Location-based golf information systems and methods

• US 20070099715A1
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel Blackstone, Richard Jones
• Original Assignee: Daniel Blackstone, Richard Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Richard, Blackstone, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/592,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20070099715A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/131
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3605 Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

Methods, apparatus and systems for recording game statistics, and providing information to a golfer that is relevant to playing a particular golf course. In some embodiments, a PDA-unit may be obtained at a golf course, and then personalized for that golfer by downloading that golfer'"'"'s statistical and other relevant information into the PDA-unit. In some embodiments, the data collected by the PDA-unit during play is transferred to a service provider. In turn, the service provider may forward the data to any location subsequently requested by a user.

Claims

1. A method of operating a golf information device, comprising:

receiving personalization information;

receiving a query;

determining, if the query is a distance to a next pin query, the distance between the golf information device and a next pin, and generating an output indicative of the distance to the next pin; and

determining, if the query is a distance to course features query, the distance between the golf information device and at least one course feature;

generating an output, if the query is a pro tips query, where the output presents pre-determined recommendations for playing at least one portion of a particular golf course;

receiving a command;

scanning, if the command is a scan golf club command, a golf club; and

photographing, if the command is a take a photograph command, a scene.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the distance between the golf information device and a next pin comprises determining the present location coordinates of the golf information device, retrieving the location coordinates of the next pin, and calculating a vector from the present location to the next pin location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the present location coordinates of the golf information device comprises at least one of receiving at least latitude and longitude data from a GPS receiver;

receiving at least latitude and longitude data from a differential GPS receiver;

terrestrial RF triangulation; and

RF communication, in accordance with the 802.11 family of communication specifications, between at least one 802.11 access point and the golf information device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving personalization information comprises downloading a registered user'"'"'s golf statistics from a service provider to the golf information device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a query comprises at least one of activating a touch screen of the golf information device;

actuating a mechanical switch of the golf information device; and

actuating a transducer of the golf information device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein actuation of the transducer occurs in the presence of voice input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a command comprises at least one of activating a touch screen of the golf information device;

actuating a mechanical switch of the golf information device; and

actuating a transducer of the golf information device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein actuation of the transducer occurs in the presence of voice input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein scanning comprises reading a bar code disposed on the golf club.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein scanning comprises generating an RF energization field, and receiving a transmission from an RFID tag disposed on the golf club.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein scanning comprises producing a digitized image of the golf club, and processing the digitized image to determine a golf club identification associated with the golf club.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein photographing a scene further comprises digitally imaging the scene and the storing the digital data representing the scene.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the scan golf club command comprises ate least one of actuation of a mechanical switch, and actuation of a transducer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the take a photograph command comprises at least one of actuation of a mechanical switch, and actuation of a transducer.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of a portion of a golf course, where that portion of the golf course includes a current location of the golf information device and further includes the location of the next green; and

updating the display as the current location of the golf information device changes.

16. A method of operating a golf information service provider server computer, comprising:

receiving a log-in request from a registered user;

transmitting personalization information for downloading into a golf information device;

receiving updated game statistics originating from the personalized golf information device;

transmitting a command to the golf information device to delete personalization information;

processing updated game statistics; and

transmitting a summary of processed information in accordance with a rule set supplied by a registered user.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting a security key for downloading to the golf information device.

18. A method of operating a golf information system, comprising:

transmitting a log-in request from a client computer to a server computer;

receiving the log-in request and transmitting personalization information from the server computer to the client computer;

transferring personalization information from the client computer to a golf information device communicatively coupled to the client computer;

recording game statistics on the personalized golf information device; and

transferring game statistics from the personalized golf information device to the client computer, and from the client computer to the server computer;

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a security key from the server computer to the client computer for downloading to the golf information device.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the golf information device returning to a non-personalized state subsequent to recording game statistics being received by the server computer.