Distributed Timekeeping

The innovative remote timekeeping service

Distributed Timekeeping consists in 3 unique novelties setting new technological standards in the sports event industry: DISTRIBUTED TIMING AND SCORING, VIRTUAL PHOTOFINISH AND REMOTE OPERATIONS.

Remote Timekeeping Operation Center (RTOC)  

Competition sites are all connected to the Remote Timekeeping Operations Center (RTOC), with one venue identified as such or having Swiss Timing hosting the RTOC in its own premises.
There are no geographical restrictions to the location of the venues, nor limits to their amount as long as cloud connectivity is secured.
Connection with distributed timekeeping systems located in each venues is monitored and managed from the RTOC.

Synchronized start procedure

Each venue equipped with distributed timekeeping technology records athletes’ performance locally, guaranteeing  best-in-class quality and precision. All systems are set to coordinated universal time (UTC) and are synchronised by GPS. Right before the race, on receipt of the agreed signals that all parties (athletes, judges and the broadcaster) are ready, an official at each venue confirms readiness to the RTOC. With all venues ready, the Starter, located in the RTOC, initiates the automatic start procedure, ensuring a synchronized start of athletes in all venues.

Central Results handling and distribution

As distributed timekeeping technology captures and records athletes’ performance (incl. intermediates/finish net times and photofinish) at each venue locally, information is instantly shared with the RTOC, where our central results system, usually known as OVR (On-Venue Results), is operated in order to generate live consolidated intermediate and final results.
Live results in all their forms (TV graphics, data feeds, scoreboards, info systems, printed PDFs, etc…) are then available for consumption.