Software-Extensible Gun Scope and Method

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a digital optical scope including software-extensible functionality, the digital optical scope including:

a display;

an interface configured to receive data including software modules;

an optical sensor configured to capture video data associated with a view area;

a processor coupled to the optical sensor, the display, and the interface; and

a memory configured to store a plurality of instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive a software module from the interface, to store the software module in the memory, and to execute the software module to install a capability of the digital optical scope.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the software module comprises a night vision module that, when executed, causes the processor to process the video data to provide night vision.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a firearm coupled to the digital optical scope; and

wherein the software module comprises a competition mode module that, when executed, causes the processor to reacquire a selected tag location on a target, shot-after-shot.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the software module comprises a zoom module that, when executed, alters a zoom capability of the digital optical scope.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one input/output port configured to couple to a headset; and

wherein the software module includes a voice communication module that, when executed, interacts with the at least one input/output port and the interface to provide bi-directional audio communications between a user wearing the headset and a remote device.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the software module comprises a ballistics calculator configurable to calculate a ballistics solution relative to a selected target.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a portable computing device coupled to the interface through a communication link; and

wherein the portable computing device is configured to download the software module from a network and to provide the software module to the interface of the digital optical scope.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the software module comprises a prey score calculator module that, when executed, causes the processor to process the video data to determine a preliminary prey score for an antlered animal.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the software module comprises a live hunt module that, when executed, causes the processor to capture a portion of the video data and to provide the portion to the interface for transmission as a video stream.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the software module comprises a target tracking module that, when executed, causes the processor to track a selected target within the video data.

11 . A method comprising:

receiving a software module at an interface of an optical scope; and

storing the software module in a memory of the optical scope; and

executing the software module using a processor of the optical scope to access a capability of the optical scope.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the software module comprises communicating wirelessly with a remote device through a communications link to receive the software module.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the software module comprises a night vision module that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to process video data to provide night vision capability via the optical scope.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the software module comprises a zoom module that, when executed, alters a zoom capability of the optical scope.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the software module comprises a prey score calculator module that, when executed, causes the processor to process the video data to determine a preliminary prey score for an antlered animal.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the software module comprises a communications module that, when executed, facilitates bi-directional communication between a headset coupled to the optical scope and a remote device.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the software module comprises a target tracking module that, when executed, causes the processor to track a selected target within video data.

18 . An apparatus comprising:

an optical scope comprising:

a plurality of circuitry including a processor and a memory, and including an interface configured to receive a software module, the processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to provide optical scope functionality; and

wherein the optical scope functionality is extensible by downloading a software module through the interface.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the software module comprises a night vision module that, when executed, causes the processor to process the video data to provide night vision.

20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the software module comprises a prey score calculator module that, when executed, causes the processor to process the video data to determine a preliminary prey score for an antlered animal.

21 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the software module comprises a live hunt module that, when executed, causes the processor to capture a portion of the video data and to provide the portion to the interface for transmission as a video stream.

22 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the software module comprises a target tracking module that, when executed, causes the processor to track a selected target within the video data.