JP2006043107A - Golf cart and mobile terminal for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience when a plurality of players use one golf cart. <P>SOLUTION: In the golf cart provided with a terminal radio transmitting and receiving part for receiving an indication signal transmitted from at least one of mobile terminals carried respectively by the plurality of players, the convenience for sharing the golf cart is improved by providing; a step S20 for receiving the indication signal containing a transmission destination identifier for specifying the golf cart being an indication object; and a step S22 for extracting the transmission destination identifier contained in the indication signal received by the terminal radio transmitting and receiving part and carrying out processing based on the indication signal received by the terminal radio transmitting and receiving part in the case of the indication object specified by the transmission destination identifier. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a golf cart used by a plurality of players and a portable terminal thereof.

  When playing golf, golf clubs used by a plurality of players are often played while being carried on a single golf cart. In such a golf cart, in addition to the player riding on the golf cart and driving, the guide wire embedded in the cart path of the golf course by sending an instruction signal from the remote control with the player holding a portable terminal such as a remote control A method of automatically driving a golf cart along the road is also widely used.

  Also, in recent years, golf carts are equipped with wireless transceivers, GPS receivers, and displays, and the distance from the golf cart to the green is measured and displayed on the display, or play delays and weather from the golf course management system. In some cases, guidance information indicating deterioration or the like is received and displayed on a display.

JP-A-7-193643

  However, in the conventional golf cart, only one portable terminal is prepared corresponding to one golf cart, so a player playing without having a portable terminal moves the golf cart. When a user wishes to do so, he / she has to give a voice instruction to a player who has a mobile terminal, which is very inconvenient. Also, when the mobile terminal breaks down during play or when the battery of the mobile terminal is exhausted, the player has no choice but to ride on a golf cart and drive.

  Furthermore, when displaying guidance information on a display device mounted on a golf cart, the player cannot confirm the information unless moving to the golf cart, which is inconvenient and delays the progress of play. It was the cause.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a golf cart and a portable terminal thereof that have improved convenience when used by a plurality of players.

  The present invention includes a terminal wireless transmission / reception unit that receives an instruction signal transmitted from at least one of a plurality of portable terminals carried by each of a plurality of players, and the instruction signal is used to specify a golf cart to be instructed. A destination identifier is included, and a transmission destination identifier included in an instruction signal received by the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit is extracted, and received by the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit when the instruction target is specified by the transmission destination identifier. A golf cart that performs processing based on an instruction signal.

  The golf cart of the present invention is operated by a plurality of portable terminals carried by each of a plurality of players. At this time, the portable terminal that transmits an instruction signal for instructing processing to be performed by the golf cart includes a golf cart wireless transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives a wireless signal, and is transmitted from another portable terminal in the golf cart wireless transmission / reception unit. When a carrier is detected, it is preferable to wait for transmission of an instruction signal from the golf cart radio transceiver unit. This carrier indicates that an instruction signal is transmitted from another portable radio.

  The golf cart in the present invention performs processing based on the instruction signal received by the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit. For example, at least one of a golf cart automatic running process, a distance to green calculation process, and a guidance information acquisition process is performed. Further, based on the instruction signal received by the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit, a process of transmitting at least one of distance to the green or guidance information to the portable terminal is performed.

  In addition, the mobile terminal of the present invention receives a response signal transmitted from the golf cart including a transmission destination identifier that identifies a target mobile terminal by the golf cart radio transceiver unit, and the golf cart radio transceiver unit A transmission destination identifier included in the received response signal is extracted, and processing based on the response signal received by the golf cart radio transmission / reception unit when the target is specified by the transmission destination identifier is performed. For example, the response signal includes at least one of a distance to the green or guidance information, and presents guidance information such as a distance to the green and a change in weather based on this information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience when a plurality of players use one golf cart.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the golf cart 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an engine drive control unit 10, a terminal wireless transmission / reception unit 12, a GPS (Global Positioning System) reception unit 14, an information reception unit 16, a display unit 18, and The main control unit 19 is included.

  The engine drive control unit 10 receives the instruction signal from the mobile terminal 200 received by the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit 12 and controls the engine provided in the golf cart 100 to guide the golf drive 100 embedded in the cart path of the golf course. Automatically run along the line.

  The terminal radio transmission / reception unit 12 is a specific low power radio system. In the terminal radio transmission / reception unit 12, for example, it is preferable to use a frequency band of 400 MHz. The terminal wireless transmission / reception unit 12 is used to perform wireless communication with the golf cart wireless transmission / reception unit 20 included in the mobile terminal 200. The operation of the terminal radio transmission / reception unit 12 will be described later.

  The GPS receiving unit 14 includes a GPS antenna, a filter, an amplifier, and the like, measures the position of the golf cart 100 by receiving radio waves transmitted from a plurality of artificial satellites orbiting the earth, and the GPS receiving unit 14 and the like in advance. The distance and direction from the golf cart 100 to the position of the green are calculated based on the layout information of the golf course stored in the memory included in or received using the information receiving unit 16.

  The information receiving unit 16 includes a wireless antenna, a filter, an amplifier, and the like, and receives guidance information indicating play delay, weather deterioration, and the like wirelessly transmitted from a golf management system or the like installed in a golf course. It is also preferable to receive the layout information of the golf course used by the GPS receiver 14.

  The display unit 18 is used to visually provide various information to a player who uses the golf cart 100. The display unit 18 is preferably a liquid crystal panel or the like, for example, and is installed on the front panel or the like of the golf cart 100.

  The main control unit 19 controls the processing in each part of the golf cart 100 in an integrated manner. The main control unit 19 receives an instruction signal corresponding to the operation of the portable terminal 200 by the player, and accordingly, the engine drive control unit 10, the terminal radio transmission / reception unit 12, the GPS (Global Positioning System) reception unit 14, and the information reception unit 16 Alternatively, the display unit 18 is controlled.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the portable terminal 200 for operating the golf cart 100 includes a golf cart wireless transmission / reception unit 20, a display unit 22, operation buttons 24, and a main control unit 26. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the appearance of the mobile terminal 200.

  The golf cart radio transceiver 20 is a specific low power radio system including a radio antenna, a filter, an amplifier, and the like. The golf cart wireless transmission / reception unit 20 is used for wireless communication with the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit 12 included in the golf cart 100. In the golf cart radio transmission / reception unit 20, for example, it is preferable to use a frequency band of 400 MHz. In the present embodiment, a plurality of portable terminals 200 that can perform wireless communication in a frequency band that matches the use frequency band of the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit 12 provided in one golf cart 100 are prepared. The portable terminal 200 generates an instruction signal based on the operation of the operation button 24 by the player, and transmits the instruction signal to a predetermined range of space as a radio signal in a frequency band matched to a use frequency band of the golf cart 100 to be controlled. In addition, a signal or data transmitted from the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit 12 of the golf cart 100 is received.

  The display unit 22 is used for visually providing various types of information to a player using the mobile terminal 200. The display unit 22 is preferably a liquid crystal panel, for example, and is installed on the panel of the mobile terminal 200.

  The main control unit 26 controls processing in each unit of the mobile terminal 200 in an integrated manner. The main control unit 26 receives the operation content of the operation button 24 by the player, generates an instruction signal corresponding to the operation content, and transmits the instruction signal to the golf cart radio transmission / reception unit 20. Moreover, the process based on the signal and data received in the golf cart radio | wireless transmission / reception part 20 is performed, and a process result is shown to the player who carries the portable terminal 200 using the display part 22. FIG. The main control unit 26 includes a predetermined internal clock.

  Next, control of the golf cart 100 using the mobile terminal 200 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process of wireless communication between the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit 12 of the golf cart 100 and the golf cart wireless transmission / reception unit 20 of the portable terminal 200. Here, a case where a plurality of players carry their own mobile terminals 200-1, 200-2,... And operate one shared golf cart 100 will be described. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, a process flow in one portable terminal 200 and the golf cart 100 is separately shown, and signals to be exchanged are shown together with broken-line arrows.

  In step S10, it is determined whether or not the operation button 24 of the portable terminal 200 has been pressed. The main control unit 26 confirms the operation status of the operation button 24 at any time. If the operation button 24 is operated, the process proceeds to step S12. If the operation button 24 is not operated, the process of step S10 is repeated. In the following description, it is assumed that the operation button 24 of the mobile terminal 200-1 is operated among the plurality of mobile terminals 200-1, 200-2.

  In step S12, carrier sense is performed. The operated portable terminal 200-1 detects a carrier transmitted from the golf cart 100 or another portable terminal 200-2... When the instruction signal or the response signal is transmitted from the golf cart 100 or the portable terminal 200-2..., The carrier is detected in the golf cart wireless transmission / reception unit 20 of the portable terminal 200-1.

  In step S14, it is determined whether a carrier has been detected. The main control unit 26 shifts the process to step S16 when the carrier is detected in the golf cart radio transmission / reception unit 20, and shifts the process to step S18 if the carrier is not detected.

  In step S16, the main control unit 26 of the portable terminal 200-1 uses a random standby time, for example, a random time between 0.2 seconds and 0.8 seconds, using an internal clock built in the main control unit 26. Wait for time to send the instruction signal. When the standby time elapses, the process proceeds to step S12 again to detect the carrier. If the carrier has been detected, the process waits again. If the carrier has not been detected, the process proceeds to step S18.

  Thus, the transmission collision of a signal is prevented by detecting the carrier transmitted from the golf cart 100 or other portable terminals 200-2. Accordingly, even when a plurality of players play with the mobile terminal 200 and operate one golf cart 100, data transmission does not interfere, and the golf cart 100 is controlled reliably and conveniently. Is possible.

  In step S18, an instruction signal is transmitted from portable terminal 200-1. The main control unit 26 of the portable terminal 200-1 generates an instruction signal corresponding to the content operated by the player in step S10 and sends the instruction signal to the golf cart radio transmission / reception unit 20. The golf cart radio transmission / reception unit 20 transmits a radio signal in a frequency band matched to the use frequency band of the golf cart 100 to be controlled. For example, when an operation of moving the golf cart 100 along the cart path is performed, the main control unit 26 generates an instruction signal for starting the engine of the golf cart 100, and receives an instruction signal for starting the engine from the golf cart radio transceiver unit 20. Send it. When the operation for stopping the golf cart 100 is performed, the main control unit 26 generates an instruction signal for stopping the engine of the golf cart 100, and transmits the instruction signal for stopping the engine from the golf cart radio transceiver unit 20. When an operation for inquiring the distance from the golf cart 100 to the green is performed, the main control unit 26 generates a distance inquiry instruction signal and causes the golf cart wireless transmission / reception unit 20 to transmit the distance inquiry instruction signal. Further, when an operation for inquiring guidance information regarding a golf course or play is performed, the main control unit 26 generates an instruction signal for guidance inquiry and causes the golf cart radio transceiver unit 20 to transmit the instruction signal for guidance inquiry.

  Signals exchanged between the golf cart 100 and the portable terminal 200 are preferably transmitted in a data format as shown in FIG. The “bit synchronization signal” is used to determine a position at which sampling is started in the receiving apparatus, and is obtained by repeating “1” and “0” at a predetermined cycle. The “frame synchronization signal” is used to find the head position of data in the receiving apparatus. The “calling code” is information that identifies the device to which the received signal is addressed. Actual data is added after these pieces of information.

  “Bit length” represents the data length (bit length) from the source identifier to the command additional information. The end of data can be determined based on this “bit length”. The “transmission source identifier” and the “transmission destination identifier” are numbers assigned in advance to each of the golf cart 100 and the mobile terminals 200-1, 200-2,. The mobile terminal 200-1 is assigned as “1”, the mobile terminal 200-2 as “2”, and so on. The “transmission source identifier” is information that identifies the device that transmitted the signal. The “transmission destination identifier” is information for specifying a device that is a transmission destination of a signal. The device that has received the signal can determine whether or not it is the destination by checking the “calling code” and the “destination identifier”. Further, when the “destination identifier” is global (for example, the value is 255), it means that all devices included in the system receive this and perform processing.

  “Command identifier” indicates what the signal is. FIG. 6 shows an example of “command identifier”. “Command additional information” is information to be added according to the content of the signal. For example, if the signal indicates the distance to the green, data indicating the distance to the green is added, and if the signal indicates the guidance information, information indicating the weather, the progress of the play, or the like is added. “CRC” is a code for correcting a bit error.

  In step S <b> 20, the instruction signal is received by the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit 12 of the golf cart 100. When the golf cart 100 is within the reach of the wireless signal from the portable terminal 200-1, the main control unit 19 receives the instruction signal received from the portable terminal 200-1 by the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit 12, and The included “calling code” and “destination identifier” are extracted to determine whether or not the transmission target is the golf cart 100.

  In step S22, processing according to the instruction signal is executed. When the golf cart 100 is a transmission target, the main control unit 19 analyzes the “command identifier” and the “command additional information” added to the instruction signal, and the engine drive control unit 10, the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit 12, It controls a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 14, information receiver 16 or display unit 18.

  For example, when an engine start instruction signal is received, the main control unit 19 transmits a control signal to the engine drive control unit 10. Upon receiving the control signal, the engine drive control unit 10 drives the engine of the golf cart 100 and controls the direction of the golf cart 100 along the guide line embedded in the cart path of the golf course, and the next stop position Until the golf cart 100 is automatically driven. When the engine stop instruction signal is received, the main control unit 19 transmits a control signal to the engine drive control unit 10. When the engine drive control unit 10 receives the control signal, the engine drive control unit 10 stops the engine of the golf cart 100.

  When a distance inquiry instruction signal is received, the main control unit 19 receives GPS radio waves from the artificial satellite by the GPS receiving unit 14 and receives layout information of the golf course by the information receiving unit 16. The main control unit 19 calculates the azimuth of the golf cart 100 and compares the azimuth information included in the golf course layout information with the position of the golf cart 100 in the golf course and the green currently being played by the player. Calculate the distance.

  When a guidance inquiry instruction signal is received, the main control unit 19 uses the information receiving unit 16 to provide guidance information including the golf course weather, the progress of the play of the front and rear parties, etc. from the golf course management system. At the same time, the contents are displayed on the display unit 18. In addition, guidance information is not limited to these, the situation of golf course (lightning weather etc.), information about play of golf (notice of play resumption time after lunch), traffic information around golf course, golf Any information that is useful to the player, such as product information, can be used.

  Further, the control of the golf cart 100 is not limited to these, and any control based on an instruction from a player using the mobile terminal 200 is included in the scope of application of the present embodiment.

  In step S24, a control signal and data are transmitted from the golf cart 100. The main control unit 19 transmits the distance to the green, guidance information, and the like acquired in step S22 by the terminal radio transmission / reception unit 12 as a response signal. The terminal radio transmission / reception unit 12 transmits a radio signal in a frequency band matched to the use frequency band of the mobile terminal 200. At this time, carrier sense is performed in the same manner as the portable terminal 200.

  In step S <b> 26, the response signal is received by the golf cart radio transmission / reception unit 20 of the mobile terminal 200. When the golf cart 100 is within the reach of wireless signals from the mobile terminals 200-1, 200-2,..., The mobile terminals 200-1, 200-2,. The signal and data transmitted from the golf cart 100 are received. The main control unit 26 of each of the mobile terminals 200-1, 200-2,... Extracts the “calling code” and the “destination identifier” included in the received signal, and determines whether or not it is a transmission target. To do. In the following, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 200-1 is the transmission destination.

  In step S28, processing according to the response signal is executed. The main control unit 26 of the portable terminal 200-1 that is the transmission target analyzes the “command identifier” and the “command additional information” added to the instruction signal, and performs processing such as information display.

  For example, when a response signal to the distance inquiry is received, the main control unit 26 causes the display unit 22 to display distance information to the green transmitted from the golf cart 100. When a response signal to the guidance inquiry is received, the main control unit 26 displays guidance information including the weather of the golf course, the progress of the play of the party before and after the golf course management system, etc. on the display unit 22. Let In this embodiment, various information is displayed on both the display unit 18 and the display unit 22. However, of course, information may be displayed on either the display unit 18 or the display unit 22. In addition, when it is not necessary to transmit a response signal to the portable terminal 200, the processes of steps S24 to S28 may be omitted.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of players use one golf cart, each can operate the cart and various information can be confirmed on the portable terminal. . Further, even when one of the portable terminals breaks down or the battery of the portable terminal is exhausted, the golf cart can be operated using the portable terminals carried by other players. Therefore, the convenience of the player is enhanced and the play can be performed smoothly and comfortably.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the golf cart in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the portable terminal in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the portable terminal in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the process in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data format of the signal used in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the command identifier in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Engine drive control part, 12 Terminal radio | wireless transmission / reception part, 14 GPS receiving part, 16 Information receiving part, 18 Display part, 19 Main control part, 20 Golf cart radio | wireless transmission / reception part, 22 Display part, 24 Operation button, 26 Main control part , 100 golf carts, 200 mobile terminals.

Claims (6)

A terminal wireless transceiver for receiving an instruction signal transmitted from at least one of a plurality of portable terminals carried by each of a plurality of players;
The instruction signal includes a transmission destination identifier for specifying a golf cart to be instructed,
Based on the instruction signal received by the terminal radio transmission / reception unit when the transmission destination identifier included in the instruction signal received by the terminal radio transmission / reception unit is extracted and the instruction is specified by the transmission destination identifier A golf cart shared by a plurality of players characterized by performing processing. The golf cart according to claim 1,
The process based on the instruction signal received by the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit is at least one of a golf cart automatic running process, a distance to green calculation process, and a guidance information acquisition process. In the golf cart according to claim 1 or 2,
The golf cart characterized in that the process based on the instruction signal received by the terminal wireless transmission / reception unit is a process of transmitting at least one of distance to the green or guidance information to the portable terminal. A portable terminal that transmits an instruction signal for instructing processing performed by a golf cart to a golf cart shared by a plurality of players,
A golf cart wireless transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless signals;
The portable terminal which waits for the transmission of the instruction | indication signal from the said golf cart radio | wireless transmission / reception part, when the carrier transmitted from the other portable terminal is received in the said golf cart radio | wireless transmission / reception part. The mobile terminal according to claim 4,
A response signal transmitted from the golf cart including a transmission destination identifier for specifying a target mobile terminal is received by the golf cart radio transceiver unit;
Based on the response signal received by the golf cart radio transmission / reception unit when the transmission destination identifier included in the response signal received by the golf cart radio transmission / reception unit is extracted and the target is specified by the transmission destination identifier A portable terminal characterized by performing the above processing. The mobile terminal according to claim 5,
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the response signal includes at least one of a distance to green and guidance information.

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