Bowling center video display system - Patent Review 5255185

We claim:

1. In a bowling center system including a plurality of bowling lanes, a plurality of bowling scoring systems, and a manager's control system connected to said bowling score systems, a video display system comprising:

a plurality of video source devices each including means for transmitting a video signal to convey dynamic video of still pictures displayed in rapid succession to provide an illustration of motion;

a plurality of video display terminals remotely located from said manager's control system and operable to display dynamic video information responsive to a received video signal;

a video communication network coupled to said transmitting means and said display terminals;

switching means operatively associated with said manager's control system and coupled in said video communication network for selectively coupling one of said video source device transmitting means to a selected video display terminal to receive the transmitted video signal so that said one video display terminal displays the dynamic video information associated with the received signal.

2. The video display system of claim 1 wherein each said bowling scoring system transmits video signals to convey video scoring information, and wherein each said bowling scoring system is coupled to said switching means, said switching means further including second means for selectivity coupling one of said bowling scoring systems to a terminal to receive the transmitted video signal so that said selected video display terminal displays the video scoring information associated with the received signal.

3. The video display system of claim 2 wherein said manager's control system includes a manager's display terminal and wherein said switching means further comprises third means for selectively coupling one of said bowling scoring units of said video source devices to said manager's display terminal to receive the transmitted video signal therefrom so that said manager's display terminal displays the video information associated with the received video signal.

4. In a blowing center system including a plurality of bowling lanes, a plurality of bowling scoring systems and a manager's control system, a video display system comprising:

memory means for storing data representing a plurality of video segments, each said segment comprising dynamic video display information consisting of a series of still pictures displayed in rapid succession to provide an illusion of motion;

means coupled to said memory means for converting said data to a transmittable video signal to convey video segment information;

a plurality of video display terminals remotely located from said manager's control system and operable to display video information responsive to a received video signal

a video communication network coupled to said converting means and said video display terminals;

means in communication with said manager's control system for selecting one of said video segments to be displayed on one of said display terminals, said manager's control system including means responsive to said selecting means for commanding said converting means to transmit over said network a video signal relative to the selected one of said video segments; and

switching means operatively associated with said selecting means and coupled in said video communication network for selectively coupling said converting means to one of said display terminals to receive the transmitted video signal representing the selected video display segment to display the dynamic video display information.

5. The video display system of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of lane video display terminals located proximate said bowling lanes and operable to display video information responsive to a received video signal, and wherein said lane video display terminals and said bowling scoring systems are coupled to said switching means and said switching means comprises second means for selectively coupling either said converting means or one of said bowling scoring systems to a selected one of said lane video display terminals.

6. In a bowling center system including a plurality of bowling lanes, a scoring controller device for each said lane having a score display device, a manager's control system having a central controller device, a display device and a memory storage device, and means connecting said manager's control terminal with each of said scoring controller devices for transferring signals to convey information therebetween, a remote display system comprising:

a plurality of display terminals each remotely located relative to said manager's control system and all said bowling lanes and connected to said transferring means to display information represented by a signal received from said transferring means;

a plurality of operator input means, one for each of said display terminals, coupled to said transferring means for transmitting requests to said manager's control system or said scoring controller devices; and

switching means coupled to said transferring means for transmitting a signal from said transferring means to one of said display terminals responsive to a request from said one display terminals associated operator input means.

7. The remote display system of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of video source devices operating under the control of said manager's control system and connected to said transferring means, each video source device including means for transmitting a video signal, wherein said switching means includes means for requesting said manager's control system to operate one of said video source devices to transmit a video signal to the display terminal associated with said one operator input means transmitting the request.

8. The remote display system of claim 7 wherein said manager's control system includes means for storing video requests received from said operator input means.

9. The remote display system of claim 8 wherein said manager's control system includes means responsive to a stored video request for commanding one of said video source devices to transmit a video signal to tho video display terminal associated with the operator input means which transmitted the request.

10. In a bowling center system including a plurality of bowling lanes, a scoring controller device for each said lane having a score display device, wherein said controller device includes means for generating a video signal to convey display information representing the trajectory of a bowling ball as it moves in a path on one of the lanes, a manager's control system having a central controller device, a display device and a memory storage device, and means connecting said manager's control terminal with each of said scoring controller devices for transferring signals to convey information therebetween, a remote display system comprising:

a plurality of display terminals each remotely located relative to said manager's control system and said bowling lanes and connected to said transferring means to display information represented by a signal received from said transferring means;

a plurality of operator input means, one for each of said display terminals, coupled to said transferring means for transmitting requests to said manager's control system or said coring controller devices;

switching means coupled to said transferring means for transmitting a signal from said transferring means to one of said display terminals responsive to a request from said one display terminals associated operator input means; and

means responsive to a request from said one operator input means to one of said scoring controller device for transmitting a ball trajectory display video signal for display at the display terminal associated with said one operator input means.

11. In a bowling center system including a plurality of lane pairs, a scoring system for each said lane pair having a programmed CPU, a bowler input device, a memory device and a score display device for each lane, a manager's control system having a programmed CPU, a display device, and a memory device, and means connecting said manager's control system with each of said scoring systems for transferring signals to convey information therebetween, a remote display system comprising:

a plurality of remote display devices, each remotely located relative to said manager's control system and said lane pairs and connected to said transferring means to display information relative to signals received from said transferring means;

a plurality of user input means, one for each of said remote display devices, coupled to said transferring means for selectively transmitting requests to said manager's control system or said scoring systems;

a plurality of first means, each operatively associated with a respective one of said scoring systems and responsive to a request transmitted by one of said user input means, for transmitting a video signal from said scoring system to said transferring means;

second means coupled to said manager's control system and responsive to a request transmitted by one of said user input means for transmitting a video signal to said transferring means; and

switching means coupled to said transferring means for selectively directing a request transmitted by one of said user input means to a selected one of said scoring systems or said manager's control system and subsequently directing a video signal transmitted over said transferring means to one remote display device responsive to a request transmitted from the user input means associated therewith.

12. The remote display system of claim 11 wherein each of said first means comprises means under the control of the programmed CPU associated with its respective storing system for generating a video signal to convey information for display at one of said remote display devices.

13. The remote display system of claim 11 wherein said second means comprises a plurality of video source devices, each including means for generating a video signal to convey dynamic video information for display at one of said remote display devices.

14. The remote display system of claim 11 wherein said first means includes means for generating video display signals under the control of said scoring system programmed CPU, and said second means includes means for generating video display signals under the control of said manager's control system programmed CPU, and said switching means includes means for selectively connecting one of said first means or said second means to the remote display device associated with the one said user input means transmitting a request.

15. The remote display system of claim 11 wherein said switching means comprises a plurality of video switching devices, one for each scoring system, and each said video switching device interconnects the scoring system associated therewith, the scoring terminals associated score display device, a remote display device, and said transferring means.

Description Submit all comments and votes

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. 4,949,300, 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 with 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 on 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 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 elevatonal 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;

Figure 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 an pattern that the pinsetter is capable of setting. Also, the system is provided with an 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 provided with training or other information relative to bowling in general or to a particular bowling game. Such remote terminals 21 might be located anywhere in a bowling center, including possibly social areas 25. Social areas 25 may be provided for all or less than all of the lane pairs as desired, but generally, each will include both a remote monitor 22 and a keyboard 24. Each social area 25 is a less active area than a bowler staging area 19 in the sense that occupants of the social area may be there for any of a variety of purposes including bowling and nonbowling purposes. For example, for bowling purposes, they may receive game information, instructional information or even video information depicting a game being played elsewhere in the bowling establishment on the monitor 22. Alternatively, other video information, such as TV or cable TV programs may be displayed on the monitor 22. As still a further alternative, the social areas 25 may be utilized solely for relaxation, the consumption of food or beverages, conversation or the like.

Generally speaking, a social area 25 is more remote from the associated lane pair than is the corresponding staging area 19. This is due to the nature of a number of the uses mentioned above. At the same time, it is frequently desirable that a social area 15 be in fairly close proximity to at least the associated staging area so that a person receiving instruction in a social area 25 may readily move to the associated staging area 19 and begin to make use of that instruction on one or both of the lanes of the lane pair.

Frequently, but not always, a social area 25 may be disposed in an area of a bowling establishment conventionally utilized to house spectators, i.e., immediately adjacent a staging area 19 on the side thereof that is remote from the lane pair.

To the extent that a social area 25 is utilized in such a way as to require interaction with the automatic bowling center system of the present invention, the associated keyboard 24 is utilized for that purpose.

A manager's control system 26 communicates with each of the lane pair control systems 16 over a global communication line, or COM line, 27. The manager's control system 26 is typically located at a bowling center manager's control desk, or MCD, and provides accounting control of the bowling lanes as well as the ability to download game information to the lane pair control system 16. The manager's control system 26 communicates over a manager's local communication line, or COM line, 29 to a video/audio control system 28. The video/audio control system 28 is connected over a global video/audio distribution bus 30 to each of the lane pair control systems 16. The video/audio control system 28 is controlled responsive to commands from the manager's control system 26 to transmit video/audio information to the lane pair control system 16 for subsequent display on the monitors 20L, 20R or 22.

Various of the devices, components, -circuits or the like described herein are utilized in the bowling center system associated with the left lane and the right lane of each lane pair, and the remote or social area. Accordingly, any similar elements are referenced using identical reference numerals including the respective suffixes L, R or S when associated with the left lane, right lane or remote or social area. For simplicity of discussion, the suffixes may be omitted in the specification wherein the particular discussion relates equally to any of the like devices. Similarly, the manager's control system 26 includes devices, components, circuits or the like corresponding to those at lane pair control 16. Although the manager's control system 26 is not broken down as is the lane control unit 16, i.e., left, right or social area, similar suffixes are utilized relative thereto to maintain consistency between any discussion relating to a lane pair control system 16 and the manager's control system 26.

Manager's Control/Video Control

With reference to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a more detailed block diagram representation for the manager's control system 26 and the video/audio control system 28.

A programmed manager's computer 32 is connected to the global COM line 27, as discussed above, to communicate with up to sixty-four lane pair control systems 16, for a total of one hundred twenty eight lanes of bowling. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a maximum of sixty-four lane pair control systems 16 are utilized. However, the COM line 27 can support up to two hundred and fifty lane pair control systems, as is discussed more specifically below. The peripheral devices connected to the manager's computer 32 include a league record service, or LRS, computer 34 and a modem 36. The league record service computer 34 provides the ability to transfer scoring information which is utilized for operating a bowling league. The modem 36 permits a remotely located service facility to diagnose and correct problems in the manager's computer 32. A detailed description of the manager's computer 32 is provided below.

A plurality of RS232 type communication interface units 38 and up to three bowler input stations 42 are connected to the manager's local COM line 29. Electrically connected to the interface units 38 are up to three keyboards 44, a video switch 40, up to ten score sheet and/or ten coupon printers 46, a DTS interface board 48 and multiple DTS cash registers 50 coupled thereto, and up to seven video source devices 52, such as video disk or tape players. Score sheet printers are used to print bowler score sheets in a graphic format. Coupon printers are used to provide coupons or prize awards according to, for example, a bowler's performance. Illustratively, a bowler may be awarded a free soft drink for exceeding a preselected score.

Each of the video source devices 52 transmits a composite video signal on a conventional video transmission line 53 and an audio output signal on a conventional audio line 54. The video lines 53 for three of the video devices 52 are connected to SCORE IN terminals of the video switch 40. The video lines 53 of the remaining video sources 52 are connected to input ports of a video driver 56. Also connected to input ports of the video driver 56 over a line 60 are three SCORE OUT ports of the video switch 40. The video driver 56 includes seven output ports connected to a video transmission line 61 of the global video/audio bus 30. Four of the video driver output ports are also connected to four VIDEO IN ports of the video switch 40. An audio driver 62 includes seven input ports connected to the video source audio lines 54. The audio driver 62 includes seven output ports connected to an audio transmission line 68 for transmitting audio information over the global video/audio bus 30. The video switch 40 includes three additional VIDEO IN ports connected to a score video transmission line 70, also part of the global video/audio bus 30.

The manager's computer 32 develops RGB video signals over video lines 58L, 58R and 58S which are connected to the video switch 40. Also connected to the video switch 40 over video lines 59L, 59R and 59S are respective RGB monitors 72L, 72R and 72S.

The manager's computer 32 controls switching of the video switch 40 and operation of the video sources 52, as is discussed more specifically below, responsive to requests from lane pair control systems 16 to allocate the transmission of audio and video signals to selected monitors 20L, 20R, 22 or 72 in the system.

Associated with each monitor 72 is a keyboard 44 and a remote bowler input station 42. The monitor 72 can be used in conjunction therewith for displaying such information as the status at any or all lanes at any given time. For example, an overview display indicates the status of the current game being played at all lanes. Also, the keyboard is utilized to enter commands to download game software from the manager's computer 32 to a lane pair control system 16, and also to start, stop or continue operation of a game. The monitors 72 are also utilized to display scoring information which is transmitted from a lane pair control system 16, and provide for correction of the scoring information. Particularly, the keyboard 44 or bowler input station 42 may be utilized to enter corrected data which can then be transmitted back to the particular lane pair control system 16.

Lane Pair Control

With reference to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a more detailed block diagram representation for the lane pair control system 16 of FIG. 1.

The lane pair control system 16 is operable for each lane pair to automatically control the operation of the pinsetters 14 in accordance with commands and software received from the manager's computer 32 over the global COM line 27 and operator input requests made at the bowler input station 18. Particularly, the lane pair control system 16 operates the pinsetter 14 for each lane independently to play any one of a plurality of different bowling games. Although the lane pair control system 16 is described herein as controlling two pinsetters 14, the lane pair control system 16 could be used to control any number of pinsetters 14.

Each lane pair control system 16 includes a video switch 73 which is similar to the video switch 40 at the manager's control desk. The video switch 73 is connected to and is controlled by a game and scoring control unit 74, referred to hereinafter as a gamemaker, and includes seven VIDEO IN ports connected in series with seven VIDEO OUT ports to the global video transmission line 61. Similarly, seven AUDIO IN ports and series connected AUDIO OUT ports are connected to the global audio transmission line 68. Accordingly, the video and the audio signals from the manager's control desk video driver 56 and audio driver 62 are transmitted over the respective global video and audio lines