Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides on-field sports officials and other similarly situated users with systems, methods and portable devices for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating sports, entertainment, news and other events and occurrences in nearly real time. These systems, methods and devices for example select and review images transmitted in a signal, such as a television signal of a football game or as another example from a security system camera. The system for selecting and reviewing signal segments comprises (i) a selection system including means for receiving at least one signal, means for identifying at least one segment of the signal, and means for transmitting the signal segment, and (ii) a reviewing system including means for receiving the signal segment, means for storing the signal segment, and means for reviewing information in the signal segment. The reviewing system may be a hand-held device, and may also include means for manipulating information in the signal segment, so that the user may, for example, rewind, fast-forward, freeze, enlarge or play in slow motion images from a sports or other event. In a preferred embodiment, a communications path is also established between the selection system and the receiving device, so that the user of the receiving device can obtain information about the selected signal segments and can transmit control signals to the selection system. On-field sports officials, for example, could use the present invention to operate an instant replay system independent from off-field personnel.

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First Claim