Abstract:
A system for providing golfers with golf related information includes a personal digital assistant having a GPS function, a memory, a processor and an input/output. The system also includes a cradle shaped and dimensioned for receiving the personal digital assistant and transferring information thereto. The cradle includes a memory storing information relating to coordinates on a golf course and an input/output transmitting information to the personal digital assistant. The personal digital assistant includes software for calculating and displaying distance between a golfer&#39;s location and a designated coordinate on the golf course.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application relates to commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/631,629, entitled “System for Providing Golfers with Golf Related Information Via a Global Network”, filed Aug. 4, 2000, which is currently pending, and, to the extent relevant, incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates to a golfer&#39;s aid. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and system allowing golfers to download particular golf course information to a personal digital assistant containing a global positioning satellite chip.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    More people around the world than now play golf at any time since the game was invented. A wide variety of mechanical advances have been recently applied to improve an individual&#39;s ability to play and enjoy a round of golf. These advances include new training equipment, clubs fabricated from advanced materials, reshaped club heads, aerodynamically designed golf balls improving upon a golfer&#39;s ability to hit a ball toward a desired target, and a host of other advances focused upon improving the game of both novices and experts.  
           [0006]    However, those associated with the game of golf have yet to fully take advantage of information technology, including, but not limited to, convenient information transfer via portable digital assistants, the power offered by the Internet and other global communication networks, and global positioning satellites (GPS), to improve upon golfers&#39; ability to play and enjoy a round of golf. With this in mind, the present invention offers a readily usable information transfer device designed to improve upon one&#39;s enjoyment of a round of golf.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for providing golfers with golf related information. The system includes a personal digital assistant having a GPS function, a memory, a processor and an input/output. The system also includes a cradle shaped and dimensioned for receiving the personal digital assistant and transferring information thereto. The cradle includes a memory storing information relating to coordinates on a golf course and an input/output transmitting information to the personal digital assistant. The personal digital assistant includes software for calculating and displaying distance between a golfer&#39;s location and a designated coordinate on the golf course.  
           [0008]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a similar method for providing golf related distance information.  
           [0009]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic of the present system.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a schematic of the central processor in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a view of a personal digital assistant used in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is flow chart for the uploading of golf course information to the golf course module.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 5 and 6 show various displays in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is schematic of personal digital assistant in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a schematic of a representative golf hole.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a schematic of a cradle and a PDA used in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which maybe embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limited, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.  
         [0019]    With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , a system  10  for providing golfers with golf related information via a global communication network  12 , for example, the Internet, is disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system  10  utilizes the Internet  12  to facilitate the transfer of information between a user station  14  and a central processor  16  of the present system  10 . The transfer of information between the user station  14  and the central processor  16  is facilitated through the use of TCP/IP, although other communication protocols may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0020]    As will be discussed below in greater detail, the user station  14  may take a variety of forms depending upon the needs of the individual accessing the central processor  16  of the present system  10 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user stations are personal digital assistants  14 . This allows golfers to readily download relevant information as discussed below and bring the information onto the course with them. However, it is contemplated that the central processor  16  may also be accessed via desktop computers, laptop computers, and cellular communication devices, although those skilled in the art will readily understand that many other communication devices may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0021]    The cornerstone of the present system is a central processor  16  accessed by the user via the Internet  12 . The central processor  16  includes a golf course module  18 , a score entry module  20 , a statistic storage module  22 , an analysis module  24  and a playing tip module  26 .  
         [0022]    The golf course module  18  contains golf course information from a plurality of golf courses. The information maintained in the golf course module  18  includes, for example, hole layouts, distances, pin and tee placements, hazard locations, and topographical data. The previous list of golf course information which maybe stored in the golf course module  18  is considered to be merely exemplary of information which might be useful to golfers accessing the central processor  16  in accordance with the present invention, and the list of available golf course information may be readily varied to suit the needs of golfers as available information changes and the needs of those golfers accessing the central processor  16  changes.  
         [0023]    The golf course module  18  is readily accessed by those using the central processor  16 . As such, golf course information stored therein may be readily downloaded. Similarly, golf course information maybe readily uploaded to the golf course module  18 . The proprietors of golf courses  28  participating with the present system  10  are thereby permitted to continually keep their course information up-to-date so that golfers at these courses will have the most up to date information available as they access the central processor  16 . The process for uploading information is generally outlined in FIG. 4. Briefly, the golf course module first acquires ortho-rectified images of a golf course. The images are then spatially enabled, including, recording waypoints of the course and course information, such as, par. Finally, the golf course module stores the information.  
         [0024]    The score entry module  20  is designed to allow a golfer to input each shot from a round of golf in relation to the golf course information maintained in the golf course module  18 . With this in mind, the score entry module  20  provides the golfer with a graphical user interface when golfers download golf course information from the central processor  16 . As such, the interface  30  maybe used by a golfer to enter each shot by marking ball positions on a rendering of a hole layout  32 .  
         [0025]    For example, the interface  30  provides the golfer with the layout of hole  1  at the golfer&#39;s local golf course. The golfer is then prompted to enter the location of his or her first shot, second shot etc. The shot information is stored and placed within the statistic storage module  22 .  
         [0026]    The statistic storage module  22  includes a database  34  in which data input via the score entry module  20  is maintained for subsequent processing to provide golfers with desired information. The analysis module  24  and playing tip module  26  are linked to the statistic module  22 . Specifically, the analysis module  24  is associated with the statistic storage module  22  and the golf course module  18  for adding-value to the information contained therein. Value-added information is considered to be information developed from multiple sources such that the resulting information provides a benefit not provided by information generated from a single source.  
         [0027]    For example, the analysis module  24  might determine that a golfer hits his tee shot in the rough on the second hole 80 percent of the time by comparing the stored shot information and the course information. This information would then be passed onto the golfer.  
         [0028]    Similarly, the playing tip module  26  offers golfers information concerning their golf game based upon information maintained by the statistic storage module  22 . With this in mind, the playing tip module  26  is linked with the analysis module  24  and statistic storage module  22  to provide customized tips based upon value-added information generated by the analysis module  24 .  
         [0029]    As mentioned above, a golfer may access the central processor  16  of the present system  10  through the use of a personal digital assistant  14 . Enhanced use of the personal digital assistant  14  is provided by the inclusion of a global positioning chip  36 , or system, within the personal digital assistant  14 .  
         [0030]    When a global positioning chip  36  is used in conjunction with a downloaded golf course, a software program within the personal digital assistant permits the global positioning chip  36  to take a reading of the golfer&#39;s location, calculate the golfer&#39;s position on the golf course and display all desired distances on any given hole (see FIGS. 5 and 6). For example, it is contemplated that a golfer may simply point upon the personal digital assistant  14  to identify the distance between two points on the golf course. The personal digital assistant  14  is carried by the golfer as he or she plays a round of golf and is able to continually determine the golfer&#39;s position on the course. This position information is used by the personal digital assistant  14  to provide the golfer with a wealth of real-time information.  
         [0031]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present system, the golf course module contains ortho-rectified pictures of the golf holes of a plurality of golf courses. The ortho-rectified pictures are downloadable to the personal digital assistant  14  using conventional downloading techniques currently available. Specifically, and with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the system  10  utilizes a global communication network  12  to transfer ortho-rectified pictures  38  of golf holes of golf courses to the personal digital assistant  14  containing a global positioning satellite chip  36 . The transfer of the ortho-rectified pictures  38  to the personal digital assistant  14  is facilitated through the use of TCP/IP, although other communication protocols may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is also contemplated that the golf course information may be accessed via a desktop PC or cellular communication device, although those skilled in the art will readily understand the many other communication devices that may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The cornerstone of this feature of the system  10  is to allow the golfer to bring the ortho-rectified pictures  38  of golf holes of a golf course to the golf course on a personal digital assistant  14  containing a global position satellite chip  36  for the purpose of retrieving and storing golf related information.  
         [0032]    When the global positioning satellite chip  36  of the personal digital assistant  14  is used in conjunction with the downloaded ortho-rectified pictures  38  of golf holes of a golf course, a software program within the personal digital assistant  14  permits the global positioning satellite chip  36  to take a reading of the golfer&#39;s location and to calculate and display the golfer&#39;s position on the personal digital assistant. Then, using the software and the ortho-rectified pictures  38 , the personal digital assistant  14  is able to calculate and display relevant distances to desired geographical and topographical locations on the golf hole. This may be done time and again throughout a round of golf.  
         [0033]    For example, a golfer is going to play course A tomorrow. The golfer can access course A from the courses stored on the golf course module  18  and download the ortho-rectified pictures  38  and software of course A to a personal digital assistant  14  which the golfer takes to the course. When the golfer commences the round, the golfer is on the back tee box of hole  1 , a long par four. The golfer presses the global positioning satellite button  40  on the personal digital assistant  14  which then displays to the golfer that the location is the back tee, the distance to clear the lake is 160 yards, the distance to a preferred spot in the middle of the fairway is 260 yards and the length necessary to clear the large tree necessary to cut the corner of the slight dog leg is 300 yards in the air (see FIG. 5). After hitting the drive in the preferred spot in the middle of the fairway, the golfer then stands next to the ball and again presses the global positioning satellite chip button  40  to take a reading. The golfer learns that the drive was 265 yards, that the remaining distance to the front of the green is 180 yards, the remaining distance to the middle of the green is 195 yards, the distance to the out of bounds marker behind the green is 230 yards and the distance to clear the creek running in front of the green is 165 yards (see FIG. 6).  
         [0034]    In summary, by integrating the global positioning satellite chip  36  contained in the personal digital assistant  14  with the ortho-rectified pictures  38  of the golf holes downloaded to the personal digital assistant  14  position information is made readily available to the golfer. Specifically, once a global positioning system reading of the golfer&#39;s location on a given golf hole is taken, the personal digital assistant  14  uses that reading in conjunction with the ortho-rectified pictures  38  to calculate and display distances to desired locations on the golf hole.  
         [0035]    In addition to providing position information, the golfer may input each of his or her shots for later uploading to the score entry module  20  of the central processor  16 . Specifically, the golfer will input the exact location of each shot, thereby creating a map of the shot taken as the golfer makes his or her way through a round of golf. This creates not only a record of the golfer&#39;s score, but a record of the position of each shot taken by the golfer during his or her round.  
         [0036]    The information retrieved by the golfer while on the golf course is stored in the personal digital assistant  14  and is by uploaded by the golfer to the golfer&#39;s personal account on the central processor  16  accessed via the global communication network  12 . Uploading of the information is performed using conventional technology currently available.  
         [0037]    In accordance with alternate embodiments of the present invention, the personal digital assistant may be continually linked with the central processor during a round of golf, thereby, eliminating the need to upload information at the end of a round of golf. Specifically, the personal digital assistant would be linked to the score entry module of the central processor and each stroke is thereby directly uploaded to the central processor immediately after it is recorded on the personal digital assistant by the golfer. That is, the golfer will simply input a shot immediately after completion, at which time the personal digital assistant will transmit the shot and position information to the score entry module for recordation.  
         [0038]    In practice, the present system provides golfers with golf related information by providing a central processor via a global communication network The central processor includes a golf course module containing golf course information from a plurality of golf courses, a score entry module including means allowing a golfer to input each shot from a round of golf in relation to the golf course information maintained in the golf course module and a statistic storage module including a database in which data input via the score entry module is maintained for subsequent processing to provide golfers with desired information. The system then gathers scoring information from individuals accessing the central processor and processes the scoring information to add value thereto.  
         [0039]    A simplified version of the present system is also contemplated in accordance with the present invention. With reference to FIGS.  7  to  9 , and in accordance with this embodiment, a personal digital assistant  102  including a GPS function  104  is provided. In addition to the GPS function  104 , the PDA  102  need only be provided with a memory  106 , processor  108  and input/output  110 .  
         [0040]    In practice, an operator of the present system will obtain two location readings for each hole of each golf course participating in the present system; a first location reading  111  relating to the front of the green and a second location reading  112  relating to the middle of the green. As such, only 36 readings are required for each course participating in the present system.  
         [0041]    It is contemplated that an operator will simply walk the course while carrying a PDA loaded with software designed to record location readings. The location readings are recorded and stored within the PDA, and subsequently uploaded to a central processor. The central processor then crunches the location readings into first and second coordinates to be used by golfers in a manner described below in greater detail.  
         [0042]    In order to obviate the need for Internet connections as discussed above in accordance with the prior embodiment, the present embodiment utilizes the generated first and second coordinates  111 ,  112  respectively relating to the front of the green and the middle of the green by storing the coordinates within the memory  114  of a PDA cradle  116  maintained at the respective golf course facility. With this in mind, a golfer need only show up to play golf carrying his PDA  102  loaded with software for operating in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0043]    Specifically, the golfer will place his or her PDA  102  upon the cradle  116 , pay a required charge and upload the coordinates for the course he or she is about to play. The required coordinates are uploaded via the input/output  118  and memory of the cradle  116 . The PDA  102  is then loaded with the required respective first and second coordinates  111 ,  112  for identifying the front of a green and the middle of a green. When the golfer arrives at the first hole, the golfer will input a location on the first hole and the PDA  102  will calculate his or her location relative to the front and middle of the first green. The calculation is simply based upon the first and second coordinates  111 ,  112  relating to the first green as stored by operators of the present system as loaded onto the PDA  102  via the cradle  116  maintained at the golf course pro shop (or other location convenient to golfers). For example, when a golfer arrive at the first tee and designates the PDA  102  as such, the PDA display will indicate the following, for example:  
         [0044]    1st Hole—Green Grass Golf Club  
         [0045]    405 yds.—Front  
         [0046]    420 yds—Middle  
         [0047]    Once the golfer has hit his or her first shot and found the struck golf ball, the PDA will be refreshed and the display will indicate the following, for example:  
         [0048]    1st Hole—Green Grass Golf Club  
         [0049]    155 yds.—Front  
         [0050]    170 yds.—Middle  
         [0051]    Upon completing the first hole, the golfer will simply designate the second hole and repeat the process.  
         [0052]    The alternate embodiment described above simplifies the underlying concept of the present invention by requiring the mapping of only 36 coordinates. In fact, it is contemplated that the 36 coordinates could be stored by an individual walking the course, uploaded to the central processor for data crunching, downloaded to the PDA of the individual taking the coordinates and stored within a cradle memory in a few hours (if not less).  
         [0053]    While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.