Golf electronic scoring device

• US 6,277,029 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stat Tracker II, LLC
• Original Assignee: Stat Tracker II, LLC
• Inventors: Hanley, Donald Lee Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/545,684
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 700/92, 473/131, 473/150-156, 473/409, 473/407
• US Class Current: 473/131
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• 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 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

The present invention provides a hand-held portable device capable of tracking and incorporating valuable golf performance statistics to allow a player to identify weaknesses in game play. The present invention includes a hand-held device for storing and processing golf scores. The device has a logic device for processing executable commands and is in electrical communication with a memory, an input device, and an output device. The memory includes an interface module configured to generate prompts for player identification and performance data. The prompts are displayed on the output device. The performance data reflects golf scores and other areas of objective performance on the golf course. As the performance data is entered it is stored in a memory in association with a player identification. The memory further includes a statistic module configured to generate performance statistics based on the performance data. The performance statistics provide valuable feedback relating to a player'"'"'s areas of strengths and weaknesses. The performance statistics may be consolidated and averaged over a single round of golf or over a plurality of rounds. The interface module is further configured to generate a player report incorporating the performance data, the performance statistics, and the player information. The player report may be displayed on the output device in a matrix format.

Claims

1. A hand-held device for storing and processing performance data reflecting golf scores, the device comprising:

an interface module configured to generate prompts for player data, goal data, and performance data;

an output device in electrical communication with the interface module and configured to display the prompts;

an input device in electrical communication with the interface module and configured to receive performance data;

a memory in electrical communication with the input device and configured to receive and store the performance data; and

a statistic module configured to generate performance statistics based on the performance data; and

a review module configured to retrieve selected performance data and performance statistics in response to a player'"'"'s request and generate a comparison of the goal data to the performance data and the performance statistics,

the interface module configured to generate a player report reflecting the performance data, the performance statistics, and the player information, the output device configured to display the player report.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the input device consists of an enter button and a plurality of keypad buttons, the keypad buttons configured to allow scrolling through options presented by the interface module.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a port in electrical communication with the memory and configured to place the device in electrical communication with a workstation.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the review module is configured to revise performance data in accordance with corrections entered by a player.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the player data includes player identifications and wherein the performance data and the performance statistics are associated with specific player identifications.

6. A method for storing and processing performance data reflecting golf scores, comprising:

receiving performance data into a hand-held device;

storing the performance data in a memory in the hand held device;

receiving goal data reflecting player goals;

storing the goal data in the memory;

calculating performance statistics based on the performance data;

storing the performance statistics in the memory;

calculating a variance between the goal data and the performance data; and

generating a report incorporating the performance data, the goal data, and the performance statistics.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising, downloading the performance data and the performance statistics from the memory to a computer workstation.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising,

retrieving select performance data and performance statistics from the memory in response to a received request; and

displaying the select performance data and performance statistics.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising, revising performance data in accordance with received corrections.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising,

receiving player data including one or more player identifications;

and

associating performance data and performance statistics with a specific player identification.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising,

receiving a request for select performance data and performance statistics based on a selected player identification;

and

generating a report of select performance data and performance statistics in association with the player identification.

12. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing a method for storing and processing performance data reflecting golf scores, the method comprising:

receiving performance data into a hand-held device;

storing the performance data in a memory in the hand held device;

receiving goal data reflecting player goals;

storing the goal data in the memory;

calculating performance statistics based on the performance data;

storing the performance statistics in the memory;

calculating a variance between the goal data and the performance data; and

generating a report incorporating the performance data, the goal data, and the performance statistics.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises, downloading the performance data and the performance statistics from the memory to a computer workstation.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises,

retrieving select performance data and performance statistics from the memory in response to a received request; and

displaying the select performance data and performance statistics.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises, revising performance data in accordance with received corrections.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises,

receiving player data including player one or more identifications;

and

associating performance data and performance statistics with a specific player identification.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises,

receiving a request for select performance data and performance statistics based on a selected player identification;

and

generating a report of select performance data and performance statistics in association with the player identification.