Golf shot recording system

• US 20050240294A1
• Filed: 04/27/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sterling Greek Software, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sterling Greek Software, LLC
• Inventors: Goddard, Matthew T., Oxendine, Craig M. Jr., Jones, George P.
• Application Number:
  US10/832,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20050240294A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• 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 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/00 Golfing accessories
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0672 using non-electronic means

Abstract

A recording system for data related to a game is disclosed. A game player can record his/her data and have the data input via an input device. The input device can be used to communicate with a central repository which can store data on a plurality of games and a plurality of venues.

Claims

1. A golf shot tracking system comprising:

a golf scorecard having portions for entry of data to produce entered data;

an input device configured to read entered data from said scorecard to produce read data;

an output device configured to report some or all of the read data to produce selected data; and

a database accessible via a network for storing the selected data to produce a network-accessible database.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said database is accessible from a plurality of locations.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said network comprises at least one of an Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a WAN (Wide Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), and a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said database is configured to store data relating to a golf course at which the data was obtained.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said database is configured to store data from a plurality of golf courses.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said scorecard is configured to record data from a single golfer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said scorecard is configured to record the data from a plurality of golfers.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said database is configured to store the data from a plurality of golf courses.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an identification device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said identification device is one selected from the group comprising a fingerprint scanner, facial recognition technology, a biometric scanner, a magnetic-strip card reader, an RF receiver for receiving signals from an RF transmitter, a signal receiver for receiving signals from a signal transmitter, a scanned identification code on said score card or separate card, bar code identification, and a code input device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said input device is at least one selected from the group comprising a scanner, a Personal Digital Assistant, an electronic scoring device, a mobile phone, and a GPS device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said output device is at least one selected from the group comprising a printer, a terminal, a computer, a network, a website, an intranet, an extranet, and a display.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to collect data received from said input device and arrange the data in a pre-determined fashion for outputting with said output device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said processor is further configured to direct data to said network-accessible database.

15. A game score tracking system comprising:

a game scorecard having portions for entry of data to produce entered data;

an input device configured to read entered data from said scorecard to produce read data;

an output device configured to report some or all of the read data to produce selected data; and

a database accessible via a network for storing the selected data to produce a network-accessible database.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said database is accessible from a plurality of locations.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said network comprises at least one of the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a WAN (Wide Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), and a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said database is configured to store data relating to the game venue.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said database is configured to store data from a plurality of game venues.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said scorecard is configured to record data from a single game player.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein said scorecard is configured to record data from a plurality of game players.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein said database is configured to store data from a plurality of venues.

23. The system of claim 15, further comprising an identification device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said identification device is one selected from the group comprising a fingerprint scanner, facial recognition technology, a biometric scanner, a magnetic-strip card reader, an RF receiver for receiving signals from an RF transmitter, a signal receiver for receiving signals from a signal transmitter, a scanned identification code on said scorecard or separate card, bar code identification, and a code input device.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein said input device is at least one selected from the group comprising a scanner, a Personal Digital Assistant, an electronic scoring device, mobile phone, and a GPS device.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein said output device is at least one selected from the group comprising a printer, a terminal, a computer, a website, an intranet, an extranet, and a display.

27. A method of recording data relating to a golf game comprising the steps of:

inputting said data into a device;

using a processor to arrange said data into a predetermined format;

outputting said formatted data to an output device; and

transmitting one of said data and said formatted data to a central repository.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein a scanner is used to input said data into said device.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one of a PDA, GPS device, and a mobile phone is used to input said data into said device.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said output device comprises at least one of a printer, a terminal, a computer display, a website, an intranet, and an extranet.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising an additional step of analyzing said data in said central repository.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising an additional step of permitting a golf pro to access said central repository.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising an additional step of permitting access to said central repository by a subscriber to a service.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein one of said data and said formatted data is transmitted over a network to said central repository.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said network comprises at least one of the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a Wide Area Network, a Local Area Network, and a Virtual Private Network.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein said central repository is accessible via a network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said network comprises at least one of the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a Wide Area Network, a Local Area Network, and a Virtual Private Network.