Smart transmitter and receiver for interactive sports

• US 20110130223A1
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Philip A. Williams, Wilbert Q. Murdock
• Original Assignee: Philip A. Williams, Wilbert Q. Murdock
• Inventors: Murdock, Wilbert Quinc, Williams, Philip Alister
• Application Number:
  US12/799,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20110130223A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/409
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/745 using a holographic display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/00 Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 : Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 : Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 : Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 : Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 : Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• 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 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 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 : Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/357 : for golf cups or holes, e.g. flags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/40 : Golf cups or holes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/405 : Cups with automatic ball ejector means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 : Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/02 : Special golf games, e.g. miniature golf or golf putting games played on putting tracks; putting practice apparatus having an elongated platform as a putting track
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 : for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 : using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 : electrical or electronic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 : Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3655 : Balls, ball substitutes, or attachments on balls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 : Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3676 : for putting A63B69/3608, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3697 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 : Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3688 : Balls, ball substitutes, or attachments on balls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 : Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 : Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 : characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 : using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 : using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 : specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 : Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 : by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 : involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 : involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 : using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 : involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 : for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 : Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 : Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 : Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 : being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 : according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 : Music games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 : Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/26 : involving a sensor measurement for aiding acquisition or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 : Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A system that wirelessly integrates actual golf equipment with a computer and the internet to allow players remotely located from one another to play a competitive simulated game of golf. An individual player may opt to play solo or practice to improve basic golfing techniques. The system includes smart golf clubs, a golf ball receptacle and a golf club motion sensing device, all containing circuits with contact sensors and or motion sensors coupled with signal processing and radio frequency transmitter circuitry, to thereby wirelessly communicate game status and performance parameters to a remote receiver-computer. The computer displays player information and visually simulates and controls a golf game between two players, via the internet, having similar equipment and remotely located from each other. Standard golf clubs may be retrofitted with the sensors and associated circuitry to convert such clubs into “smart clubs” for use with the system. The system employs specially developed computer software to process player performance data, control game play, communicate game information between players, generate and control real-time audio, video, visual simulations and display player performance information.

Claims

1. A method of conducting an interactive computer sport, including:

(a) placing in communication computers at least to different sites;

(b) detecting at a first of its sites a game event as signaled by the use of actual sports gear;

(c) communicating the game event to the computer at a second of the sites, and

(d) displaying a simulation of the event at the computers of both sites.

2. The method of conducting interactive computer sport according to claim 1, further comprising sensing an occurrence indicator of the event at the first site, and communicating the occurrence to the computer at the first site by a communications circuit associated with the sports gear.

3. The method of conducting an interactive sport according to claim 2, wherein the step of sensing an occurrence comprises sensing with a sensor at least one golf ball impact by a golf club, a golf club swing, and a golf ball entering a receptacle.

4. The method of conducting interactive sport according to claim 2, wherein the step of sensing an occurrence comprises sensing with a sensor the impact of a sport implement and ball.

5. The method of conducting an interactive computer sport according to claim 2, further including the step of communicating the event via wireless electromagnetic signal to the computer at the first of the sites.

6. The method of conducting an interactive computer sport according to claim 1, further comprising selecting a player from a queue of waiting players in response to a first player indicating a readiness to play.

7. A method for responding to a predefined event occurring within a gaming environment, by automatically transmitting an alert or message to a person outside the gaming environment, comprising the steps of:

detecting that the predefined event has occurred within the gaming environment, wherein;

the gaming environment provides a secure and limited access such that players only gain access to the gaming environment through a secure gateway, wherein;

the secure gateway is inaccessible by any person communicating over a network that is outside of the gaming environment; and

the network is inaccessible from within the gaming environment by players participating in the gaming environment; and

in response to the predefined event occurring within the gaming environment, transmitting an alert or message to the person over the network, wherein the alert or message provides information related to the predefined event.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of transferring at least an indicia of the information to be provided in the message to an alerts service that communicates outside the gaming environment, said alerts service then transmitting the alert or message with the information to the person over the network.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting the alert or message comprises transmitting an email to the person over the network, said email including the information.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting the alert or message comprises transmitting the alert or message through the network to a communication system that transmits the alert or message to a portable communication device of the person, said message including the information.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting the alert or message comprises transmitting a pop-up notification to the person over the network, said pop-up notification including the information displayed to the person.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the predefined event is detected when a player gains access to the gaming environment, said information identifying the player and being transmitted to at least one person who is on a list of the player.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the alert or message comprises an invitation to said at least one person to access the gaming environment and participate in playing a game therein with the player.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the information included in the alert or message relates to billing a player for services rendered in the gaming environment.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the information included in the alert or message refers to a change in gaming content within the gaming environment.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the information included in the alert or message is a reminder to a player to play a previously scheduled game within the gaming environment.

17. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of enabling a person to select at least one form in which alerts or messages will be transmitted in response to the predefined event, said at least one form being selectable from among a plurality of different forms.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of forms include an email, a pop-up display, and a message perceived on a portable communication device that is coupled to a communication system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the portable communication device comprises a cellular telephone and the communication system comprises a cellular communication system.

20. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of mapping an identifier for the person on the gaming environment to a corresponding identifier of the person that is used on the network, so that the alert or message will be sent to the person by the alerts service, outside the gaming environment.

21. A memory medium on which are stored machine instructions for carrying out the steps of claim 7.

22. A system that responds to a predefined event occurring within a gaming environment, by automatically transmitting an alert or message to a person outside the gaming environment, comprising:

a game server that includes a processor and a memory storing a plurality of machine instructions, said game server being included within a gaming service that establishes the gaming environment and further including a communication interface that couples the game server to a network; and

wherein said processor executes the machine instructions stored in the memory, causing the processor to carry out a plurality of functions, including;

detecting when a predefined event occurs within the gaming environment, wherein;

the gaming environment provides a secure and limited access such that players only gain access to the gaming environment through a secure gateway wherein;

the secure gateway is inaccessible by any person communicating over a network that is outside of the gaming environment; and

the network is inaccessible from within the gaming environment by players participating in the gaming environment; and

in response to detecting the predefined event, initiating transmission of an alert or message to a person outside the gaming environment over the network.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising an alerts service having a server that includes a communication interface, a memory, and a processor coupled to the communication interface and the memory of the alert server, wherein said processor of the alert server executes the machine instructions stored in the memory of the alert server to carry out a further plurality of functions, including receiving at least an indicia of information to be included in the alert or message transmitted from the game server and in response, transmitting the alert or message to a person outside the gaming environment, over the network.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the alert or message is transmitted over the network as an email.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the alert or message is transmitted over the network to a communication system that retransmits the alert or message to a portable communication device.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the alert or message is transmitted over the network as a pop-up notification for display to a recipient.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the machine instructions stored in the memory of the game server further cause the processor of the game server to map an identifier of the person within the gaming environment to a corresponding identifier of the person that is used to identify the person on the network, so that the alert of message will be sent to the person by the alert server, outside the gaming environment.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein execution of the machine instructions causes the game server to detect that the predefined event has occurred when a player gains access to the gaming environment, and wherein execution of the machine instructions causes the processor to initiate transmittal of information identifying the player to at least one person who is on a list of the player, wherein said list is stored in the memory.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the alert or message comprises an invitation to said at least one person to access the gaming environment and participate in playing a game thereon with the player.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein the information included in the alert or message relates to billing a player for services rendered in the gaming environment.

31. The system of claim 22, wherein the information included in the alert or message refers to a change in a gaming content within the gaming environment.

32. The system of claim 22, wherein the information included in the alert or message is a reminder to a player to play a previously scheduled game within the gaming environment.

33. The system of claim 22, wherein execution of the machine instructions further causes the processor to enable a person to select at least one form in which alerts or messages will be transmitted in response to the predefined event, said at least one form being selectable from among a plurality of different forms.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of forms include an email, a pop-up that is displayable, and a message perceivable on a portable communication device that is coupled to a communication system.