GB2481086A

GB2481086A - Digital transfer score card system

Info

Publication number: GB2481086A
Application number: GB1101376.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Probert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-04-20
Filing date: 2011-01-27
Publication date: 2011-12-14
Also published as: GB201101376D0

Abstract

A digital transfer score card system for scoring a round of golf; the system comprising a score card, a digital pen and a mobile communication device; wherein the score card comprises a sheet of digital paper marked with a series of score recording domains on which golf scores can be entered, the golf scores being readable by the digital pen and being uploadable via the mobile communication device to a remote computerised scoring system. The mobile communication device may be a GPRS device and may be integrally formed with the digital pen. The mobile communication device may be separate from the pen and communicate wirelessly through Bluetooth (RTM). A scorecard (see figure 1) is also claimed.

Description

DIGITAL TRANSFER SCORE CARD SYSTEM

This invention relates to a digital transfer score card system and in particular a digital transfer score card system that can be used to record golf scores.

Background of the Invention

Historically, the game of golf has relied upon individual players filling in score cards manually to record the scores in a given round of golf. A round of golf typically consists of 18 holes. Important information such as the number of strokes played and the marker's score, and optionally also useful additional information such as the distance of a drive, the strokes played on the fairway and the number of putts may all be recorded on a score card.

At present, in a two person game of golf, the two players swap score cards so that each player holds the other player's card. This means that player 1 is the marker of player 2 and vice versa. On completion of the round of golf, the score card is then signed and verified by both the marker and the player to confirm the number of shots per hole as well as any other information (such as points for stroke play or match play) considered necessary to provide a legitimate score card or to provide a score that can be converted to the players' current handicaps.

Whilst the above method of scoring follows a tried and tested formulation which has survived for hundreds of years, there are fundamental problems. In particular, such problems include transcribing errors and errors arising from illegible writing which can, either inadvertently or by design, cause havoc with the scoring at the end of a round of golf.

Using modern communications technologies, scores can be transmitted from anywhere on a golf course using a variety of types of PDA (personal digital assistant or palmtop computer) and mobile phones to a central scoring system.

Using such systems allows the creation of hole-by-hole scores depicting live leader boards for any number of tournaments on a variety of levels. However, in each case, a third party is still required to manually input the scores from around the course.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention sets out to provide a score card which can be filled in using a pen in the normal manner but which at the same time automatically creates a digital record of the score which can be transmitted to a remote computerised scoring system.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a digital transfer score card system for scoring a round of golf; the system comprising a score card, a digital pen and a mobile communication device; wherein the score card comprises a sheet of digital paper marked with a series of score recording domains on which golf scores can be entered, the golf scores being readable by the digital pen and being uploadable via the mobile communication device to a remote computerised scoring system.

The mobile communication device is typically a GPRS (General packet radio service) device. The mobile communication device may be formed integrally with the digital pen. Alternatively, the mobile communication device may be separate from the digital pen. Where the mobile communication device is separate from the digital pen, an electronic means for communication between the two components is provided. Preferably, the mobile communication device communicates electronically via a wireless link to the electronic pen. The wireless link to the electronic pen may be provided, for example, by a Bluetooth(TM) device.

The digital pen is typically one which contains a supply (e.g. a cartridge) of ink and which can be used to write on the score card in conventional fashion as well as being capable of reading what has been written.

Thus the digital pen typically contains a digital camera which takes images of any markings made on the score card.

One preferred type of digital pen is the "Anoto" digital pen.

The score card is typically created by printing the score recording domains (and optionally any other information recording domains) on digital paper.

Uploading of the golf score to the remote computerised scoring system may be initiated from the digital pen or mobile communication device. However, it is preferred that uploading of golf scores to the remote computerised scoring system is initiated by placing a mark on the score card with the digital pen.

More particularly, it is preferred that the score card is further marked with one or more transmission initiating domains, whereby marking of one of the transmission initiating domains with the digital pen initiates uploading of the entered golf scores via the mobile communication device to the remote computerised scoring system.

The score card may conveniently be partitioned into two sections delineated by a tear line, each section containing a set of score recording domains for entering a complete set of scores for a round of golf. The two sections may be separated and one section given to a marker accompanying a player.

The score card may bear one or more further information recording domains for recording any one or more items of information selected from a player's name, a player's tournament reference number, a marker's name or identifier code, a round number, distance driven from a golf tee, number of putts required on a putting green, number of fairway shots, number of bunker shots and number of penalty strokes incurred in a given hole.

Usually, the score card will bear one or more further information recording domains for recording at least the player's name and/or the player's tournament reference number, the marker's name or identifier code and (for multi-round tournaments) the round number.

In another aspect, the invention provides a digital transfer score card system as defined herein further comprising a computerised scoring system for receiving the uploaded scores.

The invention also provides, as such, a score card as defined herein.

The invention further provides a method of transmitting golf scores from a location on a golf course to a remote computerised scoring system, which method comprises entering a golf score on a score card with a digital pen as defined in any one of the preceding claims, and initiating transmission of the golf scores from the digital pen via the mobile communication device to the remote computerised scoring system.

It will be apparent for the foregoing that the present invention provides a digital transfer score card that uses either a. A digital pen and a GPRS device; or b. A digital pen with a built in GPRS device.

By means of the invention, problems with everyday golf scoring of the type discussed above can be overcome.

Thus, the invention provides a digital transfer score card system which utilises a specific scorecard, a digital pen with a separate GPRS device transmitting back to a computer scoring system to be used while out on a golf course.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the invention also provides a digital transfer score card system which utilises a specific scorecard, a digital pen with a built-in GPRS device transmitting back to a computer scoring system to be used while out on a golf course.

It will further be appreciated that the digital transfer score card system of the invention, in combination with the computerised scoring system, typically comprises four elements, namely: (i) A score card and its function: (ii) A digital pen; (iii) A GPRS device: and (iv) A compatible computer scoring system.

Further embodiments and aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of specific embodiments and the claims appended hereto.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a partly filled-in score card according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a score card according to another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be illustrated, but not limited, by reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings Figures 1 and 2.

The digitised scoring card system of the invention comprises a digital pen, a score card, a GPRS (General packet radio service) device and a Computer Scoring System. The GPRS device and the digital pen may be presented as separate components but they could instead be integrated in a single device.

Figure 1 illustrates a score card forming part of the system. The score card has been developed to allow as much or as little information to be transmitted back to a computer scoring system as is required.

The score card is created by printing an array of score recording or information recording domains on digital paper. The term "digital paper" as used herein is used in its conventional sense to denote paper which has been printed or otherwise provided with an array of background elements (e.g. an array of near invisible or barely visible dots) that allows markings made on the paper to be "read" by a digital pen.

With reference to Figure 1, the arrangement of the score card is as described in the following paragraphs.

Moving clockwise from the top left of the score card in Figure 1, there is a space 2 for player information, e.g. the player's name. In the centre of the score card is a box 4 for the player's number (in this case denoted by three letters and three numbers, e.g. PR0001). Underneath the box 4 for the player's number is a box 6 in which can be entered the number of the round: this box would be completed where a golf competition extended over more than one round, for example over a number of days. In the top right hand corner of the score card is a space 8 in which a logo (e.g. a corporate logo) or other advertising material may be placed.

Below the spaces and boxes 2,4,6 and 8 are rows of boxes 10 and 12 in which the player's scores at each hole can be recorded.

Below the rows of boxes 10 and 12 are spaces 14 and 16 for the marker's signature and player's signature respectively.

Beneath the signature spaces 14 and 16 is a "tear-off" line 18 which extends from left to right and divides the score card in two. The tear-off line may be un-perforated. Alternatively, it may be perforated to assist with tearing off.

In the lower section of the score card, below the tear-off line 18, are arrays of boxes 20 and 22 in which the marker's scores can be entered. The boxes in rows and 22 need to be filled in with either a tick or a number. Shadow lettering in the boxes indicates whether a tick or number is required.

In use, the score card is assigned to the player so that if, during a round of golf, the battery in the electronic pen runs out, a different pen can be used without it affecting the computer scoring system.

By filling in the information on the score card with the digital pen (e.g. as shown in Figure 4), and then sending the information by drawing a left-to-right line in a "send" box 24 with the pen, the scores will automatically be uploaded via the digital pen by means of the GPRS to the computer scoring system.

If, at any time, a mistake is made, the incorrect entry is crossed out, the correct figure inserted and the score card resent to the computer scoring system.

Correction of errors in this way is facilitated by the fact that no historical data are kept by the computer scoring system. This means that each time a score is sent to the computer scoring system, all of the data entered on to the score card will be transmitted, regardless of whether only one hole has been played or eighteen holes played.

The information provided by transmission of the scores to the computer scoring system can be used to populate a live scoring feed in the club house or on the Internet, or a television transmission, or any combination of these. This will allow spectators and viewers and other competitors to see exactly how players are getting on throughout the whole course without having to follow any one specific group around.

The digital pen is an essential component of the system. The digital pen works by reading the movements of the user's hand to determine what is being written, whether this is a figure, a letter or a tick.

One particularly suitable digital pen is the "Anoto" (TM) digital pen available from Anoto AB of Lund, Sweden and their subsidiaries.

The "Anoto" digital pen contains an ink cartridge which feeds a writing tip or nib and can thus be used in the same manner as an ordinary ballpoint pen. However, the "Anoto" digital pen also includes a force sensor linked to' the ink cartridge, an integrated digital camera, an advanced image processor, an electronic memory and a mobile communications device such as a "Bluetooth" transceiver, as well as a battery for powering the various electronic components.

As the pen is used to write characters and symbols on the score card, it digitizes the handwritten text by reading and recording pen strokes in relation to the barely visible pattern of dots on the digital paper upon which the score card is printed.

The digital camera within the pen automatically takes between about 50 and 100 images per second of the dot pattern on the paper, each image providing enough data to determine the position of the pen on the paper and the letters or characters that it has written.

The GPRS device can be any mobile communication device capable of communicating with the computer scoring system and the digital pen. The GPRS device could be built into the digital pen. Alternatively, it could be anything from a mobile phone with the correct software to a dedicated GPRS device specifically adapted for use with the system. Where the GPRS device is separate from the digital pen, the GPRS device is typically provided with "Bluetooth" connectivity with thedigitalpen.

The computer scoring system accepts incoming signals from the GPRS device and transforms the incoming data into a score sheet that can be viewed as an electronic score board or leader board and can contain as much or as little of the transmitted data as is required.

Figure 2 illustrates a score card according to a second embodiment of the invention. The score card of Figure 2 is generally similar to the score card of Figure 1 except that, in boxes 220 and 222, not only can the marker's scores be entered, but also other information about the round, such as the driving distance, number of fairway shots, sand bunker shots and putting shots, can be entered.

Equivalents It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the specific embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the principles underlying the invention. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A digital transfer score card system for scoring a round of golf; the system comprising a score card, a digital pen and a mobile communication device; wherein the score card comprises a sheet of digital paper marked with a series of score recording domains on which golf scores can be entered, the golf scores being readable by the digital pen and being uploadable via the mobile communication device to a remote computerised scoring system.
2. A digital transfer score card system according to claim 1 wherein the mobile communication device is a GPRS device.
3. A digital transfer score card system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the mobile communication device is formed integrally with the digital pen.
4. A digital transfer score card system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the mobile communication device is separate from the digital pen.
5. A digital transfer score card system according to claim 4 wherein the mobile communication device communicates electronically via a wireless link to the electronic pen.
6. A digital transfer score card system according to claim 5 wherein the wireless link to the electronic pen is provided by a Bluetooth(TM) device.
7. A digital transfer score card system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein uploading of golf scores to the remote computerised scoring system is initiated by placing a mark on the score card with the digital pen.
8. A digital transfer score card system according to claim 6 wherein the score card is further marked with one or more transmission initiating domains, whereby marking of one of the transmission initiating domains with the digital pen initiates uploading of the entered golf scores via the mobile communication device to the remote computerised scoring system.
9. A digital transfer score card system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the score card is partitioned into two sections delineated by a tear line, each section containing a set of score recording domains for entering a complete set of scores for a round of golf.
10. A digital transfer score card system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the score card bears one or more further information recording domains for recording any one or more items of information selected from a player's name, a player's tournament reference number, a marker's name or identifier code, a round number, distance driven from a golf tee, number of putts required on a putting green, number of fairway shots, number of bunker shots and number of penalty strokes incurred in a given hole.
11. A digital transfer score card system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 further comprising a computerised scoring system for receiving the uploaded scores.
12. A digital transfer score card system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. A score card as defined in any one of the preceding claims.
14. A method of transmitting golf scores from a location on a golf course to a remote computerised scoring system, which method comprises entering a golf score on a score card with a digital pen as defined in any one of the preceding claims, and initiating transmission of the golf scores from the digital pen via the mobile communication device to the remote computerised scoring system.