Portable information system and method for golf play enhancement, analysis, and scorekeeping

• US 20020072815A1
• Filed: 12/13/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Global Golf Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Global Golf Incorporated
• Inventors: McDonough, William A., Stockburger, Eric
• Application Number:
  US09/734,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072815A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• 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 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]

Abstract

A portable information system for golf. A hand-held computer (or, alternatively, a palm device) is used for providing a portable computer processing means to be carried by a golfer while playing a game of golf. A first software program (referred to as a Virtual Caddie™) is programmed in the hand-held computer for providing a virtual caddie to provide information regarding a particular golf course and a particular player'"'"'s golf game, to track player performances, and to communicate a player'"'"'s competitive match detail to other players. A macro stored on the hand-held computer (or palm device) is used for providing access to a virtual golf country club program residing on web servers for providing a golfer a means to evaluate his or her golf performance. A receiver means is selectively communicatively connected to the hand-held computer for enabling the hand-held computer to receive GPS and DGPS coordinate positions corresponding to a location on a golf course. A user interface is communicatively connected to the portable for enabling the golfer to interact with the hand-held computer.

Claims

1. A portable information system for golf, comprising:

a hand-held computer for providing a portable computer processing means to be carried by a golfer while playing a game of golf, said hand-held computer having programmed therein a first software program for providing a virtual caddie to provide information regarding a particular golf course and a particular player'"'"'s golf game, to track player performances, and to communicate a player'"'"'s competitive match detail to other players, said hand-held computer also having a systemic means for providing a golfer a means to review and evaluate said golfer'"'"'s golf performance;

a receiver means selectively connected communicatively to said hand-held computer for enabling said hand-held computer to receive GPS and DGPS coordinate positions corresponding to a location on a golf course; and

a user interface communicatively connected to said portable for enabling the golfer to interact with said hand-held computer

2. The portable information system recited in claim 1, wherein said user interface is a keyboard communicatively connected to said hand-held computer.

3. The portable information system recited in claim 1, wherein said held-held computer has a keypad for enabling a golfer to interact with any one of said first software program and said second software program.

4. The portable information system recited in claim 3, wherein said user interface is said keypad.

5. The portable information system recited in claim 1, wherein said user interface is a touch screen.

6. The portable information system recited in claim 1, wherein said user interface is a voice recognition interface for enabling a player to use voice commands to initiate various functions of said first software program.