Golf Swing Data Gathering Method And System

• US 20110183780A1
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitchett, Derek A., Leech, Nicholas A., Ichikawa, Yasushi, Molinari, Arthur, Kabeshita, Yutaka, Tutmark, Bradley C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• 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 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

A method and system for capturing, transmitting, and displaying golf swing data uses data capture elements in golf balls or golf clubs to capture data and transmission elements to transmit the golf swing data to a mobile computing auxiliary device. The mobile computing auxiliary device relays the captured and transmitted golf swing data to a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device transmits the golf swing data to a database. A server associated with the database generates web pages to make the golf swing data available over the internet.

Claims

1. A method for capturing and transmitting golf swing data comprising the steps of:

(i) capturing golf swing data in at least one of a ball data module and a club data module, wherein the golf swing data comprises at least one of a ball-related golf swing datum and a club-related golf swing datum;

(ii) waiting for a trigger condition;

(iii) executing a transmit-side of a synchronization protocol, wherein the transmit-side of the synchronization protocol cooperates with a receive-side of the synchronization protocol to coordinate a transmit-side of a data-transmission protocol and a receive-side of a data-transmission protocol; and

(iv) executing the transmit-side of a data transmission protocol, wherein executing the transmit-side of the data transmission protocol causes the golf swing data to be transmitted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger condition of step (ii) is satisfied by wirelessly sensing the presence of a receiving device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger condition of step (ii) is satisfied by a timeout condition.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger condition of step (ii) is satisfied by the capture of golf swing data in the data module.

5. A method for receiving and conveying golf swing data comprising the steps of:

(i) waiting for a trigger condition;

(ii) executing a receive-side of a synchronization protocol, wherein the receive-side of the synchronization protocol cooperates with a transmit-side of the synchronization protocol to coordinate a transmit-side of a data-transmission protocol and a receive-side of a data-transmission protocol; and

(iii) executing the receive-side of a data transmission protocol, wherein executing the receive-side of the data transmission protocol causes a mobile computing auxiliary device to receive golf swing data, and wherein the golf swing data comprises at least one of a ball-related golf swing datum and a club-related golf swing datum; and

(iv) conveying the golf swing data to a mobile computing device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the trigger condition of step (i) is satisfied by wirelessly sensing the presence of a transmitting device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the trigger condition of step (i) is satisfied by a timeout condition.

8. A system for capturing and communicating golf swing data comprising:

a data module, the data module having a data capture element for capturing golf swing data and a data transmission element for transmitting golf swing data, and

a mobile computing auxiliary device, the mobile computing auxiliary device having an auxiliary receiving element for receiving golf swing data;

wherein the data module is one of a ball data module incorporated in a golf ball and a club data module incorporated in a golf club.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the data capture element includes an accelerometer.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the data capture element includes a global positioning system receiver.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the transmission element is operable to transmit golf swing data through a wireless communication mechanism.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmission element includes at least one a radio-frequency identification tag.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmission element includes a Bluetooth communication device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the receiving element is operable to receive golf swing data through a wireless communication mechanism.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the receiving element includes a Bluetooth communication device.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the system includes a mobile computing device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile computing auxiliary device is incorporated with the mobile computing device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile computing device is a smart phone.

19. A system for capturing and communicating golf swing data comprising:

a data module, the data module having a data capture element for capturing golf swing data and a data transmission element for transmitting golf swing data;

a mobile computing auxiliary device, the mobile computing auxiliary device having an auxiliary receiving element for receiving golf swing data; and

a mobile computing device, the mobile computing device having a view screen;

wherein the data module is one of a ball data module incorporated in a golf ball and a club data module incorporated in a golf club.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the data capture element includes at least one of an accelerometer and a global positioning system receiver.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the transmission element is operable to transmit golf swing data through a wireless communication mechanism.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the transmission element includes at least one of a radio-frequency identification tag and a Bluetooth communication device.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the receiving element is operable to receive golf swing data through a wireless communication mechanism.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the receiving element includes a Bluetooth communication device.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the data module is incorporated in a golf club, and the mobile computing auxiliary device is incorporated with the golf club.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the mobile computing auxiliary device is incorporated with the mobile computing device.

27. The system of claim 19, where the mobile computing device is a smart phone.

28. A system for capturing, storing, and communicating golf swing data comprising:

a database including a first set of golf swing data, the database including a memory for storing data, the first set of golf swing data including at least one of a ball-related golf swing datum and a club-related golf swing datum; and

a server interoperating with the database, the server being operative to transmit a web page incorporating the first set of golf swing data, the web page facilitating at least one of a competition and a challenge.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the server is operative to transmit a web page incorporating both the first set of golf swing data and a second set of golf swing data.