Network-enabled signaling device system for sporting events

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting at least one event of a plurality of different types of sporting official events produced by a sporting official at a sporting activity by use of a signal generator with a data processor and a sensor subsystem, the at least one sporting official event detection of the plurality of different types of sporting official events being triggered by one or more sensors of the sensor subsystem detecting a signal exceeding a pre-defined threshold;

generating a signal message including information indicative of the at least one sporting official event detection corresponding to the at least one event produced by the sporting official using the signal generator, the signal message including information indicative of at least one of the plurality of different types of sporting official events and a location from which the sporting official event originated;

categorizing the signal message into one or more subscriber topics associated with the at least one sporting official event detection, wherein each of the one or more subscriber topics corresponds to a different sporting official event of the plurality of different types of sporting official events;

establishing, by use of the data processor of the signal generator, a connection with a data network;

sending the signal message to a message broker via the data network; and

causing the message broker to forward the signal message to subscribed subscriber platforms, wherein only subscriber platforms that have subscribed to the one or more subscriber topics into which the signal message has been categorized receive the forwarded signal message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal generator is of a type from the group consisting of: a smart whistle, a penalty flag, a turnover beanbag, a booth official device, and a player-worn device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor subsystem includes one or more sensors of a type from the group consisting of: a microphone, a vibration sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an accelerometer, and a photoresistor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the subscriber platforms are of a type from the group consisting of: a scoreboard, a game clock, a video display or recording device, an event logging device, a console or dashboard control device, and a light array.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sporting official event detection corresponds to the blowing of a whistle by the sporting official.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal generator further includes a local alert subsystem having one or more local alert output devices configured to alert the sporting official using the signal generator.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the local alert subsystem includes one or more devices of a type from the group consisting of: light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a haptic motor to cause physical vibration of the signal generator, and a speaker to emit audible sounds.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal generator further includes a manual button with which the sporting official can manually signal the occurrence of an event by manually pressing the button.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the connection with a data network includes a Bluetooth™ Low Energy (BLE) wireless data connection.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing a connection with a data network further includes establishing a connection with a gateway.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the message broker is configured to maintain subscription data corresponding to topics subscribed to by the subscriber platforms.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal message includes information corresponding to a timestamp, an action to be performed, a request, or a response to a request, including categorizing the signal message into one or more subscriber topics.

13. The method of claim 1 including determining which of the one or more subscriber topics into which the signal message has been categorized.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal message includes information corresponding to a quality of service.

15. The method of claim 1 including determining a physical location of the signal generator using trilateration.

16. A system comprising:

a data network;

a message broker in data communication on the data network;

a subscriber platform in data communication on the data network; and

a signal generator including a data processor and a network interface, in data communication with the data processor, for communication on the data network, the signal generator including a sensor subsystem, the signal generator configured to:

detect at least one event of a plurality of different types of sporting official events produced by a sporting official at a sporting activity by use of a signal generator with a data processor and a sensor subsystem, the at least one sporting official event detection of the plurality of different types of sporting official events being triggered by one or more sensors of the sensor subsystem detecting a signal exceeding a pre-defined threshold;

generate a signal message including information indicative of the at least one sporting official event detection corresponding to the at least one event produced by the sporting official using the signal generator, the signal message including information indicative of at least one of the plurality of different types of sporting official events and a location from which the sporting official event originated;

categorize the signal message into one or more subscriber topics associated with the at least one sporting official event detection, wherein each of the one or more subscriber topics corresponds to a different sporting official event of the plurality of different types of sporting official events;

establish, by use of the data processor, a connection with the data network via the network interface;

send the signal message to the message broker via the data network; and

cause the message broker to forward the signal message to the subscriber platform, wherein only subscriber platforms that have subscribed to the one or more subscriber topics into which the signal message has been categorized receive the forwarded signal message.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the signal generator is of a type from the group consisting of: a smart whistle, a penalty flag, a turnover beanbag, a booth official device, and a player-worn device.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the sensor subsystem includes one or more sensors of a type from the group consisting of: a microphone, a vibration sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an accelerometer, and a photoresistor.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the subscriber platform is of a type from the group consisting of: a scoreboard, a game clock, a video display or recording device, an event logging device, a console or dashboard control device, and a light array.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the signal generator further includes a local alert subsystem having one or more local alert output devices configured to alert the sporting official using the signal generator.