System and method for collecting and managing data

• US 6,582,328 B2
• Filed: 11/10/1999
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Golflogix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Golflogix Incorporated
• Inventors: Lambrecht, Scott I., Charleston, Peter G., Kuta, Todd M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hughes, S. Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): White, Carmen D.
• Application Number:
  US09/437,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20020019276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 473/405-407
• US Class Current: 473/405
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• 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 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

A system comprising an individual subscriber unit for collecting golf game data during a game of golf, and a computer for receiving the golf game data from the individual subscriber unit after the game of golf and for generating a report of the golf game data.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

apparatus for collecting golf game data including an identification of a selected golf hole, an initial resting position of a golf ball preceding play of the selected golf hole, and each individual resting position of the golf ball throughout play of the selected golf hole, the apparatus being coupled to a positioning system for determining the individual resting positions of the golf ball;

a data storage device for receiving the collected golf game data from the apparatus; and

a computer coupled to the data storage device for generating a report of the collected golf game data, the report comprising a visual representation of the selected golf hole and a visual representation of each of the individual resting positions of the golf ball throughout the play of the selected golf hole indicating a path of the golf ball, from the initial resting position to a pin for the selected golf hole and including all of the individual resting positions, associated with the visual representation of the selected golf hole.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the golf game data further comprises an identification of a club.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the golf game data further comprises a score.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual representation of the golf hole includes a map of the golf hole.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual representation of the golf hole includes a photograph of the golf course.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual representation of the golf hole and visual representation of the resting positions of the golf ball throughout the play of the hole are displayed on a monitor.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the golf game data includes identification of a plurality of holes and a plurality of resting positions of the golf ball throughout the play of the plurality of holes.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the data storage device and the apparatus form a subscriber unit.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein a portion of the data storage device is located remotely from the subscriber unit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer comprises a computer network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the data storage device is accessable over the computer network.

12. A data collection and management method comprising the steps of:

determining a resting position of a golf ball using an individual subscriber unit coupled to a positioning system;

storing the resting position with the electronic individual subscriber unit during a golf game;

downloading the stored resting position to a computer;

repeating the steps of determining, storing and downloading for a plurality of resting positions during a game of golf; and

with the computer, generating a report of the resting positions including generating a visual representation of the golf course and a visual representation of the resting positions, the report comprising a visual representation of all golf holes in the golf course and a visual representation of all of the individual resting positions of the golf ball throughout the play of each of the golf holes, and the report indicating a path of the golf ball from an initial resting position to a pin for each of the golf holes including all of the individual resting positions for each of golf holes associated with the visual representation of each of the golf holes.

13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of collecting golf game data associated with the resting position.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of collecting golf game data further includes the step of collecting the golf game data with the individual subscriber unit during a golf game.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of collecting golf game data further includes the step of p recording an identification of one or more golf holes with the individual subscriber unit.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of collecting golf game data further includes the step of recording a flight characteristic of each flight path of each struck golf ball with the individual subscriber unit.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of collecting golf game data further includes the step of recording golf club to ball impact characterization data with the individual subscriber unit.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating a report further includes the step of generating a visual representation of the golf course and overlying a visual representation of the resting positions thereon.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of downloading further includes the step of downloading to a database of a computer.

20. The method of claim 18, further including the step of printing a copy of the report including the visual representation of the golf course and the visual representation of the resting positions on the golf course.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating a report further includes the step of generating a visual representation of a golf ball flight path on the golf course between the visual representation of the resting positions.