 52, said server being provided with
a computer program for executing procedures of: receiving, by way
of a communication network, competition progress or competition
results that have been transmitted from said competition sites; and
transmitting said competition progress or competition results that
have been received to competition sites that have been determined
in advance.
59. A server according to claim 52, said server being provided with
a computer program for executing procedures of: receiving, by way
of a communication network, competition progress or competition
results that have been transmitted from said competition sites;
identifying the competition site of a transmission source of said
competition progress or competition results that have been
received; referring to said database and determining transmission
destinations of competition progress or competition results that
have been transmitted from said competition site that has been
identified; and transmitting said competition progress or
competition results that have been received to said competition
sites that have been determined.
60. A server according to claim 56, said server being provided with
a computer program for executing procedures of: receiving, by way
of a communication network, control information that has been
transmitted from said competition sites; and transmitting said
control information that has been received to competition sites
that have been determined in advance.
61. A server according to claim 56, said server being provided with
a computer program for executing procedures of: receiving, by way
of a communication network, control information that has been
transmitted from said competition sites; identifying the
competition sites that are transmission sources of said control
information that has been received; referring to said database and
determining transmission destinations of control information that
has been transmitted from said identified competition sites; and
transmitting said received control information to said determined
competition sites.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic competition
network system for holding the same kind of electronic competitions
at a plurality of competition sites.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Target shooting is known as one type of competition. In a
shooting competition, the use of a light-beam gun is to be
preferred over shooting with live ammunition using guns that shoot
real bullets, which, from the standpoint of safety, must be
conducted with special caution. Known light-beam guns include guns
developed for use in competitions that employ flashlights and guns
that are used for target practice in which a light-beam gun is
directly wired to a computer for indicating the impact of the light
bullets.
[0005] When a computer and light-beam gun are directly connected by
electrical wiring, however, this electrical wiring detracts from
the highly sharpened senses of contestants and interferes with
their mental composure and concentration, and a means other than
wires for connecting the light-beam gun and computer is therefore
to be desired. Further, a system is also desired in which the
accuracy of detection of the strike point of the laser light of the
light-beam gun in the optical system constitutes the level of the
competition, and in which the safety of the light-beam gun that
shoots laser light is guaranteed. Finally, a system is also desired
that, in addition to meeting these demands, obtains an improvement
in the speed and accuracy of calculating competition scores.
[0006] We first refer to FIG. 1, which shows an example of the
construction of an electronic competition system of the prior art
for holding target shooting using a laser gun that shoots a laser
beam.
[0007] As shown in FIG. 1, this example of the prior art is made up
from: laser gun 115 for shooting light bullets 162, which are
constituted by a laser beam, under the manipulation of a
competitor; strike point detector 116 for detecting the strike
point of light bullets 162 on target board 117, and for allowing
the removable attachment of target board 117, which is struck by
light bullets 162 that have been emitted from laser gun 115;
competitor PC 114 that is installed next to the shooting box for
displaying strike results in strike point detector 116; and
switching unit 101 for connecting strike point detector 116 and
competitor PC 114. Laser gun 115 and strike point detector 116 are
provided at points that are separated by a distance that has been
determined beforehand as a facet of the shooting competition, and
target boards that vary according to this distance are selectively
attached to strike point detector 116. In addition, switching unit
101 is the switching hub of 10 BASE-T LAN 141.
[0008] Explanation next regards the method of competition in an
electronic competition system that is configured according to the
foregoing description.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the competition method in
the electronic competition system shown in FIG. 1.
[0010] As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of strike point detectors
116 that is shown in FIG. 1 are arranged to correspond to a
plurality of shooting boxes that are each formed by two partition
boards 142. Although an example is shown in FIG. 2 in which five
sets of shooting boxes and five sets of strike point detectors 116
are arranged, the invention is not limited to this number of sets.
One shooting box and one strike point detector 116 have a
one-to-one correspondence both in terms of position and the form of
competition, and as a rule, light bullets cannot be fired at a
plurality of strike point detectors 116 from a single shooting box.
In addition, a square or circular target board 117 is attached to
the front surface of each strike point detector 116.
[0011] Common plane 151 is formed by the front surface of each
target board 117, and common permissible shooting plane 152 is
formed at each shooting box. This common plane 151 and common
permissible shooting plane 152 are both vertical and parallel to
each other. Based on the type of competition, common plane 151 and
common permissible shooting plane 152 are separated by a distance
of, for example, 10 meters or 25 meters. In addition, the width of
a shooting box along common permissible shooting plane 152 is one
meter when one target is provided for each gun, but can be variably
prescribed when n targets are provided for one gun. In the example,
the width of each of strike point detectors 116 is 30 cm, and the
distance between the centers of two adjacent strike point detectors
116 is 1 meter.
[0012] When a competitor manipulates laser gun 115 by, for example,
directing laser gun 115 toward target board 117 and pulling the
trigger of laser gun 115 to emit light bullet 162 from laser gun
115, light bullet 162 that is constituted by a laser beam is
emitted from laser gun 115. A semiconductor laser oscillation
element may be used as the light source of light bullets 162 that
are emitted from laser gun 115.
[0013] To maintain the safety of the competition, the system is
constructed such that a conical beam 161 generated by an infrared
LED is transmitted toward the shooting box from strike point
detector 116, and if conical beam 161 that is transmitted from
strike point detector 116 is not received by laser gun 115, i.e.,
if laser gun 115 is not directed toward target board 117, the
competitor is not able to shoot light bullets 162.
[0014] In this electronic competition system, a signal that
constitutes one of the sufficiency conditions for enabling the
emission of light bullets 162 from laser gun 115 is generated on
the side of target board 117 and thus is controlled on the target
side rather than on the gun side. This arrangement therefore
results in a fair competition system that defers to the intentions
of the competition sponsors (judges). In addition, each of conical
beams 161 that are transmitted from strike point detectors 116
arrives at only the respective opposing shooting boxes and in
principle does not reach two shooting boxes. In this system,
moreover, laser gun 115 need not transmit information to the
outside other than light bullets 162 and therefore does not need to
be connected by wires to competitor PC 114.
[0015] Just as with actual bullets from a real gun, light bullets
162 that are emitted from laser gun 115 advance directly in the
direction that laser gun 115 was pointed after leaving the muzzle
of laser gun 115. Light bullets 162 that have been emitted from the
muzzle of laser gun 115 have a signal that uniquely corresponds to
laser gun 115. Light bullets 162 have high parallel luminous flux
and strike target board 117 as dots of light.
[0016] When light bullets 162 that have been emitted from laser gun
115 strike target board 117 that is attached to strike point
detector 116, the strike point on strike point detector 116 is
detected and the detected strike point information is transmitted
to competitor PC 114 by way of switching unit 101.
[0017] Strike point detector 116 has an adjustment capability for
increasing the electrical, mechanical, and optical accuracy of the
strike point detection optical elements, and the accuracy of
detecting the strike point of laser light can thus be employed as
the competition level.
[0018] In competitor PC 114, the shooting score is calculated based
on strike point information that is transmitted in from strike
point detector 116, and the calculated score is displayed. In
addition, because information that can identify the competitors,
such as competitors' competition numbers, as well as information
such as the number of times a competitor has currently fired is
registered in competitor PC 114, the competitors' competition
number, bullet numbers, the score corresponding to each bullet
number, the total score, and the strike points of light bullets 162
on target board 117 can be displayed simultaneously or at time
intervals.
[0019] Laser gun 115 fires a plurality of light bullets 162 with
each operation of the trigger. This provision not only enables
averaging of the scores of light bullets 162, but also allows the
score for each light bullet 162 to be found. This method of
calculating scores allows differences in score to be obtained that
are based on, for example, slight movements of the hand after
pulling the trigger, enables the movement of a competitor's entire
body to be expressed numerically, and can offer new competition
modes that were not available in single-shot shooting with real
bullets.
[0020] Light bullets 162 each include a strike point detection
signal that is used for detecting the strike point and a
light-bullet discrimination signal for distinguishing a light
bullet from other light bullets. The strike point detection signal
is transmitted to target board 117 even when the trigger of laser
gun 115 is not pulled, allowing the potential strike point to be
detected by strike point detector 116. The strike points of a
plurality of light bullets 162 can thus be tracked as a continuous
series of points.
[0021] When shooting with real bullets, a competitor first checks
the feel of the gun before beginning to compete, and while
competing, takes test shots at a target other than the object of
scoring before actually shooting at the object of scoring. For this
reason, a test shooting mode and an actual shooting mode are
provided as operating modes in the electronic competition
system.
[0022] During a preparation period before starting the competition,
competitors first check the feel of laser guns 115 in a state in
which light bullets 162 are not emitted. Then, after the
competition begins, the competitors switch to a test-shooting mode
to take test shots at a target other than the object of scoring,
and, after completing test shooting, switch to the actual shooting
mode to actually shoot at the object of scoring.
[0023] As described in the foregoing explanation, it is now
becoming possible to realize an electronic competition system that
is highly applicable to competition modes and that is safer than
shooting with actual bullets. Owing to these advantages, it is
expected that the number of people using such electronic
competition systems as a popular competition will grow
dramatically, and it can be expected that the use of such
electronic competition systems will increase to the point that
tournaments will be held on a national or international scale.
[0024] In the above-described electronic competition system of the
prior art, however, there is the problem that an infrastructure for
an electronic competition system that can accommodate a large-scale
tournament has not yet been constructed, and the electronic
competition system in its current form is only capable of
accommodating a competition at a single competition site.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The present invention was realized in view of the
above-described problems of the prior art and has as an object the
provision of an electronic competition system that is capable of
holding the same type of electronic competition at a plurality of
competition sites.
[0026] To achieve the above-described object, the electronic
competition network system of the present invention is an
electronic competition network system for using electronic
competition means that are installed in each of a plurality of
competition sites to hold the same type of electronic competition,
and includes: a plurality of first servers that are installed in
each of the plurality of competition sites and connected to the
electronic competition means by way of a communication network for
successively accumulating the competition progress and competition
results of a competition that is held using the electronic
competition means, managing the accumulated competition progress
and competition results as a database, and further, transmitting
the competition progress or competition results of the competition
that is held using the electronic competition means onto a
communication network; and a second server for transmitting, by way
of a communication network, the competition progress or competition
results that have been transmitted on the communication network to
first servers that have been determined in advance of the plurality
of first servers; wherein the first servers successively accumulate
the competition progress or competition results of a competition
that is held using the electronic competition means that is
connected to the first servers by way of the communication network
together with the competition progress or competition results that
have been transmitted in from the second server and manage the
accumulated competition progress and competition results as a
database.
[0027] In addition, the second server may transmit, by way of a
communication network, the competition progress or competition
results that have been transmitted on the communication network to,
of the plurality of first servers, first servers that have been
determined in advance by the first server that is the transmission
source of the competition progress or competition results.
[0028] The second server may transmit, by way of a communication
network, the competition progress or competition results that have
been transmitted on the communication network to first servers that
have been determined in advance by another computer.
[0029] The second server may register, for each one of the
plurality of first servers, the first servers that are to be the
transmission destinations of competition progress or competition
results when that first server is the transmission source of the
competition progress or competition results.
[0030] The second server may transmit, of the information that is
included in the competition progress or competition results that
have been transmitted on a communication network, only information
that is determined according to the transmission destinations to
first servers that have been determined in advance.
[0031] The second server may change information that is transmitted
to the first servers according to the time or time period.
[0032] The second server may change the transmission destinations
of the competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted on a communication network according to the time or
time period.
[0033] First servers may publish the competition progress or
competition results on the communication network.
[0034] First servers may include a display means for displaying the
competition progress or competition results.
[0035] First servers may transmit the competition progress or
competition results to a third server that can be connected to a
communication network, and the third server may publish the
competition progress or competition results.
[0036] The electronic competition network system may further
include a fourth server that is connected to the second server by
way of a communication network for integrating and managing the
competition progress or competition results that are managed by the
plurality of first servers; and the second server may transmit the
competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted on the communication network to the fourth server by
way of the communication network.
[0037] The electronic competition network system of the present
invention for realizing the above-described objects is an
electronic competition network system for using electronic
competition means that are installed at each of a plurality of
competition sites to hold the same type of electronic competition,
and includes: a plurality of first servers that are installed in
each of the plurality of competition sites and connected to the
electronic competition means by way of a communication network for
both controlling the progress of a competition that is held using
the electronic competition means and transmitting, on a
communication network, control information for controlling the
progress of the competition that is held using the electronic
competition means; and a second server for transmitting, by way of
a communication network, the control information that has been
transmitted on the communication network to first servers that have
been determined in advance of the plurality of first servers;
wherein each of the first servers, based on control information
that has been transmitted in from the second server, controls the
electronic competition means that is connected to that first server
by way of the communication network.
[0038] The second server may transmit, by way of a communication
network, the control information that has been transmitted on the
communication network to first servers of the plurality of first
servers that have been determined in advance by the first server
that is the transmission source of the control information.
[0039] The second server may transmit, by way of the communication
network, the control information that has been transmitted on the
communication network to first servers that have been determined
beforehand by another computer.
[0040] The second server may change the transmission destinations
of the control information that has been transmitted on the
communication network according to the time or time period.
[0041] First servers may manage participant registrations of
competitors that are to compete.
[0042] First servers may publish, on the communication network,
information relating to competitors who have completed the
participant registration.
[0043] First servers may perform scheduling of the competitors.
[0044] First servers may manage the progress of the competition of
the competitors.
[0045] First servers may, based on the competition results, select
competitors who are to participate in the next competition to be
held from among competitors that have completed the participant
registration.
[0046] First servers may publish, on the communication network,
information relating to the competitors that have been
selected.
[0047] Information relating to the competitors that have been
selected may include pictures of the competitors.
[0048] The electronic competition means may include: a light-beam
gun for emitting light bullets; a strike point detection means for
detecting the strike point when a light bullet that has been
emitted from the light-beam gun strikes a target; and a competitor
computer that is connected to the strike point detection means by
way of a communication network for calculating the score based on
the strike point of a light bullet, and for displaying the score
that has been calculated or the strike point of a light bullet.
[0049] The competitor computer may have data base clients that are
capable of accessing the data that are managed by the first
server.
[0050] The competitor computer may include identification
information input means for receiving identification information
that enables identification of competitors that are to take part in
said competition; and first servers may include authentication
means for collating identification information that has been
received by way of the identification information input means with
identification information that has been registered in advance,
and, when the two forms of identification information match,
recognizing that a person who has applied identification
information as input by way of the identification information input
means is a competitor that is identified by the identification
information.
[0051] The resolution of the strike point detection means may be
set based on the competition level.
[0052] The electronic competition method of the present invention
for achieving the above-described objects is an electronic
competition method for using electronic competition means that are
installed at each of a plurality of competition sites to hold the
same type of electronic competition, and includes processes of: by
means of servers that are installed at each of the plurality of
competition sites, successively accumulating competition progress
and competition results of a competition that is held by means of
the electronic competition means at the plurality of competition
sites and managing the accumulated competition progress and
competition results as a database; transmitting the competition
progress or competition results of a competition that is held using
the electronic competition means at the plurality of competition
sites, from the servers onto a communication network; transmitting,
by way of a communication network, the competition progress or
competition results that have been transmitted onto the
communication network, to servers that have been determined in
advance from among servers that are installed at each of the
plurality of competition sites; and successively accumulating the
competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted by way of the communication network together with
competition progress and competition results that are managed as
the database, and managing the thus accumulated competition
progress and competition results as a database.
[0053] The competition progress or competition results that have
been transmitted onto the communication network may be transmitted
by way of a communication network to, of servers that are installed
at each of the plurality of competition sites, servers that have
been determined in advance by the server that is the transmission
source of the competition progress or competition results.
[0054] The competition progress or competition results that have
been transmitted onto the communication network may be transmitted
by way of a communication network to servers that have been
determined in advance by another computer.
[0055] The electronic competition method may include a process of
transmitting to servers that have been determined in advance, of
the information that is included in the competition progress or
competition results that has been transmitted onto the
communication network, only information that has been determined
according to transmission destinations.
[0056] The information that is transmitted to the servers may
change according to the time or time period.
[0057] The transmission destinations of the competition progress or
competition results that are transmitted onto the communication
network may change according to the time or time period.
[0058] The electronic competition method may include a process of
publishing the competition progress or competition results on a
communication network that is provided at the competition
sites.
[0059] The electronic competition method may include a process of
displaying the competition progress or competition results on a
display means that is provided at the competition sites.
[0060] The competition progress or competition results may be
transmitted to a Web server that can connect to a communication
network, and the competition progress or competition results may be
published by means of the Web server.
[0061] The electronic competition method may further include: a
process of transmitting the competition progress or competition
results that have been transmitted onto the communication network
to an integrative server that is connected by way of the server;
and, by means of the integrative server, integrating and managing
the competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted in by way of the server.
[0062] An electronic competition method of the present invention
for achieving the above-described objects is an electronic
competition method for using electronic competition means that are
installed at each of a plurality of competition sites to hold the
same type of competition, and includes processes of: controlling
the progress of a competition that is held using the electronic
competition means at the plurality of competition sites;
transmitting, on the communication network, control information
from a server for controlling the progress of a competition that is
held using the electronic competition means in the plurality of
competition sites; transmitting, by way of a communication network,
the control information that has been transmitted onto the
communication network to, of servers that are installed at each of
the plurality of competition sites, servers that have been
determined in advance; and controlling the electronic competition
means based on the control information that has been transmitted in
by way of the communication network.
[0063] The control information that is transmitted on the
communication network may be transmitted by way of the
communication network to, of the servers that are installed in each
of the plurality of competition sites, servers that have been
determined in advance by the server that is the transmission source
of the control information.
[0064] The control information that has been transmitted to the
communication network may be transmitted by way of the
communication network to servers that have been determined in
advance by another computer.
[0065] The transmission destination of control information that has
been transmitted onto the communication network may change
according to the time or time period.
[0066] The electronic competition method may include a process of
managing, by means of the servers, participant registration of
competitors that are to take part in the competition.
[0067] The electronic competition method may include a process of
publishing, on a communication network that is provided at the
competition sites, information that relates to competitors that
have completed the participant registration.
[0068] The electronic competition method may include a process of
performing scheduling of the competitors by means of the
servers.
[0069] The electronic competition method may include a process of
managing the progress of competition of the competitors by means of
the servers.
[0070] The electronic competition method may include a process of
using the servers to select, from among competitors that have
performed the participant registration, those competitors that are
to participate in the next competition based on competition
results.
[0071] Information that relates to the competitors that have been
selected may be published on a communication network that is
provided at the competition sites.
[0072] Information that relates to the competitors that have been
selected may include pictures of these competitors.
[0073] The electronic competition method may include processes of:
registering in advance identification information that can identify
competitors that are to take part in a competition; when
identification information that can identify a competitor that is
to take part in the competition is applied as input from the
outside, collating the identification information that has been
registered in advance with the identification information that has
been applied as input from the outside; and, when the two forms of
identification information match, recognizing the person that
applied the identification information as input from the outside as
the competitor that is identified by the identification
information.
[0074] The server of the present invention for achieving the
above-described object is a server that is used in an electronic
competition network system for using electronic competition means
that are installed at each of a plurality of competition sites to
hold the same type of electronic competition, and includes: a
database for registering, of the plurality of competition sites,
those competition sites to which competition progress or
competition results at the plurality of competition sites are to be
transmitted; and a relay control means for, when competition
progress or competition results at the competition sites are
transmitted from competition sites by way of a communication
network, transmitting the competition progress or competition
results that have been transmitted from the competition sites to
competition sites that have been registered in the database as the
transmission destinations of the competition progress or
competition results that are transmitted from the competition
sites.
[0075] Of the information that is included in the competition
progress or competition results that have been transmitted onto the
communication network, only information that is determined
according to the transmission destinations may be sent to
competition sites that have been determined in advance.
[0076] The information that is transmitted to the competition sites
may change in accordance with time or time period.
[0077] The transmission destinations of the competition progress or
competition results that are transmitted onto the communication
network may change according to the time or time period.
[0078] A server of the present invention for achieving the
above-described object is a server that is used in an electronic
competition network system for using electronic competition means
that are installed in each of a plurality of competition sites to
hold the same type of electronic competition, and includes: a
database for registering, of the plurality of competition sites,
those competition sites to which control information for
controlling the progress of a competition at the plurality of
competition sites is to be transmitted; and a relay control means
for, when control information is to be transmitted from a
competition site by way of a communication network, transmitting
control information that has been transmitted from the competition
site to competition sites that have been registered in the
database.
[0079] The transmission destinations of control information that is
transmitted onto a communication network may change according to
the time or time period.
[0080] A server of the present invention for achieving the
above-described object is provided with a computer program for
executing procedures of: receiving, by way of a communication
network, competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted from the competition sites; and transmitting the
competition progress or competition results that have been received
to competition sites that have been determined in advance.
[0081] In addition, a server may be provided with a computer
program for executing procedures of: receiving, by way of a
communication network, competition progress or competition results
that have been transmitted from the competition sites; identifying
the competition site of a transmission source of the competition
progress or competition results that have been received; referring
to a database and determining the transmission destinations of
competition progress or competition results that have been
transmitted from the competition site that has been identified; and
transmitting the competition progress or competition results that
have been received to the competition sites that have been
determined.
[0082] A server may be provided with a computer program for
executing procedures of: receiving, by way of a communication
network, control information that has been transmitted from the
competition sites; and transmitting the control information that
has been received to competition sites that have been determined in
advance.
[0083] A server may also be provided with a computer program for
executing procedures of: receiving, by way of a communication
network, control information that has been transmitted from the
competition sites; identifying the competition sites that are the
transmission sources of the control information that has been
received; referring to the database and determining the
transmission destinations of control information that has been
transmitted from the identified competition sites; and transmitting
control information that has been received to competition sites
that have been determined.
[0084] The Effect of the Invention
[0085] In the present invention that has been constructed according
to the foregoing description, when a competition is held using
electronic competition means that are installed at each of a
plurality of competition sites, information relating to the
competition is successively accumulated by first servers that are
installed at each of the plurality of competition sites and managed
as a database. In addition, information that relates to a
competition that is held using electronic competition means at a
plurality of competition sites is transmitted from the first
servers to a second server by way of a communication network. At
the second server, information that has been transmitted in from
the first servers is transmitted by way of the communication
network to first servers that have been determined in advance. At a
first server to which information that relates to the competition
has been transmitted in from the second server, the information
that has been transmitted in from the second server is successively
accumulated with information that is managed as a database and thus
managed as a database. In addition, information that has been
transmitted in from the second server is published on a
communication network that is connected to the first server that
has received the information.
[0086] Thus, when a competition is held using electronic
competition means that are installed in each of a plurality of
competition sites, information relating to the competition is
transmitted to other competition sites that have been determined in
advance, and as a result, information relating to the competition
can be mutually reported among a plurality of competition sites,
and moreover, information can be easily exchanged. Further, because
information relating to the competition that is held in a plurality
of competition sites is collected and accumulated, when the same
electronic competition is held at a plurality of competition sites,
the competition can be conducted as if held at a single competition
site.
[0087] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which
illustrate examples of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0088] FIG. 1 shows an example of the construction of a electronic
competition system of the prior art for target shooting using a
laser gun that emits a laser beam.
[0089] FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a competition method in the
electronic competition system that is shown in FIG. 1.
[0090] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the electronic competition
network system of the present invention.
[0091] FIG. 4 shows the construction of the electronic competition
system that is shown in FIG. 3.
[0092] FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the competition method
in the electronic competition network system that is shown in FIGS.
3 and 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0093] Explanation next regards an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0094] We first refer to FIG. 3, which shows an embodiment of the
electronic competition network system of the present invention.
[0095] As shown in FIG. 3, the present embodiment is made up by:
electronic competition systems 10-1 . . . 10-n that are installed
in each of a plurality of competition sites in a form that allows
connection to Internet 30 for holding an electronic shooting
competition in each of the competition sites; and relay server 20,
which is the second server, that is constructed so as to allow
connection to electronic competition systems 10-1 . . . 10-n by way
of Internet 30, for transmitting, by way of Internet 30, the
competition progress and competition results at the competition
sites at which electronic competition systems 10-1 . . . 10-n are
installed to the electronic competition systems of competition
sites that have been determined in advance; whereby the competition
progress and competition results at other competition sites that
have been transmitted in by way of relay server 20 can be viewed at
electronic competition systems 10-1 . . . 10-n; and the competition
progress and competition results at competition sites at which
electronic competition systems 10-1 . . . 10-n have been installed
are accumulated together with the competition progress and
competition results at other competition sites that have been
transmitted in by way of relay server 20.
[0096] In addition, relay server 20 is made up from: database 21
for registering, for each of electronic competition systems 10-1 .
. . 10-n, which electronic competition systems of electronic
competition systems 101 -1 . . . 10-n competition progress and
competition results at competition sites at which electronic
competition systems 10-1 . . . 10-n are installed are to be
transmitted; and relay control unit 22 for transmitting, by way of
Internet 30, competition progress and competition results at
competition sites at which electronic competition systems 10-1 . .
. 10-n are installed to electronic competition systems based on
information that is registered in database 21.
[0097] FIG. 4 shows the construction of electronic competition
systems 10-1 . . . 10-n that are shown in FIG. 3. Electronic
competition systems 10-1 . . . 10-n that are shown in FIG. 3 all
have the same construction.
[0098] As shown in FIG. 4, electronic competition systems 10-1 . .
. 10-n in the present embodiment are each made up from: laser gun
15 for emitting, in accordance with the manipulation by a
competitor, light bullets that are constituted by a laser beam;
strike point detector 16 for detecting the strike points of light
bullets on target board 17 and which allows the removable
attachment of target board 17, on which light bullets emitted from
laser gun 15 strike; competitor PC 14 that is installed in the
vicinity of a shooting box for displaying both strike results at
strike point detector 16 and instructions to competitors; switching
unit 1 for connecting strike point detector 16 and competitor PC 14
on a LAN; managing PC 12 for instructing the progress of the
competition; viewing PC 13 for viewing competition progress,
competition results, or information relating to a competition;
projector 18 for projecting the information that is displayed on
viewing PC 13 onto screen 19; competition site server 11, which is
the first server and which is constructed so as to allow connection
to Internet 30, for displaying, on viewing PC 13, the competition
progress and competition results at the competition site in which
this electronic competition system is installed or information that
relates to the competition, for transmitting the competition
progress, competition results, or information relating to the
competition to relay server 20 by way of Internet 30, for
displaying on viewing PC 13 the competition progress, competition
results or information relating to a competition at other
competition sites that has been transmitted in from relay server
20, and for accumulating competition progress and competition
results at the competition site at which this electronic
competition system is installed with the competition progress and
competition results that have been transmitted in from relay server
20; and switching unit 2 for both connecting competition site
server 11, managing PC 12, and viewing PC 13 in a LAN as well as
connecting to the LAN a shooting stand composed of strike point
detector 16 and competitor PC 14 that are connected by switching
unit 1 in a LAN.
[0099] Competition site server 11 is composed of: Database
Management System (DBMS) 5 for accumulating and managing the
competition progress and competition results at each competition
site as a database; and database 4 for registering the data that
have been accumulated by database management system 5. A database
management system such as the system marketed by Oracle can
typically be used as database management system 5. In addition,
laser gun 15 and strike point detector 16 are provided at positions
separated by a distance that has been determined in advance as a
condition of the shooting competition, and a type of target board
that corresponds to this distance is selectively attached to strike
point detector 16. Switching unit 1 is the switching hub of a 10
Base-T LAN 41. Further, although two shooting stands that are each
composed of laser gun 15, strike point detector 16, target board
17, competitor PC 14, and switching unit 1 are shown in the figure
in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to
two stands.
[0100] The competition method in an electronic competition network
system that is constructed according to the foregoing description
is next described, taking as an example a case in which the same
type of competition is held at competition sites in which
electronic competition systems 10-1 and 10-2 are installed, and the
competition progress and competition results at the competition
site at which electronic competition system 10-1 is installed are
transmitted to electronic competition system 10-2 by way of relay
server 20.
[0101] FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the competition method
in the electronic competition network system that is shown in FIGS.
3 and 4.
[0102] When a competition is started at the competition site in
which electronic competition system 10-1 is installed, managing PC
12 of electronic competition system 10-1 is first given an
instruction to begin the competition (Step S1). At this time,
instructions are applied as input to managing PC 12 of electronic
competition system 10-1 for, for example, designating the
competition events, designating whether the competition is a
preliminary competition or final competition, and designating
whether this is the start of trial shooting or the start of the
main shooting event.
[0103] The information that is designated by means of managing PC
12 of electronic competition system 10-1 is transmitted to
competitor PC 14 by way of competition site server 11 of electronic
competition system 10-1 and then displayed (Step S2).
[0104] The information that is designated by means of managing PC
12 of electronic competition system 10-1 is also transmitted to
relay server 20 by way of competition site server 11 of electronic
competition system 10-1, and this information is then transmitted
by relay server 20 to competition site server 11 of electronic
competition system 10-2, which has been determined in advance as
the transmission destination of the information that has been
transmitted in from electronic competition system 10-1, whereby the
information that has been designated by managing PC 12 of
electronic competition system 10-1 is displayed at competitor PC 14
of electronic competition system 10-2.
[0105] After the competitor has confirmed that an indication of the
start of the competition is displayed by competitor PC 14, the
competitor performs operations such as, for example, aiming laser
gun 15 at target board 17 and pulling the trigger of laser gun 15
to emit a light bullet from laser gun 15, whereupon a light bullet
made up by a laser beam is emitted from laser gun 15 (Step S3). A
semiconductor laser oscillation element may be used as the light
source of light bullets that are emitted from laser gun 15.
[0106] To maintain the safety of the competition, the electronic
competition system is arranged such that a conical beam that is
generated by an infrared LED is transmitted from strike point
detector 16 toward the shooting box, which is the position for
competitor to shoot light bullets from laser gun 15, and if the
conical beam that is transmitted from strike point detector 16 is
not received by laser gun 15, i.e., if laser gun 15 is not within
the shooting box and directed toward target board 17, the
competitor will not be able to shoot light bullets. In this
electronic competition system, a signal that constitutes one of the
sufficiency conditions for allowing a light bullet to be emitted
from laser gun 15 is generated from the side of target board 17 and
is not under the guidance of the shooting side; and this electronic
competition system thus places control on the side of the target
board. This electronic competition system is therefore a fair
competition system that defers to the intentions of the competition
sponsors (judges). Furthermore, because laser gun 15 in this system
is not required to transmit any information other than the light
bullets, laser gun 15 need not be connected by wiring to competitor
PC 14.
[0107] After being emitted from the muzzle of laser gun 15, light
bullets that are emitted from laser gun 15 advance directly in the
direction that laser gun 15 is aimed, as with real bullets from a
real gun. Light bullets that are emitted from the muzzle of this
laser gun 15 have a signal that corresponds uniquely to laser gun
15. The light bullets strike target board 17 as light dots having a
high parallel luminous flux (Step S4).
[0108] When a light bullet that has been emitted from laser gun 15
strikes target board 17 that is attached to strike point detector
16, the strike point [of the light bullet] on strike point detector
16 is detected (Step S5), and the strike point information that is
detected is transmitted to competitor PC 14 by way of switching
unit 1. Strike point detector 16 has an adjustment capability for
raising the electrical, mechanical, and optical accuracy of the
optical elements for position detection, and the accuracy of
detection of the strike point of a laser beam can therefore be made
the competition level.
[0109] At competitor PC 14, scores are calculated based on strike
point information that is transmitted in from strike point detector
16 (Step S6), and the calculated scores are not only displayed, but
further, the calculated scores are transmitted to competition site
server 11 (Step S7). Further, information that can identify a
competitor such as the competitor's identification number and
information such as how many times the competitor has currently
fired are registered at competitor PC 14, and the competitor's
identification number, the bullet number, the score corresponding
to that bullet number, the total score, the strike point of the
light bullet on the target board 17, and the shooting stand number
are therefore transmitted to competition site server 11, and these
items of information are displayed on competitor PC 14 either
simultaneously or at time intervals.
[0110] At competition site server 11, the information that has been
transmitted from competitor PC 14 is transmitted to viewing PC 13
and relay server 20 (Step S8).
[0111] The competitor's identification number, bullet number, the
score that corresponds to that bullet number, total score, and the
strike point of the light bullet on target board 17 are displayed
at viewing PC 13 (Step S9). The information that is displayed on
viewing PC 13 may further be projected onto screen 19 by means of
projector 18.
[0112] In competition site server 11, the competition progress and
competition results are accumulated at database management system 5
using the information that has been transmitted in from competitor
PC 14 and the information that has been registered in database 4
(Step S10), and the results of accumulation are both registered in
database 4 (Step S11) and transmitted to viewing PC 13 (Step S12).
Here, the accumulation results in competition site server 11 are
the accumulated competition progress and competition results in
electronic competition system 10-1 up to the current time, and
these results may conceivably include the strike results and
competitor identification numbers of competitors that have competed
so far, the bullet numbers, scores, strike points, and the rankings
of the competitors according to the scores of competitors that have
competed so far at the competition site in which electronic
competition system 10-1 is installed.
[0113] The competition progress and competition results that have
been transmitted in from competition site server 11 are displayed
on viewing PC 13 (Step S13). It is also possible to project the
information that is displayed on viewing PC 13 onto screen 19 by
means of projector 18.
[0114] The processes of the above-described Steps S2 . . . S13 are
also similarly performed at electronic competition system 10-2.
[0115] In relay server 20, upon receiving the information that was
transmitted from competition site server 11 by way of Internet 30
in Step S8 (Step S14), the transmission source of the received
information is identified in relay control unit 22, following which
database 21 is consulted to determine the electronic competition
systems among electronic competition systems 10-1 . . . 10-n to
which the strike results at the competition site in which
electronic competition system 10-1 is installed are to be
transmitted (Step S15), and the information that was transmitted
from competition site server 11 in Step S8 is then transmitted to
the electronic competition systems that are registered in database
21 as the transmission destinations of the strike results at the
competition site in which electronic competition system 10-1 is
installed (Step S16).
[0116] Although it is assumed that electronic competition system
10-2 is registered in database 21 as the transmission destination
of the strike results at the competition site in which electronic
competition system 10-1 is installed in the present embodiment, it
is also conceivable that database 21 is registered such that, for
example, strike results are to be transmitted to all electronic
competition systems, or strike results are to be transmitted to all
electronic competition systems apart from the electronic
competition system that is the transmission source of the strike
results. The transmission destinations of the strike results are
not limited to those destinations that are registered in database
21 in advance, and it is also possible for a transmission
destination to be applied as input to relay server 20, for a
transmission destination to be designated by another server (not
shown in the figure) that is connected to relay server 20 or by
managing PC 12, or for a transmission destination to be designated
by appending to the strike results. In addition, during the
progress of a competition such as a regional preliminary
competition or final competition, the transmission destinations of
the strike results may be changed according to the time or time
period. As an example, the information of the Tokyo competition
site server could be transmitted to other competition site servers
within the Kanto area of which Tokyo is a part in the Kanto area
preliminary competition. If the Tokyo contestants win and advance
to the final competition, the transmission destinations of strike
results of the Tokyo competition site server could then be changed
to competition site servers for other areas (for example, the
Kansai area) in which contestants have also advanced to the final
competition.
[0117] The strike results that have been transmitted from relay
server 20 are received by electronic competition system 10-2 by way
of Internet 30 (Step S17), whereupon, in competition site server 11
of electronic competition system 10-2, the information that has
been transmitted in from relay server 20 is transmitted to viewing
PC 13 of electronic competition system 10-2 (Step S18).
[0118] The transmitted information from relay server 20, i.e., the
identification numbers, bullet numbers, the scores that correspond
to these bullet numbers, the total scores, and the strike points of
light bullets on target board 17 for the contestants that have
competed in the competition site in which electronic competition
system 10-1 is installed, is displayed on viewing PC 13 (Step S19).
The information that is displayed on viewing PC 13 may also be
projected onto screen 19 by means of projector 18.
[0119] In competition site server 11 of electronic competition
system 10-2, the competition progress and competition results are
accumulated in database management system 5 using the information
that has been transmitted in from relay server 20 and the
information that is registered in database 4 (Step S20), and the
results of accumulation are both registered in database 4 (Step
S21) and transmitted to viewing PC 13 of electronic competition
system 10-2 (Step S22).
[0120] The competition results that have been transmitted in from
competition site server 11 are displayed on viewing PC 13 of
electronic competition system 10-2 (Step S23). The information that
is displayed on viewing PC 13 may also be projected onto screen 19
by means of projector 18. Here, the results of accumulation in
competition site server 11 are the accumulation of the competition
progress and competition results up to the current time in
electronic competition systems 10-1 and 10-2, and may include, for
example, the strike results, the identification numbers, bullet
numbers, scores, and strike points of the competitors that have
competed up to the current time at the competition sites in which
electronic competition systems 10-1 and 10-2 are installed, as well
as the rankings of the competitors based on the scores of the
competitors that have competed up to the current time.
[0121] Thus, in the competition site in which electronic
competition system 10-2 is installed, the competition progress and
competition results at the competition site in which electronic
competition system 10-1 is installed and the competition progress
and competition results at the competition site in which electronic
competition system 10-2 is installed can be viewed at the same time
on viewing PC 13 or on screen 19 of the competition site in which
electronic competition system 10-2 is installed; and further, the
competition progress and competition results at the competition
site in which electronic competition system 10-1 is installed and
the competition progress and competition results at the competition
site in which electronic competition system 10-2 is installed can
be accumulated together by a single electronic competition system
and the accumulated results then viewed.
[0122] In the present embodiment, the strike points of a plurality
of light bullets can be tracked as a continuous series of points.
This track is displayed on competitor PC 14 and viewing PC 13. The
size of the area of this type of track, the average distance from
the origin point, and the angular distribution around the origin
point variously and precisely represent the relative movement of
the gun barrel of laser gun 15, and this type of tracking is beyond
the capability of an actual shooting competition of the prior art.
Knowing the fluctuation of this track can, for example, help a
competitor correct his or her operation of the trigger of laser gun
15.
[0123] Competitor PC 14 includes a database client function that is
capable of accessing the data of database management system 5, and
a competitor can therefore check the competition progress and
competition results that are being managed by database management
system 5 (for example, review the competition results) during a
competition by means of competitor PC 14.
[0124] In addition, each of the competitors, judges, and spectators
at a competition site can check the competition results that are
being managed by database management system 5 by using a terminal
(such as a personal computer, a portable telephone, or a PDA) that
can connect to LAN 41, which is the communication network, to
access competition site server 11. Further, the competition
progress and competition results may include: the match results,
the standings of competitors at the current time (real-time
ranking), the current state of the each competitor's target, the
current state of strikes (the average scores, strike locations, and
a graph analyzing the strike locations), and in addition, the
scores, the strike points, and the tracks (traces) of the strike
points for each competitor.
[0125] In addition to being published on LAN 41, it is also
possible for the competition progress and competition results at a
competition site to be published by a Web server (not shown in the
figure), which is the third server, that can connect to Internet
30. In this case, the competition progress and competition results
at competition sites at which electronic competition systems 10-1 .
. . 10-n are installed are transmitted to relay server 20 from
competition site servers 11 of electronic competition systems 10-1
. . . 10-n; at relay server 20, the competition progress and
competition results that have been transmitted in from competition
site servers 11 are transmitted to the Web server; and at the Web
server, the competition progress and competition results at the
competition sites at which electronic competition systems 10-1 . .
. 10-n are installed are published on Internet 30.
[0126] Further, based on the competition progress and competition
results of each of the competitors that are being managed by
database management system 5, competition site servers 11 select,
from among all competitors, the competitors that are to advance to
the final competition (the finalists), and publishes information on
each of the finalists on LAN 41. Information on the finalists
includes the finalists' photographs, names, competition experience,
and competition progress and competition results up to the current
time (for example, reproductions of all shooting traces). The
photographs of the competitors may be taken by cameras that are
provided at competitor PC 14, strike point detector 16, or
competition site server 11.
[0127] In competition sites in which electronic competition systems
10-1 . . . 10-n are installed, information on finalists that has
been published can be viewed by using a terminal that can connect
to LAN 41, and at competition site servers 11, scheduling of the
competition for the finalists can be carried out and the progress
of the competition can be managed for each of the finalists based
on this information on the finalists.
[0128] It is also possible to manage the entire competition at
competition site servers 11.
[0129] Management of participant registration for each competitor
such as the registration of contestants and the alteration of the
registration content on the day of a meet can be carried out at
competition site servers 11. Information on each of the competitors
that have completed participant registration is published on LAN 41
by competition site servers 11.
[0130] Scheduling, such as the order of competing for each of the
competitors that have completed the participant registration that
is managed, is carried out at competition site servers 11, and the
scheduling data that are produced can both be made viewable through
the use of terminals that can be connected to LAN 41 or printed out
using a printer (not shown in the figures).
[0131] The progress of the competition for each of the competitors
at a competition site can be managed at competition site servers
11. At competition site server 11, competitor PCs 14 are controlled
by way of LAN 41, and information is displayed such as the
preparation period, test shooting, and actual shooting competition
modes that were previously described, or the amount of remaining
time. In this way, a competition event can be more smoothly
managed.
[0132] Competitor PC 14 and strike point detector 16 are preferably
adjusted in accordance with the level of competition. In this way,
the resolution of strike point detector 16 can be raised in the
final round and thus adjusted to a level that is appropriate to the
level of competitors that have advanced to the final round, and the
competition in the final round can therefore proceed more
effectively.
[0133] Competitor PC 14 may be provided with identification
information input means (not shown in the figure) for receiving
information that can distinguish each of the competitors, and
competition site server 11 may be provided with authentication
means (not shown in the figure) for authenticating competitors
based on this identification information. The identification
information is information for establishing whether or not a
competitor is a registered participant, and may take the form of a
password that has been conferred to each competitor in advance, the
fingerprint of the competitor, or the membership number of the
competitor.
[0134] Before the commencement of the competition, competitors use
the identification information input means of competitor PC 14 to
apply the identification information. The identification
information is then transmitted to competition site server 11 by
way of LAN 41. At the authentication means of competition site
server 11, the identification information that has been transmitted
in from competitor PC 14 is collated with the identification
information of competitors that has been registered in advance, for
example, at the time of participant registration. The result of
collation determines whether the competitor is in fact a registered
contestant, and if the competitor is determined to be a registered
participant, the person that applied this identification
information as input to the identification information input means
is recognized as a competitor. In this way, persons other than
registered participants are barred from competing, and the fairness
of the competition can be ensured.
[0135] It is also possible to provide an integrative server (not
shown in the figures), this being the fourth server, that is
constructed so as to allow connection to Internet 30 for
centralized management of competition progress and competition
results at competition sites in which electronic competition
systems 10-1 . . . 10-n are installed. In such a case, the
competition progress and competition results at competition sites
at which electronic competition systems 10-1 . . . 10-n are
installed are transmitted to relay server 20 from competition site
servers 11 of electronic competition systems 10-1 . . . 10-n, and
in relay server 20, the competition progress and
competition-results that have been transmitted in from competition
site servers 11 are sent to the integrative server. In the
integrative server, the competition progress and competition
results at competition sites at which electronic competition
systems 10-1 . . . 10-n are installed are subjected to centralized
management. For example, if competitions are held separately within
the Kanto and Kansai regions, setting integrative server as the
transmission destination of the competition site servers of each
region allows the national competition results to be obtained at
the integrative server.
[0136] In relay server 20, moreover, it is possible to transmit to
competition site servers 11, of the information that has been
transmitted in from competition site servers 11 within electronic
competition systems 10-1 . . . 10-n, only information that is
determined according to the transmission destinations. According to
one possible case, of the information that is transmitted in from
the Tokyo competition site server, information relating to the
three top-ranked competitors is sent to the competition site server
in Kanagawa, which is within the same region; only information
relating to competitors hailing from Osaka is sent to the
competition site server in Osaka; while all information is sent to
the integrative server. In this case, it is also possible for the
types of information that are transmitted at relay server 20 to
change according to the time or time period.
[0137] It is also possible for competition site server 11 of one
electronic competition system of electronic competition systems
10-1 . . . 10-n to control and manage the competition at another
electronic competition system at which a competition is being held.
In this case, competition site server 11 in one electronic
competition system transmits, by way of the relay server, control
information such as commands and programs for controlling
components to the competition site servers of the other electronic
competition systems that are holding the competition and thus
controls and manages the components such as strike point detector
16, competitor PC 14, and viewing PC 13 of the other electronic
competition systems, just as it controls and manages the components
such as strike point detector 16, competitor PC 14, and viewing PC
13 that are installed in its own competition site. In this case,
the competition site servers that have received the control
information may, according to the components that are under its own
control, decode and modify the control information and effect
control over the components under its own control. In this case,
the control information is information for setting the start and
items of a competition, and for controlling the end of a
competition or refereeing content, which is instructions regarding,
for example, mistakes or fouls in the competition. The timing for
the start of a competition can therefore be synchronized when a
competition is being held at a plurality of sites, thus allowing
the competition to proceed more smoothly.
[0138] Programs for executing the operations of competition site
server 11 and relay server 20 are registered in competition site
server 11 and relay server 20. These programs are for controlling
the operation of the hardware of competition site server 11 and
relay server 20, which are computer servers; and all of the
processing of the above-described competition site server 11 and
relay server 20 is specified by these programs.
[0139] The present invention as described in the foregoing
description relates to an electronic competition network system for
using electronic competition means that are installed in each of a
plurality of competition sites to hold the same type of electronic
competition, this electronic competition network system being
provided with: a plurality of first servers that: are installed at
each of a plurality of competition sites in a state allowing
connection to the electronic competition means by way of a
communication network, that control and manage information that
relates to the competition that is held using the electronic
competition means, and that transmit information that relates to
the competition that is being held using the electronic competition
means onto a network; and a second server that transmits, by way of
the network, the information that has been transmitted onto the
network to first servers that have been determined in advance; the
first servers being constructed to successively accumulate
information relating to the competition that is being held using
the electronic competition means that are connected to the first
servers by way of the communication network together with
information that has been transmitted in from the second server and
to manage this accumulated information as a database; whereby
information that relates to a competition can be mutually exchanged
among a plurality of competition sites, and in addition, the
management of the exchange of the information that is exchanged can
be simplified by controlling the second server, and a same
electronic competition that is held at a plurality of competition
sites can be held as though it were being held at a single
competition site.
[0140] While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described using specific terms, such description is for
illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes
and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *