System and methods for indicating a referee penalty flag

Abstract

There is provided systems and methods for enhancing the viewing enjoyment by spectators of a sports game conducted on a playing between two teams of opposing players, and in which at least one referee is present for the purpose of observing any infractions of rules of the game and indicating such an infraction and which team committed the infraction. The systems and methods may include automatic detection of a called penalty and which team is called for the penalty. The systems and methods may also use transmitters which are activated whenever a predetermined event, such as a penalty, is called, and receivers disposed around the playing field to detect that a penalty was called and on which team the call was made. The systems and methods may also use transmitters which are activated by spotters when a predetermined event, such as a penalty, is called, and receivers wirelessly coupled to the stadium scoreboard and/or the television system. An indication of the rules infraction and the team committing the infraction may then be displayed or communicated to viewers immediately.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for enhancing the viewing enjoyment by spectators of a sports game having competitors in which at least one official is present for the purpose of observing any infractions of rules of the game, the official signifying an infraction of the rules, comprising,
 a first flag or other indicator carried by the official having a first distinctive characteristic,   a second flag or other indicator carried by the official having a second distinctive characteristic,   wherein upon observing any infractions of rules of the game, the official indicates such infraction by using the first or second flag or other indicator, to indicate to viewers that an infraction has occurred and which competitor the infraction has been called upon.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second distinctive characteristics are first and second colors or patterns for indicating an offensive or defensive infraction or against which competitor the infraction has been called. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one camera for generating video images of the game, wherein an indication of the calling of a rules infraction is generated upon seeing the first or second flag or other indicator, and generating an indication on a display and/or playing field communication system to indicate to viewers that an infraction has occurred and which competitor the infraction has been called upon. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising an image sensing system to automatically detect the calling of a rules infraction by determining the presence of the first and/or second flag or other indicator on the playing field, and generating the indication that an infraction has occurred and which competitor the infraction has been called upon. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the game is football and the competitors are first and second teams, and the distinctive characteristics are first and second colors for indicating an offensive or defensive infraction or against which team the infraction has been called. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second indicators include a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of a rules infraction and the competitor which committed the rules infraction,
 at least one receiver to receive the signal from the transmitter, being coupled to a control system,   wherein the control system generates an indication that a rules infraction has occurred and the competitor against which the infraction was called to the viewers of the game.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the transmitter is a radio transmitter carried by the at least one indicator, the radio transmitter being actuated upon removal of the indicator from a stored position. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the transmitter is a radio transmitter carried by the official, the radio transmitter being actuated by removal of the indicator from a stored position. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism to sense the use of the at least one indicator by the official. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a switch to sense removal of the at least one indicator from a stored position. 
     
     
         11 . A system for indicating infractions of rules of a game between first and second competitors, comprising,
 at least one indicator carried by an official monitoring the game for rules infractions to use to signify an infraction of the rules, the at least one indicator being capable of indicating an infraction by each of the first and second competitors and which competitor committed the infraction,   wherein upon observing any infractions of rules of the game, the official indicates such infraction by using the at least one indicator, to indicate to viewers that an infraction has occurred and which competitor committed the infraction.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one indicator is first and second indicators each having a distinctive characteristic relative to the other indicator. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the game is football and the competitors are first and second competitors, and the distinctive characteristics are first and second colors for indicating an offensive or defensive infraction or against which competitor the infraction has been called. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one indicator includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of a rules infraction and the competitor which committed the rules infraction,
 at least one receiver to receive the signal from the transmitter, being coupled to a control system,   wherein the control system generates an indication that a rules infraction has occurred and the competitor against which the infraction was called to the viewers of the game.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the transmitter is a radio transmitter carried by the at least one indicator, the radio transmitter being actuated upon removal of the indicator from a stored position. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the transmitter is a radio transmitter carried by the official, the radio transmitter being actuated by removal of the indicator from a stored position. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least one spectator viewed display, wherein the generated indicator is generated on the display. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a mechanism to sense the use of the at least one indicator by the official. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a switch to sense removal of the at least one indicator from a stored position. 
     
     
         20 . A system for enhancing the viewing enjoyment by spectators of a sports game between first and second competitors in which at least two officials are present for the purpose of observing any infractions of rules of the game, comprising,
 a spotter monitoring audio communications between officials regarding an infraction that has been called against a competitor,   wherein upon observing any infractions of rules of the game, one official communicates such infraction committed by a competitor to another official by using an audio communication system.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein at least one indicator possessed by a spotter monitoring communications between officials, the at least one indicator being capable of indicating whether the first or second competitors committed the infraction,
 wherein upon hearing any infractions of rules of the game, the spotter indicates which competitor the infraction is against by using the at least one indicator.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one indicator comprises first and second indicators each having a distinctive characteristic relative to the other indicator. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the game is football and the competitors are first and second competitors, and the distinctive characteristics are first and second colors for indicating against which competitor the infraction has been called. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one indicator includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicating which competitor committed the infraction,
 wherein the system includes at least one receiver to receive the signal from the transmitter, being coupled to a control system, and   wherein the control system generates an indication of the competitor against which the infraction was called to the viewers of the game.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein upon the occurrence of the infraction, the spotter selecting the at least one indicator corresponding to the competitor which committed the infraction and wherein the transmitter on the at least one indicator is a radio transmitter, the radio transmitter being actuated by the spotter upon learning which competitor committed the infraction. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one spectator viewed display, wherein the generated indicator is generated on the display. 
     
     
         27 . A method for enhancing the viewing enjoyment by spectators of a sports game of two teams of opposing players, and in which at least one official is present for the purpose of observing and indicating any infractions of rules of the game, comprising,
 providing the referee with first and second indicators having first and second distinctive characteristics associated therewith, each of the first and second distinctive characteristics respectively,   wherein upon observing any infractions of rules of the game, the referee indicates such infraction by using the first or second indicator, to indicate to viewers that an infraction has occurred and which team the infraction has been called upon.