Sport and Game Simulation Systems with User-Specific Guidance and Training Using Dynamic Playing Surface

• US 20160158640A1
• Filed: 10/09/2015
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Golfstream INC.
• Original Assignee: Golfstream INC.
• Inventors: Gupta, Sameer M., Dummit, Darren W., Brenner, Michael P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,821,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2067/025 with incorporated means acting on the track surface for varying its topography, e.g. slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/002 Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3682 Visual means not attached to the body for aligning, positioning the trainee's head or for detecting head movement, e.g. by parallax
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3691 Golf courses; Golf practising terrains having a plurality of driving areas, fairways, greens special golf games, e.g. miniature golf, A63B67/02; mats for simulating golf greens A63B69/3661
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/245 visual
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/006 for locating or ranging of objects

Abstract

Disclosed herein are sport and game simulation systems, and methods of use thereof. One exemplary method is performed at an electronic device and includes: identifying a current topography of a putting green and a current position of a first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green. The method also includes: determining, based on the current topography, a best path from the current position of the first user'"'"'s ball to a target on the putting green. The method additionally includes: sending, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to render a representation of the best path on the putting green. In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining a backswing distance and/or speed and a corresponding follow-through distance and/or speed that allows the first user to hit the ball along the best path and providing instructions to render the backswing and follow-through distances on the putting green.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with one or more processors;

identifying a current topography of a putting green and a current position of a first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green;

determining, based on the current topography of the putting green, (i) a best path from the current position of the first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green to a target on the putting green; and

sending, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to (i) render a representation of the best path on the putting green.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a path followed by the ball after the first user has putted the ball;

in accordance with a determination that the ball has come to rest on the putting green, comparing the path followed by the ball to the best path; and

providing feedback, to the first user, based on the comparing of the path followed by the ball to the best path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedback includes auditory feedback instructing the first user how to improve their putting stroke in order to more closely follow the best path.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedback includes visual feedback that provides a representation of the path followed by the ball relative to the best path.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving information identifying putting characteristics associated with a first user, wherein the best path is determined further based on the putting characteristics associated with the first user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a backswing distance and a corresponding follow-through distance that will allow the first user to hit the ball along the best path; and

sending, to the projecting device, instructions to render a first graphic at a first position on the putting green that corresponds to the backswing distance relative to the current position of the golf ball, and render a second graphic at a second position distinct from the first position on the putting green that corresponds to the follow-through distance speed relative to the current position of the golf ball.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the current topography and the current position are determined based on information received from at least one visual sensor that is communicably coupled with the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, to the projecting device, instructions to render an animation that appears between the first position and the second position.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the animation moves between the first position and the second position at a speed that is based on the putting characteristics associated with the first user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the animation is a representation of a putter that is shown swinging between the first and the second positions at the speed.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before retrieving the putting characteristic associated with the first user, determining that a second ball, distinct from the first user'"'"'s ball, is present on the putting green and is closer to the target than the first user'"'"'s ball.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the first user'"'"'s ball has moved to a different position on the putting green, distinct from the current position;

in accordance with a determination the first user'"'"'s ball is now closer to the target than the second ball;

retrieving information identifying putting characteristics associated with a second user that is associated with the second ball;

identifying a current position of the second ball on the putting green;

determining, based on the putting characteristics associated with the second user and based on the current topography of the putting green, (i) a best path from the current position of the second ball on the putting green to the target on the putting green and (ii) a backswing distance and a corresponding follow-through distance that will allow the first user to hit the second ball along the best path; and

sending, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to (i) render a representation of the best path on the putting green and (ii) render the first graphic at a third position on the putting green that corresponds to the backswing distance relative to the current position of the golf ball, and (iii) render the second graphic at a fourth position distinct from the first position on the putting green that corresponds to the follow-through distance relative to the current position of the golf ball.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first graphic and the second graphic are the same.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first graphic and the second graphic intersect the representation of the best path at substantially right angles.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to;

retrieve information identifying putting characteristics associated with a first user;

identify a current topography of a putting green and a current position of the first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green;

determine, based on the putting characteristics associated with the first user and based on the current topography of the putting green, (i) a best path from the current position of the first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green to a target on the putting green and (ii) a backswing distance and a corresponding follow-through distance that will allow the first user to hit the ball along the best path; and

send, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to (i) render a representation of the best path on the putting green and (ii) render a first graphic at a first position on the putting green that corresponds to the backswing distance relative to the current position of the golf ball, and (iii) render a second graphic at a second position distinct from the first position on the putting green that corresponds to the follow-through distance relative to the current position of the golf ball.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the one or more programs further cause the electronic device to:

send, to the projecting device, instructions to render an animation that appears between the first position and the second position.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the animation moves between the first position and the second position at a speed that is based on the putting characteristics associated with the first user.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the one or more programs further cause the electronic device to:

before retrieving the putting characteristic associated with the first user, determine that a second ball, distinct from the first user'"'"'s ball, is present on the putting green and is closer to the target than the first user'"'"'s ball.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the one or more programs further cause the electronic device to:

receive an indication that the first user'"'"'s ball has moved to a different position on the putting green, distinct from the current position;

in accordance with a determination the first user'"'"'s ball is now closer to the target than the second ball;

retrieve information identifying putting characteristics associated with a second user that is associated with the second ball;

identify a current position of the second ball on the putting green;

determine, based on the putting characteristics associated with the second user and based on the current topography of the putting green, (i) a best path from the current position of the second ball on the putting green to the target on the putting green and (ii) a backswing distance and a corresponding follow-through distance that will allow the first user to hit the second ball along the best path; and

send, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to (i) render a representation of the best path on the putting green and (ii) render the first graphic at a third position on the putting green that corresponds to the backswing distance relative to the current position of the golf ball, and (iii) render the second graphic at a fourth position distinct from the first position on the putting green that corresponds to the follow-through distance relative to the current position of the golf ball.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of an electronic device, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

retrieving information identifying putting characteristics associated with a first user;

identifying a current topography of a putting green and a current position of the first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green;

determining, based on the putting characteristics associated with the first user and based on the current topography of the putting green, (i) a best path from the current position of the first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green to a target on the putting green and (ii) a backswing distance and a corresponding follow-through distance that will allow the first user to hit the ball along the best path; and

sending, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to (i) render a representation of the best path on the putting green and (ii) render a first graphic at a first position on the putting green that corresponds to the backswing distance relative to the current position of the golf ball, and (iii) render a second graphic at a second position distinct from the first position on the putting green that corresponds to the follow-through distance relative to the current position of the golf ball.

21. A system for managing a game of hand golf, comprising:

a first and a second plurality of golf balls, each golf ball in the first plurality of golf balls having a first color and each golf ball in the second plurality of golf balls having a second color;

a putting green surface with at least one hole extending therethrough, the at least one hole including one or more color detection sensors configured to detect a color associated with a golf ball passing through the at least one hole;

an electronic device communicably coupled with the one or more color detection sensors, the electronic device configured to;

(i) associate the first color with a first game participant of a plurality of game participants and associating the second color with a second game participant of the plurality of game participants;

(ii) receive, from the one or more color detection sensors, information about the color associated with the golf ball passing through the at least one hole;

(iii) in accordance with a determination that the information about the color indicates that the golf ball has the first color, assign a predetermined point value to the first game participant; and

(iv) in accordance with a determination that the information about the color indicates that the golf ball has the second color, assign the predetermined point value to the second game participant.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

at least one visual sensor communicably coupled with the electronic device, the at least one visual sensor configured to monitor the putting green surface; and

wherein the electronic device is further configured to;

receive, from the at least one visual sensor, information about a path followed by the golf ball to the at least one hole; and

in accordance with a determination that the information about the path followed by the golf ball indicates that the golf ball did not touch the putting green surface before travelling through the at least one hole, assigning bonus points in addition to the predetermined point value.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the predetermined point value is further assigned based on a skill level associated with the respective game participant.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the putting green surface includes one or more surface modification elements that are configured to deform the putting green surface during the game of hand golf.

25. A method of managing a game of hand golf, comprising:

at an electronic device with one or more processors;

providing a plurality of golf balls, each visually identifiable as belonging to either a first plurality of golf balls associated with a first participant or a second plurality of golf balls associated with a second participant;

monitoring, using one or more sensors communicably coupled with the electronic device, continuous throws of golf balls in the plurality of golf balls towards a hole extending through a surface of a playing surface;

detecting, by at least one detection sensor communicably coupled with the electronic device, whenever a golf ball of the plurality of golf balls has passed into the hole;

determining whether each golf ball of the plurality of golf balls that has passed into the hole is associated with the first plurality of golf balls or the second plurality of golf balls;

assigning a first predetermined point value to the first game participant for any golf balls that passed into the hole that are associated with the first plurality of golf balls;

assigning the first predetermined point value to the second game participant for any golf balls that passed into the hole that are associated with the second plurality of golf balls;

assigning a second predetermined point value to the first game participant for any golf balls that;

(i) are associated with the first plurality of golf balls, and (ii) are determined, based on the monitoring of the continuous throws, to have passed into the hole without first bouncing on the playing surface; and

assigning the second predetermined point value to the second game participant for any golf balls that;

(i) are associated with the second plurality of golf balls, and (ii) are determined, based on the monitoring of the continuous throws, to have passed into the hole without first bouncing on the playing surface,

wherein the second predetermined point value is larger than the first predetermined value.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first plurality of golf balls are each visually identifiable as having a first color and the second plurality of golf balls are each visually identifiable as having a second color.

27. A method of managing a game at a sport simulation system, comprising:

at an electronic device with one or more processors;

delivering, to a putting green surface, a first plurality of golf balls having a first color;

configuring the putting green surface to have a first topography;

for each respective golf ball of the plurality of golf balls;

(i) determining that a first game participant is addressing a respective golf ball of the first plurality of golf balls;

(ii) determining, based on the first topography of the putting green surface, a best path from the first golf ball to a target on the putting green surface;

(iii) sending, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to (a) render a representation of the best path on the putting green surface and (b) render a substantially circular graphic around the target, the substantially circular graphic having a size that is determined based on a skill level associated with the first game participant;

(iv) monitoring a path of the respective golf ball after the first game participant putts the respective golf ball;

(v) in accordance with a determination that the first game participant'"'"'s putt causes the respective golf ball to fall through the at least one hole, assigning a first point value to the first game participant; and

(vi) in accordance with a determination that the first game participant'"'"'s putt causes the respective golf ball to come to a stop within the substantially circular graphic, assigning a second point value to the first game participant.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising, in accordance with a determination that the first game participant'"'"'s putt causes the respective golf ball to come to a stop outside of the substantially circular graphic, assigning no point values to the first game participant.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein delivering the first plurality of golf balls comprises delivering each golf ball of the plurality to a predetermined location on the putting green surface.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein determining the best path includes determining a backswing distance and a corresponding follow-through distance that will allow the first game participant to hit the respective golf ball along the best path.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein sending the instructions includes sending instructions to (a) render a first graphic at a first position on the putting green that corresponds to the backswing distance relative to the current position of the golf ball, and (b) render a second graphic at a second position distinct from the first position on the putting green that corresponds to the follow-through distance relative to the current position of the golf ball.

32. A sport simulation and training system comprising:

a dynamic playing surface;

at least one camera focused on the playing surface;

a guidance system for projecting guidance information onto the dynamic playing surface; and

a controller having one or more processors and memory and configured to;

(i) change the topography of the dynamic playing surface, and (ii) overlay guidance information onto the playing surface based at least on the current topography of the dynamic playing surface.

33. A method for simulating a ball sport on a dynamic playing surface, comprising:

changing the topography of the dynamic playing surface based on a mode of operation; and

determining the topography of the dynamic playing surface; and

projecting guidance information onto the dynamic playing surface at least based on the determined topography of the surface.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

determining the location of a ball on the dynamic playing surface, wherein the projecting of the guidance information onto the dynamic playing surface is also based on the location of the ball.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

determining the location of a hole the dynamic playing surface, wherein the projecting of the guidance information onto the dynamic playing surface is also based on the location of the hole.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

determining a player'"'"'s historic swing force from prior putts, wherein the projecting of the guidance information onto the dynamic playing surface is also based on the player'"'"'s historic swing force.