Automated universal tournament management system

Claim 2

An automatic universal tournament management system adapted to schedule tournaments, comprising, a digital computer having a processor, memory, at least one input port, and at least one output port; data entry means for entering and converting tournament information including team/player information, match site information, tournament time information and match results into machine readable tournament information data signals; first data transfer means connected between said data entry means and said computer input port for transferring tournament information data signals to said computer via said computer input port; means for receiving, loading and storing said tournament information data signals into said computer memory; said digital computer further comprising data signal processing means for retrieving said tournament information data signals stored in said computer memory and processing said signals for producing a match scheduling and tournament results chart output including location, time and bracket information for a number of teams/players; said data signal processing means being operative to initially process said data signals by automatically placing from 17 to 2,048 teams/players in a tournament bracket and assigning an opponent or a bye and automatically initially organizing said match scheduling and tournament results chart output with said initially processed signals; said data signal processing means being operative automatically assign a chart size to said match scheduling and tournament results chart output based on the number of teams/players input through said data entry means, said chart size selected from the chart size group consisting of 32 slots, 64 slots, 128 slots, 256 slots, 512 slots, 1,024 slots and 2,048 slots; said data signal processing means automatically assigning a number of byes to said chart output equal to the number of teams/players subtracted from the selected chart size; second data transfer means; an output device adapted to display said match scheduling and tournament results chart output processed from said tournament information data signals; and said output device connected to the output port of said computer via said second data transfer means whereby said match scheduling and tournament results chart output is converted into human readable form via said output device thereby informing tournament teams/players of tournament results, scheduled matches and match times.

Claim 3

The automatic universal tournaments management system of claim 1, wherein said digital computer is a conventional personal computer.

Claim 4

The automatic universal tournament management system of claim 1, wherein said data entry means is a conventional digital computer keyboard.

Claim 5

The automatic universal tournament management system of claim 1, wherein means for receiving, loading, and storing said tournament information data signals into said computer memory is a digital computer microprocessor.

Claim 6

The automatic universal tournament management system of claim 1, wherein said output device is at least one computer display.

Claim 7

The automatic universal tournament management system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of computer displays operatively connected to said output port.

Claim 8

The automatic universal tournament management system of claim 1, further comprising means for printing tournament charts.

Claim 9

The automatic universal tournament management system of claim 7, wherein said means for printing tournament charts comprises at least one chart printer adapted to receive said match scheduling and tournament results chart output and print said chart output in human readable form.

Claim 10

The automatic universal tournament management system of claim 8, wherein said chart printer prints portions of said tournament charts in segments said tournament charge being updated by printing and then inserting into said tournament chart only those segmented portions of said chart that contain updated tournament information.

Claim 11

The automatic universal tournament management system of claim 1, further comprising means for printing one or more match cards, said match cards including player or team name, match starting time and related tournament information.

Claim 12

The automatic universal tournament management system of claim 1, wherein said digital computer is operative to process several sets of tournament information simultaneously such that several tournaments may be continuously updated and processed.

Claim 13

An automatic universal tournament management system adapted to schedule tournaments, comprising: a digital computer having a processor, memory, at least one input port, and at least one output port; data entry means for entering and converting tournament information including team/player information, match site information, tournament time information, and match results into machine readable tournament information data signals; first data transfer means connected between said data entry means and said computer input port for transferring tournament information data signals to said computer via said computer input port; means for receiving, loading, and storing said tournament information data signals into said computer memory; said digital computer further including data signal processing means for retrieving said tournament information data signals stored in said computer memory and processing said signals for producing a match scheduling and tournament results chart output including location, time and bracket information for a number of team/players; second data transfer means; an output device adapted to display said match scheduling and tournament results chart output processed from said tournament information data signals; and said output device connected to the output port of said computer via said second data transfer means whereby said match scheduling and tournament results chart output is converted into human readable form via said output device thereby informing tournament teams/players of tournament results, scheduled matches and match times; said output device comprising means for printing said tournament chart output; said means for printing tournament charts comprising at least one chart printer adapted to receive said match scheduling and tournament results chart output and print said chart output in human readable form; and said chart printer printing portions of said tournament charts in segments said tournament chart being updated by printing and then inserting into said tournament chart only those segmented portions of said chart that contain updated tournament information.

Claim 14

An automatic universal tournament management system adapted to schedule tournaments, comprising: a digital computer having a processor, memory, at least one input port, and at least one output port; data entry means for entering and converting tournament information including team/player information, match site information, tournament time information, and match results into machine readable tournament information data signals; first data transfer means connected between said data entry means and said computer input port for transferring tournament information data signals to said computer via said computer input port; means for receiving, loading, and storing said tournament information data signals into said computer memory; said digital computer further including data signal processing means for retrieving said tournament information data signals stored in said computer memory and processing said signals for producing a match scheduling and tournament results chart output including location, time and bracket information for a number of team/players; second data transfer means; an output device adapted to display said match scheduling and tournament results chart output processed from said tournament information data signals; and said output device connected to the output port of said computer via said second data transfer means whereby said match scheduling and tournament results chart output is converted into human readable form via said output device thereby informing tournament teams/players of tournament results, scheduled matches and match times; said output device comprising means for printing said tournament chart output; said means for printing tournament charts comprising at least one chart printer adapted to receive said match scheduling and tournament results chart output and print said chart output in human readable form; and said chart printer printing portions of said tournament charts in segments said tournament chart being updated by printing and then inserting into said tournament chart only those segmented portions of said chart that contain updated tournament information.

Claim 15

A universal method of automatically managing a tournament by providing in combination: a digital computer; data entry means; data signal processing means for scheduling, tracking, recording, and displaying tournament information; at least one first output device adapted to display tournament information; and at least one second output device adapted to print tournament information; wherein said method comprising the steps of: (a) inputting tournament information via said data entry means, said tournament information including names of team/players; (b) selecting between single and double elimination tournament chart format; (c) automatically initially processing said tournament information according to said selected tournament chart format and automatically limiting the chart size according to the number of teams/players such that teams/players are automatically matched against an opponent or given a bye in said tournament chart format; (d) displaying said processed tournament information on at least one of said first output devices; (e) printing at least one tournament chart via one of said second output devices in segmented portions that may be posted so that when placed together said segmented portions depict said tournament chart indicating team/player first matches, byes and extra teams/players; (f) inputting the winner and/or loser of each match via said data entry means; (g) automatically reprocessing said tournament information containing said winner of each match, and automatically generating updated tournament information; (h) printing those segmented portions of said tournament chart containing updated tournament information; (i) updating said tournament chart by replacing outdated segmented portions of said tournament chart with segmented portions of said tournament chart containing updated tournament information; and (j) repeating said steps (f), (g), (h) and (i) until a tournament winning team/player is determined by inputting the winner and/or loser of the final match of said tournament.

Claim 16

A universal method of automatically managing a tournament by providing in combination: a digital computer; data entry means; data signal processing means for scheduling, tracking, recording, and displaying tournament information; at least one first output device adapted to display tournament information; and at least one second output device adapted to print tournament information; wherein said method comprising the steps of: (a) inputting tournament information via said data entry means, said tournament information including names of team/players; (b) selecting between single and double elimination tournament chart format; (c) automatically initially processing said tournament information according to said selected tournament chart format and automatically limiting the chart size according to the number of teams/players such that teams/players are automatically matched against an opponent or given a bye in said tournament chart format; (d) displaying said processed tournament information on at least one of said first output devices; (e) printing at least one tournament chart via one of said second output devices in segmented portions that may be posted so that when placed together said segmented portions depict said tournament chart indicating team/player first matches, byes and extra teams/players; (f) inputting the winner and/or loser of each match via said data entry means; (g) automatically reprocessing said tournament information containing said winner of each match, and automatically generating updated tournament information; (h) printing those segmented portions of said tournament chart containing updated tournament information; (i) updating said tournament chart by replacing outdated segmented portions of said tournament chart with segmented portions of said tournament chart containing updated tournament information; and (j) repeating said steps (f), (g), (h) and (i) until a tournament winning team/player is determined by inputting the winner and/or loser of the final match of said tournament.

Claim 17

The universal method of automatically managing a tournament of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing means to add additional tournament information during or after said processing step whereby said tournament information may be reprocessed to include said additional tournament information;

Claim 18

The universal method of automatically managing a tournament of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing means to modify existing tournament information during or after said processing and modifying said existing tournament information whereby said tournament information may be reprocessed to include said modified tournament information.

Claim 19

An automatic universal tournament management system adapted to schedule tournaments, comprising: a digital computer having a processor, memory, at least one input port, and at least one output port; data entry means for entering and converting tournament information including team/player information, match site information, tournament time information, and match results into machine readable tournament information data signals; first data transfer means connected between said data entry means and said computer input port for transferring tournament information data signals to said computer via said computer input port; means for receiving, loading, and storing said tournament information data signals into said computer memory; said digital computer further including data signal processing means for retrieving said tournament information data signals stored in said computer memory and processing said signals for producing a match scheduling and tournament results chart output including location, time and bracket information for a number of team/players; said data signal processing means automatically initially processing said data signals automatically placing from 17 to 2,048 teams/players in a tournament bracket and assigning an opponent or a bye and automatically initially organizing said match scheduling and tournament results chart output with said initially processed signals. second data transfer means; an output device adapted to display said match scheduling and tournament results chart output processed from said tournament information data signals; and said output device connected to the output port of said computer via said second data transfer means whereby said match scheduling and tournament results chart output is converted into human readable form via said output device thereby informing tournament teams/players of tournament results; scheduled matches and match times; said output device comprising means for printing said tournament chart output; said means for printing tournament charts comprising at least one chart printer adapted to receive said match scheduling and tournament results chart output and print said chart output in human readable form; said chart printer printing portions of said tournament charts in segments, said tournament chart being updated by printing and then inserting into said tournament chart only those segmented portions of said chart that contain updated tournament information; and said system adapted to schedule a tournament selected from the group consisting of tennis tournaments, racquetball tournaments, softball tournaments, baseball tournaments, golf tournaments, bowling tournaments, racing tournaments, dart tournaments, chess tournaments, pool tournaments, horseshoes tournaments, and marksmanship tournaments.

Claim 20

An automatic universal tournament management system adapted to schedule tournaments, comprising: a digital computer having a processor, memory, at least one input port, and at least one output port; data entry means for entering and converting tournament information including team/player information, match site information, tournament time information, and match results into machine readable tournament information data signals; first data transfer means connected between said data entry means and said computer input port for transferring tournament information data signals to said computer via said computer input port; means for receiving, loading, and storing said tournament information data signals into said computer memory; said digital computer further including data signal processing means for retrieving said tournament information data signals stored in said computer memory and processing said signals for producing a match scheduling and tournament results chart output including location, time and bracket information for a number of team/players; said data signal processing means automatically initially processing said data signals automatically placing from 17 to 2,048 teams/players in a tournament bracket and assigning an opponent or a bye and automatically initially organizing said match scheduling and tournament results chart output with said initially processed signals. second data transfer means; an output device adapted to display said match scheduling and tournament results chart output processed from said tournament information data signals; and said output device connected to the output port of said computer via said second data transfer means whereby said match scheduling and tournament results chart output is converted into human readable form via said output device thereby informing tournament teams/players of tournament results; scheduled matches and match times; said output device comprising means for printing said tournament chart output; said means for printing tournament charts comprising at least one chart printer adapted to receive said match scheduling and tournament results chart output and print said chart output in human readable form; said chart printer printing portions of said tournament charts in segments, said tournament chart being updated by printing and then inserting into said tournament chart only those segmented portions of said chart that contain updated tournament information; and said system adapted to schedule a tournament selected from the group consisting of tennis tournaments, racquetball tournaments, softball tournaments, baseball tournaments, golf tournaments, bowling tournaments, racing tournaments, dart tournaments, chess tournaments, pool tournaments, horseshoes tournaments, and marksmanship tournaments.

Claim 21

A universal method of automatically managing a tournament wherein said method comprises the steps of: (a) providing in combination: a digital computer; data entry means; data signal processing means for scheduling, tracking, recording and displaying tournament information; at least one first output device adapted to display tournament information; and at least one second output device adapted to print tournament information; (b) initiating said program; (c) selecting one set of tournament information, from those stored by said computer, through said data entry means; (d) inputting a chart type, either single or double elimination, a start time, the length of the match, and the number of sporting locales available for tournament play through said data entry means; (e) inputting teams/players through said data entry means for inclusion on said chart; (f) said data signal processing means automatically producing an initial tournament chart by automatically placing said teams/players in said chart, automatically assigning opponents and automatically placing byes when all teams/players are entered in said chart to complete said chart; (g) displaying said tournament chart on at least one of said first output devices; (h) printing at least one tournament chart via one of said second output devices in segmented portions that may be posted so that when placed together said segmented portions depict said tournament chart indicating team/player first matches, byes and extra teams/players; (i) inputting the winner and/or loser of each match via said data entry means; (j) said data signal processing means automatically reprocessing said tournament information containing said winner of each match, and automatically generating updated tournament information; (k) printing those segmented portion of said tournament chart containing updated tournament information; (l) updating said tournament chart by replacing outdated segmented portions of said tournament chart with segmented portions of said tournament chart containing updated tournament information; and (m) repeating said steps (i), (j), (k) and (l) until a tournament winning team/player is determined by inputting the winner and/or loser of the final match of said tournament.

Claim 22

A universal method of automatically managing a tournament wherein said method comprises the steps of: (a) providing in combination: a digital computer; data entry means; data signal processing means for scheduling, tracking, recording and displaying tournament information; at least one first output device adapted to display tournament information; and at least one second output device adapted to print tournament information; (b) initiating said program; (c) selecting one set of tournament information, from those stored by said computer, through said data entry means; (d) inputting a chart type, either single or double elimination, a start time, the length of the match, and the number of sporting locales available for tournament play through said data entry means; (e) inputting teams/players through said data entry means for inclusion on said chart; (f) said data signal processing means automatically producing an initial tournament chart by automatically placing said teams/players in said chart, automatically assigning opponents and automatically placing byes when all teams/players are entered in said chart to complete said chart; (g) displaying said tournament chart on at least one of said first output devices; (h) printing at least one tournament chart via one of said second output devices in segmented portions that may be posted so that when placed together said segmented portions depict said tournament chart indicating team/player first matches, byes and extra teams/players; (i) inputting the winner and/or loser of each match via said data entry means; (j) said data signal processing means automatically reprocessing said tournament information containing said winner of each match, and automatically generating updated tournament information; (k) printing those segmented portion of said tournament chart containing updated tournament information; (l) updating said tournament chart by replacing outdated segmented portions of said tournament chart with segmented portions of said tournament chart containing updated tournament information; and (m) repeating said steps (i), (j), (k) and (l) until a tournament winning team/player is determined by inputting the winner and/or loser of the final match of said tournament.