Virtual golf device and virtual golf system predicting shot spots

Abstract

To provide a virtual golf device and virtual golf system predicting the shot spots.SOLUTION: Before a user actually hits a golf ball, a prediction operation S2 for predicting at least one or more spots to be reached by a virtual golf ball in a virtual golf course by the user's shot is executed. The virtual golf course includes a plurality of golf courses. The plurality of golf courses include a first golf course for first play, one or more initial golf courses for play succeeding the first golf course, and the remaining golf course other than the first and the initial golf courses. The prediction operation is executed when the user plays in the remaining golf course using play records on the play day of the first and the initial golf courses, or is executed when the user plays in the initial and the remaining golf courses using a play record on the play day of the first golf course.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a virtual golf device and a virtual golf system, and more particularly to a virtual golf device and a virtual golf system that can display a predicted location where a golf ball will arrive upon hitting the golf ball before a user hits the golf ball in a virtual golf play such as screen golf. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, golf has become more popular, and the number of people playing golf is increasing. Golf is not only played on outdoor golf courses, but screen golf (virtual golf), which allows players to play golf using virtual golf devices, is also becoming more popular. In screen golf, images of a golf course are displayed on a screen, giving the player the feeling of playing a real game outdoors. In addition, screen golf saves time and money compared to playing on an outdoor field, so it is popular among modern people who find it difficult to play on an outdoor field due to time or financial reasons.

[0003] As the number of people playing screen golf increases, user expectations for screen golf are also rising. Compared to real golf, screen golf has the advantage that it can provide users with technical services that are difficult to provide in real golf, which is played in an open outdoor space, because it is played in an enclosed indoor space. Therefore, it is necessary to improve user convenience in playing screen golf by utilizing such advantages and providing various technical services. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a virtual golf device that can display a predicted location where a golf ball will arrive upon impact before the user hits the ball. Another object of the present invention is to provide a virtual golf system that can display a predicted location where a golf ball will arrive upon impact before the user hits the ball. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, a virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display unit that displays a virtual golf course, and a calculation unit that calculates a movement of a virtual golf ball corresponding to the actual golf ball on the virtual golf course when a user hits an actual golf ball. Before the user hits the actual golf ball, a prediction operation is performed to predict at least one or more points to which the virtual golf ball will arrive on the virtual golf course due to the user's hit. The virtual golf course includes a plurality of golf courses, and the plurality of golf courses include a first golf course to be played first, one or more initial golf courses to be played following the first golf course, and remaining golf courses other than the first and initial golf courses. The prediction operation is performed when the user plays the remaining golf courses using a play record when the user plays the first and initial golf courses on the day, or is performed when the user plays the initial and remaining golf courses using a play record when the user plays the first golf course on the day.

[0006] In the virtual golf device, the play record of the day used for the prediction operation is temporarily stored for the prediction operation and is deleted when the user completes playing the plurality of golf courses. In the virtual golf device, the predictive action is performed by the calculation unit, or the virtual golf device further includes a hit prediction unit that performs the predictive action.

[0007] A virtual golf system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a service device and at least one virtual golf device communicatively connected to the service device. The virtual golf device includes a display unit that displays a virtual golf course, and a calculation unit that calculates a movement of a virtual golf ball corresponding to the actual golf ball on the virtual golf course when a user hits an actual golf ball, and the virtual golf device performs a prediction operation to predict at least one or more points where the virtual golf ball will arrive on the virtual golf course due to the user's hit before the user hits the actual golf ball, the virtual golf course includes a plurality of golf courses, the plurality of golf courses including a first golf course to be played first, one or more initial golf courses to be played following the first golf course, and remaining golf courses other than the first and initial golf courses, and the prediction operation is performed when the user plays the remaining golf courses using a play record when the user plays the first and initial golf courses on the day, or when the user plays the initial and remaining golf courses using a play record when the user plays the first golf course on the day. In the above-mentioned virtual golf system, at least one or more points on the virtual golf course where the virtual golf ball will arrive, as predicted by the prediction operation, can be displayed on the display unit or on a mobile device connectable to the service apparatus.

[0008] In the above virtual golf system, the service device further includes a storage unit for storing user information, and the users include stored users whose information is stored in the storage unit and non-stored users whose information is not stored in the storage unit, and when the prediction operation is performed on the stored users, the prediction operation can further utilize the past play records of the stored users stored in the storage unit.

[0009] In the above virtual golf system, for the stored user, the user's play record for the day and the user's past play records stored in the storage unit are reflected to each other at a predetermined ratio, and the prediction operation is performed, and as the number of golf courses that the user has completed play on among the multiple golf courses increases, the play record for the day can be reflected at a higher ratio compared to the past play records, and the prediction operation can be performed.

[0010] In the above-mentioned virtual golf system, when the predicted action is performed on the stored user, the past play records of the stored user stored in the storage unit can be used for the predicted action, and past play records of other users other than the stored user can also be used. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the virtual golf device and the virtual golf system of the present invention, the user's convenience can be improved by displaying a predicted location where the golf ball will land before the user hits the ball. Also, the user can establish an appropriate shot strategy by reflecting the predicted location, which makes it easier to conquer the course and improves the user's golfing ability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing an overall process of an operation for predicting an expected hit point that can be applied to the virtual golf device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating exemplary steps of an operation process for predicting an expected impact point. [Figure 4] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating exemplary steps of an operation process for predicting an expected impact point. [Diagram 5] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating exemplary steps of an operation process for predicting an expected impact point. [Figure 6]11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating exemplary steps of an operation process for predicting an expected impact point. [Figure 7] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating exemplary steps of an operation process for predicting an expected impact point. [Figure 8] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating exemplary steps of an operation process for predicting an expected impact point. [Figure 9] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating exemplary steps of an operation process for predicting an expected impact point. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 12] 12 is a flowchart showing an overall process of an operation for predicting an expected hit point that can be applied to the virtual golf system of FIG. 11. [Figure 13] 11A to 11C are diagrams for explaining various methods of using a user's past play records in predicting an expected hit point. [Figure 14] 11A to 11C are diagrams for explaining various methods of using a user's past play records in predicting an expected hit point. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf system according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 16 shows an example of a mobile screen showing a predicted hit point in the virtual golf system of FIG. 15. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the following examples. The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood from the following examples. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and may be embodied in other forms. The embodiments described herein are provided so that the disclosed content will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited by the following examples.

[0014] In this specification, the terms "first", "second" and the like are used to describe various elements, but the elements should not be limited by such terms. These terms are merely used to distinguish the elements from each other. Also, when a layer (film) is said to be on another layer (film) or substrate, it means that it can be formed directly on the other layer (film) or substrate, or a third layer (film) can be interposed between them.

[0015] In the drawings, the size of elements or the relative size between elements may be somewhat exaggerated for a clearer understanding of the present invention. In addition, the shapes of the illustrated elements may be somewhat changed due to variations in the manufacturing process, etc. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments disclosed in this specification should not be limited to the shapes illustrated, and should be understood to include some modifications.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a hitting plate (10), a control unit (20), a sensing unit (30), an input unit (40), a sound unit (50), and a display unit (60). The striking plate 10 is an area where a user stands to strike a golf ball. The striking plate 10 may be a separately provided plate-like object, or may be a floor where a virtual golf device is installed and where the user stands, rather than a separate object. Although not shown in the drawings, the striking plate 10 is provided with a striking mat on which a golf ball to be struck is placed, and the striking mat is provided with an auto tee that is structured to be movable up and down. A golf ball to be struck can be automatically provided to the user through the auto tee.

[0017] The control unit 20 controls the overall operation among the components of the virtual golf device. For example, the control unit 20 controls an auto tee installed on a hitting mat so that the auto tee provides a golf ball for hitting at the time when the user hits the ball. Specifically, immediately after the user hits a golf ball placed on the hitting mat, the control unit 20 detects that the hit has been made and controls the auto tee to provide a golf ball for the next hit. Also, when the user selects a specific golf course, the control unit 20 performs a related operation so that the user can play on the corresponding golf course. That is, the control unit 20 includes an image processing means for processing an image, and operates to form an image of the specific golf course selected by the user, and transmits the image to the display unit 60 for display.

[0018] The control unit 20 includes a calculation unit 21 and a hit prediction unit 22. The calculation unit 21 performs a calculation process to calculate a trajectory of a golf ball when the golf ball is assumed to move in an actual golf course in a physical state based on the physical state of the golf ball hit by the user. The hit prediction unit 22 performs a hit point prediction operation to predict a hit result of the user's hit of the golf ball before the user hits the golf ball. Here, the embodiment in which the calculation unit 21 and the hit prediction unit 22 are separate components has been described, but they may be configured as a single component and the calculation unit 21 may perform the hit point prediction operation. The hit point prediction operation will be described in detail later. Although not shown in the drawings, the control unit 20 may include a storage device such as a memory or a hard disk for storing various programs and data required for the operation of the control unit 20.

[0019] The sensing unit 30 senses the movement of the golf club and / or the movement of the golf ball hit by the user when hitting the golf ball, and obtains information required for the calculation process. The sensing unit 30 may use sensing means such as a camera or a sensor that can capture the movement of the golf club or the golf ball. The sensing means may use various sensing methods such as image sensing, light emission / reception sensing, and laser sensing, and such sensing methods may be used to obtain status information of the golf club and / or the golf ball hit by the user. The camera or the sensor may be used alone or together, and may be used alone or in combination. The information sensed by the sensing unit 30 is transmitted to the control unit 20, and the calculation unit 21 of the control unit 20 performs the calculation process based on the information from the sensing unit 30.

[0020] The input unit 40 is for receiving various information from the user, and may use a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, etc. When login is required to use the virtual golf device, the user may use the input unit 40 to input his / her ID and password for login, or to select the golf course he / she wants to play or the difficulty level of play, etc. The sound unit 50 includes audio equipment such as a speaker, through which the user is informed of the progress of the game and various sound effects are reproduced according to the progress of the game.

[0021] The display unit 60 includes devices for display operations such as a projector and a screen. The projector projects golf-related images onto the screen so that the golf course and golf balls are displayed on the screen, and the screen displays the projected golf-related images and provides them to the user. Although not shown in the drawings, the display unit 60 may further include a display device such as a kiosk that serves as an auxiliary display in addition to the screen.

[0022] In this specification, some objects displayed on the screen may be referred to with the term "virtual." This is to avoid confusion with objects that exist in the real world, and means that they do not exist in the real world but are displayed in an image on the screen. For example, a "virtual golf course" means a golf course displayed on the screen, and a "virtual golf ball" means a golf ball displayed on the screen.

[0023] The virtual golf device is a device that is installed in a screen golf course to enable a user to play screen golf. The operation process of the virtual golf device when a user plays screen golf is as follows. When a user hits a golf ball, the sensor unit (30) senses the movement of the golf club and / or the physical state of the golf ball hit by the user, such as the moving speed and moving direction. The information sensed by the sensor unit (30) is transmitted to the control unit (20), and the calculation unit (21) in the control unit (20) performs a calculation process to calculate the trajectory of the golf ball based on the transmitted information. The display unit (60) displays an image of the virtual golf ball moving according to the trajectory calculated by the calculation process, and at this time, the virtual golf ball moves according to the calculated trajectory and lands at a specific point on the virtual golf course displayed on the screen, and the user continues the next shot from the point where the virtual golf ball landed. The above operation process is repeated for the user's next shot.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in the screen golf play, a predicted hit result of the user's hit can be provided to the user before the user hits the golf ball. Specifically, a predicted point (called a "predicted hit point") where the virtual golf ball will arrive on the virtual golf course due to the user's hit can be provided as the predicted hit result before the user hits the ball. Hereinafter, the operation of grasping the predicted hit point (called a "prediction operation") will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an overall process of predicting an expected hit point that can be applied to the virtual golf device of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 to 9 are diagrams showing exemplary steps of the operation process of predicting an expected hit point. 2, the process of the hitting point prediction operation includes first to third steps (S1, S2, S3). In the first step (S1), a user plays a part of the golf course among the entire golf course played, in the second step (S2), a prediction operation based on the play result of the part of the golf course is performed, and in the third step (S3), the prediction result based on the prediction operation is displayed.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, it is assumed that a user plays 18 holes (1H, 2H, 3H, ..., 18H). The 18 holes (1H, 2H, 3H, ..., 18H) consist of multiple golf courses constituting one specific golf venue. Alternatively, the 18 holes (1H, 2H, 3H, ..., 18H) may consist of multiple golf courses selected from multiple golf venues. Here, the golf venue or golf course refers to a virtual golf venue or virtual golf course displayed on a screen, and the virtual golf venue is one that is modeled after an actually existing golf venue and is reproduced using computer graphics, or one that is not actually existing but is arbitrarily created and generated.

[0027] In the first step (S1), the user plays a part of the entire golf course. The part of the golf course includes only the first hole (1H), which is the first virtual golf course. Alternatively, the part of the golf course may include a specific hole starting from the first hole (1H) (excluding the 18th hole (18H) in the specific hole). Here, the first hole (1H) is named the first golf course to be played first, and the specific hole from the second hole (2H) is named the initial golf course to be played sequentially after the first golf course. As shown in FIG. 4, in screen golf play, the user hits a golf ball toward the screen while positioned on the hitting plate, and the movement of the virtual golf ball on the virtual golf course displayed on the screen is calculated based on the physical state of the hit golf ball. The virtual golf ball moves as calculated and arrives at a specific point on the virtual golf course and stops, and the user makes the next shot at the specific point. This play is repeated until the virtual golf ball goes in the hole cup, and if the hole goes in successfully, the play on the corresponding golf course ends.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, it is assumed that a user is playing 18 holes (1H, 2H, 3H, ..., 18H) and has completed playing the first hole (1H) and the second hole (2H) and is now playing the third hole (3H). According to this embodiment, in the second step (S2), a predictive operation can be performed from the third hole (3H) onwards, which predicts a predicted hit point before the user hits the ball, and the predictive operation can be performed by reflecting the results of the user's play on the first hole (1H) and the second hole (2H). There are various methods for the timing at which the predictive operation is started and the results of play on the golf course that are reflected in the predictive operation. For example, when the first hole (1H) is completed, the predictive operation can be performed by reflecting the results of play on the second hole (2H) to the first hole (1H). Alternatively, the predicted action may be executed after at least a predetermined % of the play has progressed in the entire play so that a certain amount of evidence for the execution of the predicted action can be secured (for example, when the play up to the 4th hole (4H), which is at least 20% of the total 18 holes, is completed, the predicted action can be executed by reflecting the play results from the 5th hole (5H) to the 4th hole (4H). In addition, the play record for the predicted action may be a fixed record or a variable record. For example, assuming that the play up to the 3rd hole (3H) is completed and the predicted action is executed from the 4th hole (4H), the predicted action from the 4th hole (4H) to the 18th hole (18H) can all be executed using the play results from the 1st hole (1H) to the 3rd hole (3H) (using the play record fixed for the predicted action). Alternatively, a predicted action on the 4th hole (4H) can be made using the play results from the 1st hole (1H) to the 3rd hole (3H), a predicted action on the 5th hole (5H) can be made using the play results from the 1st hole (1H) to the 4th hole (4H), and in this way a predicted action on the Nth hole can be made using the play results up to the N-1th hole (using a variable play record for the predicted action).

[0029] A specific example of calculating the predicted hit point in the prediction operation will be described below with reference to the drawings. Referring to Figures 6 to 8, the user's hit distance and / or side spin are calculated based on the user's previous playing results on the golf course, and the predicted hit point can be determined using the calculated distance and / or side spin.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 6, assume that the user's virtual golf ball is located at a predetermined position ("current position" in Fig. 6) on the virtual golf course being played, and the user hits the ball toward the hole cup. If the user's average hit distance is a first distance (d1) and the standard deviation is a second distance (d2) based on the user's play record for the day on a virtual golf course played before the virtual golf course being played, the point that is the first distance (d1) from the current position toward the hole cup can be calculated as the predicted hit point. Alternatively, since the user may hit the ball a little longer or shorter than the average in this hit, a circular area having a radius corresponding to the second distance (d2) centered on the point that is the first distance (d1) from the current position toward the hole cup can be determined as the predicted hit point.

[0031] Here, an example of grasping the predicted hit point using the average flight distance and the standard deviation has been described. However, since there is a possibility that the range of the standard deviation (d2) may be exceeded, the range of the predicted hit point may be expanded to center a point corresponding to the average flight distance and determine a circle having a radius of 2d2 (2 x standard deviation) or 3d2 (3 x standard deviation) as the predicted hit point. In addition, since the "flight distance" in golf may vary depending on the golf club used when hitting a golf ball, the predicted hit point may be predicted using the flight distance record (average and standard deviation, etc.) when the golf club was used in the already completed virtual golf course after checking the golf club that can be used at the current position of the golf course being played by the user. For example, if the current situation is one in which a driver shot is to be performed, the predicted hit point may be predicted using the flight distance record for the driver shot in the previous play on the virtual golf course. In addition, if the current situation is one in which an iron shot is to be performed, the predicted hit point may be predicted using the flight distance record for the iron shot in the previous play on the virtual golf course. There are multiple golf clubs such as irons, each with a different number. Therefore, it may be necessary to perform a predictive action for an iron shot with a specific number, but there may be cases where there is no play record for that iron shot. In this case, if there is a play record for an iron shot with a similar number to the relevant number, this record can be used to perform the predictive action. For example, if there is no hit record for the 7 iron in a situation where a 7 iron is to be hit, the play record for the 6 iron can be used. In this case, the predicted action for the 7 iron can use the flight distance of the 6 iron as is, or can use the flight distance of the 6 iron with a correction value (the normal flight distance difference between the 7 iron and the 6 iron) applied thereto.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 7, a prediction operation can be performed by taking into consideration not only the flight distance but also the side spin in the user's play record. It is assumed that the average flight distance of the user is a first distance (d1), the standard deviation is a second distance (d2), and the average side spin is a first spin (S1) in a virtual golf course played before the currently played virtual golf course. First, a predicted hit point having a circular shape is calculated using the first and second distances (d1, d2) according to the above-mentioned method (the method described with reference to FIG. 6). Then, the first spin (S1) is applied to the calculated predicted hit point to obtain a final predicted hit point. The side spin indicates the rotation value in the left-right direction of a rotating golf ball. When a golf ball rotates to the right, a slice that curves to the right occurs, and when a golf ball rotates to the left, a hook that curves to the left occurs. In this way, the predicted trajectory of the golf ball can be changed by the first spin (S1), so after obtaining the predicted hit point in the front direction (the direction from the current position toward the hole cup) using only the flight distance, the final predicted hit point can be obtained by applying the first spin (S1), which indicates how much the trajectory can be changed from the front direction. As shown in FIG. 8, when considering the flying distance and side spin in the play record of the user, the prediction operation can be performed by reflecting the average and standard deviation of the flying distance and the average of the side spin as well as the standard deviation. For example, assume that the average flying distance of the user is a first distance (d1), the standard deviation is a second distance (d2), and the average side spin is a first spin (S1), and the standard deviation is a second spin (S2) in a virtual golf course played before the virtual golf course currently being played. First, a temporary hit predicted point is calculated using the first and second distances (d1, d2). The temporary hit predicted point can be formed to have a straight line shape connecting a point that is a second distance (d2) from the reference position in the reference direction and a point that is a second distance (d2) from the reference position in the opposite direction to the reference direction, where the direction from the current position toward the hole cup is the "reference direction" and the position that is a first distance (d1) from the current position in the reference direction is the "reference position." Next, a first spin (S1) is applied to the temporary predicted hit point to change the path of the temporary predicted hit point from the reference direction, and a second spin (S2) is applied in the left and right directions around the temporary predicted hit point of linear shape whose path has been changed. As a result, a final predicted hit point of a (2-dimensional) figure shape is obtained according to a trajectory made by the (1-dimensional) linear shape of the temporary predicted hit point in the changed path moving in the left and right directions.

[0033] As above, three methods (methods described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8) for calculating the predicted hit point on the currently playing virtual golf course using the flight distance and spin recorded on the virtual golf course that the user has already played have been described, but the above three methods can be used by applying an appropriate method according to the situation. For example, when the side spin of the user's hit is very small, and the situation is such that the ball must be hit at a short distance, and therefore the impact of the side spin on the hitting result is not large, the prediction operation can be performed using only the flight distance, and when the side spin is used, only the average of the side spin can be used if the standard deviation of the side spin is small, and when the impact of the side spin on the hitting result is very large, the prediction operation can be performed using both the average and standard deviation of the side spin. Also, the methods mentioned here are only some examples of various methods for calculating the predicted hit point, and it is also possible to perform the prediction operation using variables other than the flight distance and spin, or using other methods not described.

[0034] The play records for the day used for the prediction operation are only necessary for the prediction operation while the user is playing, and are therefore temporarily stored in a non-permanent storage device such as a cache memory and are used during the prediction operation. Once the user has completed playing all golf courses and the prediction operation is no longer necessary, the play records can be deleted from the non-permanent storage device (or can continue to be stored without being deleted).

[0035] Referring to FIG. 9, the predicted hit point determined through the prediction operation in the third step (S3) can be displayed on a screen or the like and provided to a user. The virtual golf course currently being played is displayed on the main screen of the screen, and a sub-screen providing various play information is displayed at the edge of the screen. For example, a mini-map showing a reduced overall outline of the virtual golf course being played by the user is displayed on the sub-screen, and information on the predicted hit point can be provided to the user through the mini-map. Specifically, a mini-map can be displayed on the screen before the user hits the golf ball, and the current position of the user's virtual golf ball and a predicted point where the virtual golf ball will arrive when hit by the user can be displayed on the mini-map. As shown in FIG. 9, the predicted hit point is displayed as an area consisting of a plurality of points, and this area can be named using the term "bullet impact group," which means a point where a bullet will hit. The user can make a hitting strategy by referring to the bullet impact group displayed on the mini-map. For example, if there is a bunker in the bullet impact group, the user can hit the golf ball carefully so that the virtual golf ball does not fall into the bunker. Alternatively, if the impact group indicates an area just short of the green area, the user may develop a shot strategy to strike the golf ball with more force than a normal hit so that the golf ball can fly a greater distance than normal to reach the green area.

[0036] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 10, the virtual golf device according to the present embodiment includes a number of booths (101, 102, 103). Each booth (101, 102, 103) is configured identically. For example, the first booth (101) includes a hitting plate (101a), a computer device (101b) that includes a kiosk screen and can function as a control device in the above embodiment, a screen (101c), etc., and the other booths (102, 103) also have the same components. Although not shown in the drawing, each booth (101, 102, 103) is further equipped with other devices such as a camera for detecting the movement of the golf club / golf ball when hitting. In each booth (101, 102, 103), multiple users can take turns playing golf. Alternatively, in each booth (101, 102, 103), a single user can play solo while being separated from users in other booths. In the virtual golf device according to the present embodiment, the computer device (101b) is provided with the above-mentioned hit prediction unit. The hit prediction unit performs an operation of predicting an expected hit point before the user hits the ball, and displays the result of the prediction operation (ball landing group) on the screen (101c) to provide it to the user.

[0037] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 11, the virtual golf system includes a virtual golf device 100 and a service device 200. The virtual golf device 100 may be one as shown in Figs. 1 to 10. The virtual golf device 100 is installed in a home or public screen golf course where screen golf can be played, and when there are multiple screen golf courses, a virtual golf device 100 is installed in each screen golf course, so that a total of multiple virtual golf devices are provided. The virtual golf device 100 is equipped with the above-mentioned hit prediction unit. The hit prediction unit performs an operation of predicting an expected hit point before a user hits a ball, and can display the results of the prediction operation (ball landing group) on a screen to provide to the user.

[0038] The virtual golf device (100) is connected to the service device (200) via a wired or wireless communication network. The service device (200) includes a central server used by a service provider operating a plurality of screen golf courses to manage the virtual golf devices (100) installed at the plurality of screen golf courses. The service device (200) includes a storage unit (210), which stores various information including user information. When a user who wishes to use a screen golf service first logs in to receive the service, the service device (200) confirms the user's identity and determines whether or not to approve the login. The storage unit (210) stores information required to confirm the user's identity. Information regarding a plurality of users is stored in the storage unit (210) in a manner categorized for each user. In each user-specific area, in addition to user identification information, records of the user's past play on the virtual golf device (100) (such as the virtual golf course played by the user, the score played by the user, the flying distance by golf club, the average number of strokes, the fairway landing rate, and other personal records) are stored. As various user information is stored in the storage unit (210) in this manner, a plurality of virtual golf devices (100) connected to the service device (200) by wire and / or wireless can use the information stored in the storage unit (210), and each virtual golf device (100) does not need to separately store user information or other information stored in the storage unit (210). Although not shown in the drawings, the hit prediction unit can also be configured to be provided in the service device (200). In this case, a plurality of virtual golf devices (100) connected to the service device (200) via wire and / or wireless can use the predicted hit point obtained by the hit prediction unit of the service device (200), and each virtual golf device (100) does not need to be equipped with a separate hit prediction unit.

[0039] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an overall process of an operation for predicting an expected hit point that can be applied to the virtual golf system of FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are diagrams for explaining various methods for using a user's past play records in the operation for predicting an expected hit point.The virtual golf system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a storage unit (210) for storing user's identity verification information and past play record information. When a user wants to play on the virtual golf device (100), he / she can first log in to the service device (200) and verify his / her identity, or he / she can play as a guest without verifying his / her identity. If a user whose information is stored in the storage unit (210) and whose identity is verified through logging in is referred to as a "stored user" for the sake of convenience, the stored user can use the play records of past plays stored in the storage unit (210) in a predictive operation for predicting a hitting position, since his / her identity has been verified. In this predictive operation, only the user's own past records stored in the storage unit (210) can be used, or past records including the user's own records and other people's records can be used. If the user's own records alone cannot provide sufficient data for predictive operation, other people's past records can be used to increase the reliability of the predictive operation. Here, it is preferable that the other people are limited to other people who have the same or similar golf skills as the user. This is because if the user's predicted shot point is predicted using data from other people whose golf skills are significantly different from the user's, the accuracy of the prediction may decrease. The user's golfing ability can be determined using various play information stored in the storage unit (210). For example, the user's golfing ability can be determined using "average number of strokes." The average number of strokes usually means the average number of strokes when playing 18 holes on a golf course consisting of 18 holes. In golf, the total number of strokes required for 18 holes is 72 strokes, and the lower the number of strokes recorded by the user in playing 18 holes, the better the golfing ability. Professional golfers record strokes in their 60s or early 70s, and ordinary people are considered to be advanced players if they record within 80 strokes. Also, whether a user is a beginner or not can be determined based on whether they record double-digit or triple-digit strokes based on the standard of 100 strokes.In this way, the average number of strokes is one example of an index for judging a user's golf ability, and for users who have the same average number of strokes as the user himself or who have an average number of strokes that differs slightly from the user himself, that data can be used as supporting information when predicting the user's expected hit point.

[0040] Meanwhile, if a user whose information is stored in the storage unit (210) but who is playing as a guest or a user whose information is not stored in the storage unit (210) is referred to as a "non-stored user" for the sake of convenience, a prediction operation is performed for the non-stored user using only the user's own play record from the day of play. As described above, the process of the prediction operation may vary depending on whether the user is a saved user or a non-saved user. Referring to FIG. 12, in the hitting position prediction operation, in the first step (S10), the user plays a part of the golf course among the entire golf course to be played. In the second step (S20), it is checked whether the user is a saved user or a non-saved user. This can be checked by whether the user has logged in using his / her own information registered in advance. In the case of a non-saved user, in the third step (S30), a prediction operation is performed based on the play results of the part of the virtual golf course that the user has completed. As described above, the prediction operation can be performed using the play records (distance, spin, etc.) of the virtual golf course that the user has already played on that day. In the case of a saved user, in the fourth step (S40), a prediction operation is performed based on the past play records of the user stored in the storage unit (210) and the play results of the part of the virtual golf course that the user has completed. In the fifth step (S50), the prediction result by the prediction operation is displayed on the screen of the virtual golf device, etc., and is provided to the user.

[0041] In the fourth step (S40), there may be various methods for utilizing the user's past play records (for convenience, named "past records") stored in the storage unit (210) together with the user's current day play records (for convenience, named "current day records"). As one method, a predictive action can be performed by reflecting the past record and the record of the day with equal weighting. Referring to FIG. 13, if a user is playing the first hole (1H) while playing a total of 18 holes, since there is no record of the day on the first hole (1H) yet, a predictive action based on the record of the day cannot be performed. However, since there are past records (average flight distance / standard deviation flight distance, average side spin / standard deviation side spin, etc.), a predictive action can be performed based on the past records and then a predicted hit point (ball landing group) can be provided to the user. If the user has completed playing the first hole (1H) and is playing the second hole (2H), since there are both past records and records of the day (play record of the first hole (1H)), a predictive action is performed by reflecting these. At this time, a predictive action can be performed by reflecting the past record and the record of the day in a 1:1 ratio. If the user has completed playing the first and second holes (1H, 2H) and is playing the third hole (3H), a predictive action is performed by reflecting the past record and the record of the day. Even in this case, the predictive operation can be executed by reflecting the past records and the records of the day in a 1:1 ratio. Here, as the record of the day, only the play record of the first hole (1H) can be used, or the play records of the first hole (1H) and the second hole (2H) can be used. In this way, regardless of how far the user's play has progressed (how far the user has played), the predictive operation can be executed by reflecting the record of the day and the past records in a 1:1 ratio.

[0042] As another method, a predictive operation can be performed by reflecting the past record and the record of the day with different weights. Referring to FIG. 14, if a user is playing the first hole (1H) while playing a total of 18 holes, since there is no record of the day on the first hole (1H) yet, a predictive operation can be performed based only on the past records (average flight distance / standard flight distance deviation, average side spin / standard side spin deviation, etc.), and then a predicted hit point (ball landing group) can be provided to the user. If the user has finished playing the first hole (1H) and is playing the second hole (2H), since there are both the past record and the record of the day (play record of the first hole (1H)), a predictive operation can be performed by reflecting these. At this time, the predictive operation can be performed by reflecting the past record and the record of the day in a 1:1 ratio. If the user has finished playing the first and second holes (1H, 2H) and is playing the third hole (3H), a predictive operation can be performed by reflecting the past record and the record of the day in a 1:2 ratio. Here, only the play record of the first hole (1H) can be used as the record of the day, but considering the high weight of the record of the day, it is preferable to use both the play records of the first hole (1H) and the second hole (2H). The reason for increasing the weight of the record of the day and executing the prediction operation in this way is that the record of the day, which shows the state of the day, may have a greater influence than past records when predicting the current shot result. During the play of the second hole (2H), the only record of the day is the play record of the first hole (1H), so there is insufficient data for the prediction operation. Therefore, the reflection ratio is determined by making the record of the day and the past records 1:1. However, during the play of the third hole (3H), the record of the day includes the play records of the first hole (1H) and the second hole (2H), so the data for the prediction operation has increased, and the reflection ratio of the record of the day can be increased by taking this into consideration.Although not shown in the drawings, if the same method is applied, when a user has completed playing the N-1th hole (N is a natural number of 4 or more) and is playing the Nth hole, a prediction operation can be performed by reflecting the past record and the current day record in a ratio of 1:N-1, and here, the play record from the 1st hole (1H) to the N-1th hole can be used as the current day record. Alternatively, when a user has completed playing the N-1th hole and is currently playing the Nth hole, the same current day record can be used for all the prediction operations during play from the Nth hole to the 18th hole. In this case, the user can use the play record from the 1st hole (1H) to the NKth hole (K is a natural number of 1 or more and less than N) as the current day record, and a prediction operation can be performed by reflecting the past record and the current day record in a ratio of 1:NK.

[0043] There are various methods for actually executing a prediction operation by reflecting the past record and the record of the day in a ratio of 1:X (X is a number greater than 1). One of the various methods will be explained using a flying distance as an example. If the average flying distance of the past record is M1 and the average flying distance of the record of the day is M2, the average flying distance in the prediction operation can be weighted by X according to the formula (M1+X×M2) / (1+X) and a prediction operation can be executed.

[0044] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf system according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16 shows an example of a mobile screen showing a predicted hit point in the virtual golf system of FIG.

[0045] 15, the virtual golf system includes a virtual golf device 100, a service device 200, and a mobile device 300. The virtual golf system according to this embodiment has no significant difference from the virtual golf system of the previous embodiment except for the mobile device 300, so detailed description of the configuration other than the mobile device 300 will be omitted.

[0046] The mobile device (300) includes a device that can connect to a remote service device (200) via a communication network. For example, a user's own smartphone can be used as the mobile device (300). When the user's own smartphone is used as the mobile device (300), information on the ball's landing point (estimated hit point) due to the user's hit can be displayed on the display screen of the mobile device (300) before the user hits the ball, as shown in FIG. 16. For example, a mini-map showing the overall outline of the virtual golf course currently being played can be displayed on the display screen, and information on the estimated hit point can be displayed on the mini-map and provided to the user. When the information on the estimated hit point is provided through the mobile device (300) in this manner, the user can check the ball's landing point more conveniently through his or her own smartphone.

[0047] Specific examples of the present invention have been discussed above. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be embodied in modified forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The scope of the present invention is defined in the claims, not in the above description, and all differences within the scope of the claims should be interpreted as being included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 10: Striking plate 20: Control unit 30: Sensing part 40: Input section 50: Sound section 60: Display section 100: Virtual golf device 200: Service equipment

Claims

1. a display unit for displaying a virtual golf course; a calculation unit that calculates a motion of a virtual golf ball corresponding to the actual golf ball on the virtual golf course when a user hits the actual golf ball; Including, a predicting operation is performed to predict at least one or more points on the virtual golf course where the virtual golf ball will arrive due to the user's hit before the user hits the actual golf ball; the virtual golf course includes a plurality of golf courses; The plurality of golf courses include a first golf course to be played first, one or more initial golf courses to be played subsequent to the first golf course, and remaining golf courses other than the first and initial golf courses; The predictive operation is executed when the user plays the remaining golf courses using a play record of the first and initial golf courses played on the day, or when the user plays the initial and remaining golf courses using a play record of the first golf course played on the day. Virtual golf equipment.

2. 2. The virtual golf device according to claim 1, wherein the play record of the day used for the prediction operation is temporarily stored for the prediction operation and is deleted when the user completes playing the plurality of golf courses.

3. 3. The virtual golf device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predictive action is performed by the calculation unit, or further comprising a hit prediction unit that performs the predictive action.

4. A service device; at least one virtual golf device communicatively connected to the service device; Including, The virtual golf device includes a display unit that displays a virtual golf course, and a calculation unit that calculates a motion of a virtual golf ball corresponding to the actual golf ball on the virtual golf course when a user hits the actual golf ball, In the virtual golf device, a predicting operation is performed to predict at least one or more points on the virtual golf course where the virtual golf ball will arrive due to the user's hit before the user hits the actual golf ball; the virtual golf course includes a plurality of golf courses; The plurality of golf courses include a first golf course to be played first, one or more initial golf courses to be played subsequent to the first golf course, and remaining golf courses other than the first and initial golf courses; The predictive operation is executed when the user plays the remaining golf courses using a play record of the first and initial golf courses played on the day, or when the user plays the initial and remaining golf courses using a play record of the first golf course played on the day. Virtual golf system.

5. 5. The virtual golf system according to claim 4, wherein at least one or more points on the virtual golf course where the virtual golf ball will arrive, as predicted by the prediction operation, can be displayed on the display unit or a mobile device connectable to the service apparatus.

6. The service device further includes a storage unit for storing user information, The users include storage users whose information is stored in the storage unit and non-storage users whose information is not stored in the storage unit, The virtual golf system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein when the predicted action is executed for the stored user, the predicted action can further utilize past play records of the stored user stored in the storage unit.

7. 7. The virtual golf system of claim 6, wherein for the stored user, the user's play record for the day and the user's past play record stored in the storage unit are reflected to each other at a predetermined ratio to execute the prediction operation, and as the number of golf courses on which the user has completed play among the plurality of golf courses increases, the play record for the day is reflected at a higher ratio compared to the past play record to execute the prediction operation.

8. The virtual golf system of claim 6, wherein when the predicted action is performed for the stored user, the predicted action utilizes the past play records of the stored user stored in the storage unit, and further utilizes the past play records of other users other than the stored user.

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