Computerized system and method for practicing and instructing in a sport and software for same

• US 6,931,290 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carl Anthony Forest
• Original Assignee: Carl Anthony Forest
• Inventors: Forest, Carl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, SCOTT E
• Application Number:
  US10/762,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20040158337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 40- 42, 273/317.2, 273/108.2, 473/131, 473/407, 473/409, 700 90- 92, 434/252
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for 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 computerized system for instructing a player in an athletic sport includes a screen listing a plurality of discrete physical factors describing a real or hypothetical situation in the sport. A player enters a plurality of personal discrete actions that may be taken in response to the situation. The system selects from memory a corresponding plurality of discrete actions defining an expert response to the situation. The system compares the personal discrete actions and the expert discrete actions and provides expert comments when there are differences. The actual discrete actions taken by the player and the actual results are stored, and this information as well as personal data entered by the player is used by the system in subsequently selecting an expert response adjusted to the particular player.

Claims

1. A computerized system for instructing a person in judgmental aspects of an athletic sport or for practicing said judgmental aspects, said system comprising:

an electronic storage device for storing a plurality of discrete physical factors describing a real or hypothetical situation in said athletic sport and for storing athletic sport action information regarding a plurality of different kinds of discrete expert actions that an expert that is not said person would take in response to said situation;

a processor communicating with said storage device for selecting a plurality of specific discrete expert actions from said action information, said specific discrete expert actions being automatically selected by said processor when provided with said plurality of discrete physical factors; and

an output device for communicating said plurality of specific discrete expert actions to said person.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of different kinds of discrete expert actions is selected from the group consisting of:

grip, stance, and swing.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein said sport is selected from the group consisting of tennis, hockey, and golf.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said sport is golf and said plurality of different kinds of expert actions include club selection and shot selection.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said sport is tennis.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said sport is hockey.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said sport is skiing.

8. A system as in claim 1 wherein said electronic storage device stores a plurality of groups of said specific discrete expert actions, each group representing a response of a different expert to one or more predetermined situations.

9. A system as in claim 8 and further including an input device for selecting one of said experts.

10. A system as in claim 1 and further including an input device for inputting said physical factors information.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said electronic storage device includes a visual storage portion for storing visual information showing one or more of said specific expert actions and said output device comprises a display for displaying said visual information.

12. A system as in claim 11 wherein said one or more specific expert actions are specific expert actions selected from the group consisting of:

grip, stance, and swing.

13. A system as in claim 12 wherein said visual information depicts an expert illustrating said one or more specific actions.

14. A system as in claim 13 wherein said visual storage portion stores a plurality of groups of said visual information, each group representing the response of a different expert to one or more predetermined situations.

15. A system as in claim 14 and further including an input device for selecting one of said experts.

16. A system as in claim 1 wherein said electronic storage device, said processor, and said output device are part of a personal computer.

17. A system as in claim 1 wherein said electronic storage device, said processor, and said output device are part of a portable computer small enough to be held in a human hand.

18. A system as in claim 1 wherein said electronic storage device, said processor, and said output device are part of a cellular telephone.

19. A system as in claim 1 wherein said system includes a wireless Internet communication device.

20. A system as in claim 1 and further including:

an input device for entering a personal tip and for associating said personal tip with an item selected from the group consisting of one or more of said physical factors, one or more of said discrete expert actions, and one or more of said specific discrete expert actions; and

said output device includes an electronic device for outputting tip along said item.

21. A system as in claim 1 and further including an input device for permitting said person to input a plurality of discrete actions defining a personal response to said situation.

22. A system as in claim 21 wherein said electronic storage device also stores expert comments regarding sold discrete expert actions, said processor further compares said selected plurality of specific discrete expert actions to said input plurality of specific discrete actions, and provides one or more of said expert comments when one of said selected expert actions does not agree with a corresponding input action.

23. A system as in claim 21 and further including an input device for inputting a plurality of discrete results corresponding to said input actions.

24. A system as in claim 23 wherein said processor uses said input discrete results in selecting said plurality of discrete actions.

25. A method for instructing a person in judgmental aspects of an athletic sport or for practicing said judgmental aspects, said system comprising:

storing in an electronic memory;

physical factor information regarding a real or hypothetical situation in said athletic sport; and

athletic sport action information regarding a plurality of different kinds of discrete expert actions that an expert that is not said person would take in response to said situation;

electronically selecting from said action information a plurality of specific discrete expert actions, said specific discrete expert actions being automatically electronically selected responsive to said plurality of discrete physical factors; and

communicating said plurality of specific discrete expert actions to said person.

26. A method as in claim 25 and further including inputting into said memory said physical factor information and a plurality of personal discrete actions that define a personal response to said situation.

27. A method as in claim 26 and further including comparing said selected discrete expert actions to said personal discrete actions and providing an expert comment related to a difference between corresponding ones of said selected discrete expert actions and personal discrete actions.

28. A machine readable storage medium containing instructions for performing a method of instructing a person in judgmental aspects of a sport or a method of practicing said judgmental aspects, said method including:

storing in an electronic memory, a plurality of discrete physical factors defining a real or hypothetical situation in said sport; and

sport action information regarding a plurality of different kinds of discrete expert actions that an expert that is not said person would take in response to said situation;

electronically selecting from said action information a plurality of discrete specific expert actions, said specific discrete expert actions being automatically electronically selected responsive to said plurality of discrete physical factors; and

communicating said plurality of specific discrete expert actions to said person.

29. A medium as in claim 28 wherein said sport is selected from the group consisting of tennis, hockey, golf, and skiing.

30. A medium as in claim 28 wherein at least one of said plurality of different kinds of discrete expert actions is selected from the group consisting of:

grip, stance, and swing.

31. A medium as in claim 28 wherein said sport is golf and said plurality of different kinds of discrete expert actions include club selection and shot selection.