Racing management and information system

Abstract

A system that automates the resetting of race field running order following a caution period by collecting data from existing race timing and scoring systems and communicating field reordering instructions directly to racing participants.

1 . A method of resetting the order of participants in a racing field, comprising:
 (a) during a closed-circuit racing event, repeatedly and automatically collecting, at a race manager subsystem, data representative of real-time information regarding the running order of participants in a racing field, participating in the racing event, from at least one automated timing and scoring system located at the racing event; and   (b) in response to a reset instruction, controlling the order of the race participants, such controlling step including:
 (i) receiving data, entered by a race official, representative of a preferred running order for the race participants; 
 (ii) comparing, at the race manager subsystem, a current running order to the preferred running order; 
 (iii) based on the comparison, computing, at the race manager subsystem, a sequence of racing field reorder requests; and 
 (iv) automatically transmitting the resulting racing field reorder requests directly from the race manager subsystem to respective user interfaces, perceptible by the race participants, using wireless communications. 
   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the automatically computed reorder requests are displayed as visual indicators. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the automatically computed reorder requests are transmitted as automatically created audio on a voice communications network. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the automatically created audio reorder requests are created by automatically converting reorder requests into an audio format by means of matching textual command phrases and sub-phrases to pre-recorded audio clips which are combined and then transmitted on the racers audio channel. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the audio reorder requests are automatically created by converting textual representations of reorder requests into audio recordings of simulated human speech by an automated text-to-speech processor. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the voice communications network is a pre-existing installation and is shared with human speakers. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of allowing for the automatic, continuous real-time recomputation of optimal running order reordering requests as running order changes on the track are sensed, or as updates are made to the preferred final running order. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of automatically notifying race participants and race officials whenever the actual running order matches the requested running order, as well as when the actual running order ceases to match the requested running order. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of allowing for the configuration of the optimization of running order reorganization steps, as well as the timing of their transmission to racers, based on the specific requirements of particular racing formats. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the running order reorganization requests are automatically computed so as to minimize disruption of the racing event. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the running order reorganization requests are automatically computed so as to minimize the physical change in position of the racing participants. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the running order reorganization requests are automatically computed so as to minimize the time necessary to implement them by the racing participants. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the running order reorganization requests are automatically computed so as to minimize safety risk to racing participants and race officials. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of allowing for manual modification of automatically computed running order requests before they are sent to the race participants. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of disabling or limiting the performance of a racer in order to bring the racer into compliance with the requirements of the system or its operators. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the disabling or limiting action is carried out by transmitting commands to a remote actuator attached to the racing participant or their equipment. 
   
   
       17 . A racing management system adapted to reset the order of participants in a racing field, comprising:
 (a) a scoring system interface configured to repeatedly and automatically receive, during a closed-circuit racing event, data representative of real-time information regarding the running order of participants in a racing field, participating in the racing event, from at least one automated timing and scoring system located at the racing event;   (b) a user interface adapted to receive a reset instruction from a race official and configured to receive data, entered by a race official, representative of a preferred running order for the race participants;   (c) a respective racing I/O subsystem for each race participant, each racing I/O subsystem including a user interface perceptible by the respective race participant; and   (d) a race manager subsystem configured to:
 (i) compare a current running order to the preferred running order, 
 (ii) based on the comparison, compute a sequence of racing field reorder requests, and 
 (iii) automatically transmit the resulting racing field reorder requests directly to the racing I/O subsystems for presentation to the race participants via the respective user interfaces. 
   
   
   
       18 . A racing management system adapted to reset the order of participants in a racing field, comprising:
 (a) a scoring system interface configured to repeatedly and automatically receive, during a closed-circuit racing event, data representative of real-time information regarding the running order of participants in a racing field, participating in the racing event, from at least one automated timing and scoring system located at the racing event;   (b) a user interface adapted to:
 (i) detect the initiation of a field reset sequence, 
 (ii) receive data, entered by a race official, representative of a preferred running order for the race participants, and 
 (iii) detect the completion of the field reset sequence; 
   (c) a respective racing I/O subsystem for each race participant, each racing I/O subsystem including a user interface perceptible by the respective race participant; and   (d) a race manager subsystem configured to:
 (i) compare a current running order to the preferred running order, 
 (ii) based on the comparison, compute a sequence of racing field reorder requests, and 
 (iii) automatically transmit the resulting racing field reorder requests directly to the racing I/O subsystems for presentation to the race participants via the respective user interfaces. 
   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the user interface is adapted to detect the completion of a field reset sequence by either receiving a manually entered field reset complete instruction from a race official or automatically detecting the completion of a field reset sequence based on information received from the scoring system interface. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the user interface is adapted to receive instructions, entered by a race official, to limit or disable a racing participant, wherein each racing I/O subsystem includes a racer limiting or disabling control, and wherein the race manager subsystem is configured to transmit requests for racer limiting or disabling control to the racing I/O subsystem.