Passive golf information system and method
DC
First Claim
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1. A golf information system for providing a golfer with information regarding the position and distance of designated features on a golf course having a plurality of golf holes comprising:
- golfer locating means which moves with the golfer for receiving signals and generating a golfer location signal which locates the golfer on the golf course, andlocation interpreting and comparing means which moves with the golfer for interpreting said golfer location signal via a memory, said memory constructed and arranged for storing coordinate data of landmarks comprising topographical features of the golf course, and including means for designating a plurality of zones for one or more of each of the golf holes on the golf course, and relating specific subsets of said landmark coordinate data to each of said zones and comparing a difference in position of said golfer location signal to one or more of said landmark coordinate data assigned to one of said zones on the golf course where the golfer is located, said location interpreting and comparing means relaying said difference in position as a distance between said landmarks associated with said zone and said golfer locating means to output means for outputting said information to the golfer, and said location interpreting and comparing means passively providing said information to said golfer without golfer input,each of the plurality of holes on the golf course divided into a plurality of said zones, each of said zones including at least one memory stored landmark location mapped to said zone and retrievable from memory in response to detection of one of said golfer location signals present within said zone, andmeans for detecting a stopped condition of the system,wherein the system automatically calculates said golfer location signal in response to said detected stopped condition, presence in one of said zones is determined via retrieval from memory, landmarks assigned to said zone are recalled from memory along with landmark coordinate data, and distances are calculated between each of said retrieved landmarks and said golfer location signal.
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Abstract
A golf information system and method which provides yardage and other information to a golfer relative to landmarks on a golf course operating in a "hands-free" or passive manner. In one embodiment, a differential global positioning satellite receiver (DGPS) is utilized to calculate a golf cart position and each time the cart stops, the detected position is compared with positions of landmarks mapped to zones on holes of the course. A location of each landmark is predetermined and stored in a look-up table, afterwhich the golf cart position is compared with the pre-stored positions to obtain a distance between the golf cart and each landmark. The calculated distance is subsequently outputted, preferably on a visual display where it is observed by a golfer. The system can also be used to send speed-of-play messages to a golfer from a clubhouse in order to speed up play, and can also be used to send emergency signals, and advertisements to the golfer. Information outputted to the golfer can be obtained from on-board memory, or in systems with communication features, the information can be sent from a golf course clubhouse or other remote location.
124 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A golf information system for providing a golfer with information regarding the position and distance of designated features on a golf course having a plurality of golf holes comprising:
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golfer locating means which moves with the golfer for receiving signals and generating a golfer location signal which locates the golfer on the golf course, and location interpreting and comparing means which moves with the golfer for interpreting said golfer location signal via a memory, said memory constructed and arranged for storing coordinate data of landmarks comprising topographical features of the golf course, and including means for designating a plurality of zones for one or more of each of the golf holes on the golf course, and relating specific subsets of said landmark coordinate data to each of said zones and comparing a difference in position of said golfer location signal to one or more of said landmark coordinate data assigned to one of said zones on the golf course where the golfer is located, said location interpreting and comparing means relaying said difference in position as a distance between said landmarks associated with said zone and said golfer locating means to output means for outputting said information to the golfer, and said location interpreting and comparing means passively providing said information to said golfer without golfer input, each of the plurality of holes on the golf course divided into a plurality of said zones, each of said zones including at least one memory stored landmark location mapped to said zone and retrievable from memory in response to detection of one of said golfer location signals present within said zone, and means for detecting a stopped condition of the system, wherein the system automatically calculates said golfer location signal in response to said detected stopped condition, presence in one of said zones is determined via retrieval from memory, landmarks assigned to said zone are recalled from memory along with landmark coordinate data, and distances are calculated between each of said retrieved landmarks and said golfer location signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for determining the position of a golf ball relative to known locations on a golf course using a GPS system comprising the steps of:
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locating the positions of a plurality of landmarks on the golf course; defining a plurality of regions on the golf course, each of said regions mapped in relationship to a green having a cup on the golf course; mapping at least one of said landmarks to one of said regions; storing in memory the definitions of each of the regions in combination with region mapping information; storing the position of the green in memory; positioning a remote GPS receiver near the golf ball on the golf course; determining the position of the remote receiver using the GPS system; determining the region in which the golf ball is located on the course from such position wherein said mapping region information pertaining to a particular hole are automatically retrieved upon the remote receiver'"'"'s presence in a certain region; recalling such landmarks present in such golf ball region; determining the distance from the remote receiver to such landmarks using previously stored landmark position information, such mapping region information, and the position of the GPS receiver; and displaying distances from the remote receiver to the cup and landmarks mapped with such region. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A golf information system for providing a golfer with information regarding the position and distance of designated features on a golf course having a plurality of golf holes comprising:
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golfer locating means which moves with the golfer for receiving signals and generating a golfer location signal which locates the golfer on the golf course; and location interpreting and comparing means which moves with the golfer for interpreting said golfer locating signal via a memory, said memory constructed and arranged for storing coordinate data of landmarks comprising topographical features of the golf course, and including means for designating a plurality of zones on the golf course, and relating specific subsets of said landmark coordinate data to each of said zones and comparing a difference in position of said golfer location signal to one or more of said landmark coordinate data assigned to one of said zones for one or more of each of the golf holes on the golf course where the golfer is located, said location interpreting and comparing means relaying said difference in position as a distance between said landmarks associated with said zone and said golfer locating means to output means for outputting said information to the golfer; said location interpreting and comparing means passively providing said information to said golfer without golfer input; wherein said output means is configured for outputting non-golf information to the golfer while said golfer locating means is in motion between stationary positions. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A golf information system for providing a golfer with information regarding the position and distance of designated features on a golf course having a plurality of golf holes comprising:
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golfer locating means which moves with the golfer for receiving signals and generating a golfer location signal which locates the golfer on the golf course, location interpreting and comparing means which moves with the golfer for interpreting said golfer location signal via a memory, said memory constructed and arranged for storing coordinate data of landmarks comprising topographical features of the golf course, and including means for designating a plurality of zones for one or more of each of the golf holes on the golf course, and relating specific subsets of said landmark coordinate data to each of said zones and comparing a difference in position of said golfer location signal to one or more of said landmark coordinate data assigned to one of said zones on the golf course where the golfer is located, said location interpreting and comparing means relaying said difference in position as a distance between said landmarks associated with said zone and said golfer locating means to output means for outputting said information to the golfer, and said location interpreting and comparing means passively providing said information to said golfer without golfer input, and receiver means for receiving golf related information from a transmitting station wherein said received information comprises golf related information and further comprises golf tournament standings information.
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11. A golf information system for providing a golfer with information regarding the position and distance of designated features on a golf course having a plurality of golf holes comprising:
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golfer locating means which moves with the golfer for receiving signals and generating a golfer location signal which locates the golfer on the golf course, location interpreting and comparing means which moves with the golfer for interpreting said golfer location signal via a memory, said memory constructed and arranged for storing coordinate data of landmarks comprising topographical features of the golf course, and including means for designating a plurality of zones for one or more of each of the golf holes on the golf course, and relating specific subsets of said landmark coordinate data to each of said zones and comparing a difference in position of said golfer location signal to one or more of said landmark coordinate data assigned to one of said zones on the golf course where the golfer is located, said location interpreting and comparing means relaying said difference in position as a distance between said landmarks associated with said zone and said golfer locating means to output means for outputting said information to the golfer, and said location interpreting and comparing means passively providing said information to said golfer without golfer input, and receiver means for receiving information from a transmitting station wherein said received information comprises non-golf related information. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeGPS Industries Incorporated
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Original AssigneeYardmark Incorporated
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InventorsDudley, Douglas P.
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Primary Examiner(s)Harrison, Jessica
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Assistant Examiner(s)SAGER, MARK ALAN
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Application NumberUS08/449,805Time in Patent Office902 DaysField of Search473/150, 473/169, 473/407, 473/409, 364/410, 364/444, 364/448-449, 364/458, 364/460, 340/323 R, 340/933, 340/988-991, 280/DIG. 5, 280/DIG. 6, 180/167US Class Current473/407CPC Class CodesA63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or locati...A63B 2102/32 GolfA63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by...A63B 2220/13 Relative positionsA63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for corre...A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacementsA63B 2225/305 Remote servicingA63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission,...A63B 2225/52 modulated by measured valuesA63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminat...A63B 55/61 motorisedA63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visu...
