Distance determination method and system for a golf course

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for updating mobile distance determination units on a golf course that includes a first mobile unit that determines a new location for a point-of-interest defined for a golf course. The first mobile unit wirelessly transmits update data to identify the new location to a base station computer. The base station computer processes the updated data for broadcasting to activated second mobile distance determination units. The base station computer then wirelessly broadcasts the updated data from the base station computer to the second mobile distance determination units. The second mobile distance determination units update their point-of-interest location data and use this updated data to determine distances between the second mobile distance determination units and the new locations. The mobile distance determination units may operate in a golfer mode to provide distance measurements to golfers, may operate in the greenskeeper mode to update the pin positions, or may operate in a surveyor mode to define new points of interests and their locations on the golf course.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A system for use in determining distances between a mobile distance determination unit and points-of-interest on a golf course, comprising: 
 storage means containing a plurality of operating mode modules downloadable when selected by a user into the mobile distance determination unit for operation therein, each of said modules containing instructions, information, and data including predefined points of interest, for operating the mobile distance determination unit in given mode of operation;    a base station comprising means for receiving and processing GPS signals, means for receiving and transmitting RF signals, means for communicating data, instructions and messages to an operator, means for receiving inputs from said operator for processing by said base station; and means for downloading at least one of said operating mode modules to the mobile distance determination unit in response to a user request;    a mobile distance determination unit comprising means for receiving and processing an operating mode module downloaded therein, means for receiving and processing GPS signals, means for receiving and transmitting RF signals, means for communicating data, instructions and messages to a user, and means for receiving inputs from said user for processing by said mobile distance determination unit, said mobile distance determination unit being operable in at least one of a plurality of modes in accordance with the information and data contained in the downloaded operating mode module;    said mobile distance determining unit when downloaded with a first one of said operating mode modules being operative in a first mode of operation to determine a first location of the mobile distance determination unit, to calculate the distances between the first location and predefined points-of-interest locations stored in the mobile distance determination unit, and to display the distances calculated between the first location and the predefined points-of-interest;    said mobile distance determining unit when downloaded with a second one of said operating mode modules being operative in a second mode of operation to determine a second location of the mobile distance determination unit and to associate the second location with a point-of-interest on a golf course, thereby defining a point-of-interest/second location association, said mobile distance determination unit being operative to transmit said point-of-interest/second location association to the base station for communication to mobile distance determination units when operating in said second mode;    said mobile distance determining unit when downloaded with a third one of said operating mode modules being operative in a third mode of operation to determine GPS signal coverage and RF signal coverage of the golf course; and    said mobile distance determining unit when downloaded with a fourth one of said operating mode modules being operative in a fourth mode of operation to determine the location of a movable asset when placed on such asset and communicating the changing location of such asset to the base station as said asset moves.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first, second, third, and fourth mode of operation is determined in response to a user selecting the desired mode of operation for the mobile distance determination unit.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means to download the operating mode module is a RF wireless transmission.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means to download the operating mode module is an interface socket provided on the base station to which said mobile distance determination unit is connected.  
     
     
         5  The system of  claim 1  wherein, when the mobile distance determination unit is operating in the first, second, or fourth mode of operation, the operating mode module data is updated with new data transmitted from the base station.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the operating mode module further comprises duty cycling functionality.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the duty cycling functionality is programmable for use in one of the following modes: distance of the mobile determining unit from the hole, power usage of the mobile distance determination unit, operator defined variables, and pattern of play and such duty cycling mode is activated upon downloading into the mobile distance determination unit.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each mobile distance determining unit has a unique identification that is addressable by the base station.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  where the base station maintains and tracks the location of each mobile distance determination unit by its identification.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mobile distance determining unit performs a power on self test of its components on activation.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the power capacity in the mobile distance determining unit is determined prior to use on the golf course.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the download of the operating mode modules further comprises the RF frequencies of operation to be used by the mobile distance determining unit.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said second operating mode module is operative to provide a list of point-of-interest types to a user for selection, said second operating mode module being operative to associate said second location with a point-of-interest type selected from said list by said user, and being operative to communicate said association to said base station.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said point-of-interest association is wirelessly communicated to said base station.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein for each operating mode module at least one of said points-of-interest evaluated for each golf hole on the golf course is selected from a group comprising: a golf hole located on a green of a golf hole on the golf course, a hazard on said hole, a tree on said hole, the front of the green on said hole, and the back of the green on said hole.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said mobile distance determination unit is a hand held unit.  
     
     
         17 . In a system having one or more mobile distance determination units in operation on a golf course and communicable with a base station, a method for updating mobile distance determination units on a golf course, comprising the steps of: 
 operating a first mobile distance determination unit to determine a new location for a point-of-interest defined for a golf course;    wirelessly transmitting update data to identify said new location from said first mobile distance determination unit to a base station;    processing at said base station said updated data for broadcasting to said operating mobile distance determination units;    wirelessly broadcasting said updated data from said base station to said operating mobile distance determination units; and    updating at said operating mobile distance determination units point-of-interest location data contained therein with said updated data, said update data being used to determine distances between said operating mobile distance determination units and said new locations.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said first and operating mobile distance determination units are operative to operate in a first or second mode of operation comprising: 
 said first and said operating mobile distance determination units determining a first location of the mobile distance determination unit, calculating the distances between the first location and predefined points-of-interest locations stored in the mobile distance determination unit, and displaying the distances calculated between the first location and the predefined points-of-interest when operating in said first mode;  
 said first and said operating mobile distance determination units determining a second location of the mobile distance determination unit and associating the second location with a point-of-interest on a golf course, thereby defining a point-of-interest/second location association, said mobile distance determination unit being operative to transmit said point-of-interest/second location association to a base station for communication to mobile distance determination units when operating in said second mode.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said distances are determined using global positioning system (GPS) satellites.  
     
     
         20 . A method of alerting a user that a distance measurement request contains inaccurate data in mobile distance determination system, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving an indication from a mobile distance determination unit that a distance measurement is to be made for a user identified point-of-interest;    (b) determining the location of the mobile distance determination unit based on GPS signals;    (c) determining whether the location determined in step (b) is within a predetermined range of known location coordinates for said point-of-interest identified by said user;    (d) indicating that the point-of-interest identified by the user is not correct if said location determined in step (b) is not within said range.    
     
     
         21 . A method of alerting a user that a mobile distance determination unit is improperly located, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) determining the current location of the mobile distance determination unit based on GPS signals;    (b) determining whether the location determined in step (b) is within a pre-determined range of known unacceptable location coordinates; and    (c) indicating that the mobile distance determination unit is not properly located if said location determined in step (b) is within said range.    
     
     
         22 . A method of ensuring that distance measurements determined in a mobile distance determination unit for a golf course are accurate, comprising the steps of: 
 calculating a sample location measurement for a mobile distance determination unit for determining distances on a golf course in response to a user request;    determining whether said sample location measurement is within a predetermined range of a first selected number of previously determined location measurements for said mobile distance determination unit;    computing a current location measurement using said sample location measurement and said previously determined location measurements if said sample location measurement is within said predetermined range;    successively computing a second number of location measurements; and    using said second number of location measurements to compute a current location for said mobile unit if said sample location measurement is not within a predetermined range of said previously determined location measurements.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said step of using comprises computing a weighted average of the sample location measurement and said second number of location measurements.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the weighted average is established by using GPS parameters to establish a weight for each particular sample location measurement.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the step of successively computing further comprises computing a variable number of sample locations where said number is based on a user defined threshold being reached.  
     
     
         26 . A method of presenting point-of-interest data of a course to a user of a mobile distance determination unit, comprising the steps of: 
 determining the location of a mobile distance determination unit on a golf course using GPS signals;    calculating the distances from the mobile distance determination unit to points-of-interest downloaded in the mobile distance determination unit for the golf course; and    displaying for a particular shot to be made by the golfer only those points-of-interest defined for the golf hole that the golfer is playing that are within golfer specific parameters defined specifically for said golfer.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising displaying for a particular shot to be made by the golfer a unique pro tip defined for the golf hole that the golfer is playing that is within golfer specific parameters defined specifically for said golfer.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said golfer specific parameters are based on the golfer's skill.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said golfer specific parameters are defined during an activation procedure for said mobile distance determination unit.  
     
     
         30 . A mobile distance determination unit for use in determining distances on golf courses, comprising: 
 means for communicating information to and from a user, said means comprising visual displays, audible displays and vibratory displays;    means for receiving inputs from the user;    a processor being operative to determine a first location of a mobile distance determination unit, to calculate the distances between the first location and predefined points-of-interest locations stored in the mobile distance determination unit, and to communicate the distances calculated between the first location and the predefined points-of-interest to the user; and    a paging unit located in said mobile distance determining unit for receiving a pager message signal to a golfer for which said mobile distance determination unit is activated.    
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein said pager message signal informs said golfer to report to a specified location on the golf course.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein said pager message signal informs said golfer of the playing conditions of the golf course, said conditions comprising weather alerts, local rules, golf cart usage, and unique text messages.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein said pager message signal informs said golfer that the current location of mobile distance determination unit is in a prohibited area.