WO2005043442A1

WO2005043442A1 - Handheld terminal, system and method for managing golf scores

Info

Publication number: WO2005043442A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/002308
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seok-Hoon Yang
Original assignee: Ezsync Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-10-17
Filing date: 2003-10-30
Publication date: 2005-05-12
Also published as: KR20040010420A; AU2003274789A1

Abstract

A system for managing golf scores includes handheld terminals for requesting and receiving current coordinates information of the handled terminal to/from a GPS when shot information composed of kinds of golf clubs and numbers is input, and then transmitting ID information peculiar to the handheld terminal together together with the shot information and the coordinates information; and a management server for calculating and storing golf scores of each user according to the information transmitted from the handheld terminal, extracting a map image for a hole corresponding to the coordinates information, marking a ball position on the map image to the coordinates information, and then providing the map image.

Description

HANDHELD TERMINAL, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING GOLF SCORES

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a handheld terminal, a system and a method for managing golf scores, and more particularly to a handheld terminal capable of transmitting ball position information of a user in a golf course in real time, and a system for managing golf scores, which may store and manage game information of the user on the basis of he ball position information transmitted from the handheld terminal. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for managing golf scores in real time using such a system.

BACKGROUND ART Golf, recently gaining in public favor, is a sports for making scores with a hitting number required for putting a ball into a hole cup prepared in a green of each hole while a user plays a round with 18 holes. Generally in the golf game, scores are manually managed in such a traditional way that the user carries a score board with making round of holes and directly records a score on the board. Thus, a player may not have a chance to analyze and correct his/her shot during the golf game, and even worse the player hardly grasps an accurate position of his/her ball. Furthermore, the gallery should visit the golf course and see a game with the naked eyes, and they cannot understand a position of a ball shot by the player in real time though the golf game is broadcasted through a medium such as TV. In addition, when inquiring the progress of the game on Internet, he/she may know only the game results but cannot get ball information in real time. There have been proposed techniques for managing golf scores in connection with information communication technologies. Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-86007 discloses a system for managing golf scores in which a user directly inputs a ball position on a green image displayed on a handheld terminal with the use of a touch pen and then the input information is transmitted to a management server that manages the golf scores. However in this system, the user should select a hole and then inputs a ball position with eye's measurement, so the input hole position is not accurate. In addition, the user should check and input weather information such as direction and velocity of the wind and temperature as occasion calls. That is to say, since the information ofthe golf game is determined and input on the basis of subjective determination ofthe player, so the golf score is not objective. In addition, Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-92142 discloses a device for measuring a distance, which grasps a current position of a golfer with GPS, and then calculates a distance and a direction to a corresponding hole cup with the use of an azimuth angle of a terrestrial magnetism sensor together with a map data. However, this technique just measures and provides a residual distance from the user to the hole cup, and it cannot solve the conventional inconvenience that a golfer should carry a score board and manages golf scores one by one. Furthermore, since all map images of the golf course should be stored in the terminal, the terminal should have a memory with a large capacity or be limitedly used in a specific golf course. In addition, since this technique just checks a position of a golfer, it does not include the concept of managing golf scores with exchanging data with a separate server or giving a service through the web.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention is designed to solve the problems of the prior art, and therefore it is an object of the invention to provide a handheld terminal for managing golf scores, which calculates a position of a golf ball accurately with GPS and then transmits the position together with shot information of a golfer. Another object ofthe present invention is to provide a system for managing golf scores, which may extract a map image of a golf course where a golfer is progressing a game with the use of the ball position information and the shot information transmitted through the handheld terminal, and mark trajectory and position ofthe ball accurately on the map. Still another object ofthe present invention is to provide a system for managing golf scores, which calculates, stores and provides golf scores with the use of the ball position information and the shot information transmitted through the handheld terminal. Further another object of the present invention is to provide a method for managing golf scores, which is capable of providing the progress of the golf game and the scores in real time as a golfer simply inputs information about his/her own ball in the handheld terminal. In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a handheld terminal for managing golf scores, which includes an input unit provided with buttons for input of shot information composed of kinds of golf clubs and numbers; a storage unit for storing ID information peculiar to the handheld terminal and the input shot information; a display unit for displaying a guidance of input and details input through the input unit; a GPS coordinates receiving unit for requesting and receiving current coordinates information of the handheld terminal to/from a GPS when the shot information is received through the input unit; a transmission unit for transmitting the ID information, the shot information and the coordinates information to a management server through a communication network when the GPS coordinates receiving unit receives the coordinates information; and a control unit for controlling each ofthe above units. Preferably, the buttons of the input unit includes club selection buttons and number buttons. In another aspect ofthe invention, there is also provided a system for managing golf scores, which includes a handheld terminal for requesting and receiving current coordinates information of the handheld terminal to/from a GPS when shot information composed of kinds of golf clubs and numbers is input, and then transmitting ID information peculiar to the handheld terminal together with the shot information and the coordinates information; and a management server for calculating and storing golf scores of each user according to the information transmitted from the handheld terminal, extracting a map image for a hole corresponding to the coordinates information, marking a ball position on the map image according to the coordinates information, and then providing the map image. Here, the handheld terminal includes an input unit provided with buttons for input ofthe shot information; a storage unit for storing the ID information and the input shot information; a display unit for displaying a guidance of input and details input through the input unit; a GPS coordinates receiving unit for requesting and receiving the current coordinates information ofthe handheld terminal to/from the GPS when the shot information is received through the input unit; a transmission unit for transmitting the ID information, the shot information and the coordinates information to the management server through a communication network when the GPS coordinates receiving unit receives the coordinates information; and a control unit for controlling each ofthe above units. In addition, the management server preferably includes a web management unit for providing and managing golf score information on a hypermedia web page to a client terminal accessed through the communication terminal; a map generation unit for extracting a map image of the corresponding hole from a database according to the coordinates information received from the handheld terminal, and marking a corresponding ball position corresponding to the coordinates information on the extracted map image; a score management unit for calculating a golf score according to the shot information and the coordinates information received from the handheld terminal; and a control unit for controlling each ofthe above units. Preferably, the management server is connected with the database, and the database includes a member information DB storing data about personal details of a user; a map information DB storing data about map images for holes in a golf course and a coordinates range thereof; and a score information DB storing the shot information, the coordinates information and golf score data for each user. In still another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method for managing golf scores, which uses a system including a handheld terminal possessed by a user in a golf course, a client terminal, and a management server connected to the handheld terminal and the client terminal through a communication network, the method including the steps of (a) inputting shot information composed of kinds of golf clubs and numbers to the handheld terminal; (b) requesting and receiving coordinates information about a current position of the handheld terminal to/from a GPS; (c) transmitting ID information peculiar to the handheld terminal, the shot information and the coordinates terminal from the handheld terminal to the management server through the communication network; (d) the management server calculating a golf score according to the shot information and the coordinates information and then storing the golf score for each user corresponding to the ID information; and (e) the management server extracting a map image of a hole corresponding to the coordinates information, marking a ball position on the extracted map image according to the coordinates information, and then providing the map image through the communication network. Here, the step (d) includes (dl) storing the shot information and the coordinates information to the management server one by one according to the input order; and (d2) the management server determining whether the corresponding hole game comes to an end, and then calculating a hole score according to the information stored one by one when the hole game comes to an end. As an alternative, the step (d2) includes the steps of determining whether a putter use signal is received from the handheld terminal; and determining that the hole game comes to an end when a signal using a club other than a putter is received from the handheld terminal after the putter use signal is received in the above step. As another alternative, the step (d2) includes the steps of determining whether a putter use signal is received from the handheld terminal; and determining that the hall game comes to an end when a predetermined waiting time is passed after the putter use signal is received in the above step. According to another embodiment, the step (d2) includes the step of determining whether the coordinates information received from the handheld terminal is belonging to a hole corresponding to coordinates information received just before, and then determining that the hole game comes to an end when the received coordinates information is not belonging to the hole corresponding to the coordinates information received just before. According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the step (d2) includes the steps of determining whether a putter use signal is received from the handheld terminal; and determining that the hall game comes to an end when the number of putting is received from the handheld terminal after the putter use signal is received in the above step. Preferably, the step (d) further includes the step of determining whether a game end signal is received from the handheld terminal, and then calculating a total game score when the game end signal is received. More preferably, in the step (d), the management server adds time information and weather information and stores the time information and the weather information together. According to further another embodiment of the present invention, the step (e) includes the steps of logging-in to the management server through the client terminal; requesting golf score information from the client terminal to the management server; the management server extracting the map image ofthe corresponding hole according to the coordinates information and marking the ball position on the map image; and providing the map image on which the ball position is marked from the management server to the client terminal. Preferably, the step (e) includes the steps of the management server transmitting the map image on which the ball position is marked to the handheld terminal through the communication network; and displaying the transmitted map image on the handheld terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects, and advantages of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description, taken accompanying drawings. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a golf score management system including a golf score management handheld terminal according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the golf score management handheld terminal according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; FIG. 3 is a front view schematically showing appearance of the golf score management handheld terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a golf score management server according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; FIG. 5 is a flowchart for illustrating the process of building map image information in the golf score management system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating the process of partitioning and digitizing an aerial photograph in order to build the map image information in the golf score management system according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a map image obtained by processing graphic of a hole photograph in order to build the map image information in the golf score management system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a table showing an example ofthe map information for a hole in a golf course in the golf score management system according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; FIG. 9 is a flowchart for illustrating a golf score management method according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; FIG. 10 is a table showing an example of storing the information received from the handheld terminal to the management server according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a table showing an example of calculating a hole score according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; FIG. 12 is a flowchart for illustrating the process of providing a golf score from the management server to a client terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing that a position of a ball is marked on the map image of the hole by means of a map generation unit of the management server according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; FIG. 14 is an example of a golf score screen provided from the management server to the client terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 15 is a flowchart for illustrating a golf score management method according to another embodiment ofthe present invention; FIGs. 16a to 16c are examples of screens displayed on a display unit of the handheld terminal according to still another embodiment ofthe present invention; FIG. 17 is a flowchart for illustrating a golf score management method according to further another embodiment ofthe present invention; and FIG. 18 is a flowchart for illustrating a golf score management method according to still further another embodiment ofthe present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments ofthe present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows configuration of a system for managing golf scores according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the golf score management system ofthe present invention includes a handheld terminal 10 that is carried by a user during a golf game and used for inputting shot information, and a management server 30 connected to the handheld terminal 10 through a communication network 20 so as to receive required data. The management server 30 generates a map image of a golf course and calculates and manages a golf score according to the received data. Reference numerals 40 and 50 are respectively a golf course terminal and a client terminal, connected to the management server 30 through the communication network 20. The golf course terminal 40 and the client terminal 50 may include a general desktop computer, a notebook computer, a PDA terminal, a mobile terminal and so on. The golf course terminal 40 and the client terminal 50 are provided with a connection interface such as a LAN card and a modem for data transmission with the management server 30 through the communication network, and a web browser such as Internet Explorer of Microsoft may be loaded thereon so as to interpret and display a HTML web page or the like provided from the management server 30. The communication network 20 is defined to include wired/wireless communication networks and data communication networks such as Internet and Intranet that enable mutual communication between the handheld terminal 10 and the management server 30 and between the management server 30 and the golf course terminal 40 or the client terminal 50. The handheld terminal 10 is a device that, when a user inputs his/her own shot information, receives a coordinates of a current position from a GPS 60 accordingly and then transmits the coordinates to the management server 30. The handheld terminal 10 is well shown in FIGs. 2 and 3. Referring to FIGs. 2 and 3, the handheld terminal 10 of the present invention includes a control unit 11 for controlling each unit, a GPS coordinates receiving unit 12 for receiving a coordinates from a GPS 60, a storage unit 13 for storing various information, an input unit 14 for a user to input shot information, a display unit 15 for displaying an input state of a user and game information, and a transmission unit 16 for data transmission. The GPS coordinates receiving unit 12 requests current coordinates information of a golf ball to the GPS 60, and then receives the current coordinates information. GPS used in the present invention includes a DGPS (Differential GPS) system that corrects a range of error with the use of a coordinates value of a specific position and a difference between the value and a measurement value thereof, and also may include a DARC system that provides a correction data of DGPS through FM broadcasting. The storage unit 13 temporarily stores ID information such as a specific number of a terminal, coordinates information of a golf ball obtained from the GPS 60 by the GPS coordinates receiving unit 12, and shot information input through the input unit 14 by a user. The input unit 14 includes club selection buttons 14a and number buttons 14b as shown in FIG. 3 as an example, and preferably includes a game start button 14c and a game end button 14d. The input unit 14 generates a signal different according to the selection of button, and then applies the signal to the control unit 11. Here, the club selection buttons 14a are used for inputting a kind of club to be used when a user shots a golf ball. For example, the club selection buttons 14a includes a driver (D), a wood (W), an iron (I), a pitch (P) and a putter (PT). The number buttons 14b are used for inputting a club number or other numerical information. The transmission unit 16 transmits the ID information, the shot information of a user, and the coordinates information received from the GPS 60 to the management server 30 through the communication network 20 under the control of the control unit 11. Preferably, the transmission unit 16 may receives a map image and score information provided by the management server 30. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing configuration of the management server 30 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the management server 30 includes a control unit 31 for controlling each unit, a web management unit 32, a map generation unit 33, and a score management unit 34. The web management unit 32 provides, for example, a hypermedia web page based on HTML to the golf course terminal 40 and the client terminal 50, connected through the communication network 20 such as Internet, and manages the web page. In addition, the web management unit 32 provides desired golf score information to the client terminal 50 in a predetermined format in response to a user request through Internet. The map generation unit 33 searches a database with reference to the received coordinates information of a golf ball received from the handheld terminal 10 and then extracts a map corresponding to the coordinates information. The map generation unit 33 also marks a ball position on the extracted map so as to generate a map image. The score management unit 34 calculates a golf score of a user with reference to the coordinates information, and then generates score information by adding time information and weather information of a golf course to the shot information received from the handheld terminal 10. Each component composing the management server 30 of the present invention is preferably realized with a web program, and it may be coded in ASP, PHP, CGI, JSP, JAVA, NET/ASP and so on, which are web program languages. The management server 30 is connected to a database in which various information input from the handheld terminal 10 or the client terminal 50 and interactively generated in the management server 30 is recorded, updated or deleted. This database may include a member information DB 36, a map information DB 37, a score information DB 38 and a weather information DB 39, for example. The member information DB 36 includes information about personal details of users who are provided with service from the golf score management system of the present invention, such as a name, an address, an ID, a password and a contact number. In the map information DB 37, map information of each golf course is stored together with corresponding coordinates information. Here, the process of building the map information is well shown in FIG. 5. Seeing the process, a hole of the golf course is divided into several regions as shown in FIG. 6 and then an aerial photographed is taken for each region (step SI 10). And then, the photographed image is digitized using a digitizer equipped with a scanner to obtain a register data, and coordinates for the hole map is obtained by means of vectorizing. Accordingly, x-, y- and z-coordinates for the corresponding map image are obtained (step SI 20). The obtained coordinates are stored in a map information table as shown in FIG. 8. For example, 'map image', 'golf course', 'hole number', 'X,Y,Z coordinates range', 'tee ground', 'hole cup coordinates', 'green coordinates range' and 'bunker coordinates range' may be stored in the map information DB 37 (step SI 30). Preferably, the map information may include additional information about a golf course like a summery of the golf course, hole information and a regulated hitting number (a par). Preferably, the map image for the hole is graphic-processed as shown in FIG. 7, and converted into a storage suitable for data transmission tlirough the communication network and then stored in the map information DB 37. The score information DB 38 stores game information of a user together with position information of a golf course, which is described later. The weather information DB 39 stores information such as weather, wind velocity, wind direction and temperature of golf courses throughout the nation at each time. Preferably, the management server 30 is configured to receive weather information through the golf course terminal 40, or to be provided with weather information in real time in connection to a weather providing server, not shown, and then store the weather information in the weather information DB 39. Besides, additional information used for management of members and golf scores may be included as the database. Such database may be realized using a SQL server, a Mysql server or a Oracle server, and managed by a database management unit 35 in a bundle. Meanwhile, the aforementioned management server 30 is configured to be operable as one server, but those skilled in the art will understand that its functions may be diversified to several servers. That is to say, the management server 30 may be designed in a decentralized structure so that each of the databases and the modules may be prepared in an individual server unit. Now, the process of managing golf scores by means ofthe system ofthe present invention including the handheld terminal configured as mentioned above is described. According to the present invention, a user inputs his/her own shot information into the handheld terminal 10 in a golf course and then transmits it together with coordinates information to the management server 30 for the purpose of calculation of a golf score, as shown in FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 9, the user should register his/her own handheld terminal 10 prior to playing golf rounding (step S210). According to the present invention, the user may purchase a handheld terminal 10 to possess it, or hire out a handheld terminal 10 to use. If a user possesses the handheld terminal 10, the user may access the management server 30 with the use of a separate client terminal 50, and then register a specific number of the handheld terminal and personal details of the user in advance. Meanwhile, in the case that the handheld terminal 10 is hired out, a manager of the golf course may transmit a specific number of the handheld terminal 10 and personal details of the user to the management server 30 through the golf course terminal 40 when the handheld terminal 10 is hired out. The specific number ofthe handheld terminal 10 and the personal information of the user are transmitted to the management server 30, and the database management unit 35 of the management server 30 stores and updates them in the member information DB 36 (step S211). If the user registration is completed, the golf rounding is regularized. If the game starts, the user pushes the game start button 14c (see FIG. 3) of the handheld terminal 10 to inform the server that the game is started (step S212). Accordingly, the handheld terminal 10 transmits the ID information, or a specific number ofthe handheld terminal 10, to the management server 30 through the transmission unit 16 (step S213). Then, the management server 30 searches the member information DB 36 to extract user information corresponding to the specific number and waits for recording the game score table (step S214). At this time, the management server 30 may records basic information such as a user name, date or the like. After making a tee shot on a tee shot ground, the user goes to a position where the ball is landed and then inputs 'first tee shot information' composed of the kind and the number of the used club to the handheld terminal 10 through the input unit 14 (step S215). For example, in the case that the user uses the first driver, the user may push the 'D' button and the ' 1 ' button of the handheld terminal (see FIG. 3) in order. And then, as a confirmation button, the user pushes '#' button, as an example. Preferably, the user may input kind and number of a used club according to the guidance message output on the display unit 15 step by step. The shot information input as mentioned above is temporarily stored in the storage unit 13 ofthe handheld terminal 10. If the shot information is completely input, the control unit 11 of the handheld terminal 10 operates the GPS coordinates receiving unit 12 and instructs to request coordinates information for a current position ofthe handheld terminal 10, or a current ball position, as a first hitting position to the GPS 60. Accordingly, the GPS coordinates receiving unit 12 requests the current coordinates information of the handheld terminal 10 to the GPS 60, and then receives the coordinates information composed of, for example, 13 digits from the GPS 60 as a result (step S216). Such coordinates information includes data about x-, y- and z- coordinates. After receiving the current coordinates information about the ball position, the control unit 11 makes the coordinates information be transmitted to the management server 30 through the transmission unit 16, together with the ID information such as a specific terminal number stored in the storage unit 13 and the shot information input by the user. Accordingly, the transmission unit 16 transmits the ID information, the shot information and the coordinates information to the management server 30 through the communication network 20 according to a predetermined wireless communication protocol (step S217). The management server 30 receives the ID information, the shot information and the coordinates information from the handheld terminal 10 in real time, and the score management unit 34 stores game information including the shot information and the coordinates information for the user corresponding to the ID information to the score information DB 38 at each shot (step S218), as well shown in FIG. 10. As shown in the table of FIG. 10, the score management unit 34 records data by adding current time information when the data is received from the handheld terminal 10 and current weather information extracted from the weather information DB 39. Preferably, the score management unit 34 dissolves the coordinates code received from the handheld terminal 10, and then calculates and stores X-, Y- and Z-coordinates for the ball position. The weather information DB 39 frequently receives current weather of the corresponding golf course from the golf course terminal 40 prepared at each golf course, and then stores it. As an alternative, the weather information may be transmitted in connection to a separate weather information providing server in real time or at predetermined time intervals. Subsequently, the control unit 31 of the management server 30 determines whether a hole game or the total game comes to an end, which will be described later. If the game does not come to an end as a result of the determination, the sequence returns to the step S215, and the user inputs 'second shot information'. That is to say, after making the first shot, the user makes a second shot, and then the user walks to a landing position of the golf ball and inputs the second shot information at that position. If the user inputs the second shot information, the handheld terminal 10 receives coordinates information about the second hitting position from the GPS 60 and then transmits the coordinates information to the management server 30 together with the ID information and the shot information, similarly to the above procedure. Accordingly, the score management unit 34 of the management server 30 stores the second shot information together with the time information and the weather information in the score information DB 38 as shown in the table of FIG. 10. If all shot information for one hole is input by repeat ofthe above procedure, the management server 30 determines whether the hole game or the total game comes to an end and then calculates a score, as described in detail below. In the step S219, the control unit 31 of the management server 30 determines whether the total game comes to an end. That is to say, the user pushes the game end button 14d ofthe handheld terminal 10 when the total game comes to an end, and then a game end signal is transmitted together with the ID information to the management server 30 through the transmission unit 16. In the above step, if the total game does not come to an end, the control unit 31 determines whether the shot information includes a putter (PT) use data (step S220). Since the putter is a club finally used for hole-in ofthe golf ball, the putter (PT) use data included in the shot information means that the hole game comes to an end. After the putter (PT) use signal is input, the control unit 31 of the management server 30 may determines again whether the hole game comes to an end by checking whether a waiting time is passed or a different kind of golf club is used. That is to say, if no more input signal is input from the handheld terminal 10 until a predetermined time is passed after the user uses the putter (PT), it is determined that the hole game comes to an end, and then a hole score is calculated and stored (step S223). As another alternative, if shot information that the user uses a club other than the putter (PT), e.g. a driver or an iron, though a waiting time is not passed after use of the putter (PT), it means that a new hole game starts, so the control unit 31 determines the former hole game comes to an end and then advances to the step of calculating a hole score (step S222). However, if a signal of using a different putter (PT) is input in the step S222, it is determined that putting is continued, so the progress returns to the step S215 to receive the following shot information. In the present invention, determining the end of hole game is not limited to the methods suggested in the above description, and it should be understood that various criteria capable of determining the end of hole game may be applied within the technical scope ofthe invention. The hole score is operated by the score management unit 34 and stored in the score information DB 38. The hole score information includes the position information such as a golf course and a hole number, the weather information such as a weather, a wind direction and a wind velocity, and the game information such as a par for the corresponding hole, a final score, a rounding time, a hitting number, a used club, a flying distance and a landed point, as shown in FIG. 11 as an example. In addition to them, additional data for management of golf scores may be further included as required. The score management unit 34 of the management server 30 may find out golf course basic information such as a golf course where the user is currently playing the game, a corresponding hole number and a par by searching the map information DB 37 with reference to the stored coordinates information received from the handheld terminal 10. It may solve the inconvenience that the user who enjoys the game should select and input a golf course or a hole. Accordingly, a hole score is calculated on the basis of the shot information subsequently received and stored from the handheld terminal 10. In addition, by comparing the coordinates information of a golf ball corresponding to each of the shot information with the basic coordinates information of the map shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to calculate a flying distance and a landed point of the golf ball. For example, the score management unit 43 may calculate a flying distance on the basis of the difference between the former coordinates information and the current coordinates information with reference to the map information DB 37, and understand a ball position, or a landed point such as a field, a rough and a hazard. The hole score information obtained as mentioned above is recorded in the score information DB 38 of the user, which is open. If the score for a hole is calculated, the progress returns to the step S215 so that the management server 30 continues receiving and storing shot information and coordinates information for a new hole. Meanwhile, when desiring to end the total game, the user pushes the game end button 14d ofthe handheld terminal 10, and this signal is transmitted to the management server 30 together with the ID information. In this case, ifthe game end signal is input in the step S219, the control unit 31 determines that the total game comes to an end, calculates a score of a final hole, and then calculates and stores a total game score accordingly (step S224). According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the score information stored as mentioned above may be provided to the client terminal 50 connected to the management server 30 in real time, as shown in FIG. 12. Referring to FIG. 12, the user or a third party accesses and logs in to the management server 30 through the communication network 20 with the use ofthe client terminal 50. Preferably, the web management unit 32 of the management server 30 provides a logging-in window to the client terminal 50, and the user may complete logging-in by inputting and transmitting his/her own ID and/or password. Subsequently, the user or a third party requests score information for a specific hole by clicking any icon on the menu provided from the web management unit 32 to the client terminal 50 (step S311 ). If there is a request for the score information from the client terminal 50, the control unit 31 gets the map generation unit 33 and the score management unit 34 to extract and generate a map image and score information. Specifically, the score management unit 34 searches and extracts score information of a previously stored user or a desired golfer from the score information DB 38 (step S312). Next, the map generation unit 33 extracts a map image (River_l) of a golf course recorded in the score information table from the map information DB 37 (step S313). And then, the map generation unit 33 marks ball positions on the extracted map image according to the coordinates information shown in the score information in the order of hitting (step S314). The map image on which ball positions are marked may be regenerated and stored in a new image format, as shown in FIG. 13 as an example. Subsequently, the web management unit 32 provides the score information and the marked map image to the client terminal 50 through the communication network 20 (step S315). The client terminal 50 may display the above information as shown in FIG. 14 as an example. According to the present invention, after inputting his/her own shot information, a user may display and check a position of a golf ball by means ofthe handheld terminal 10. This embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 15. Here, the same reference numeral in FIG. 10 as that shown in the former drawings designates the same step, not described in detail again. Referring to FIG. 15, in the step S218, the management server 30 stores game information corresponding to 'the first shot information' including shot information, coordinates information and corresponding weather information, received from the handheld terminal 10, in the table of FIG. 10 as shown therein. Subsequently, the map generation unit 33 extracts a map image corresponding to the coordinates information from the map information DB 37 (step S410), and then marks a ball position corresponding to the first shot according to the received coordinates information (step S411). At the same time, the management server 30 transmits the map image on which the ball position is marked to the handheld terminal 10 via the communication network 20 through a communication interface, not shown (step S412). At this time, the weather information for the first shot and the game information such as a flying distance and a landed point may be preferably transmitted together. The transmitted map information is received through the transmission unit 16 of the handheld terminal 10, and then treated through the control unit and a graphic interface, not shown, and displayed on the display unit 15 (step S413). Subsequently, if the user inputs second and third shot information in order, the management server generates a map image where a ball position for each shot is marked and transmits the map image to the handheld terminal 10 in real time by the same way, and the handheld terminal 10 displays the map image. The display unit 15 of the handheld terminal 10 may display the map image as shown in FIGs. 16a to 16d in order, as an example. In addition, it is determined in the aforementioned way whether the hole game or the total game comes to an end, and a hole score or a total game score is calculated and transmitted to the handheld terminal 10 according to the determination result (step S414 and step S415). According to still another embodiment of the present invention, when using a putter, a user may input and transmit the number of putting. It is because displaying ball positions may be considered meaningless when a short putting is made on the green.

This embodiment is shown in FIG. 17. The step in FIG. 17 designated by the same reference numeral as FIG. 9 is the same step. If a user shots a ball to be landed on the green, the user should uses a putter (PT).

In this case, the user pushes the 'PT' button and the confirmation button '#' in the input unit 14 in order to inform of the use of the putter (PT). Then, the control unit 11 transmits the putter use signal to the management server 30 through the transmission unit 16 together the ID information. The management server 30 receiving the signal determines whether the control unit 31 receives a putter use signal (step S510), and if the putter use signal is received, the management server 30 waits for input of a putting number. The user makes several number of putting after transmitting the putter use signal, and then inputs the final putting number in the handheld terminal 10 and transmits it (step S511). For example, if the user makes putting three times, the user may push buttons in the order of 'PT' → '3' → '#'. The putting number data is transmitted to the management server 30 through the transmission unit 16, and accordingly the control unit 31 determines that the hole game comes to an end and designates the score management unit 34 to calculate a hole score. Accordingly, the score management unit 34 calculates and stores a hole score according to a predetermined way (step S512). Subsequently, the control unit 31 determines whether a game end signal is input from the handheld terminal 10 (step S513). Ifthe game end signal is input, the control unit 31 gets the score management unit 34 to calculate and store a final game score (step S514). According to further another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to determine whether each hole game comes to an end on the basis of the coordinates information transmitted from the handheld terminal 10. It is described with reference to FIG. 18. In the drawing, the step designated by the same reference numeral as the former drawings means the same step. In the step S218, after the shot information and the coordinates information received from the handheld terminal 10 are respectively stored, the control unit 31 determines whether the received coordinates information is included in the same hole of coordinates information received just before with reference to the map information (step

S610). As a result, if the coordinates information is included in the same hole, it is considered that the hole game is not ended, so the progress returns to the step S215 to wait for input of new shot information. Meanwhile, if it is determined that the coordinates information received in the step S610 (e.g., coordinates information for fifth shot) is not included in the same hole of coordinates information received just before (e.g., coordinates information for fourth shot), it means that a new hole game starts, so the score management unit 34 calculates a score for the just-before hole and records new hole information (step S611). This embodiment may be applied to the case that the hole game is finished without use of a putter, for example a hole game not using a putter such as hole-in-one, albatross, eagle, birdie and par. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention has the following effects. First, the system of the present invention may be used without interrupting the game since a golfer simply inputs his/her own shot information, namely a kind of golf club, by means ofthe handheld terminal while enjoying the game. Second, golf scores and game information may be generated and stored in real time since the handheld terminal requests and receives coordinates information by means of simple input of the golfer, and then transmits the coordinates information to the management server. Third, a golfer may easily grasp the game status and manage scores since the golfer may display and check a ball position according to his her own shot through the handheld terminal in real time. Fourth, a golfer as well as a third party may be provided with a current position of the golf ball shot by the golfer and scores in real time by accessing the management server with the client terminal, so the game may be watched in real time together with accurate information without any separate broadcasting. Fifth, the weather information and the score information are updated and recorded in real time in the management server of the present invention together with the coordinates information about a ball hit by a golfer, so it is possible to provide various kinds of program services by utilizing such data. The present invention has been described in detail. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A handheld terminal for managing golf scores, comprising: an input unit provided with buttons for input of shot information composed of kinds of golf clubs and numbers; a storage unit for storing ID information peculiar to the handheld terminal and the input shot information; a display unit for displaying a guidance of input and details input through the input unit; a GPS coordinates receiving unit for requesting and receiving current coordinates information of the handheld terminal to/from a GPS when the shot information is received through the input unit; a transmission unit for transmitting the ID information, the shot information and the coordinates information to a management server through a communication network when the GPS coordinates receiving unit receives the coordinates information; and a control unit for controlling each ofthe above units.

2. A handheld terminal for managing golf scores according to claim 1 , wherein the buttons ofthe input unit includes club selection buttons and number buttons.

3. A system for managing golf scores, comprising: a handheld terminal for requesting and receiving current coordinates information of the handheld terminal to/from a GPS when shot information composed of kinds of golf clubs and numbers is input, and then transmitting ID information peculiar to the handheld terminal together with the shot information and the coordinates information; and a management server for calculating and storing golf scores of each user according to the information transmitted from the handheld terminal, extracting a map image for a hole corresponding to the coordinates information, marking a ball position on the map image according to the coordinates information, and then providing the map image.

4. A system for managing golf scores according to claim 3, wherein the handheld terminal includes: an input unit provided with buttons for input ofthe shot information; a storage unit for storing the ID information and the input shot information; a display unit for displaying a guidance of input and details input through the input unit; a GPS coordinates receiving unit for requesting and receiving the current coordinates information of the handheld terminal to/from the GPS when the shot information is received through the input unit; a transmission unit for transmitting the ID information, the shot information and the coordinates information to the management server through a communication network when the GPS coordinates receiving unit receives the coordinates information; and a control unit for controlling each ofthe above units.

5. A system for managing golf scores according to claim 3, wherein the management server includes: a web management unit for providing and managing golf score information on a hypermedia web page to a client terminal accessed through the communication terminal; a map generation unit for extracting a map image ofthe corresponding hole from a database according to the coordinates information received from the handheld terminal, and marking a corresponding ball position corresponding to the coordinates information on the extracted map image; a score management unit for calculating a golf score according to the shot information and the coordinates information received from the handheld terminal; and a control unit for controlling each ofthe above units.

6. A system for managing golf scores according to claim 5, wherein the management server is connected with the database, and wherein the database includes: a member information DB storing data about personal details of a user; a map information DB storing data about map images for holes in a golf course and a coordinates range thereof; and a score information DB storing the shot information, the coordinates information and golf score data for each user.

7. A method for managing golf scores, which uses a system including a handheld terminal possessed by a user in a golf course, a client terminal, and a management server connected to the handheld terminal and the client terminal through a communication network, the method comprising: (a) inputting shot information composed of kinds of golf clubs and numbers to the handheld terminal; (b) requesting and receiving coordinates information about a current position of the handheld terminal to/from a GPS; (c) transmitting ID information peculiar to the handheld terminal, the shot information and the coordinates terminal from the handheld terminal to the management server through the communication network; (d) the management server calculating a golf score according to the shot information and the coordinates information and then storing the golf score for each user corresponding to the ID information; and (e) the management server extracting a map image of a hole corresponding to the coordinates information, marking a ball position on the extracted map image according to the coordinates information, and then providing the map image through the communication network.

8. A method for managing golf scores according to claim 7, wherein the step (d) includes: (dl) storing the shot information and the coordinates information to the management server one by one according to the input order; and (d2) the management server determining whether the corresponding hole game comes to an end, and then calculating a hole score according to the information stored one by one when the hole game comes to an end.

9. A method for managing golf scores according to claim 8, wherein the step (d2) includes: determining whether a putter use signal is received from the handheld terminal; and determining that the hole game comes to an end when a signal using a club other than a putter is received from the handheld terminal after the putter use signal is received in the above step.

10. A method for managing golf scores according to claim 8, wherein the step (d2) includes: determining whether a putter use signal is received from the handheld terminal; and determining that the hall game comes to an end when a predetermined waiting time is passed after the putter use signal is received in the above step.

11. A method for managing golf scores according to claim 8, wherein the step (d2) includes: determining whether the coordinates information received from the handheld terminal is belonging to a hole corresponding to coordinates information received just before, and then determining that the hole game comes to an end when the received coordinates information is not belonging to the hole corresponding to the coordinates information received just before.

12. A method for managing golf scores according to claim 8, wherein the step (d2) includes: determining whether a putter use signal is received from the handheld terminal; and determining that the hall game comes to an end when the number of putting is received from the handheld terminal after the putter use signal is received in the above step.

13. A method for managing golf scores according to claim 7, wherein the step (d) further includes: determining whether a game end signal is received from the handheld terminal, and then calculating a total game score when the game end signal is received.

14. A method for managing golf scores according to claim 7, wherein, in the step (d), the management server adds time information and weather information and stores the time information and the weather information together.

15. A method for managing golf scores according to claim 7, wherein the step (e) includes: logging-in to the management server through the client terminal; requesting golf score information from the client terminal to the management

server; the management server extracting the map image of the corresponding hole

according to the coordinates information and marking the ball position on the map

image; and providing the map image on which the ball position is marked from the

management server to the client terminal.

16. A method for managing golf scores according to claim 7, wherein the

step (e) includes: the management server transmitting the map image on which the ball position is

marked to the handheld terminal through the communication network; and displaying the transmitted map image on the handheld terminal.