US5438518A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Player positioning and distance finding system
Assignee: GPS Industries LLC
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Filing: 1994-01-19
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Granted: 1995-08-01
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Expires: 2014-01-19
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a portable distance tracking system for use by a player on a playing field. The system includes a mobile interface unit that has a memory element, position interface electronics, a data processor, and a player interface. The memory element stores digitized map representations of playing fields. The position interface electronics receivers position indicative signals that are representative of a geographical location of the mobile unit from an external source. The data processor couples to the memory element and to the position interface electronics and correlates the geographical location to a field location of the mobile interface unit on the playing field. The processor also determines the distance from the mobile interface unit to a first landmark. The player interface is coupled to the data processor and communicates the distance between the mobile interface unit and the first landmark to the player. According to a preferred embodiment, the playing field is a golf course and the first landmark is a flag location at a select hole on the golf course.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph A. Bianco
- 👤 Curtis A. Vock
- 👤 John V. Bianco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:12
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/06; A63B71/0619; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3605; A63B71/0622; G; G01; G01C; G01C22/00; G01C22/004; A63B2071/0691; A63B2102/00; A63B2102/32; A63B2220/00; A63B2220/10; A63B2220/14; A63B2220/16; A63B2220/20; A63B2220/40; G01S; G01S19/00; G01S19/38; G01S19/39; G01S19/40; G01S19/41
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A portable distance tracking system for use by a golfer on a golf course, wherein said golf course includes at least a first land mark, and wherein said system comprises at least one mobile interface unit including: A. a memory element including means for storing digitized map representations of a plurality of golf courses; B. position interface electronics including a first GPS receiver for receiving position indicative signals from a Global Positioning System satellite constellation located in orbit around the Earth, wherein said position indicative signals are representative of a geographical location of said mobile interface unit; C. a data processor, coupled to said memory element and to said position interface electronics, and including means for processing said position indicative signals to determine said geographical location of said mobile interface unit, means for corresponding said geographical location of said mobile interface unit with said digitized map representations to automatically identify a particular golf course that a golfer has selected to play means for corresponding said geographical location of said mobile interface unit with said digitized map representation of said particular golf course to determine a field location of said mobile interface unit on said particular golf course, and means for determining a distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark; and D. a player interface, coupled to said data processor, and including means for communicating at least said distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark to said player.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A portable distance tracking system for use by a golfer on a golf course, wherein said golf course includes at least a first land mark, and wherein said system comprises at least one mobile interface unit including: A. a memory element including means for storing digitized map representations of a plurality of golf courses; B. position interface electronics including a first GPS receiver for receiving position indicative signals from a Global Positioning System satellite constellation located in orbit around the Earth, wherein said position indicative signals are representative of a geographical location of said mobile interface unit; C. a data processor, coupled to said memory element and to said position interface electronics, and including means for processing said position indicative signals to determine said geographical location of said mobile interface unit, means for corresponding said geographical location of said mobile interface unit with said digitized map representations to automatically identify a particular golf course that a golfer has selected to play means for corresponding said geographical location of said mobile interface unit with said digitized map representation of said particular golf course to determine a field location of said mobile interface unit on said particular golf course, and means for determining a distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark; and D. a player interface, coupled to said data processor, and including means for communicating at least said distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark to said player.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
177 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said system further comprises a GPS master unit, wherein said GPS master unit is positioned at a fixed location having known longitude and latitude coordinates and includes: A. a second GPS receiver for receiving said position indicative signals from said Global Positioning System satellite constellation, and a GPS processor having means for processing said position indicative signals to determine a calculated longitude and a calculated latitude for said fixed location of said GPS master unit, and B. wireless transmission means for transmitting an error correction signal to said mobile interface unit, wherein said error correction signal is based at least in part on a difference between said known longitude and latitude and said calculated longitude and latitude, and wherein said position interface electronics includes wireless reception means for receiving said error correction signal from said GPS master unit, and said first GPS processor includes means for processing said error correction signal with said position indicative signals to determine a corrected geographical position of said mobile interface unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A portable tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said memory element includes a replaceable portion, for storing said digitized map representations of said plurality of golf courses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said mobile interface unit further comprises a keyboard interface coupled to said data processor and including means for entering commands and data into said mobile interface unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said player interface includes a visual display including means for displaying information to a player.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claims 1 wherein said player interface includes an audio interface for communicating information to a player.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said data processor includes means for corresponding said geographical location of said mobile interface unit with said digitized map representation of said particular golf course to automatically identify which particular hole on said particular golf course said golfer has selected to play.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 1 wherein said interface further comprises a keyboard interface coupled to said data processor and including means for entering commands and data into said mobile interface unit, and a visual display interface having means for displaying entered commands and data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claims 8 wherein said keyboard interface includes means for selecting a particular hole on said particular golf course to be played by signaling said data processor to access a portion of said digitized map representation for said particular golf course from said memory element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said keyboard interface includes means for selecting a particular hole to be played on said golf course.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said display includes means for displaying a par score associated with a selected hole to be played on said golf course.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said display includes means for displaying a handicap associated with a selected hole to be played on said golf course.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein a particular hole has an associated flag location, said landmark is said associated flag location, and said display includes for displaying a distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein a particular hole has a plurality of associated landmarks and said display includes means for displaying a distance between said mobile interface unit and one or more of said landmarks.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 14 wherein said keyboard includes means for signaling said display to display a distance between said mobile interface unit and one or more of said landmarks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said display includes means for displaying a graphical representation of a particular hole selected to be played on said golf course.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 16 wherein said particular hole has a plurality of associated landmarks and said graphical representation shows said location of said mobile interface unit in relation to one or more of said landmarks, and said mobile interface unit includes means for displaying a distance between said mobile interface unit and one or more of said landmarks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said system includes means for processing said position indicative signals to automatically determine which particular hole on said particular golf course a golfer has selected to play, and said display includes means for displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of said particular hole.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said system includes means for dynamically updating said displayed portion of said particular hole in dependence on said field location of said mobile interface unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said memory includes means for storing nominal distance assignments for golf clubs, wherein said assignments are representative of how far a golfer nominally hits a golf ball with a particular golf club, and said keyboard interface includes means for enabling a player to signal said data processor to modify one or more of said nominal distance assignments.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 20 wherein said data processor includes means for determining a suggested golf club selection based at least in part on said distance assignments and said distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark, and said display includes means for displaying said suggested golf club selection.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 21 wherein said keyboard includes means for overriding said suggested golf club selection by entering an alternative golf club choice.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 22 wherein said data processor includes means for automatically updating said nominal distance assignments, based at least in part on said entering said alternative golf club choice.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 21 wherein said keyboard includes means for entering an actual distance that said golfer hit with said suggested golf club selection.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 24 wherein said data processor includes means for automatically updating said nominal distance assignments, based at least in part on said entering said actual distance.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
96 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said particular golf course includes a plurality of holes to be played and said keyboard includes means for entering a hole score achieved by a golfer on said holes, said display includes means for displaying at least one of said hole scores at any particular time, said memory element includes means for storing said hole scores, and said processor element includes means for tallying said hole scores to determine a current total score equal to the sum of the scores of all holes thus far played.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said keyboard includes means for entering number of putts taken on each of said holes and said memory element includes means for storing said number of putts.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said keyboard includes means for selecting a particular number of golfers to share said mobile interface unit, said data processor includes means for associating an identification code with each of said number of golfers, and said display includes means for displaying at least one of said identification codes at any particular time.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
89 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said memory includes means for storing information regarding at least one round of golf on said particular golf course, said keyboard includes means for signaling said processor to recall said information from said memory, and said display includes mean for displaying said information, wherein said information includes at least one of total score, score on particular holes, clubs selected for particular shots, penalties taken on particular holes, putts taken on particular holes, and distances hit with particular golf clubs.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 8 wherein said mobile interface unit includes a communications interface having means for transferring digital information to and from said memory, wherein said system further includes a central computer including means for interfacing with said communication interface to transfer digital information between said mobile interface unit and said central computer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 30 wherein said central computer includes means for updating said digitized map information stored in said mobile interface unit memory to reflect current golf course conditions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
126 words
A portable distance tracking system according to claim 30 wherein said mobile interface unit memory includes means for storing information regarding at least one round of golf on said golf course, said keyboard includes means for signaling said processor to recall said information from said memory, and said display includes means for displaying said information, wherein said information includes at least one of total score, score on particular holes, clubs selected for particular shots, penalties taken on particular holes, putts taken on particular holes, and distances hit with particular golf clubs, and said central computer includes means for downloading said information, means for processing said information, means for storing said information, and means for printing said information in at least one of processed or unprocessed form.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for determining the distance between a first location and a second location on a particular hole on a golf course, comprising: (A) GPS receiver means, positioned at said first location, for receiving a global earth position of said first location; (B) a memory element having means for storing digitized map representations of a plurality of holes on a golf course; and (C) processing means in communication with said GPS receiver means, comprising i) means for correlating said global earth position with said digitized map representations to automatically identify said particular hole on said golf course, and ii) means for correlating said first location to said second location to determine from said first location to said location.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for determining the distance between a first location and a second location on a particular hole on a golf course, comprising: (A) GPS receiver means, positioned at said first location, for receiving a global earth position of said first location; (B) a memory element having means for storing digitized map representations of a plurality of holes on a golf course; and (C) processing means in communication with said GPS receiver means, comprising i) means for correlating said global earth position with said digitized map representations to automatically identify said particular hole on said golf course, and ii) means for correlating said first location to said second location to determine from said first location to said location.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 33 further comprising indication means for indicating said distance to a user of said system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 34 wherein said indication means is a liquid crystal display.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system according to claim 33 wherein said GPS receiver means is a differential GPS receiver having means for receiving and applying a correction signal, and further comprising stationary differential GPS receiver/transmitter means for operating in conjunction with, and transmitting said correction signal to, said differential GPS receiver means and being positioned at a known global earth location geographically located with respect to said golf course.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 33 wherein said processing means further comprises memory load means for communicating coordinates representative of at least one location of said golf course to said memory means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system according to claim 37 further comprising local memory storage means for storing coordinates representative of said golf course, said memory load means being in selective communication with said local memory storage means wherein said memory load means communicates said coordinates representative of said golf course to said memory means for storage in said memory means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system according to claim 33 wherein said memory element includes means for storing digitized map representations of a plurality of golf courses and said system includes means for correlating said global earth position with said digitized map representations of said plurality of golf courses to automatically identify a particular golf course that a golfer has selected to play.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system according to claim 33 wherein said system includes a visual display for displaying at least a portion of a particular hole that a golfer has selected to play on said particular golf course, and means for dynamically updating said displayed portion of said particular hole in dependence on said first location.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for determining the distance between a first location and a second location on a particular hole on a golf course, comprising: (A) receiving a global earth position at a mobile interface unit at a first location from a GPS constellation; (B) storing in said mobile interface unit digitized map representations of a plurality of holes on a golf course; and (C) processing in said mobile interface unit said global earth position and said digitized map representations by i) correlating said global earth position with said digitized map representations to automatically identify said particular hole on said golf course, and ii) correlating said first location to said second location to determine the distance from said first location to said second location.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for determining the distance between a first location and a second location on a particular hole on a golf course, comprising: (A) receiving a global earth position at a mobile interface unit at a first location from a GPS constellation; (B) storing in said mobile interface unit digitized map representations of a plurality of holes on a golf course; and (C) processing in said mobile interface unit said global earth position and said digitized map representations by i) correlating said global earth position with said digitized map representations to automatically identify said particular hole on said golf course, and ii) correlating said first location to said second location to determine the distance from said first location to said second location.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 41 comprising the further steps of (A) storing digitized map representations of a plurality of golf courses; and (B) correlating said global earth position with said digitized map representations of said plurality of golf courses to automatically identify a particular golf course that said golfer has selected to play.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 41 comprising the further steps of (A) displaying at said mobile interface unit a representation of at least a portion of said particular hole; and (B) dynamically updating said portion of said particular hole being displayed in dependence on changing said first location of said mobile interface unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-31 | 1999-01-30 | 1999-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-31 | 2007-01-30 | 2007-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |