Golfing aide system

• US 7,014,576 B1
• Filed: 01/23/2001
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Posey
• Original Assignee: John Posey
• Inventors: Posey, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US09/767,742
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: 473406-407, 473/131, 702/149, 702/158, 342/357.01, 342/357.12, 701/201
• US Class Current: 473/407
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/00 Golfing accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3605 Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assisting golfers and improving their game including a plurality of electronic devices. Such devices include a global positioning system device, cellular technology device, a wireless modem, a low power radio frequency transceiver and cellular digital packet data technology device. A handheld proprietary touch screen personal computer for a golfer is adapted to transmit and receive information with the peripherals. An operating system allows a golfer to interface with the computer. Software performs the necessary operations based upon the input and output of the personal computer.

Claims

1. A method of assisting golfers and improving their game comprising the steps of:

providing a global positioning system device which is capable of locating positions of any one of a plurality of landmarks on a golf course, the global positioning system device capable of electronically transmitting and receiving information with the device also capable of constructing a map of a landscape of a golf course;

providing a cellular technology device for providing mobile phone communication capabilities to golfers, the cellular technology device being able to transmit and receive information;

providing a wireless modem being able to link a communications system to a phone line and provide for data communication, the wireless modem being able to transmit and receive information;

providing a low power radio frequency transceiver for allowing functional communication between golfers and a clubhouse, the low power radio frequency transceiver being able to transmit and receive information;

providing a cellular digital packet data technology device allowing for fast transmission of data as required for internet computer access and email, the cellular digital packet data technology device being able to transmit and receive information;

providing a handheld touch screen personal computer for a golfer;

transmitting and receiving information between the personal computer and a global positioning system device, a cellular technology device, a wireless modem, a low power radio frequency transceiver and a cellular digital packet data technology device;

providing an operating system to allow a golfer to interface with a computer;

providing software to perform programmed operations based upon the input and output of a personal computer to assist the golfer by providing automated distance calculations, equipment indication, club selection, course management, scoring, statistics, and cataloguing courses in synchronous fashion for improved golfing performance;

activating the system to begin collecting latitude and longitude coordinates from a global positioning system at a rate of no less than one coordinate per second;

tracing a perimeter of a desired region with the global positioning system collecting all points associated with an outline of that region to enable the computer to construct a map of the region;

ending the data collection by the manual disabling of the data collection;

importing a unique field into an electronically traced region, the field being representative of the region being traced;

forming a graphic representation of a newly traced region with an appropriate field displayed in an associated region with different representation for each associated region;

and collecting a response from a golfer as to whether there is another region needed to be collected if “

Yes”

returning to the activating step, if “

NO”

end.