System and method for measuring distance between two objects on a golf course

Claim 1

A system for providing a player on a golf course with the distance between a golf ball on said golf course and a stationary object on said golf course, where the location of said object is previously known and defined by object location data, said system comprising: a) a first unit transmitting an error data signal to each of a plurality of mobile units on said golf course which mobile units are remotely spaced from said golf ball, said first unit including; i) a fixed receiving means, positioned in a fixed location, said fixed location being accurately defined by known location data, said known location data preserved and stored for use, said receiving means receiving navigation signals from navigation satellites and deriving, from said navigation signals, first location data generally defining said fixed location, ii) a location data comparing means for receiving and comparing said known location data and said first location data and for generating said error data signal corresponding to differences between said known location data and said first location data, and iii) data transmission means for transmitting said error data signal to said mobile units; b) each of said mobile units including; i) a mobile receiving means for receiving navigation signals from navigation satellites and for deriving, from said navigation signals, second location data generally defining the location of said mobile unit, ii) data receiving means for receiving said error data signal transmitted from said data transmission means, iii) a data adjusting means for receiving said second location data from said mobile receiving means and for receiving said error data signal from said data receiving means and for adjusting said second location data with said error data signal for generating a third location data accurately defining the location of said mobile unit, iv) a golf ball locating means for measuring and determining ball distance data defining the distance said golf ball is positioned from said location of said mobile unit and for determining a ball direction data defining the direction said golf ball is positioned from said mobile unit, v) a data shifting means for receiving said third location data from said data adjusting means and for receiving said ball distance data and said ball direction data from said golf ball locating means and for shifting said third location data by said ball distance data and said ball direction data for generating a ball location data defining the location of said golf ball, vi) a calculation means for receiving said object location data and said ball location data and for calculating a distance between said golf ball and said object on said golf course.

Claim 2

A system for providing a player on a golf course with the distance between a golf ball on said golf course and a stationary object on said golf course, where the location of said object is previously known and defined by object location data, said system comprising: a) a first unit transmitting an error data signal to each of a plurality of mobile units on said golf course which mobile units are remotely spaced from said golf ball, said first unit including; i) a fixed receiving means, positioned in a fixed location, said fixed location being accurately defined by known location data, said known location data preserved and stored for use, said receiving means receiving navigation signals from navigation satellites and deriving, from said navigation signals, first location data generally defining said fixed location, ii) a location data comparing means for receiving and comparing said known location data and said first location data and for generating said error data signal corresponding to differences between said known location data and said first location data, and iii) data transmission means for transmitting said error data signal to said mobile units; b) each of said mobile units including; i) a mobile receiving means for receiving navigation signals from navigation satellites and for deriving, from said navigation signals, second location data generally defining the location of said mobile unit, ii) data receiving means for receiving said error data signal transmitted from said data transmission means, iii) a data adjusting means for receiving said second location data from said mobile receiving means and for receiving said error data signal from said data receiving means and for adjusting said second location data with said error data signal for generating a third location data accurately defining the location of said mobile unit, iv) a golf ball locating means for measuring and determining ball distance data defining the distance said golf ball is positioned from said location of said mobile unit and for determining a ball direction data defining the direction said golf ball is positioned from said mobile unit, v) a data shifting means for receiving said third location data from said data adjusting means and for receiving said ball distance data and said ball direction data from said golf ball locating means and for shifting said third location data by said ball distance data and said ball direction data for generating a ball location data defining the location of said golf ball, vi) a calculation means for receiving said object location data and said ball location data and for calculating a distance between said golf ball and said object on said golf course.

Claim 7

A system for measuring a distance between a golf ball on a golf course and a hole on a green of said golf course where the location of said hole is stationary and previously known and defined in hole location data, said system comprising: a) a first receiver means in a first location, said first location known and defined in fixed location data, said first receiver means receiving navigation signals transmitted by navigation satellites and deriving a first location data from said navigation signals, said first location data defining said first location; b) a comparator means for receiving and comparing said fixed location data and said first location data and for generating an error data signal corresponding to a differential between said fixed location data and said first location data; c) a data transmitter means for receiving said error data signal from said comparator means and for transmitting said error data signal to mobile unit means in said system which mobile unit means are remotely spaced from said golf ball; d) each said mobile unit means including: i) a second receiver means, transported by said mobile unit means, said mobile unit means positionable, on demand, at a second location, on said golf course, said second location being an undefined location, said second receiver means for receiving navigation signals from navigation satellites and for deriving a second location data from said navigation signals defining said second location; ii) a data receiving means for receiving said error data signal transmitted by said data transmitter means; iii) a data adjusting means for receiving said second location data and said error data signal and for adjusting said second location data by said error data signal for generating an adjusted location data defining said second location: iv) a distance measuring means for determining a distance and a direction between said golf ball and said second location and for shifting said adjusted location data in accordance with said distance and direction determined for generating a ball location data defining a location of said golf ball on said golf course, and v) calculation means for calculating a difference between said ball location data and said hole location data and for converting said difference into a measurement of the distance between said golf ball on said golf course and said hole on said green.

Claim 8

A system for measuring a distance between a golf ball on a golf course and a hole on a green of said golf course where the location of said hole is stationary and previously known and defined in hole location data, said system comprising: a) a first receiver means in a first location, said first location known and defined in fixed location data, said first receiver means receiving navigation signals transmitted by navigation satellites and deriving a first location data from said navigation signals, said first location data defining said first location; b) a comparator means for receiving and comparing said fixed location data and said first location data and for generating an error data signal corresponding to a differential between said fixed location data and said first location data; c) a data transmitter means for receiving said error data signal from said comparator means and for transmitting said error data signal to mobile unit means in said system which mobile unit means are remotely spaced from said golf ball; d) each said mobile unit means including: i) a second receiver means, transported by said mobile unit means, said mobile unit means positionable, on demand, at a second location, on said golf course, said second location being an undefined location, said second receiver means for receiving navigation signals from navigation satellites and for deriving a second location data from said navigation signals defining said second location; ii) a data receiving means for receiving said error data signal transmitted by said data transmitter means; iii) a data adjusting means for receiving said second location data and said error data signal and for adjusting said second location data by said error data signal for generating an adjusted location data defining said second location: iv) a distance measuring means for determining a distance and a direction between said golf ball and said second location and for shifting said adjusted location data in accordance with said distance and direction determined for generating a ball location data defining a location of said golf ball on said golf course, and v) calculation means for calculating a difference between said ball location data and said hole location data and for converting said difference into a measurement of the distance between said golf ball on said golf course and said hole on said green.

Claim 12

A method for measuring the distance between a golf ball positioned on a golf course and a stationary hole on a green of said golf course wherein the location of the hole is known by hole location data, comprising the steps of: a) transporting a first global position receiver along the golf course mounted to a mobile cart and stopping said mobile cart at an undefined location on said golf course which mobile cart is remotely spaced from said golf ball; b) positioning a second global position receiver in a fixed location and calculating a fixed location data defining said fixed location and preserving said fixed location data; c) operating said second global position receiver, on an ongoing basis, from said fixed location for receiving first navigation signals from navigation satellites; d) deriving first location data from said first navigation signals for defining said fixed location by said first navigation signals; e) comparing said fixed location data with said first location data and detecting a differential between said fixed location data and said first location data; f) generating an error signal corresponding to an inverse of said differential; g) operating said first global position receiver from said undefined location for receiving second navigation signals from said navigation satellites; h) deriving a second location data from said second navigation signals for defining said undefined location; i) adjusting said second location data with said error signal for generating a first adjusted location data defining said undefined location; j) calculating a ball distance and a ball direction between said golf ball and said undefined location, as defined by said first adjusted location data; k) adjusting said first adjusted location data by said ball distance and said ball direction for generating a ball location data, defining a location of said golf ball; and l) calculating a differential, in location data, between said hole location data and said ball location data and converting said differential into a measure of distance.

Claim 13

A method for measuring the distance between a golf ball positioned on a golf course and a stationary hole on a green of said golf course wherein the location of the hole is known by hole location data, comprising the steps of: a) transporting a first global position receiver along the golf course mounted to a mobile cart and stopping said mobile cart at an undefined location on said golf course which mobile cart is remotely spaced from said golf ball; b) positioning a second global position receiver in a fixed location and calculating a fixed location data defining said fixed location and preserving said fixed location data; c) operating said second global position receiver, on an ongoing basis, from said fixed location for receiving first navigation signals from navigation satellites; d) deriving first location data from said first navigation signals for defining said fixed location by said first navigation signals; e) comparing said fixed location data with said first location data and detecting a differential between said fixed location data and said first location data; f) generating an error signal corresponding to an inverse of said differential; g) operating said first global position receiver from said undefined location for receiving second navigation signals from said navigation satellites; h) deriving a second location data from said second navigation signals for defining said undefined location; i) adjusting said second location data with said error signal for generating a first adjusted location data defining said undefined location; j) calculating a ball distance and a ball direction between said golf ball and said undefined location, as defined by said first adjusted location data; k) adjusting said first adjusted location data by said ball distance and said ball direction for generating a ball location data, defining a location of said golf ball; and l) calculating a differential, in location data, between said hole location data and said ball location data and converting said differential into a measure of distance.

Claim 19

A method for measuring the distance between a golf ball positioned on a fairway of a golf course and a hole on a green on said golf course, the location of said hole defined by a hole location data, comprising the steps of: a) positioning a mobile cart transporting a mobile global position receiver on said golf course, in close proximity to said golf ball positioned on said fairway; b) receiving navigation signals from one or more navigation satellites with said mobile global position receiver and converting said navigation signals into a first location data defining a first location of said mobile cart; c) operating a fixed global position receiver from a known, fixed location, defined by known location data, for receiving navigation signals from said one or more navigation satellites and converting said navigation signals into a second location data defining said known, fixed location; d) comparing said second location data with said known location data and generating a first error signal corresponding to a first differential between said second location data and said known location data; e) changing said first location data in accordance with said first error signal into a first adjusted location data defining said first location of said mobile cart; f) measuring a distance and a direction between said mobile cart as defined by said first adjusted location data, and said golf ball positioned on said fairway and changing said first adjusted location data in accordance with said distance and said direction so measured for generating a ball location data defining the location of said golf ball on said fairway; and g) calculating a second differential between said ball location data and said hole location data and converting said second differential into a first distance.

Claim 20

A method for measuring the distance between a golf ball positioned on a fairway of a golf course and a hole on a green on said golf course, the location of said hole defined by a hole location data, comprising the steps of: a) positioning a mobile cart transporting a mobile global position receiver on said golf course, in close proximity to said golf ball positioned on said fairway; b) receiving navigation signals from one or more navigation satellites with said mobile global position receiver and converting said navigation signals into a first location data defining a first location of said mobile cart; c) operating a fixed global position receiver from a known, fixed location, defined by known location data, for receiving navigation signals from said one or more navigation satellites and converting said navigation signals into a second location data defining said known, fixed location; d) comparing said second location data with said known location data and generating a first error signal corresponding to a first differential between said second location data and said known location data; e) changing said first location data in accordance with said first error signal into a first adjusted location data defining said first location of said mobile cart; f) measuring a distance and a direction between said mobile cart as defined by said first adjusted location data, and said golf ball positioned on said fairway and changing said first adjusted location data in accordance with said distance and said direction so measured for generating a ball location data defining the location of said golf ball on said fairway; and g) calculating a second differential between said ball location data and said hole location data and converting said second differential into a first distance.

Claim 25

A method for determining a distance between a golf ball positioned on a golf course and a stationary object on the golf course, where the location of said object is defined in known and preserved location data, said method comprising the steps of: a) operating a receiver from a fixed location defined accurately by a known location data, for receiving GPS navigation signals and for deriving, from said navigation signals, a first location data defining said fixed location; b) comparing said known location data with said first location data and generating an error data corresponding to a differential between said known location data and said first location data; c) transmitting said error data to mobile receivers on the golf course; d) operating a mobile receiver, which is remotely spaced from said golf ball, from an undefined location on said golf course for receiving GPS navigation signals and deriving, from said navigation signals, a second location data defining said undefined location of said mobile receiver; e) receiving said error data and applying said error data to said second location data for adjusting said second location data with said error data for generating an adjusted location data defining said undefined location; f) determining the distance and direction between said undefined location as defined by said adjusted location data, and said golf ball and adjusting said adjusted location data by the determined distance and direction for generating a ball location data defining the location of said golf ball; g) comparing said ball location data and said location data and calculating a difference data between said ball location data and said location data and converting said difference data into a measurement of distance between said golf ball and said object.

Claim 26

A method for determining a distance between a golf ball positioned on a golf course and a stationary object on the golf course, where the location of said object is defined in known and preserved location data, said method comprising the steps of: a) operating a receiver from a fixed location defined accurately by a known location data, for receiving GPS navigation signals and for deriving, from said navigation signals, a first location data defining said fixed location; b) comparing said known location data with said first location data and generating an error data corresponding to a differential between said known location data and said first location data; c) transmitting said error data to mobile receivers on the golf course; d) operating a mobile receiver, which is remotely spaced from said golf ball, from an undefined location on said golf course for receiving GPS navigation signals and deriving, from said navigation signals, a second location data defining said undefined location of said mobile receiver; e) receiving said error data and applying said error data to said second location data for adjusting said second location data with said error data for generating an adjusted location data defining said undefined location; f) determining the distance and direction between said undefined location as defined by said adjusted location data, and said golf ball and adjusting said adjusted location data by the determined distance and direction for generating a ball location data defining the location of said golf ball; g) comparing said ball location data and said location data and calculating a difference data between said ball location data and said location data and converting said difference data into a measurement of distance between said golf ball and said object.

Claim 32

A method for measuring the distance between a golf ball positioned on a golf course and a stationary object on said golf course, wherein the location of said object is defined in a known and preserved location data, said method comprising the steps of: a) operating a navigation signals receiver from a predetermined location, said predetermined location defined by a known location data, for receiving navigation signals from navigation satellites and deriving from said navigation signals a first location data defining said predetermined location; b) comparing said known location data with said first location data and generating an error data corresponding to a differential between said known location data and said first location data; c) transmitting said error data to mobile navigational signal receivers on said golf course which mobile navigational signal receivers are remotely spaced from said golf ball; d) operating a mobile navigation signal receiver transported by a mobile unit at an undefined location on said golf course, said navigation signal receiver receiving navigation signals from said navigation satellites and deriving from said navigation signals a second location data defining said undefined location of said mobile receiver unit; e) receiving said error data by said navigation signal receiver transported by said mobile unit and applying said error data to said second location data for adjusting said second location data with said error data for generating an adjusted location data defining said undefined location; f) monitoring movement of said mobile unit and generating a local data defining movement of said mobile unit during steps d) and e); g) adjusting said adjusted location data with said local data for generating a second adjusted location data defining said undefined location; h) determining a distance and direction between said undefined location, as defined by said second adjusted location data, and said golf ball and adjusting said second adjusted location data by said determined distance and direction for generating a ball location data defining the location of said golf ball; and i) comparing said ball location data and said known and preserved location data and calculating a difference data between said ball location data and said known and preserved location data and converting said difference data into a measurement data defining the distance between said ball and said object.

Claim 33

A method for measuring the distance between a golf ball positioned on a golf course and a stationary object on said golf course, wherein the location of said object is defined in a known and preserved location data, said method comprising the steps of: a) operating a navigation signals receiver from a predetermined location, said predetermined location defined by a known location data, for receiving navigation signals from navigation satellites and deriving from said navigation signals a first location data defining said predetermined location; b) comparing said known location data with said first location data and generating an error data corresponding to a differential between said known location data and said first location data; c) transmitting said error data to mobile navigational signal receivers on said golf course which mobile navigational signal receivers are remotely spaced from said golf ball; d) operating a mobile navigation signal receiver transported by a mobile unit at an undefined location on said golf course, said navigation signal receiver receiving navigation signals from said navigation satellites and deriving from said navigation signals a second location data defining said undefined location of said mobile receiver unit; e) receiving said error data by said navigation signal receiver transported by said mobile unit and applying said error data to said second location data for adjusting said second location data with said error data for generating an adjusted location data defining said undefined location; f) monitoring movement of said mobile unit and generating a local data defining movement of said mobile unit during steps d) and e); g) adjusting said adjusted location data with said local data for generating a second adjusted location data defining said undefined location; h) determining a distance and direction between said undefined location, as defined by said second adjusted location data, and said golf ball and adjusting said second adjusted location data by said determined distance and direction for generating a ball location data defining the location of said golf ball; and i) comparing said ball location data and said known and preserved location data and calculating a difference data between said ball location data and said known and preserved location data and converting said difference data into a measurement data defining the distance between said ball and said object.