Method and apparatus for continuing play with cart-based navigation/information system display

• US 7,031,947 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2000
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: eCoverage, Inc., GPS Industries LLC (Ingersoll Rand, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ProLink Solutions LLC (ProLink Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Lecker, Douglas L., Bingeman, Kirk
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, MARY DA ZHI WANG
• Application Number:
  US09/626,648
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 705/52, 705/77, 705/79, 473/131, 473150-152, 473198-199, 701/1, 701/200, 701213-215, 701/225, 701/300
• US Class Current: 705/77
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method is disclosed for administering use of a golf course information system implemented in golf carts or other roving units with a monitor adapted to provide display of any or all of course and hole layout, course features and distance information to assist a golfer in play of the golf course, or of specific information of interest to the individual golfer from external networks including tournament and individual scoring, stock quotations and electronic mail to enhance the golfing experience. In the method, a gratis trial period less than an entire round of play of the course is invoked, during which the cart display of such information is activated for a golfer commencing use of the cart. The cart display of such information is automatically rendered inactive at the end of the gratis trial period unless, by that point of play, a payment authorization for completion of the round with activated cart display has been made.

Claims

1. A method for administering use of a golf course information system implemented in golf carts or other roving units with display monitor adapted to provide display of any or all information from among course and hole layout, course features and distance to assist a golfer in play of the golf course, or of specific interest to the individual from external networks including tournament and individual scoring, stock quotations and electronic mail to enhance the golfing experience, said method comprising the steps of:

invoking a gratis trial period less than an entire round of play of the course during which the cart display of such information is activated for a golfer commencing use of the cart; and

automatically rendering said cart display of such information inactive at the end of said gratis trial period unless, by that point of play, a payment authorization for completion of the round with activated cart display has been made by a golfer using the cart.

2. The method of claim 1, including the step of providing the golfer with a capability to enter a payment authorization during or at the end of said gratis trial period.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of providing a capability to enter payment authorization comprises outfitting the cart with said capability.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of providing a capability to enter payment authorization comprises locating a kiosk outfitted with said capability at a point of play to be traversed by the cart during or at the end of said gratis trial period.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said capability comprises at least one of a credit, debit or smart card reader, a paper currency reader, a keypad, a touch sensitive screen, an optical scanner, a magnetic scanner, and a wireless communicator.

6. A method for administering use of a golf course information system implemented in golf carts or other roving units with display monitor adapted to provide display of any or all information from among course and hole layout, course features and distance to assist a golfer in play of the golf course, or of specific interest to the individual from external networks including tournament and individual scoring, stock quotations and electronic mail to enhance the golfing experience, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a gratis trial period less than an entire round of play of the course during which the cart display of such information is enabled for a golfer using the cart; and

disabling said cart display of such information at the end of said gratis trial period unless, by that point of play, an act representing commitment of payment for completion of the round with enabled cart display has been detected.

7. A method for administering use of a golf course information system implemented in golf carts or other roving units with display monitor adapted to provide display of any or all information from among course and hole layout, course features and distance to assist a golfer in play of the golf course, or of specific interest to the individual from external networks including tournament and individual scoring, stock quotations and electronic mail to enhance the golfing experience, said method comprising the steps of:

invoking a gratis trial period less than an entire round of play of the course during which the cart display of such information is activated for a golfer commencing use of the cart; and

automatically maintaining said cart display of such information active for completion of the round if, by the end of said gratis trial period, a commitment of payment therefor has been made by a golfer using the cart.

8. A method for administering use of an information system implemented in golf carts adapted to provide access to information available through said system to persons using the carts during play of a golf course, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a trial period at the start of play with a cart, less than an entire round of play of the golf course, during which at least the bulk of said information is available for access by the cart user, and

ending access to said available information by the cart user at the end of said trial period absent a payment authorization for continued access during play of the round.

9. Apparatus for administering use of an information system implemented in golf carts adapted to provide access to information available through said system to persons using the carts during play of a golf course, comprising:

said cart-implemented information system automatically establishing a trial period at the start of play of a round of golf with a cart on said golf course, less than an entire round, during which substantially all of said information is available for access by the cart user, and

entry means for detecting payment authorization by the end of said trial period for enabling continued access to said available information beyond the end of said trial period.

10. A method of controlling the availability of information presented to a user of a golf course mobile navigation system from within the system during play of the course, wherein at least some of said information is presented relative to the real-time position of the system as it traverses the course, to enhance play, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a gratis trial period for full availability of said information to the user on commencing use of the system, less than an entire round of play of the course, and

automatically curtailing the amount of said information available to the user at the end of said trial period, unless payment authorization is given for continued full availability thereafter.

11. Apparatus for controlling the availability of information presented to a user of a golf course mobile navigation system from within the system during play of the course, wherein at least some of said information is presented relative to the real-time position of the system as it traverses the course, to enhance play, said apparatus comprising:

means adapted to implement a trial period for full availability of said information to the user on commencing use of the system, less than an entire round of play of the course, and

means responsive to completion of said trial period without a commitment to pay for continued full availability of said information in further play of the round, for automatically curtailing the amount of said information available to the user from the system thereafter.