Golf game management and entertainment system integrating pre-game, in-game, and post-game content for enhanced golfing experience

• US 9,138,638 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter S. Bastawros
• Original Assignee: Peter S. Bastawros
• Inventors: Bastawros, Peter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/829,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 700/91, 700/93
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/7867 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title and artist information, manually generated time, location and usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Golf game management integrates pre-game, in-game, and post-game activities for a golf game into a unified experience. A golf cart-mounted entertainment console includes video cameras, sensory devices worn by the players during the game, and locally-mounted data processing components for modeling collected data. A cart-mounted interface, website, and mobile device application present game-related content that allows players to view and manipulate data before, during and after the game. Multiple data processing modules provide several functions built on data collected from playing a game of golf for players to enjoy an enhanced golf experience.

Claims

1. A computerized method of conducting golf game management to provide an enhanced golf experience, comprising:

receiving a signal transmitted from a first local point to begin a data collection sequence, and data from a player-based global positioning device at the first local point, over at least one wireless connection a location proximate to the first local point;

recording, at the location proximate to the first local point, a plurality of data relating to a golf shot during the data collection sequence, the plurality of data including a first video of a player conducting the golf shot on a golf course, and a second video of the golf shot at a second point distant from the location proximate to the first local point, the recording including configuring at least one of a pan, tilt, and zoom function determined by the data received from the global positioning device so that the first video and the second video automatically record the plurality of data relating to a golf shot during the data collection sequence in response to communication from the global positioning device transmitting a player'"'"'s position without further player intervention;

extracting game-related data from the plurality of data relating to the golf shot, the game-related data comprised of vector-based spatial data derived from at least one of the first video, the second video, and the global positioning device;

processing the game-related data extracted with golf course data in a geographic information system, and periodically integrating the game-related data as additional data is collected from additional data collection sequences, in a plurality of data manipulation modules within a computing environment in which the plurality of data processing modules are executed in conjunction with at least one processor, the data processing modules configured to generate output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game to be viewed and manipulated to enhance the golf game by one or more players, the output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game at least including a golf game scorecard, a real-time golf game leader board tracking game statistics, player statistics, player rankings, a layered course map, a plurality of video playback functions, and a player'"'"'s shot statistics; and

presenting the output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game to a user interface accessible by one or more players in at least one of a cart-based graphical user interface, a web-site managed by a remote web server, and a mobile application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first local point is a player and the location proximate to the first local point is a golf cart, and further wherein the global positioning device and a device from which the signal is transmitted from the first local point are coupled to the player.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one wireless connection forms a personal area network for exchanging data over short distances.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one wireless connection uses Bluetooth devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, over a wireless connection, the plurality of data relating to a golf shot to at least one relational database following each data collection sequence for updating at least a game score and game statistics, and for storing the plurality of data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, over a wireless connection, the plurality of data relating to a golf shot for uploading the first video and the second video collected during a data collection sequence on a web-based platform.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the plurality of data manipulation modules to generate output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game, processing real-time in-game scoring updates in a game card module configured to generate the real-time golf game scorecard, and transmitting the real-time in-game scoring updates to a plurality of other players in other locations from a centralized location.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the plurality of data manipulation modules to generate output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game, preparing a game summary and shot highlights to be transmitted for sharing with other players using at least one interface.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the plurality of data manipulation modules to generate output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game, processing a three-dimensional aerial view map of the course and individual course holes using at least one of raster imagery or vector-based GIS data in a game board module configured to generate the layered course map.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the plurality of data manipulation modules to generate output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game, compiling game and shot statistics including one or more of driving distance, fairways and greens hit, and putting accuracy in a leader module configured at least to compare and rank the one or more players in a golf game.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the plurality of data manipulation modules to generate output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game, generating recommendations for how to conduct a particular golf shot based on compiled shot statistics of a player and current course conditions in a shot advisor module.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the plurality of data manipulation modules to generate output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game, enabling interaction between players in a sports book module configured to enable placing of wagers.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the plurality of data manipulation modules to generate output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game, enabling a player to conduct a virtual game against one or more other players with data collected during previous data collection sequences or stored in the one or more database locations in a play-a-pro module.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the plurality of data manipulation modules to generate output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game, creating a player avatar in a facial detection module configured to capture an image of the player'"'"'s face and associating the player avatar with the player on the cart-based graphical user interface.

15. A golf entertainment system, comprising:

a plurality of golf cart-based components configured to locally manage one or more aspects of an in-progress golf game, at least including a data capture apparatus having a plurality of video cameras, a global positioning device, a wireless data transmission and reception connection, a graphical user interface, and one or more computer processors capable of manipulating and transmitting data captured by the data capture apparatus, and executing one or more instructions configured to perform a plurality of data processing functions to process game data collected by the data capture apparatus and generate output data representative of different characteristics of the in-progress golf game;

a plurality of player-based components capable of wirelessly communicating with the golf cart-based components, the plurality of player-based components at least including a data collection triggering device and a global positioning device coupled to each player and capable of wireless communication with the golf cart based components so that the plurality of video cameras automatically record player information in response to communication from the global positioning device relative to a player'"'"'s position without further player intervention; and

a network of remote components configured within a computing environment including at least one computer-readable storage medium having the one or more instructions stored therein, the one or more computer processors operable to execute the one or more instructions to

     1) extract the game data collected by the data capture apparatus, the game data comprised of vector-based spatial data derived from at least one of the plurality of video cameras, and the global positioning device, and

     2) store and communicate the game data collected by the data capture apparatus and spatial data relative to generating a layered course map for in-game and post-game data processing, the network of remote components including a web server configured to provide access to an interactive website, and at least one of a relational database and a geographic information system server,

wherein the plurality of data processing functions to process the game data and generate output data representative of different characteristics of a golf game are performed by one or more of a game card module configured to generate at least a real-time golf game scorecard, a game board module configured to generate a three-dimensional aerial rendering of a golf course and individual golf holes to form the layered course map, a swing capture module configured to enable a player to record video of golf shots during a golf game using the plurality of video cameras, a leader board module configured to compare and rank players based on game statistics at least including driving distance, fairways and greens hit, and putting accuracy, a shot advisor module configured to generate recommendations for how to conduct a particular golf shot based on compiled shot statistics of a player and current course conditions, a player history module configure to store at least player shot statistics, videos, and descriptions of golf games conducted, a sports book module configured to enable placing of wagers during the golf game, and a play-a-pro module configured to enable a player to conduct a virtual game against one or more other players with data collected during previous data collection sequences or stored in the one or more database locations.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless data transmission and reception device is configured to transmit over a long distance data representing a video of a golf shot to a remote server for uploading the video to web-based platform.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless data transmission and reception device includes Bluetooth connectivity.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a facial detection module configured to capture an image of the player'"'"'s and associate a player avatar with the player'"'"'s face on the graphical user interface.

17. The system of system 15, wherein the wireless data transmission and reception device forms a personal area network for exchanging data over short distances.

20. A computerized method of augmenting a golf game, comprising:

collecting data from at least one golf player, the at least one player having a data triggering device capable of initiating a data collection sequence at a location proximate to the player, and having a global positioning device capable of configuring a plurality of video cameras to record data during the data collection sequence relative to a golf shot so that the plurality of video cameras automatically record player information in the data collection sequence in response to communication from the global positioning device relative to a player'"'"'s position without further player intervention;

processing the data within a plurality of modules configured within a computing environment comprised of a computer processor and at least one computer-readable storage medium operably coupled to the computer processor and having program instructions stored therein, the computer processor being operable to execute the plurality of modules to

     1) extract game-related from the data collected in the game collection sequence, the game-related data comprised of vector-based spatial data derived from at least one of the plurality of video cameras, and the global positioning data, and

     2) integrate the data collected in the data collection sequence into a plurality of game features for different characteristics of a golf game, the plurality of modules including one or more of a game card module configured to generate at least a real-time golf game scorecard, a game board module configured to generate a three-dimensional aerial rendering of a golf course and individual golf holes to form the layered course map, a swing capture module configured to enable a player to record video of golf shots during a golf game using the plurality of video cameras, a leader board module configured to compare and rank players based on game statistics at least including driving distance, fairways and greens hit, and putting accuracy, a shot advisor module configured to generate recommendations for how to conduct a particular golf shot based on compiled shot statistics of a player and current course conditions, a player history module configure to store at least player shot statistics, videos, and descriptions of golf games conducted, a sports book module configured to enable placing of wagers during the golf game, and a play-a-pro module configured to enable a player to conduct a virtual game against one or more other players with data collected during previous data collection sequences or stored in the one or more database locations; and

generating the integrated data from the data processing modules in a plurality of output data representative of the plurality of game features for presentation to the user on at least one interface, the plurality of output data configurable by the user to view and manipulate golf game information on the at least one interface to enhance a game of golf during and after play.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising presenting the data in a graphical user interface configured at the location proximate to the player, wherein the location proximate to the player is a golf cart.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising storing collected data in at least one remote database location for in-game and post-game applications of player and shot data and for extracting data from the collected data for additional processing in third-party applications.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising analyzing data from the global positioning device to configure the plurality of video cameras with respect to at least one of pan, tilt, and zoom functions to record video of the player during the data collection sequence.

24. The method of claim 20, comprising receiving data from a player over a wireless connection forms a personal area network for exchanging data over short distances.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting, over a wireless connection, the video recorded during a data collection sequence for uploading to a web-based platform.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising calculating at least a shot distance for a first shot represented by data collected in the data collection sequence from data collected during subsequent data collection sequences, and updating the three-dimensional aerial rendering of a golf course and individual golf holes with the shot distance.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising creating a player avatar in a facial detection module in the plurality of data processing modules, the facial detection module configured to capture an image of the player'"'"'s face and associate the player avatar with the player on the cart-based graphical user interface.