DETERMINING A PLAYER COUNT AT A PICKLEBALL COURT

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems related to determining a player count at a pickleball court are described. In an example, a method can include receiving an identification (ID) of a pickleball court at a server database from a first computing device in response to the first computing device scanning a quick response (QR) code, determining a player count at the pickleball court on the server database that hosts an application in response to receiving the ID of the pickleball court, and displaying the player count at the pickleball court on a second computing device running the application.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: receiving an identification (ID) of a pickleball court at a server database from a first computing device in response to the first computing device scanning a quick response (QR) code; determining a player count at the pickleball court on the server database that hosts an application in response to receiving the ID of the pickleball court; and displaying the player count at the pickleball court on a second computing device running the application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a player identification (ID) at the server database in response to the first computing device scanning the QR code.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising updating a player roster at the pickleball court on the server database in response to receiving the player ID at the server database.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising matching the player ID to one of a number of player IDs stored in memory at the server database, wherein each of the number of player IDs include at least one of: a username, name, pickleball level, pickleball record, or preferences.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising displaying at least one of: the username, name, pickleball level, pickleball record, or preferences associated with the player ID on the second computing device running the application.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a time when the QR code was scanned at the server database in response to the first computing device scanning the QR code.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting a query from the server database to the first computing device in response to a particular period of time passing since the time when the QR code was scanned.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving an answer to the query at the server database from the first computing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the answer includes current attendance at the pickleball court.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising updating the player count at the pickleball court on the server database in response to receiving the answer to the query.

11. An apparatus, comprising: a user interface; a camera; an application; a memory; and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to: scan a quick response (QR) code located at a pickleball court using the camera; and transmit an identification (ID) of the pickleball court using the application in response to scanning the QR code.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to transmit a player identification (ID) and a timestamp using the application in response to scanning the QR code.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to display a query of player count at the pickleball court on the user interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the query of player count at the pickleball court provides a number of selections on the user interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to transmit an answer to the query of player count at the pickleball court in response to receiving a selection of the number of selections on the user interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to: receive a command via the user interface; and transmit an invite to play at the pickleball court to a number of players using the application in response to receiving the command.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to: receive responses from one or more of the number of players; and display the responses on the user interface in response to receiving the responses.

18. An apparatus, comprising: an application; a user interface; a memory; and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to: open the application in response to a selection on the user interface; display a number of pickleball courts on the user interface in response to opening the application; receive a selection of a pickleball court of the number of pickleball courts via the user interface; and display a player count at the pickleball court via the user interface in response to the selection of the pickleball court.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to display a player roster at the pickleball court via the user interface in response to the selection of the pickleball court.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to: receive an invite to play at the pickleball court; display the invite on the user interface in response to receiving the invite; receive a selection of an answer to the invite on the user interface in response to displaying the invite on the user interface; and transmit the answer to the invite in response to receiving the selection via the application.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a top view of a pickleball court including a quick response (QR) code in accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a computing device used for scanning a QR code in accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a server database for determining a player count at a pickleball court in accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a system used for determining a player count at a pickleball court in accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a user interface of a computing device for displaying a player count at a pickleball court in accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] The present disclosure includes methods, apparatuses, and systems related to determining a player count at a pickleball court. An example method can include receiving an identification (ID) of a pickleball court at a server database from a first computing device in response to the first computing device scanning a quick response (QR) code, determining a player count at the pickleball court on the server database that hosts an application in response to receiving the ID of the pickleball court, and displaying the player count at the pickleball court on a second computing device running the application.

[0010] Monitoring the usage of pickleball courts using QR codes, among other means, for player check-in can address issues like overcrowding, underutilization, and user dissatisfaction of pickleball courts by providing real-time data on court usage. The real-time data can be viewed not only by players, but also by managers of the pickleball courts, such as, town administrators, who can use the real-time data to improve facility management of the pickleball courts.

[0011] Although the present disclosure is discussed in the context of determining player counts on pickleball courts, the methods, apparatuses, and systems discussed herein are not limited to pickleball courts. For example, a player count can be determined using the present disclosure for any sports facility including, but not limited to, hockey rinks, tennis courts, tracks, soccer fields, baseball fields, football fields, lacrosse fields, riding arenas, basketball courts, indoor racket sports, volleyball courts, softball fields, and golf courses.

[0012] As used herein, a number of something can refer to one or more of such things. For example, a number of computing devices can refer to one or more computing devices. A pluralityof something intends two or more.

[0013] The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements or components between different figures may be identified by the use of similar digits. For example, reference numeral 204 may reference element 4 in FIG. 2, and a similar element may be referenced as 404 in FIG. 4. As will be appreciated, elements shown in the various embodiments herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure and are not to be used in a limiting sense.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a top view of a pickleball court 100 including a quick response (QR) code 102 in accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure. Each pickleball court 100 can have a unique QR code 102. The QR code 102 can be attached to a fence, a wall, a paddle holder, a net, or a surface of the pickleball court. For example, the QR code 102 can be adhered to or printed on a paddle holder. In a number of embodiments, the QR code 102 can be a placard located near the pickleball court.

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a computing device 204 used for scanning a QR code (e.g., QR code 102 of FIG. 1) in accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure. The computing device 204 can be, for example, a smart phone, a wearable device, a tablet, or a personal laptop computer among other types of computing devices. The computing device 204 can include a processing resource 206 (e.g., processor), a memory 208, a user interface 210, a camera 212, and an application 214.

[0016] The memory 208 can be any type of storage medium that can be accessed by the processing resource 206 to perform various examples of the present disclosure. For example, the memory 208 can be a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions (e.g., computer program instructions) stored thereon that are executable by the processing resource 206 to scan a QR code located at a pickleball court using the camera 212 and transmit an identification (ID) of the pickleball court using the application 214 in response to scanning the QR code. The processing resource 206 can further transmit a player identification (ID) and a timestamp using the application 214 in response to scanning the QR code.

[0017] The memory 208 can be volatile or nonvolatile memory. The memory 208 can also be removable (e.g., portable) memory, or non-removable (e.g., internal) memory. For example, the memory 208 can be random access memory (RAM) (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and/or phase change random access memory (PCRAM)), read-only memory (ROM) (e.g., electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and/or compact-disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), flash memory, a laser disc, a digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical storage, and/or a magnetic medium such as magnetic cassettes, tapes, or disks, among other types of memory.

[0018] Further, although memory 208 is illustrated as being located within computing device 204, embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, memory 208 can be located on an external computing resource (e.g., enabling computer readable instructions to be downloaded over the Internet or another wired or wireless connection).

[0019] The application 214 can be included in an operating system (OS) of the computing device 204 and/or included in the application 214 downloaded onto the computing device 204.

[0020] As illustrated in FIG. 2, computing device 204 includes a user interface 210. A user (e.g., player) of computing device 204, can interact with computing device 204 via user interface 210 shown on a display. For example, the user interface 210 via a display can provide (e.g., display and/or present) information to the user of computing device 204, and/or receive information from (e.g., input by) the user of computing device 204. For instance, in some embodiments, the user interface 210 can be a graphical user interface (GUI) that can provide and/or receive information to and/or from the user of computing device 204. The display showing the user interface 210 can be, for instance, a touchscreen (e.g., the GUI can include touchscreen capabilities).

[0021] In a number of embodiments, the user interface 210 can display a query. The query can include a request for a player count at the pickleball court. The query of player count at the pickleball court can provide a number of selections on the user interface 210. In some examples, each of the number of selections can be a number. The user can select 4 or type in 4 if there are four players at the pickleball court, for example. The computing device 204 can transmit an answer to the query of player count at the pickleball court in response to receiving a selection of the number of selections on the user interface 210.

[0022] In some examples, the computing device 204 can receive a command via the user interface 210 and transmit an invite to play at the pickleball court to a number of players using the application 214 on their respective computing devices in response to receiving the command. Responses from one or more computing devices of the number of players can be received at the computing device 204. The user interface 210 can display the responses in response to receiving the responses.

[0023] The computing device 204 can also receive an invite to play at a pickleball court. The invite can be displayed on the user interface 210 in response to receiving the invite. A user can select and the user interface 210 can receive the selection of an answer to the invite in response to displaying the invite on the user interface 210. The answer to the invite can be transmitted in response to receiving the selection via the application 214. In some examples, the user may select to ignore the invite and the application 214 will not transmit an answer.

[0024] The computing device 204 can receive a selection on the user interface 210 to open the application 214. The user interface 210 can display a number of pickleball courts in response to opening the application 214. A selection of a pickleball court of the number of pickleball courts can be received from the user via the user interface 210. The user interface 210 can display a player count at the pickleball court in response to the selection of the pickleball court. In a number of embodiments, the user interface 210 can further display a player roster at the pickleball court in response to the selection of the pickleball court.

[0025] In some examples, a user can access a website using the computing device 204 instead of opening application 214. The user interface 210 can display the player count and/or the player roster at the pickleball court in response to the user accessing the website and selecting the pickleball court. In a number of embodiments, the user can check-in at the pickleball court via the website and the player count and/or the roster can be updated.

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a server database 320 for determining a player count at a pickleball court in accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure. The server database 320 can include a processing resource 322 and a memory 324.

[0027] The memory 324 can be any type of storage medium that can be accessed by the processing resource 322 to perform various examples of the present disclosure. For example, the memory 324 can be a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable stored thereon that are executable by the processing resource 322 to receive an ID of a pickleball court (e.g., pickleball court ID 326) at the server database 320 from a first computing device (e.g., computing device 204 of FIG. 2) scanning a QR code, determine a player count at the pickleball court on the server database 320 that hosts an application (e.g., application 214 of FIG. 2) in response to receiving the ID of the pickleball court, and display the player count at the pickleball court on a second computing device running the application.

[0028] The server database 320 can further receive a player ID in response to the first computing device scanning the QR code. A player roster at the pickleball court on the server database 320 can be updated in response to receiving the player ID at the server database 320. The player ID can be matched to one of a number of player IDs 328 stored in the memory 324. In some examples, each of the number of player IDs can include a username, name, pickleball level, pickleball record, and/or preferences stored in the memory 324. Preferences could include, but are not limited to, personal data disclosure, times, and/or days the player prefers to play, preferred competitors, or preferred pickleball courts.

[0029] In a number of embodiments, the server database 320 can receive a time when the QR code was scanned in response to the computing device scanning the QR code. The time can be included in a timestamp, which can identify a date and/or time of day. The timestamp can be generated by a clock on the computing device. In some examples, a timestamp can be received at the server database 320 from the computing device.

[0030] The server database 320 can transmit a query to the computing device in response to a particular period of time passing since the time when the QR code was scanned. The server database 320 can receive an answer to the query from the computing device, which can include the current attendance at the pickleball court. In response to receiving the answer to the query, the player count at the pickleball court can be updated on the server database 320.

[0031] The memory 324 can be volatile or nonvolatile memory and removable memory or non-removable memory. Further, although memory 324 is illustrated as being located within server database 320, embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, memory 324 can be located on an external computing resource.

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a system used for determining a player count at a pickleball court in accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure. The system can include a server database 420 communicatively coupled to a number of computing devices 404-1, 404-2.

[0033] As previously discussed, each of the number of computing devices 404-1, 404-2 can scan a QR code (e.g., QR code 102 of FIG. 1) located at a pickleball court using a camera (e.g., camera 212 of FIG. 2) and transmit an ID of the pickleball court using an application (e.g., application 214 of FIG. 2) to the server database 420 in response to scanning the QR code.

[0034] In a number of embodiments, a location of computing device 404-1 can be transmitted in response to a command from the user of the computing device 404-1. The location of the computing device 404-1 can be determined using an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or a global positioning system (GPS), a wi-fi network, or a social media application. The location of the computing device 404-1 can be compared to a number of locations each associated with a pickleball court on the computing device 404-1. The comparison can be done via the application, which can store the number of locations and an ID of a pickleball court associated with each. The application can transmit the ID of the pickleball court that matched the location of the computing device 404-1 to the server database. In some examples, the location of the computing device 404-1 can be transmitted to the sever database 420, which can store the number of locations and the ID of the pickleball court associated with each, and the comparison can be done there. In a number of embodiments, the player count at the pickleball court can be determined on the server database 420 that hosts the application in response to receiving the ID of the pickleball court.

[0035] The server database 420 can be configured to transmit and/or receive data from the number of computing devices 404-1, 404-2 via a wired or wireless network. The networks described herein can be a network relationship through which the server database 420 and/or the number of computing devices 404-1, 404-2 can communicate with each other. Examples of such a network relationship can include a distributed computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a personal area network (PAN) including Bluetooth low energy (BLE), a campus area network (CAN), or metropolitan area network (MAN), among other types of network relationships. For instance, the network can include a number of servers that receive information from and transmit information to the server database 420 and/or the computing devices 404-1, 404-2 via a wired or wireless network.

[0036] As used herein, a network can provide a communication system that directly or indirectly links two or more computers and/or peripheral devices and allows, for example, the server database 420 to access data and/or resources on the number of computing devices 404-1, 404-2 and vice versa. A network can allow users to share resources on their own systems with other network users and to access information on centrally located systems or on systems that are located at remote locations. For example, a network can tie a number of computing devices together to form a distributed control network (e.g., cloud).

[0037] A network may provide connections to the Internet and/or to the networks of other entities (e.g., organizations, institutions, etc.). Users may interact with network-enabled software applications to make a network request, such as to get data. Applications may also communicate with network management software, which can interact with network hardware to transmit information between devices on the network.

[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a user interface 510 of a computing device 504 for displaying a player count at a pickleball court in accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure. User interface 510 can correspond to user interface 210 and/or computing device 504 can correspond to computing device 204 previously described in connection with FIG. 2.

[0039] The user interface 510 can be generated by the computing device 504. The user interface 510 can be a GUI that can provide and/or receive information to and/or from the user of the computing device 504. The user interface 510 can be shown on a display of the computing device 504. In some examples, the display can be a touchscreen.

[0040] The user interface 510, as illustrated in FIG. 5, can include a name of a court 550, a player count 552, and/or a roster 554. The roster 554 can include the names of the players at the court and their skill level. Although not shown, a username, pickleball record, or preferences associated with a player ID could also be displayed on the computing device 504 running an application (e.g., application 214 of FIG. 2).

[0041] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that an arrangement calculated to achieve the same results can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover adaptations or variations of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combination of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the one or more embodiments of the present disclosure includes other applications in which the above structures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0042] In the foregoing Detailed Description, some features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure have to use more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.