Intelligent golf parties guidance system

• US 5,324,028 A
• Filed: 10/23/1992
• Issued: 06/28/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luis A. Luna
• Original Assignee: Luis A. Luna
• Inventors: Luna, Luis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Owens, Kerry
• Application Number:
  US07/965,321
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 273/32 H, 273/32 B, 273/32 R, 273/176 L, 273/176 A, 340/323 R, 364/410
• US Class Current: 473/169
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks

Abstract

A computer based system for guiding golfers around a golf course enables the holes to be played in an order designated by the system according to the situation on the golf course when the players are ready to start playing a now hole. The holes are not necessarily played in the traditional numerical sequence. A player inserts a card into a port on a golf course and is instructed, for example, by instructions received on a video monitor, as to the hole which is most convenient for play to begin for his party. At the end of that hole, the card is inserted into a terminal adjacent to the green on which play has been completed, and instructions are provided as to the next hole to be played. The players in the party proceed to the designated tee, as instructed, and play the hole. The process is repeated to find the next hole to play, etc. The computer system keeps a record of holes played, so that each hole is played only once by the party. The system eliminates problems caused by different speeds of play by different parties.

Claims

1. A system for guiding a party of players around a golf course having a plurality of consecutively numbered holes each hole having a tee area port and a green area port associated therewith, said system comprising:

a system control center comprising means for transmitting information to and receiving information from a plurality of tee area ports and green area ports and means for designating a numbered hole to be played by a party and means for subsequently designating a next hole to be played by the party, said next hole bearing a number other than the next higher consecutive number compared with the number of the hole played;

said plurality of tee area ports comprising means for transmitting information to and receiving information from the system control center; and

said plurality of green area ports comprising means for transmitting information to and receiving information from the system control center;

wherein the order of play of the holes is determined by the system control center in response to information identifying the party and at least one of the holes may be played out of consecutive number order of the holes.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one service area port for transmitting information to and receiving information from the system control center.

3. A system according to claim 1 further comprising means for identification of a party for communicating with the system control center, the tee area ports and the green area ports.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the means for identification of the party comprises a magnetically encoded card and the tee area ports and green area ports each comprise a magnetic reader.

5. A system according to claim 3 wherein the means for identification of the party comprises a bar coded card and the tee area ports and green area ports each comprise an optical reader.

6. A system according to claim 3 wherein the means for identification of the party comprises a code including a plurality of alphanumeric symbols and the tee area ports and green area ports each comprise means for transmitting said code to said system control center.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein each port comprises means for recognizing the identification of a party.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein each port further comprises means for a recognized party to communicate with the system service center.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the communication means comprises a keyboard.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein transmission and reception of information is carried out by telephone cable.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein transmission and reception of information is carried out by fiber optic cable.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein transmission and reception of information is carried out by radio waves.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein transmission and reception of information is carried out by AC power line.

14. A system according to claim 12 wherein the ports are carried by the parties in the form of transceivers that are triggered when within a magnetic field or an electromagnetic field of a tee area, green area or service area.

24. A method according to claim 13, wherein the ports are carried by a party in the form of transceivers, the method comprising triggering the transceivers when within a magnetic field or an electromagnetic field of a tee area, green area or service area.

25. Method according to claim 1 wherein transmitting and receiving information is carried out via telephone cable.

15. A method for guiding a party of players around a golf course having a plurality of consecutively numbered holes, each hole having a tee area port and a green area port associated therewith, said method comprising:

(a) entering data concerning a party of players into a system control center;

(b) analyzing the data received with respect to the situation on the golf course, already inputted to the system control center;

(c) transmitting data to tee area ports and green area ports concerning a designated hole to be played by the party;

(d) monitoring play by the party on said hole according to input of information characterizing the party to the tee area ports and green area ports for receiving by the system control center;

(e) designating a next hole to be played by the party, following play of the hole designated in step (c), said next hole bearing a number other than the next higher consecutive number compared with the number of the hole played in step (c).

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising providing at least one service area port in communication with the service control center and inputting information to service area ports for receiving by the system control center.

17. A method according to claim 15 comprising recognizing the identification of a party using a port.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the identification of a party is encoded in a magnetically encoded card and the method comprises reading the magnetically encoded card at tee area ports and green area ports each comprising a magnetic reader.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein the identification of a party is encoded in a bar coded card and the method comprises reading the bar coded card at tee area ports and green area ports each comprising an optical reader.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein the identification of a party is encoded as a plurality of alphanumeric symbols and the method comprises transmitting the code to tee area ports and green area ports.

21. A method according claim 17 wherein the identification of the party comprises a code and the method further comprises transmitting the code from a port to the system control center.

22. A method according to claim 17 further comprising communicating with the system service center by using a port.

23. A method according to claim 22 comprising communicating by using a keyboard of a port.

26. A method according to claim 15 wherein transmitting and receiving information is carried out by fiber optic cable.

27. A method according to claim 15 wherein transmitting and receiving information is carried out by radio waves.

28. A method according to claim 15 wherein transmitting and receiving information is carried out by AC power line.