Hybrid system and method for golf course distance determination using GPS navigation signals

• US 6,496,141 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2001
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VXT, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: VXT, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Pippin, John Festus
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, Fred H
• Application Number:
  US09/880,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.08, 342/357.03, 342/358
• US Class Current: 342/357.34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/60 Wheeled carriers specially adapted for golf bags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/61 motorised
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/071 DGPS corrections
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/074 providing integrity data, e.g. WAAS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning

Abstract

A system using GPS navigation signals to aid in distance determination on a golf course includes a cart-based unit, a hand-held distance determining unit that can be interconnected with the cart-based unit, and a central base station. The central base station includes an RF transceiver for wireless communications and a controller. The hand-held distance determining unit includes a GPS receiver, a display, memory for storing golf course location data, and a controller. The cart-based unit includes an RF transceiver, a display, and a connector cradle into which the hand-held unit can be inserted in order to share information with the cart-based unit. With the hybrid system of the invention, the benefits of the fill features, large display screen and rich functionality of a cart-mounted GPS-based distance determining system are provided along with the benefits of a small, inexpensive, portable hand-held unit that a golfer can use away from the golf cart, such as in “cart path only” situations. The system provides improved accuracy either through use of differential GPS techniques or through use of WAAS satellite GPS correction signals. The invention also provides a method of determining distances on a golf course including the steps of inserting a hand-held distance determining unit in a connector cradle in a cart-based unit and relaying information between the hand-held unit and the cart-based unit. The method further includes the step of transmitting GPS correction data from a central base station to golfers on the golf course.

Claims

1. A system for receiving position data from GPS satellites and for determining distances to a plurality of selected points of interest on a golf course, the system comprising:

a central base station unit, the base station unit comprising;

a base station RF transceiver adapted to communicate via a wireless communications link; and

a base station controller adapted to control the base station RF transceiver;

a hand-held unit, the hand-held unit comprising;

a hand-held unit GPS receiver adapted to receive and process navigation signals from GPS satellites and to thereby provide GPS-derived hand-held unit location data;

a hand-held unit display for displaying graphics, distance information, location information, and other information to users of the system;

a hand-held unit memory for storing a plurality of stored location data;

a transceiver means adapted to communicate via a wireless communications link; and

a hand-held unit controller adapted to control the hand-held unit GPS receiver, the hand-held unit display, the hand-held unit transceiver means and the hand-held unit memory;

wherein the hand-held unit is still further adapted to calculate a distance between the hand-held unit and a selected one of the points of interest on the golf course by comparing the hand-held unit location information with the stored location data for the selected point of interest;

a cart-based unit, the cart-based unit comprising;

a cart-based unit battery;

a cart-based unit RF transceiver adapted to communicate with the base station RF transceiver and the hand-held unit transceiver means via the wireless communications link;

a cart-based unit display for displaying graphics, distance information, location information, and other information to users of the system; and

a cart-based unit controller adapted to control the cart-based unit RF transceiver, the cart-based unit display, and communications between the cart-based unit and the hand-held unit;

wherein the base station controller is adapted to manage communication between the central base station unit and the cart-based unit.

2. The distance determining system according to claim 1 wherein the base station unit has a known base station location and wherein the base station unit further comprises:

a base station GPS receiver adapted to receive and process navigation signals from GPS satellites and to thereby determine a GPS-derived base station location; and

a base station processor adapted to generate a GPS correction signal that is a function of the difference between the known base station location and the GPS-derived base station location.

3. The distance determining system according to claim 2 wherein the cart-based unit is adapted to receive the GPS correction signal from the base station unit via the cart-based unit RF transceiver and to provide the GPS correction signal to the hand-held unit via the wireless communications link.

4. The distance determining system according to claim 2 wherein the hand-held unit controller is adapted to generate hand-held unit location information from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location data and the GPS correction signal.

5. The distance determining system according to claim 2 wherein the hand-held unit is adapted to receive the GPS correction signal from the cart-based unit.

6. The distance determining system according to claim 2 wherein the hand-held unit transceiver means further comprises a hand-held unit RF transceiver.

7. The distance determining system according to claim 6 wherein the hand-held unit is adapted to receive the GPS correction signal from the base station unit via the hand-held unit RF transceiver.

8. The distance determining system according to claim 7 wherein the hand-held unit controller is adapted to generate hand-held unit location information from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location data and the GPS correction signal.

9. The distance determining system according to claim 1 wherein the base station unit further comprises:

a base station WAAS receiver adapted to receive a WAAS correction signal; and

a base station processor adapted to determine WAAS correction data from the WAAS correction signal.

10. The distance determining system according to claim 9 wherein the cart-based unit is adapted to receive the WAAS correction data from the base station unit via the cart-based unit RF transceiver and to provide the WAAS correction data to the hand-held unit via the wireless communications link.

11. The distance determining system according to claim 9 wherein the hand-held unit controller is adapted to generate hand-held unit location information from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location data and the WAAS correction data.

12. The distance determining system according to claim 9 wherein the hand-held unit is adapted to receive the WAAS correction data from the cart-based unit.

13. The distance determining system according to claim 9 wherein the hand-held unit transceiver means further comprises a hand-held unit RF transceiver.

14. The distance determining system according to claim 13 wherein the hand-held unit is adapted to receive the WAAS correction data from the base station unit via the hand-held unit RF transceiver.

15. The distance determining system according to claim 14 wherein the hand-held unit controller is adapted to generate hand-held unit location information from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location data and the WAAS correction data.

16. The distance determining system according to claim 1 wherein the hand-held unit GPS receiver is adapted to receive a WAAS correction signal, and wherein the hand-held unit controller is adapted to determine WAAS correction data from the WAAS correction signal.

17. The distance determining system according to claim 16 wherein the hand-held unit controller is adapted to generate hand-held unit location information from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location data and the WAAS correction data.

18. A hand-held distance determining unit for use in a system for determining distances to a plurality of user selected points of interest on a golf course, the system comprising:

a central base station unit including a base station GPS receiver, a base station processor adapted to generate a GPS correction signal, a base station RF transceiver, and a base station controller adapted to control the base station GPS receiver, the base station processor and the base station RF transceiver;

a cart-based unit including a cart-based unit battery, a cart-based unit transceiver means, wherein the cart-based unit transceiver means includes an RF transceiver, a cart-based unit display, and a cart-based unit controller adapted to control the cart-based unit transceiver means, the cart-based unit display, and communications between the cart-based unit and the hand-held distance determining unit via the cart-based unit transceiver means, the cart-based unit being adapted to receive a GPS correction signal from the central base station unit via the cart-based unit transceiver means and to provide the GPS correction signal to the hand-held unit via the cart-based unit transceiver means;

the base station controller being adapted to manage communication of the GPS correction signal and other signals between the central base station unit and the cart-based unit;

the hand-held distance determining unit comprising;

a hand-held unit transceiver means;

a hand-held unit GPS receiver adapted to receive and process navigation signals from GPS satellites and to thereby provide GPS-derived hand-held unit location data;

a hand-held unit display for displaying graphics, distance information, location information, and other information to a user of the system;

a hand-held unit memory for storing a plurality of stored location data for the respective ones of the points of interest on the golf course; and

a hand-held unit controller adapted to control the hand-held unit GPS receiver, the hand-held unit display, the hand-held unit transceiver means, and the hand-held unit memory;

wherein the hand-held unit controller is adapted to generate hand-held distance determining unit location information from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location data and the GPS correction signal;

wherein the hand-held unit is adapted to calculate a distance between the hand-held distance determining unit and a selected one of the points of interest on the golf course by comparing the hand-held distance determining unit location information with the stored location data for that respective point of interest; and

wherein the hand-held distance determining unit is adapted to communicate with the cart-based unit via the hand-held unit transceiver means for providing the hand-held distance determining unit location information to the cart-based unit and for receiving the GPS correction signal from the cart-based unit.

19. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 18 wherein the hand-held unit transceiver means further comprises a hand-held unit RF transceiver adapted to communicate with the central base station unit via the base station unit RF transceiver.

20. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 18 wherein the hand-held distance determining unit transceiver means further comprises an infrared transceiver adapted to communicate with the cart-based unit via the cart-based unit transceiver means.

21. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 18 further comprising a hand-held unit input means for receiving input from a user.

22. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 21 wherein the hand-held unit input means comprises a touch screen.

23. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 21 wherein the hand-held unit input means comprises a keypad.

24. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 19 wherein the hand-held unit controller is adapted to receive a paging message from the central base station through the hand-held unit RF transceiver means.

25. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 18 further comprising a hand-held unit battery.

26. A hand-held distance determining unit for use in a system for determining distances to a plurality of user selected points of interest on a golf course, the system comprising:

a central base station unit including a base station RF transceiver and a base station controller adapted to control the base station RF transceiver;

a cart-based unit including a cart-based unit battery, a cart-based unit transceiver means, a cart-based unit display, and a cart-based unit controller adapted to control the cart-based unit transceiver means, the cart-based unit display, and communications between the cart-based unit and the hand-held distance determining unit;

the hand-held distance determining unit comprising;

a hand-held unit transceiver means;

a hand-held unit GPS receiver adapted to receive and process navigation signals from GPS satellites and to thereby provide GPS-derived hand-held unit location data, the hand-held unit GPS receiver being further adapted to receive and process a WAAS correction signal and to generate a WAAS correction data;

a hand-held unit display for displaying graphics, distance information, location information, and other information to a user of the system;

a hand-held unit memory for storing a plurality of stored location data for the respective ones of the points of interest on the golf course; and

a hand-held unit controller adapted to control the hand-held unit GPS receiver, the hand-held unit display, and the hand-held unit memory;

wherein the hand-held unit controller is adapted to generate hand-held distance determining unit location information from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location data and the WAAS correction data;

wherein the hand-held unit is adapted to calculate a distance between the hand-held distance determining unit and a selected one of the points of interest on the golf course by comparing the hand-held distance determining unit location information with the stored location data for that respective point of interest; and

wherein the hand-held distance determining unit is adapted to communicate with the cart-based unit via the hand-held unit transceiver means for providing the hand-held distance determining unit location information to the cart-based unit.

27. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 26 wherein the hand-held distance determining unit is adapted to communicate with the cart-based unit via the hand-held unit transceiver means for receiving information from the cart-based unit, the cart-based unit being adapted to receive the information from the central base station unit via the cart-based unit transceiver means and to provide the information to the hand-held unit via the hand-held unit transceiver means.

28. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 26 wherein the hand-held unit transceiver means further comprises a hand-held unit RF transceiver, wherein the hand-held distance determining unit is adapted to communicate with the cart-based unit via the hand-held unit RF transceiver, and wherein the hand-held distance determining unit is further adapted to receive information from the central base station unit via the hand-held unit RF transceiver.

29. A method of determining distances to a plurality of selected points of interest on a golf course using GPS satellite position signals, the method comprising the steps of:

determining an absolute location of a central base station relative to a fixed coordinate system;

at the central base station, receiving a first set of navigation signals from the GPS satellites;

determining a GPS-derived base station location relative to the fixed coordinate system from the first set of navigation signals;

calculating a GPS correction signal that is a function of the difference between the absolute location of the central base station and the GPS-derived base station location;

transmitting the GPS correction signal to a cart-based unit;

relaying the GPS correction signal from the cart-based unit to a hand-held unit via a wireless communications link;

storing a plurality of stored location data associated with the selected points of interest on the golf course;

in the hand-held unit, receiving a second set of navigation signals from the GPS satellites;

determining a GPS-derived hand-held unit location relative to the fixed coordinate system from the second set of navigation signals;

calculating a corrected hand-held unit location relative to the fixed coordinate system from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location and the GPS correction signal;

determining a distance data between the hand-held unit and a first point of interest on the golf course by comparing the corrected hand-held unit location with the stored location data associated with the first point of interest; and

displaying the distance data on the hand-held unit display.

30. The distance determining method according to claim 29 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a plurality of updated location data from the central base station to the hand-held unit; and

storing the updated location data.

31. The distance determining method according to claim 29 further comprising the steps of:

relaying the distance data using the wireless communications link from the hand-held unit to the cart-based unit; and

displaying the distance data on a cart-based unit display.

32. A method of determining distances to a plurality of selected points of interest on a golf course using GPS satellite position signals and WAAS correction signals, the method comprising the steps of:

at a central base station, receiving a WAAS correction signal from a WAAS broadcaster;

calculating a WAAS correction data from the WAAS correction signal;

transmitting the WAAS correction data to a cart-based unit;

relaying the WAAS correction data from the cart-based unit to the hand-held unit via a wireless communications link;

storing a plurality of stored location data associated with the selected points of interest on the golf course;

in the hand-held unit, receiving a set of navigation signals from the GPS satellites;

determining a GPS-derived hand-held unit location relative to a fixed coordinate system from the set of navigation signals;

calculating a corrected hand-held unit location relative to the fixed coordinate system from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location and the WAAS correction data;

determining a distance data between the hand-held unit and a first point of interest on the golf course by comparing the corrected hand-held unit location with the stored location data associated with the first point of interest; and

displaying the distance data on the hand-held unit display.

33. The distance determining method according to claim 32 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a plurality of updated location data from the central base station to the hand-held unit; and

storing the updated location data.

34. The distance determining method according to claim 32 further comprising the steps of:

relaying the distance data from the hand-held unit to the cart-based unit via the wireless communications link; and

displaying the distance data on a cart-based unit display.

35. A method of determining distances to a plurality of selected points of interest on a golf course using GPS satellite position signals and WAAS correction signals in a hand-held unit having a hand-held unit display, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a WAAS correction signal from a WAAS broadcaster;

calculating a WAAS correction data from the WAAS correction signal;

storing a plurality of stored location data associated with the selected points of interest on the golf course;

receiving a set of navigation signals from the GPS satellites;

determining a GPS-derived hand-held unit location relative to a fixed coordinate system from the set of navigation signals;

calculating a corrected hand-held unit location relative to the fixed coordinate system from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location and the WAAS correction data;

determining a distance data between the hand-held unit and a first point of interest on the golf course by comparing the corrected hand-held unit location with the stored location data associated with the first point of interest;

relaying the distance data from the hand-held unit to a cart-based unit via a wireless communications link; and

displaying the distance data on a cart-based unit display.

36. A system for determining distances to a plurality of selected points of interest on a golf course using GPS position data, the system comprising:

a central base station unit having a known base station location, the base station unit comprising;

a base station GPS receiver means for receiving and processing navigation signals from GPS satellites and for thereby determining a GPS-derived base station location;

a base station processor means for generating a GPS correction signal that is related to the difference between the known base station location and the GPS-derived base station location;

a base station RF transceiver means for communicating via a wireless communications link; and

a base station controller means for controlling the base station GPS receiver means, the base station processor means and the base station RF transceiver means;

a hand-held unit comprising;

a hand-held unit GPS receiver means for receiving and processing navigation signals from GPS satellites and for thereby providing GPS-derived hand-held unit location data;

a transceiver means for communicating via a wireless communications link;

a hand-held unit display means for displaying graphics, distance information, location information, and other information to a user of the system;

a hand-held unit memory means for storing a plurality of stored location data associated respectively with the plurality of points of interest; and

a hand-held unit controller means for controlling the hand-held unit GPS receiver means, the hand-held unit display means, the hand-held unit transceiver means and the hand-held unit memory means;

wherein the hand-held unit controller means is adapted to generate hand-held unit location information from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location data and the GPS correction signal; and

wherein the hand-held unit is further adapted to calculate a distance between the hand-held unit and a selected one of the points of interest on the golf course by comparing the hand-held unit location information with the stored location data associated with the respective point of interest; and

a cart-based unit comprising;

a cart-based unit battery means;

a cart-based unit transceiver means for communicating with the base station RF transceiver means via the wireless communications link; and

a cart-based unit display means for displaying graphics, distance information, location information, and other information to a user of the system;

wherein the cart-based unit controller means is adapted to control the cart-based unit transceiver means, the cart-based unit display means, and communications between the cart-based unit and the hand-held unit via the wireless communications link;

wherein the cart-based unit is adapted to receive the GPS correction signal from the central base station unit via the cart-based unit transceiver means and to provide the GPS correction signal to the hand-held unit via the wireless communications link; and

wherein the cart-based unit is adapted to receive the hand-held unit location information via the wireless communications link;

wherein the hand-held unit is adapted to communicate with the cart-based unit via the wireless communications link for providing hand-held unit location information to the cart-based unit and for receiving the GPS correction signal from the cart-based unit; and

wherein the base station controller means is adapted to manage communication of the GPS correction signal between the central base station unit and the cart-based unit.

37. The distance determining system according to claim 36, wherein the cart-based unit is adapted to receive the GPS correction signal from the base station unit the cart-based unit transceiver means and to provide the GPS correction signal to the hand-held unit via the wireless communications link.

38. The distance determining system according to claim 36, wherein the hand-held unit controller means is adapted to generate hand-held unit location information from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location data and the GPS correction signal.

39. The distance determining system according to claim 36 wherein the hand-held unit is adapted to receive the GPS correction signal from the cart-based unit.

40. The distance determining system according to claim 36 wherein the hand-held unit transceiver means further comprises a hand-held unit RF transceiver means.

41. The distance determining system according to claim 40 wherein the hand-held unit is adapted to receive the GPS correction signal from the base station unit via the hand-held unit RF transceiver means.

42. The distance determining system according to claim 41 wherein the hand-held unit controller means is adapted to generate hand-held unit location information from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location data and the GPS correction signal.

43. A hand-held distance determining unit for use in a system for determining distances to a plurality of user selected points of interest on a golf course, the hand-held distance determining unit comprising:

a hand-held unit GPS receiver adapted to receive and process navigation signals from GPS satellites and to thereby provide GPS-derived hand-held unit location data, the hand-held unit GPS receiver being further adapted to receive and process a WAAS correction signal and to generate a WAAS correction data;

a hand-held unit display for displaying graphics, distance information, location information, or other information to a user of the system;

a hand-held unit memory for storing a plurality of stored location data for the respective ones of the points of interest on the golf course;

a hand-held unit transceiver;

a hand-held unit controller adapted to control the hand-held unit GPS receiver, the hand-held unit display, the hand-held unit memory, and the hand-held transceiver;

wherein the hand-held unit controller is adapted to generate hand-held distance determining unit location information from a combination of the GPS-derived hand-held unit location data and the WAAS correction data; and

wherein the hand-held unit is adapted to calculate a distance between the hand-held distance determining unit and a selected one of the points of interest on the golf course by comparing the hand-held distance determining unit location information with the stored location data for that respective point of interest.

44. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 43, wherein the hand-held unit transceiver comprises of an infrared transceiver means.

45. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 43, wherein the hand-held unit transceiver comprises a RF transceiver means.

46. The hand-held distance determining unit according to claim 43, wherein the hand-held unit transceiver comprises a hand-held unit RF transceiver for communicating with a central base station unit via a base station unit RF transceiver.