Multi-lane bowling system with remote operator control

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DESCRIPTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a bowling center system, and more particularly to an automated bowling center system operable to automatically control the operation of a pinsetter under control of a bowling game program, to play a plurality of different bowling games and to provide bowling game instructional facilities.

2. Background of the Invention

Bowling centers have evolved from systems which required the manual setting of ten pins on the lane and manual scoring during game play, to systems which utilize automatic pinsetting devices, such as described in Huck, et al U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,300, and ultimately to systems which utilize automatic bowling scoring systems, such as described in Grosvenor et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,071.

Such prior bowling center systems often included a plurality of pairs of bowling lanes, with each lane including an automatic pinsetter. The automatic pinsetter was operable to automatically control pinsetter cycles within a bowling game. Particularly, under automatic control, the pinsetter at the beginning of each frame would set ten pins on the deck. The player would be permitted to roll a maximum of two balls to knock down all of the pins. The frame ended after all of the pins were knocked down or after two balls were thrown, whichever occurred first. The game consisted of ten such frames.

Prior automatic score consoles were coupled to both pinsetters in the lane pair for automatically processing pin fall information for the two lanes and displaying bowler's scores on score console monitors and on overhead CRT displays. Suitable interconnections were provided between the score console and pinsetter so that pin fall information could be transmitted from sensing devices associated with the pinsetter to the scoring console.

In order for such prior automatic pinsetters to be utilized in a practice bowling mode, a selective pinsetting control mechanism, such as described in Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 3,219,345, permitted a bowler to manually select which pins would be set on the deck for practice bowling. With such a mechanism, the bowler could selectively play a single ball, or two balls, in order to try and knock down all of the selected pins. Such a mechanism is operable to set a selected array of pins only responsive to a manual request from the bowler.

Certain known automatic pinsetters include hard wired control circuits designed to implement the operation of the conventional ten pin bowling game, or provide for practice bowling. These control circuits are not operable to selectively set different arrays of pins during the playing of a bowling game. Therefore, such automatic pinsetters are limited in their ability to provide variation in the method of operation of a particular bowling game.

Prior bowling center systems also included- a manager's control console in electrical communication with the score consoles. The primary function of the manager's control console was to provide administrative control over the operation of the automatic pinsetters and the score consoles. For example, the prior manager's control console was utilized to provide lane status report information, to upload the video score display from any score console and to provide score correction for a particular score console. Such score correction necessitated that bowling at the particular lane be halted until the score correction was complete and sent back to the score console. The manager's control console also included provision for displaying messages at a preselected score console, to transfer lane scoring information from one score console to another, and provide for tournament display as by displaying a pair of lane scores on any selected number of overhead CRT's throughout the system. Additionally, the manager's score console provided for activity and error logging related to system operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a bowling lane system is operable to automatically control the operation of a pinsetter during game play to automatically set a preselected array of bowling pins which may comprise any number less than a predetermined number of bowling pins.

A bowling center system according to the one aspect of the invention is operable to automatically control the operation of a bowling game, which bowling game may use less then ten pins in any frame. The system includes a pinsetting apparatus for setting up to ten bowling pins on a bowling lane. Means are coupled to the pinsetting apparatus for controlling the pinsetting apparatus to set a preselected array of bowling pins, which preselected array may comprise less than ten bowling pins. A game control means is coupled to the controlling means for implementing the operation of a bowling game, the game control means including means for automatically preselecting an array of pins to be set during operation of the bowling game.

More specifically, a bowling center system according to the one aspect includes an automatic pinsetter operable under the control of a programmed pinsetter control unit to set up to ten pins on the bowling lane. The pinsetter control unit is electrically connected to a game control unit. The game control unit includes a central processing unit and a memory, the central processing unit being operable to implement a bowling game according to a bowling game program stored in the memory. The game control unit is also electrically connected to a video display unit for displaying bowler scoring information as determined by a pin sensing device associated with the pinsetter control unit. A bowler input station is also connected to the game control unit for entering bowler information. The game control program is operable during game play to periodically command the pinsetter control unit to set a preselected array of pins, which array may comprise less than ten pins, according to the logic of the particular game being played.

Another feature of the present invention is that the game control unit is operable to play any one of a plurality of different bowling games. Means are included for selecting which of the bowling games are to be played at any given time by the game control unit.

Another feature of the present invention is that the game control unit automatically determines the score of a bowling game dependent on a scoring algorithm for the selected bowling game being played.

According to another aspect of the invention, a bowling center system is provided which is operable to download any one of a plurality of different bowling game programs from a manager's control terminal to a game control unit.

More specifically, the bowling center system includes a plurality of bowling lanes and an electrically controlled pinsetting device for each lane. A plurality of game control units are provided, each electrically connected to one or more of the pinsetting devices. Each game control unit includes a central processing unit, a display device, an operator input station and a memory for storing a game control program. A manager's control terminal unit includes a programmed central processing unit connected to a memory, the memory storing one or more game control programs. Communication means are provided for electrically connecting the processing unit of the manager's control terminal with the processing units for each of the game control units. Means are included electrically connected to the communication means for requesting the manager's terminal processing unit to transfer one of the game control programs stored in the memory thereof over the communication means to the memory coupled to one of the game control units so that the game control unit operates the pinsetter connected thereto to play the one game.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a bowling center system is provided including a manager's control terminal having an input terminal connected thereto which is operable to interact directly with any game control unit.

More specifically, the bowling center system includes a plurality of bowling lanes, each having a pinsetting device associated therewith. A plurality of game control units, each connected to one or more of the pinsetting devices, include a central processing unit coupled to a display device and a bowler input device for providing bowler interaction with the game control unit operation. A manager's control terminal includes a central processing unit coupled to a display device and an operator input terminal. Communication means are provided for electrically connecting the central processing unit of the manager's control terminal with the central processing unit for each of the game control units. Switching means are provided coupled to the game control units and the display devices for selectively coupling the manager's input terminal and display device to a selected one of said game control units so that said manager's control terminal input device interacts directly with the bowling game for the selected game control unit.

It is still another feature of the present invention that a bowling game can continue to be played even after the manager's control input terminal is operable to interact directly with the operation of the selected bowling lane.

According to still another aspect of the invention, a bowling center system includes a manager's control device which is operable to control the transmission of video display signals from a plurality of video display sources over a communication network to any one of a plurality of video display terminals.

Broadly, according to this aspect of the invention, there is disclosed herein a manager's control terminal for operating a video display system including means for generating a plurality of video display signals each representing a dynamic video display. A plurality of video display terminals remotely located from the manager's control terminal are operable to display dynamic video displays responsive to a received video signal. Means are included for selecting one of the dynamic video displays to be displayed on one of the display terminals. A video communication network is coupled to the manager's control terminal, the selecting L means and the display terminals. The manager's control terminal includes means responsive to the selecting means for commanding the generating means to transmit over the network the video signal representing the selected one of the displays. Switching means coupled in the communication network are provided for switching the communication network to cause a selected one of the display terminals to receive the selected transmitted video signal in order to display the selected video display.

More specifically, the video display system includes a memory device for storing data which represents a plurality of dynamic video displays. Such memory means may include video disks. The video source, such as a disk player converts the data on the memory means to a video signal representative thereof. The manager's control terminal is in electrical communication with the video source devices and includes commands for instructing the sources to generate a display signal representing a selected dynamic video display. One or more video switches are connected to the video sources using a plurality of video communication lines. Each switch is also connected to one or more video display monitors. Operator input means are provided for selecting a video display to be displayed on a selected video monitor. The video switches are in communication with the manager's control terminal and are operable to selectively connect a video source to a video monitor so that the selected video monitor can display a selected video display responsive to a received video signal from the video source.

Another feature of this aspect of the invention is that the video display system is utilized in a bowling center system wherein a plurality of automatic scoring terminals are connected to the manager's control terminal. A plurality of video display terminals associated with each scoring terminal are connected to a video switch. The video switch is operable under the command of manager's control terminal to display a selected video display at any video display terminal in the bowling center system.

According to a yet another aspect of the invention, a bowling center system is provided including a plurality of bowling lane pairs and a score control unit for each lane pair having a score display device. A manager's control terminal has a central controller device, a display device and a memory storage device. The manager's control terminal is connected with each of the score units for transferring data therebetween. A plurality of display terminals are remotely located relative to the manager's control terminal and the score control unit, and are connected to the transferring means to display information representing data received from the transferring means. A plurality of operator input means, one for each of the display terminals, is coupled to the transferring means for transmitting requests to the manager's control terminal or the scoring terminals. A switching means is coupled to the transferring means for transmitting data from the transferring means to one of the display terminals responsive to a request from the one display terminals associated operator input means.

Further features and advantages of the invention will readily be apparent from the specification and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a generalized block diagram representing an overview of a bowling center system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram representation for the manager's control system and the video/audio control system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram of the lane pair control system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, with parts removed for clarity, of an automatic pinsetting apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view similar to that of FIG. 4 taken from an opposite side of the pinsetting apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a generalized block diagram representation of a gamesetter electrical control for controlling a pair of pinsetters;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for the common box of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram for the gamesetter CPU board of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the gamesetter I/O board of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the high voltage interface box of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a pinsetting operation performed by the gamesetter of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 12A-12D comprise a detailed block diagram for a gamemaker game control unit and manager's computer according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram representation of a communications interface circuit;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram representation of a bowler input station;

FIG. 15 illustrates a bowler input station keyboard overlay;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram representation of a video switch according to the invention;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a circuit for the video input switch block, the video output switch block and the audio switch block of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a circuit for the monitor switch blocks of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a circuit for the control decoder block of FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a remote area terminal;

FIG. 21 is a ball trajectory data management schematic diagram;

FIG. 22 illustrates the data fields for an information frame for transferring data on a communication line;

FIG. 23 illustrates the data fields for the transfer of data between the main central processing unit and the communications central processing units;

FIGS. 24A-24C comprise a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the operating system for the gamemaker;

FIGS. 25A-25H comprise a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a program for a simulated golf game;

FIG. 26 illustrates a graphic display format for the simulated golf game for display on the overhead monitor;

FIG. 27 illustrates a graphic display format utilized in conjunction with an alternative golf game program;

FIG. 28 is a block diagram representation of a process overview for software operations of the manager's computer;

FIG. 29 illustrates a graphic display format for a ball trajectory display;

FIG. 30 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a video subsystem according to the invention;

FIG. 31 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a ball trajectory management subsystem according to the invention;

FIG. 32 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a game file downloading procedure according to the present invention; and

FIG. 33 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a remote score correction operation according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

General Description

The game of bowling is played on a bowling lane which typically includes an automatic pinsetter operable for setting ten pins on the lane at the start of a game. In a conventional ten pin bowling game, each bowler is allowed to roll two balls in an attempt to knock all of the pins down. The throwing of two balls constitutes what is known as a frame, except that three balls may be permitted in the tenth frame, and the completion of ten frames comprises one game. The player's score is determined according to the number of pins which are knocked down in each frame. The scoring may be accomplished by manually counting the number of pins which have been knocked down. In a bowling center including an automatic scoring system, the score is automatically computed and displayed on a suitable displaying screen or printed out using a printing device.

A bowling center system according to the present invention includes provisions for playing numerous different bowling games utilizing an automatic pinsetter and automatic scoring system wherein each frame may permit the throwing of more or less than two balls, and may utilize any number less than or equal to ten bowling pins comprising any pattern that the pinsetter is capable of setting. Also, the system is provided with a interactive display system which enables dynamic video graphics to be selectively displayed on various system display monitors for training purposes and the like.

OVERVIEW

GENERAL SYSTEM OVERVIEW

With reference to FIG. 1, a generalized blocked diagram represents an overview of a bowling center system 10 according to the present invention. The bowling center system 10 includes a plurality of bowling lanes 12, each having a conventional approach 13. Particularly, a total of N +1 lanes are provided, wherein lanes are grouped in pairs. Particularly, lanes 1 and 2 comprise a lane pair, lanes 3 and 4 comprise a lane pair, lanes 5 and 6 comprise a lane pair, etc., etc., and lanes N and N+1 comprise a lane pair.

Associated with each lane is an automatic pinsetter 14. The two pinsetters 14 of each lane pair are electrically connected to a lane pair control system 16. The lane pair control system 16 operates both pinsetters 14 to set a desired array of pins according to the bowling game being played, and to provide automatic scoring for the bowling game being played. Also connected to each lane pair control system 16 is a bowler input station 18 which is used by a bowler to enter information to be transmitted to the lane pair control 16. The bowler input station 18 is physically located near a bowler staging area 19 immediately adjacent the associated approach 13. Conventionally, this is the area occupied by the bowlers as they await their turn to bowl, keep score, etc. A respective overhead display monitor 20L and 20R is provided for the left and right lanes of each lane pair to display scoring and other types of information. Additionally, a remote, or social area, terminal 21 including a display monitor 22 and an associated keyboard 24 are electrically connected to the lane pair control 16 but are remotely located relative to the bowling lane 12. The remote terminal 21 may be utilized, as discussed more specifically below, to permit nonbowlers to be provi