Visual aids for integrating physical and virtual targets on a sports field

Abstract

The invention generally relates to a system and method of providing visual aids for integrating physical and virtual targets on a sports field. The system and method expand participation by combining the advantages of simulated display having virtual targets with a physical field of play having visual aids to help a player estimate the height and position of the virtual target on the physical field of play.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for integrating virtual targets on a sports field, the system comprising:
 a plurality of bay stations each having a display positioned therein, the display configured to show a gameplay environment;   a range extending from the bay stations, the range comprising:
 a shared field of play of each of the bay stations, and 
 a plurality of visual aids providing reference points for the shared field of play; and 
   a range visualization system configured to provide a virtual target in the gameplay environment, wherein a characteristic of the virtual target is represented on the shared field of play by at least one of the visual aids.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the characteristic of the virtual target is a size, a height, a position, or a combination thereof of the virtual target. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein each of the visual aids is positioned above the shared field of play at one of a plurality of height intervals. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the visual aids is positioned on a support pole or a segment of netting. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of visual aids is represented in the gameplay environment by a plurality of virtual markers. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the visual markers comprise a line intersecting the virtual target. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein each of the virtual markers has a color, a pattern, a width, or a combination thereof matching that of the corresponding visual aid. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the gameplay environment mirrors the shared field of play. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the gameplay environment is completely virtualized. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the range further comprises a physical target located on the shared field of play. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the physical target provides a reference point within the shared field of play for the virtual target. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein all or a portion of the physical target is mobile. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the range visualization system is further configured to visualize the physical target as the virtual target. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the range visualization system is further configured to visualize a second virtual target. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the range visualization system is further configured to visualize a third virtual target. 
     
     
         16 . A method for integrating virtual targets on a sports field, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a plurality of visual aids about a field of play;   mapping, using a range visualization system, the visual aids as a plurality of virtual markers within a gameplay environment;   mapping, using the range visualization system, a virtual target within the gameplay environment, wherein a position of the virtual target is represented on the shared field of play by corresponding visual aids; and   showing, using a display, the virtual target and the virtual markers in the gameplay environment.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of altering an appearance for each of the virtual markers when the corresponding visual aids do not represent the position of the virtual target. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of removing all or some of the plurality of virtual markers from the gameplay environment based on an input on the display. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of generating, using a computer, a recommended flight path of a ball over the field of play to reach a physical position within the range that corresponds to the virtual target within the gameplay environment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising updating a player scorecard on the display when a ball reaches the position of the virtual target as represented on the shared field of play.