Abstract:
Systems and methods are disclosed for integrating a transmitter into an object, such as a golf ball, that becomes active upon the motion of the object. This transmitter sends a signal to a receiver that is configured to determine the location of the object. The receiver is the able to determine the location of the object and outputs the location to a display.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Generally, the invention relates to tracking, and, more particularly, the invention relates to tracking the location of small objects using a variety of location technologies. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Tracking small objects, particularly those used in sporting events is difficult to do by eyesight. For example, in golf, following a ball in flight is difficult. Moreover, the game may require that a player focus on a swing and not try and watch the flight of a ball. This leads to a problem of lost balls, as well as frustration on the part of a player. 
         [0003]    In addition, finding systems and methods that could not only help locate a lost ball but plot the path of a ball might be useful in a variety of sports. For instance, the plotting of the flight of the golf ball might allow for the discovery and correction of bad habits or problems in a swing. Therefore, systems and methods to help track and locate small objects used in sporting events is needed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, a system is disclosed for integrating a transmitter into an object, such as a golf ball, that becomes active upon the motion of the object. This transmitter sends a signal to a receiver that is configured to determine the location of the object. The receiver is then able to determine the location of the object and outputs the location to a display. The transmitter may use GPS information or may use an RF signal to relay the position of the object to the receiver. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes moving an object that includes a transmitter. The transmitter becomes active upon the movement of the object. This method also includes tracking the object. Monitoring at least one signal transmitted by the transmitter can promote the tracking of the object. In addition, this method includes displaying information relating to the location of the object. 
         [0006]    In yet another embodiment a position tracked object is disclosed that includes a transmitter, power source, processor, motion sensor, and Global Positioning System (GPS) module. The transmitter becomes active upon the motion of the object and remains active while the object is in motion, and wherein the transmitter transmits information from the GPS module to a receiver. The receiver is configured to receive the signal from the position tracked object, and wherein the receiver uses the signal from the object to determine the location of the object. The location of the object can then be displayed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one system of implementing an automated object tracking system (AOTS). 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a handheld system using the AOTS. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram transmitter for use in the AOTS. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram transmitter with Global Positioning System (GPS) for use in the AOTS. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of one method of locating a small object using AOTS. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of one method of locating a small object using AOTS and preexisting information. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an exemplary general-purpose computer system suitable for implementing the several embodiments of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one system of implementing an automated object tracking system (AOTS)  100  on a golf course. In one embodiment, player  112  hits golf balls  114 ,  116  towards hole  118  on course  120 . One of the problems with playing sports with small objects, such as golf balls, is that it is easy to lose such objects. Even when ball  114  lies well within course  120 , it may still be difficult to locate with the naked eye. In order to assist player  112 , the present disclosure teaches an AOTS  100  with two components. First, balls  114  and  116  are fitted with a transmitter that sends the location of balls  114  and  116  to a handheld device  132 . The information to handheld device may be obtained through antennas  124 ,  126 , and  128  mounted on golf cart  122 . Golf cart  130  may also comprise an inductive area to charge batteries within golf balls  114 ,  116 . 
         [0016]    When player  112  strikes a golf ball, such as golf balls  114 ,  116 , the transmitter within the golf ball is activated. In some embodiments, the golf ball transmits a “ping” signal that is triangulated by the antennas  124 ,  126 , and  128  of golf cart  122 . A ping signal is a simple signal that is transmitted and received by a player. This signal can be used to triangulate the final location of the golf balls  114 ,  116 , and is transmitted to handheld device  132  through golf cart  122 . In other embodiments, golf balls  114 ,  116  comprise GPS devices and transmitters that obtain the location of the golf ball through GPS and transmit the location of the golf ball to the handheld device through a wireless network or RF signal. These and other embodiments will be discussed below. 
         [0017]    In the example of the ping signal, the signal is transmitted at a predetermined frequency (100 times/second) to the golf cart  122 . This predetermined frequency allows the golf cart to continually track the motion of the signal in real time. In addition to determining the final location of the ball, it is expressly contemplated that the real time data may be used to obtain a three dimensional look at the track of the ball in flight. In this way, not only the final location of the ball may be determined, but the flight path may be determined. 
         [0018]    Similarly to the ping signal, the GPS can also provide a real time track of the location of the path of the ball. However, unlike the ping, the frequency of the readings is determined by the GPS within the ball. It is expressly understood that the resolution of the flight path created by the GPS module is directly related to the number of data points obtained by the ball (e.g., the more readings taken from the GPS, the greater the resolution). 
         [0019]    While  FIG. 1  is illustrated as a golf course, it is explicitly understood that any type of object, including, but not limited to, other types of sporting equipment, bullets, or other objects may be used consistent with the present disclosure. For instance, the present module may be placed in a baseball to follow the path of a pitch. In addition, the present module may be placed in a bullet to obtain the flight pattern of a projectile. The present disclosure contemplates any embodiment where determining the flight path and final resting place of an object would be helpful. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a handheld interface  200  used with the AOTS  100 . In this embodiment, a golf ball has been hit and transmitted its location to the handheld device  132 . The interface  200  shows a find button  202  used to obtain the location of the golf balls  114 ,  116 , a reset button  204 , the battery status  208  of the handheld device  132 , the battery status  210  of the golf balls  114 ,  116 , as well as the direction to the ball  212 . In some embodiments, there may be location information that is coupled with course information providing the end player with additional information relating to the location of the ball. This information  206  may be shown as information such as the location of the ball, or other useful information to the player. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a cross section of golf ball  300 . In this cross section, mass may be added to balance the weight distribution of the golf ball  300 . It is understood that, in this embodiment, a simple transmitter is used to send a constant signal to the golf cart. The golf cart then determines the position of the golf ball  300  based upon the transmitted signal. In some embodiments, a motion sensor  316  is used to detect when the ball is in motion and activates transmitter  314 . The use of the motion sensor  316  allows for the signal to only be transmitted while the ball is in motion preserving battery life. It is understood that one or more of the above-described components may be combined without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. 
         [0022]    It is understood that battery  312  may be charged through an inductive plate, such as an inductive area. It is further understood that the transmitter  314  may transmit information relating to the status of the battery. This status information may be the duration of the activity of transmitter  314 . In other embodiments, the handheld device  132  may determine the battery status of the golf ball  300  by determining how long the transmitter  314  has been active. In yet other embodiments, the battery may be replaced with a kinetically driven power source, such as a spring, that transfers energy used to move the object into energy used to power the transmitter. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is substantially similar to  FIG. 3 , except that a GPS  402  receiver and antenna  404  have been added to golf ball  400 . In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , the transmitter  314  transmits information relating to the location of the golf ball  400  as determined by the GPS  402  as opposed to simply a ping. In some embodiment, transmitter  314  may use a network connection (e.g. wireless connection such as IEEE 802.11, or any other wireless connection using internet protocol packet data) or a radio frequency (RF) signal to relay the location of golf ball  400 . In other embodiments, transmitter  314  may use a wide area wireless network, such as a cellular network to transmit data. In these embodiments, the data from the golf ball could be transmitted directly do a device, such as a cellular phone, removing the need for a separate handheld device  132 . It is understood that one or more of the above described components may be combined without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. 
         [0024]    In the example shown in  FIG. 4  no motion detector is present. Rather, when the GPS determines that either the ball has stopped moving or has not moved for a predetermined time golf ball  400  will automatically shut down. In addition, golf ball  400  may shut down for other reasons (charging, etc.) 
         [0025]    Examples of other technologies that golf ball  300  and  400  may use to transmit location include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth, ZigBee, or Active RFID. The examples of network and communication protocols and technologies are intended to exemplary purposes only. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of one method  500  of using the AOTS  100  using the basic ping embodiment. In this embodiment, the golf ball transmits a ping signal (Block  510 ). The signal is interpreted through the antennas  124 ,  126 ,  128  of golf cart  122  (Block  512 ). The interpreted information is then displayed to the user on the handheld device  132  or through another wireless capable device (Block  514 ). If the golf ball continues to move, the location of the golf ball is updated (Block  516 ). 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of one method  600  of using AOTS  100 . In this embodiment, information relating to the golf course is obtained (Block  610 ). The location of the golf ball is also obtained (Block  612 ). The information about the golf course is combined with the information about the golf ball. (Block  614 ). The location information result is then displayed to the user (Block  616 ). 
         [0028]    Handheld device  132  described above may be implemented on any general-purpose computer  700  with sufficient processing power, memory resources, and network throughput capability to handle the necessary workload placed upon it.  FIG. 7  illustrates a typical system suitable for implementing one or more embodiments of the receiver disclosed herein. The general-purpose computer  700  includes a processor  702  (which may be referred to as a central processor unit or CPU) that is in communication with memory devices including secondary storage  708 , read only memory (ROM)  710 , random access memory (RAM)  712 , input/output (I/O)  706  devices, and network connectivity devices  704 . The processor may be implemented as one or more CPU chips. 
         [0029]    The secondary storage  708  is typically comprised of one or more disk drives or tape drives and is used for non-volatile storage of data and as an over-flow data storage device if RAM  712  is not large enough to hold all working data. Secondary storage  708  may be used to store programs that are loaded into RAM  712  when such programs are selected for execution. The ROM  710  is used to store instructions and perhaps data that are read during program execution. ROM  710  is a non-volatile memory device that typically has a small memory capacity relative to the larger memory capacity of secondary storage. The RAM  712  is used to store volatile data and perhaps to store instructions. Access to both ROM  710  and RAM  712  is typically faster than to secondary storage  708 . 
         [0030]    I/O  706  devices may include printers, video monitors, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), touch screen displays, keyboards, keypads, switches, dials, mice, track balls, voice recognizers, card readers, paper tape readers, or other well-known input devices. The network connectivity devices  392  may take the form of modems, modem banks, Ethernet cards, universal serial bus (USB) interface cards, serial interfaces, token ring cards, fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) cards, wireless local area network (WLAN) cards, radio transceiver cards such as code division multiple access (CDMA) and/or global system for mobile communications (GSM) radio transceiver cards, and other well-known network devices. These network connectivity devices  704  may enable the processor  702  to communicate with an Internet or one or more intranets. With such a network connection, it is contemplated that the processor  702  might receive information from the network, or might output information to the network in the course of performing the above-described method steps. Such information, which is often represented as a sequence of instructions to be executed using processor  702 , may be received from and outputted to the network, for example, in the form of a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave. 
         [0031]    Such information, which may include data or instructions to be executed using processor  702  for example, may be received from and outputted to the network, for example, in the form of a computer data baseband signal or signal embodied in a carrier wave. The baseband signal or signal embodied in the carrier wave generated by the network connectivity devices  704  may propagate in or on the surface of electrical conductors, in coaxial cables, in waveguides, in optical media, for example optical fiber, or in the air or free space. The information contained in the baseband signal or signal embedded in the carrier wave may be ordered according to different sequences, as may be desirable for either processing or generating the information or transmitting or receiving the information. The baseband signal or signal embedded in the carrier wave, or other types of signals currently used or hereafter developed, referred to herein as the transmission medium, may be generated according to several methods well known to one skilled in the art. 
         [0032]    The processor  702  executes instructions, codes, computer programs, scripts that it accesses from hard disk, floppy disk, optical disk (these various disk based systems may all be considered secondary storage  708 ), ROM  710 , RAM  712 , or the network connectivity devices  704 . 
         [0033]    While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods might be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented. 
         [0034]    Also, techniques, systems, subsystems and methods described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Other products shown or discussed as directly coupled or communicating with each other may be coupled through some interface or device, such that the products may no longer be considered directly coupled to each other but may still be indirectly coupled and in communication, whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise with one another. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein. 
         [0035]    It should be understood that although an exemplary implementation of one embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated above, the present system may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated above, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.