System and method for viewing golf using virtual reality

• US 9,344,842 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2011
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spatial Reality LLC
• Original Assignee: Charles D. Huston
• Inventors: Huston, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Edward
• Application Number:
  US13/182,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20120007885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 4554561-4566, 345 33-636, 345/653, 345/659, 709/219, 705/14.66, 705/14.67
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method for viewing artificial reality (AR) messages on a golf course, where the messages are geo-referenced artificial reality words or symbols to indicate distances, tips, targets or other information to the golfer. Typically, the AR messages are geo-referenced to a fixed location on the golf hole, such as a hazard or green. Using the spectator'"'"'s chosen location as the viewing origin, an artificial reality message or object is inserted into the golfer'"'"'s perspective view of the golf hole. Outings and contests can be held even if the matches are separated by hours or days, and outcomes and information published to select groups or individuals.

Claims

1. A method of viewing a golf event in real time during play, comprising:

determining the position of the golfer on a golf course during play using a portable device including glasses wearable by the golfer and a GPS receiver;

comparing the position of a feature on said golf course with said golfer position;

determining a distance between said feature position and said golfer position;

operating said portable device to view said feature in a perspective view from said golfer position;

viewing in real time during play an augmented reality (“

AR”

) message concerning said distance at said golf course in said perspective view on the portable device from said golfer position on said golf course, wherein said perspective view is not an overhead view of said golf event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said AR message is overlaid at least a portion of a photo image of the golf course as a background environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said AR message is overlaid at least a portion of the golf course as a background environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said AR message is transmitted to spectators.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the view of said AR message comprises changing the view point to the location of a feature.

26. The method of claim 1, including changing the view to an overhead plan view.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein a spectator performs said viewing the AR message in a perspective view step.

6. A portable device for assisting a golfer during the play of a golf hole comprising:

a GPS receiver for determining the position of the device on said golf hole;

a memory storing the location of one or more features of said golf hole;

a processor operable for comparing said device position with the location of a feature to determine a distance;

a display operable to view a perspective view of said golf hole during play from said device position on said golf hole to said feature, said display operable to show an augmented reality (“

AR”

) message including said distance visible on said display of said perspective view; and

wherein said portable device comprises glasses that include a transparent display operable to view at least a portion of said golf hole and to view said augmented reality message.

7. The portable device of claim 6, wherein said augmented reality message includes an indicator of the location of the feature in said golfer'"'"'s perspective view of said golf hole.

8. The portable device of claim 6, wherein said feature is a location on a green of the golf hole being played.

9. The portable device of claim 6, wherein said golf hole is an image.

10. The portable device of claim 9, wherein said image is a photo digital image and said device includes a camera for capturing said digital image.

11. The portable device of claim 6, wherein said golf hole includes an artificial rendering.

12. The portable device of claim 6, wherein the memory includes a map of the golf hole being played, and said golfer can operate the device to display a plan view of said map on said display.

13. The portable device of claim 6, wherein said memory includes a database having feature locations and a plurality of advertisements.

14. The portable device of claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of advertisements is downloaded from the database and viewed on said display to overlay said perspective view.

15. The portable device of claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of advertisements is downloaded based in part on information related to said golfer.

16. A method of using a portable device accompanying a golfer during play of a golf hole, comprising:

determining a position of said device on said golf hole using GPS;

comparing said device position with a green location of said golf hole to determine a distance between said device position and green location;

viewing on a display on the portable device, a perspective view of said golf hole from said device position on said golf hole towards said green location, wherein the portable device comprises glasses wearable by the golfer and said perspective view is not an overhead plan view; and

viewing an augmented reality message on said perspective view including said distance to approximately the green location.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the viewing step includes retrieving from a memory a photographic image of said golf hole from said position.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the viewing step includes taking a digital image of said golf hole with a camera included with said device.

19. The method of claim 16, including comparing said position with the location of a hazard to determine a distance between said position and said hazard, and imposing an augmented reality message on said perspective view including said distance between said position and said hazard.

20. A method of displaying messages to a golfer during play of a golf hole, comprising the steps of:

providing a portable device comprising glasses adapted for wear by the golfer during play;

connecting the portable device with a server establishing communication between said device and said server;

receiving information concerning a feature of said golf hole on said device from said server;

viewing on the glasses during play of said golf hole a perspective view from a position of the device on said golf hole towards said feature on said golf hole, including viewing said feature through a transparent portion of the glasses; and

viewing an augmented reality message on said perspective view showing said information of said feature on said perspective view.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said server includes demographics and said augmented reality message includes an advertisement deemed relevant to such demographics.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said server includes information personal to said golfer and said augmented reality message includes an advertisement deemed relevant to said personal information.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said augmented reality message includes an icon and the golfer can activate a purchase by selecting said icon.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said augmented reality message includes a coupon that can be selected and stored for later use on said device.

25. The method of claim 20, including

downloading another message from said server to said device;

and

displaying said other message on said perspective view.