Handheld golf reporting and statistical analysis apparatus and method

• US 5,779,566 A
• Filed: 02/22/1995
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L and H Concepts LLC, L&H Concepts LLC
• Original Assignee: Peter S. Wilens
• Inventors: Wilens, Peter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/392,280
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 473/150-156, 473/140-141, 473/407, 473/409, 364/410-411, 364/709.01-709.02, 364/709.1, 364/709.11, 364/709.12, 345/123, 345/121, 345/124, 345/125, 345/169, 345/173, 345/145, 345/146, 340/323 R, 273/DIG. 26, 273/DIG. 28, 235/145 R, 235/145 A, 341/22, 341/35, 400/100, 400/486
• US Class Current: 473/407
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• 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 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities

Abstract

A handheld computerized golf data recording, reporting and advising unit, and a method for its operation. The unit itself is a small, comfortably handheld computerized unit with a generally writable display and a simplified key control panel to enter and retrieve data. Using the key control panel, a golfer can selectively retrieve a number of pre-formatted screens corresponding to pre-game, game-interactive and post-game recording and reporting of golf facts statistics and general golf knowledge. The pre-game screens contain data input fields having predetermined sets of values a user selects to provide information required by the game-interactive and game-reporting screens and algorithms to process, store and report information. The information entered in the pre-game and game-interactive mode is automatically stored in the memory of the unit and subsequently formatted into one or more statistical reports upon request by the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recording and reporting golf information to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve from experience, the apparatus comprising:

a self-contained computer unit having a memory, a power source and a display for selectively displaying a plurality of information screens and associated data stored in the memory, the information screens including screen-dependent data input fields for the associated data;

key entry means for retrieving and selectively displaying the information screens from the memory on the display, and for retrieving, selecting, and recording the associated data with each information screen, wherein the key entry means includes first key means comprising one entry key for selectively displaying information screens, second screen-dependent field select key means for selecting a particular data input field of predefined data on a displayed screen, the second screen-dependent field select key means comprising two bi-directional tab keys for scrolling in opposite directions through the data input fields on a displayed information screen, and third screen-dependent value select key means for displaying and selectively recording or altering selected data in a selected data input field, the third screen-dependent value select key means comprising two bi-directional scroll keys for scrolling in opposite directions through the predefined data associated with the data input field on the displayed information screen.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first key means permits changing of the information screens in sequential fashion, and the first key means further includes choice means for non-sequential selection or changing of information screens.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the choice means is screen-dependent to provide a customized set of screen-changing options for a displayed information screen.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the information screens stored in the memory comprise one or more pre-game parameter recording information screens, one or more game-interactive recording information screens;

and one or more post-game statistic report information screens.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the information screens further include one or more game-interactive fact report information screens.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the information screens further include one or more game-interactive golf advice information screens.

7. A method for recording and reporting golf information to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve from experience, comprising the following steps:

storing a plurality of pre-game, game-interactive and post-game information screens in a memory of a computer unit having a display for selectively displaying one or more of the information screens;

entering a pre-game mode in which one or more pre-game information screens are displayed in sequential fashion to prompt entry of data defining parameters of an upcoming game, and in which a choice is provided among a plurality of game-interactive information screens for subsequently recording data during the upcoming game defined by the parameters entered in the pre-game mode, wherein the number of pre-game information screens displayed in sequential fashion in the pre-game mode is determined by which of the game-interactive information screens is chosen;

entering the game-interactive mode to display the chosen game-interactive information screen;

entering data in the chosen game-interactive information screen corresponding to the game as the game is played, and simultaneously recording entered data in the memory of the computer unit; and

providing post-game reports based on the data entered in the chosen game-interactive information screen.

8. A method for recording and reporting golf information to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve from experience, comprising the following steps:

storing a plurality of pre-game, game-interactive and post-game information screens in a memory of a computer unit having a display for selectively displaying one or more of the information screens, the information screens including screen-dependent data input fields for entry of data;

displaying in sequential fashion one or more pre-game information screens and prompting entry of data which defines parameters of an upcoming game;

providing a choice among a plurality of game-interactive information screens for recording data during the game defined by the parameters entered in the pre-game information screens;

displaying a chosen game-interactive information screen;

entering data in the chosen game-interactive information screen corresponding to a game as the game is played, and simultaneously recording entered data in the memory of the computer unit;

providing post-game reports based on the data entered in the game-interactive information screen; and

,

providing one or more game-interactive advice/feedback information screens.

9. A method for recording and reporting golf information in a manner tending to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve from experience, comprising the following steps:

providing a computer unit with a memory, a display, and data selection entry keys;

storing a plurality of information screens of golf play information in the memory of the computer unit, the information screens including screen-dependent data input fields corresponding to the golf play information in each screen;

selectively displaying information screens on the display in a logical sequence of pre-game and game-interactive screens, the pre-game information screen prompting entry of data which defines parameters of a game to be played and a game-interactive screen on which data is recorded for the game;

selecting data input fields on a displayed information screen;

selecting from stored golf information corresponding to one or more chosen data input fields; and

storing selected golf information in the memory as statistical or factual reports for retrieval by the user after the game.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the golf information entered in the pre-game information screen comprises golf play parameters defining an upcoming game, and the golf information entered in the game-interactive information screens comprises golf play data values defining a user'"'"'s actual performance within the golf play parameters of the game.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the golf play parameters are selected and entered in the pregame mode, and the golf play data values are selected and entered in the game-interactive mode.

12. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein golf information entered in the pre-game information screen further comprises extrinsic factors having an effect on a player'"'"'s performance.

13. An apparatus for recording and reporting sports and game information to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve from experience, the apparatus comprising:

a self-contained computer unit having a memory, a power source and a display for selectively displaying a plurality of information screens and associated data stored in the memory, the information screens including screen-dependent data input fields for the associated data;

a plurality of pre-game, game-interactive and post-game information screens stored in the memory of the computer unit;

means for displaying a pre-game information screen and prompting entry of data which defines parameters of an upcoming game, and means for subsequently displaying a game-interactive information screen corresponding to a game-interactive mode defined by the parameters selected in the pre-game information screen;

entry key means for changing information screens in sequential fashion, the entry key means comprising one entry key;

choice key means for non-sequential selection or changing of information screens the choice key means comprising one choice key;

field select key means for choosing a particular data input field on a displayed information screen, the field select key means comprising two bi-directional keys; and

value select key means for displaying and selectively recording data in the chosen data input field the value select key means comprising two bi-directional keys.

14. A method for recording and reporting golf information to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve from experience, comprising the following steps:

storing a plurality of pre-game, game-interactive and post-game information screens in a memory of computer unit having a display for selectively displaying one or more of the information screens, the information screens including screen-dependent data input fields for entry of data;

displaying in sequential fashion one or more pre-game information screens and prompting entry of data which defines parameters of an upcoming game;

providing a choice among a plurality of game-interactive information screens for recording data during the game defined by the parameters entered in the pre-game information screens;

displaying a chosen game-interactive information screen;

entering data in a chosen game-interactive information screen corresponding to a game as the game is played, and simultaneously recording the entered data in the memory of the computer unit;

providing post-game reports based on the data entered in the game-interactive information screen;

wherein,

the game-interactive information screens comprise a first information screen with a first detail level of recording, and a second information screen with a second detail level of recording.

15. A method for recording and reporting golf information to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve from experience, comprising the following steps:

storing a plurality of pre-game, game-interactive and post-game information screens in a memory of a computer unit having a display for selectively displaying one or more of the information screens, the information screens including screen-dependent data input fields for entry of data;

displaying in sequential fashion one or more pre-game information screens and prompting entry of data which defines parameters of an upcoming game;

providing a choice among a plurality of game-interactive information screens for recording data during the game defined by the parameters entered in the pre-game information screens;

displaying a chosen game-interactive information screen;

entering data in the chosen game-interactive recording screen corresponding to the game as the game is played, and simultaneously recording entered data in the memory of the computer unit; and

providing post-game reports based on the data entered in the game-interactive reporting information screen;

wherein,

the pre-game information screens are provided with means for selecting non-sequential option screens.

16. A method for recording and reporting golf information to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve from experience, comprising the following steps:

storing a plurality of pre-game, game-interactive and post-game information screens in a memory of a computer unit having a display for selectively displaying one or more of the information screens, the information screens including screen-dependent data input fields for entry of data;

displaying in sequential fashion one or more pre-game information screens and prompting entry of data which defines parameters of an upcoming game;

providing a choice among a plurality of game-interactive recording information screens for recording data during the game defined by the parameters entered in the pre-game information screens;

displaying a chosen game-interactive recording information screen;

corresponding to the game as the game is played, and simultaneously recording entered data in the memory of the computer unit; and

providing post-game reports based on the data entered in the game-interactive reporting information screen;

wherein,

the game-interactive information screens are provided with means for selecting non-sequential option screens.

17. A handheld portable apparatus for recording and reporting golf information to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve from experience, the apparatus comprising:

a, self-contained computer unit having a memory, a power source and a display for selectively displaying a plurality of information screens and associated data stored in the memory, the information screens including screen-dependent data input fields for the associated data;

first key entry means for sequentially displaying one or more pre-game information screens in a pre-game mode of operation, and subsequently sequentially displaying one or more game-interactive information screens in a game-interactive mode of operation, the first key entry means comprising one entry key;

second key means for selecting a particular data field on a displayed information screen, the second key means comprising two bi-directional keys;

third key means for selectively recording or altering data in a selected data field, the third key means comprising two bi-directional keys;

wherein,

the pre-game information screens include means for prompting the entry of data which defines parameters of an upcoming game, and means for selecting one of a plurality of game-interactive information screens representing different levels of data-recording detail in the game-interactive mode.

18. A method for recording and reporting golf information to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve from experience, comprising the following steps:

providing a computer unit with a memory, a display and data selection entry keys;

storing a plurality of information screens of golf play information in the memory of the computer unit, the information screens including screen-dependent data input fields corresponding to the golf play information of each information screen;

providing a pre-game mode of data entry in which one or more pre-game information screens are displayed to prompt the entry of data which defines parameters of an upcoming game, and providing a choice of at least one of a plurality of game-interactive information screens in a subsequent game-interactive mode of operation representing different levels of data recording detail;

entering the game-interactive mode during the game defined in the pre-game mode, and displaying a chosen game-interactive recording information screen for entry of game data as the game is played; and

storing the recorded golf information in the memory as statistical or factual reports for retrieval by the player after the game.

19. A method for recording and reporting golf information to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve form experience, comprising the following steps:

storing a plurality of pre-game, game-interactive and post-game information screens in a memory of a computer unit having a display for selectively displaying one or more of the information screens;

displaying in sequential fashion one or more pre-game information screens and prompting entry of data which defines parameters of an upcoming game;

providing a choice among a plurality of game-interactive information screens for recording data during the game defined by the parameters entered in the pregame information screens;

displaying a chosen game-interactive information screen;

entering data in the chosen game-interactive information screen corresponding to a game as the game is played, and simultaneously recording entered data in the memory of the computer unit;

providing post-game reports based on the data entered in the game-interactive information screen;

wherein,

the data entered in the one or more pre-game information screens includes extrinsic factors having an effect on a player'"'"'s performance.

20. A method for recording and reporting golf information, comprising the following steps:

storing a plurality of pre-game, game-interactive and post-game information screens in a memory of a computer unit having a display for selectively displaying one or more of the information screens, the information screens including screen-dependent data input fields for the entry of data;

displaying one or more pre-game information screens and prompting selection and recording of data defining extrinsic factors having an effect on player performance;

subsequently providing a choice from among a plurality of game-interactive recording information screens for selection and recording of data while the game is played;

displaying a chosen game-interactive recording information screen;

selecting and recording data in the chosen game-interactive recording information screen corresponding to the game as the game is played; and

providing post-game report information screens based on the data entered in both the pre-game and game-interactive information screens.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of prompting selection and recording of data defining extrinsic factors further includes selection and recording of parameters of the upcoming game.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the pre-game information screens are provided with means for selecting non-sequential option screens.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the game-interactive information screens are provided with means for selecting non-sequential option screens.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the game-interactive information screens comprise a first information screen with a first level of recording, and a second information screen with a second level of reporting.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the post-game report information screens include one or more factual and statistical reports based on a relationship between a player'"'"'s performance in a game and extrinsic variables entered in the one or more pre-game information screens.

26. The method of claim 25, further including the step of providing one or more game-interactive advice/feedback screens as a game is played.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more game-interactive advice/feedback screens include statistical and factual information based on the data entered in both the pre-game and game-interactive information screens.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more game-interactive advice/feedback screens include at least one display which assists a player in selecting a golf club for the game as the game is played.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one display assisting player selection of a golf club includes information based on a relationship between extrinsic factors and player performance.

30. A method for recording and reporting information on a game of golf using a computer unit having a memory and a display for selectively displaying one or more information screens, comprising the following steps:

displaying one or more screens for prompting selection and recording of data;

selecting one or more extrinsic factors having an effect on player performance, and recording corresponding extrinsic factor data associated with a game played;

selecting one or more player performance factors, and recording corresponding player performance data as the game is played; and

,

computing and displaying statistics correlating the effect of one or more extrinsic factors for which data has been recorded on one or more player performance.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the statistics are displayed as a report on the effect of one or more extrinsic factors on player performance for assisting the player in selecting a golf club.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the statistics are displayed as a report on the effect of one or more extrinsic factors on player performance for assisting the player in understanding the effect of the extrinsic factors on player performance.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the one or more information screens include a pre-game information screen for prompting selection and recording of extrinsic factor data.

34. The method of claim 33, further including the step of displaying a game-interactive information screen which prompts selection and recording of player performance data as the game is played.

35. The method of claim 34, further including the step of displaying a post-game information screen displaying a relationship between extrinsic factors and player performance data.

36. A method for recording and reporting information on a game of golf using a computer unit having a memory and a display for selectively displaying one or more information screens, comprising the following steps:

1) displaying one or more information screens for prompting selection and recording of data;

2) recording extrinsic factor data which has an effect on player performance and which is associated with a game played;

3) recording player performance data as the game is played; and

4) computing and displaying statistics correlating the effect of one or more extrinsic factors for which data has been recorded on recorded player performance.

37. A method for recording and reporting golf information to increase a player'"'"'s ability to improve from experience, comprising the following steps:

storing pre-game, game-interactive and post-game information screens in a memory of a computer unit having a display for selectively displaying the information screens;

displaying a pre-game information screen and prompting entry of data which defines parameters of a game;

displaying a game interactive information screen for recording data during the game defined by the parameters entered in the pre-game information screen;

providing post-game reports based on the data entered in the game-interactive information screen;

wherein,

extrinsic factor data is entered in the pre-game information screen to record extrinsic factors having an effect on a player'"'"'s performance, and the post-game report is further based on extrinsic factor data to display the effect of extrinsic factors on the player'"'"'s performance.