Smart golf software

Abstract

A system that wirelessly integrates actual golf equipment with a computer and the internet to allow players remotely located from one another to play a competitive simulated game of golf. An individual player may opt to play solo or practice to improve basic golfing techniques. The system includes smart golf clubs, a golf ball receptacle and a golf club motion sensing device, all containing circuits and contact or motion sensors coupled with signal processing and radio frequency transmitter circuitry, to thereby wirelessly communicate game performance information to a remote receiver-computer. The computer displays player information and visually simulates and controls a golf game between two players, via the internet, having similar equipment and remotely located from each other. Standard golf clubs may be retrofitted with the sensors and associated circuitry to convert such clubs into “smart clubs” for use with the system. The system employs specially developed computer software to process player performance data, control game play, communicate game information between players, generate and control visual simulations and display player performance information.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]Priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60 / 13,722, filed May 12, 1999 for all subject matter common hereto. That provisional application is incorporated by reference herein. This is a divisional application and the parent application for this divisional application is, Ser. No. 09 / 570,233.REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX[0002]A microfiche appendix including 1 microfiche with 27 frames accompanies and forms a part of this application.FIELD OF INVENTION[0003]This invention relates to a smart golf system coupling real sports equipment and a computer. More particularly, this invention relates to a system wherein a golf club communicates wirelessly to a personal computer and thereby, if desired, to the internet.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]A number of patented golf club devices embody various ball contact or club swing sensing components. Typically, these devices display information related to a golf player's swing and accuracy i...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Also, numerous conventional computer golf game software packages and video games use a variety of unrealistic techniques to emulate the striking of a golf ball with a club.

None of these cooperates with actual golf clubs, actual golf ball target or cup receptacles, or a swing detector that senses the actual golf stroke.

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