Player positioning and distance finding system
DCFirst Claim
1. A portable distance tracking system for use by a golfer on a golf course, wherein said golf course includes at least a first land mark, and wherein said system comprises at least one mobile interface unit including:
- A. a memory element including means for storing digitized map representations of a plurality of golf courses;
B. position interface electronics including a first GPS receiver for receiving position indicative signals from a Global Positioning System satellite constellation located in orbit around the Earth, wherein said position indicative signals are representative of a geographical location of said mobile interface unit;
C. a data processor, coupled to said memory element and to said position interface electronics, and including means for processing said position indicative signals to determine said geographical location of said mobile interface unit, means for corresponding said geographical location of said mobile interface unit with said digitized map representations to automatically identify a particular golf course that a golfer has selected to play means for corresponding said geographical location of said mobile interface unit with said digitized map representation of said particular golf course to determine a field location of said mobile interface unit on said particular golf course, and means for determining a distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark; and
D. a player interface, coupled to said data processor, and including means for communicating at least said distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark to said player.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a portable distance tracking system for use by a player on a playing field. The system includes a mobile interface unit that has a memory element, position interface electronics, a data processor, and a player interface. The memory element stores digitized map representations of playing fields. The position interface electronics receivers position indicative signals that are representative of a geographical location of the mobile unit from an external source. The data processor couples to the memory element and to the position interface electronics and correlates the geographical location to a field location of the mobile interface unit on the playing field. The processor also determines the distance from the mobile interface unit to a first landmark. The player interface is coupled to the data processor and communicates the distance between the mobile interface unit and the first landmark to the player. According to a preferred embodiment, the playing field is a golf course and the first landmark is a flag location at a select hole on the golf course.
203 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A portable distance tracking system for use by a golfer on a golf course, wherein said golf course includes at least a first land mark, and wherein said system comprises at least one mobile interface unit including:
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A. a memory element including means for storing digitized map representations of a plurality of golf courses; B. position interface electronics including a first GPS receiver for receiving position indicative signals from a Global Positioning System satellite constellation located in orbit around the Earth, wherein said position indicative signals are representative of a geographical location of said mobile interface unit; C. a data processor, coupled to said memory element and to said position interface electronics, and including means for processing said position indicative signals to determine said geographical location of said mobile interface unit, means for corresponding said geographical location of said mobile interface unit with said digitized map representations to automatically identify a particular golf course that a golfer has selected to play means for corresponding said geographical location of said mobile interface unit with said digitized map representation of said particular golf course to determine a field location of said mobile interface unit on said particular golf course, and means for determining a distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark; and D. a player interface, coupled to said data processor, and including means for communicating at least said distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark to said player. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for determining the distance between a first location and a second location on a particular hole on a golf course, comprising:
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(A) GPS receiver means, positioned at said first location, for receiving a global earth position of said first location; (B) a memory element having means for storing digitized map representations of a plurality of holes on a golf course; and (C) processing means in communication with said GPS receiver means, comprising i) means for correlating said global earth position with said digitized map representations to automatically identify said particular hole on said golf course, and ii) means for correlating said first location to said second location to determine from said first location to said location. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for determining the distance between a first location and a second location on a particular hole on a golf course, comprising:
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(A) receiving a global earth position at a mobile interface unit at a first location from a GPS constellation; (B) storing in said mobile interface unit digitized map representations of a plurality of holes on a golf course; and (C) processing in said mobile interface unit said global earth position and said digitized map representations by i) correlating said global earth position with said digitized map representations to automatically identify said particular hole on said golf course, and ii) correlating said first location to said second location to determine the distance from said first location to said second location. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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Specification