Putting information providing system, putting information providing method, user terminal control method for guiding putting play, and computer program

Abstract

When a user who plays golf on a golf course connects to a server via a user terminal device the user has and performs putting on the green, by using information obtained using a putting interface displayed on the user terminal device, an accurate putting guide based on information about the green during putting and green terrain information between a golf ball and a hole cup on the green is provided from the server, so that a user who performs putting on the green can easily perform putting without the help of a caddie or the like. The present invention is for providing a putting information providing system, a putting information providing method, a control method for a user terminal device for guiding a user's putting play, and a computer-readable recording medium on which this is recorded.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a putting information providing system, a putting information providing method, a control method for a user terminal for guiding a user's putting play, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the same is recorded, which can provide information for guiding a user's golf play, particularly putting play, via a user terminal such as a mobile terminal or a golf dedicated terminal held by a user who plays golf on a golf course.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, golf is a sport recorded by the number of golf shots taken during a round of 18 holes or more, that is, the number of strokes, and the fewer the number of strokes, the better the record.

[0003] People who enjoy golf use a very diverse range of methods to reduce the number of golf strokes recorded when playing a round of golf on a golf course. In particular, a method of receiving information about the topographical characteristics of the golf course and information about appropriate strategies for each hole on the golf course via a predetermined mobile terminal and using it to establish a strategy for one's own golf round operation is widely used.

[0004] Such conventional terminals for providing golf information perform functions such as storing the topographical information of the golf course, using GPS position information to grasp the current position information of the user, and providing the remaining distance information from the current position to the hole cup, or storing stereotypical information about golf strategies at the golf course and then providing it to the user.

[0005] However, since conventional terminals for providing golf information only provide information that simply stereotypes information about the topography of the golf course via a two-dimensional map, the information provided to a user playing a round of golf is limited, and there is a problem in that there is a limit to the provision of useful information that can be directly helpful to the user in the current situation.

[0006] In particular, when putting in the green, it is possible to hole in by accurately grasping the green terrain and hitting the golf ball with appropriate strength and direction. Therefore, it is one of the most difficult parts in golf play. Thus, since it is very difficult to perform putting play well, it can be said that the most necessary thing for a user who plays a golf course is information that can be useful during putting.

[0007] As described above, various prior arts that can provide putting information useful for a user's putting play via the user's mobile terminal have been published.

[0008] For example, prior art documents such as Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0107601, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2019-0034045, and Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0131037 have been published.

[0009] Conventional technologies as described above disclose technologies such as calculating the position information of a golf ball by a user taking a photo of the golf ball placed on the green and the hole cup, and using the result of analyzing the photo image and GPS position information. However, since it is difficult to obtain accurate results, there is a problem that the putting-related information provided to the user becomes meaningless.

[0010] In addition, in order to accurately grasp the green line between the golf ball and the hole cup on the green and provide accurate putting information to the user based on this, separate equipment, analysis means, etc. are further required. Therefore, there is a problem that the overall system and control process become complicated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0011]

Patent Document 1

[0012] [Patent Document 2] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2019-0034045

[0013] [Patent Document 3] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0131037 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0014] The present invention is to connect to a server using a user terminal device held by a user who plays a golf course at a golf course, and when the user is putting on the green, use the information obtained using the putting interface displayed on the user terminal device to provide an accurate putting guide based on information about the green during putting and green terrain information between the golf ball and the hole cup on the green from the server, so that a user who is putting on the green can easily putt without the help of a caddie or the like. The present invention provides a putting information providing system, a putting information providing method, a control method of a user terminal device for guiding a user's putting play, and a computer-readable recording medium on which this is recorded. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0015] The putting information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a method for providing putting information for guiding a putting play to a user who plays a golf round at a golf course, using a user terminal, comprising: transmitting green terrain information about a green on which the user plays putting to the user terminal connected to a server; determining, by an operation of the user via a putting interface for calculating putting information including a distance and a green line between a golf ball and a hole cup on the green, a position of a ball on a virtual green based on the green terrain information corresponding to the position of the golf ball on the green; calculating the putting information using the determined position of the ball and a position of a cup on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the hole cup on the green; and calculating putting guide information including at least one of a putting predicted path and a putting direction from the position of the ball to the position of the cup using the calculated putting information and providing the putting guide information via the putting interface.

[0016] Also, preferably, the step of calculating the putting information includes: receiving, by an operation via the putting interface at a position adjacent to a golf ball placed on the green, terminal position information by a GPS module of the user terminal; determining the received terminal position as the position of the ball on the virtual green; and calculating, as the putting information, a distance and a gradient from the position of the ball to the position of the cup.

[0017] Also preferably, the putting interface is configured to capture the golf ball and the hole cup on the green using the camera of the user terminal, and is configured to display a ball position alignment unit so as to align the golf ball on the green to a predetermined position on the putting interface. The step of calculating the putting information includes: the user aligns the golf ball on the green to the ball position alignment unit while causing the hole cup on the green to appear on one side of the putting interface using the user terminal, and determines the position of the ball on the virtual green using the position of the terminal by the GPS module of the user terminal, the position of the cup on the virtual green, and the positional relationship between the golf ball aligned via the putting interface and the hole cup; and calculating the distance and the gradient from the position of the ball to the position of the cup as the putting information.

[0018] Also preferably, the step of calculating the putting guide information and providing it via the putting interface includes: determining the putting direction starting from the position of the ball based on the green line between the position of the ball on the virtual green and the position of the cup; and determining the path to the position of the cup formed by the green line as the predicted putting path if a golf ball is struck in the putting direction from the position of the ball.

[0019] Also preferably, the step of calculating the putting aiming point in the determined putting direction and the step of calculating the directional distance, which is the distance from the position of the cup to the putting aiming point, are included.

[0020] The present invention also provides a computer-readable recording medium on which the above-described putting information providing method is recorded.

[0021] On the one hand, a control method for a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention is a control method for a user terminal for guiding a putting play of a user who plays a golf round on a golf course, comprising the steps of connecting to a server and downloading green terrain information about a green on which the user plays; displaying a putting interface for calculating putting information including a distance between a golf ball and a hole cup on the green and a green line; determining a position of a ball on a virtual green based on the green terrain information corresponding to the position of the golf ball on the green by an operation of the user via the putting interface, and displaying the calculated putting information using the determined position of the ball and the position of the cup on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the hole cup on the green; and displaying putting guide information including at least one of a predicted putting path and a putting direction from the position of the ball calculated using the putting information to the position of the cup on the putting interface.

[0022] Also, preferably, the step of displaying the putting information includes sensing an operation of the user via the putting interface, determining terminal position information by a GPS module as the position of the ball on the virtual green, and displaying calculated values of a distance and a gradient from the determined position of the ball to the position of the cup on the putting interface.

[0023] Also preferably, the putting interface is configured to photograph the golf ball and the hole cup on the green, and is configured to display a ball position alignment unit so as to align the golf ball on the green to a predetermined position on the putting interface. The step of displaying the putting information includes determining the position of the ball on the virtual green by using the position of the terminal by the GPS module, the position of the cup on the virtual green, and the positional relationship between the golf ball aligned through the putting interface and the hole cup while causing the hole cup on the green to appear on one side of the putting interface and aligning the golf ball on the green to the ball position alignment unit; and displaying on the putting interface the calculated values of the distance and the gradient from the determined position of the ball to the position of the cup.

[0024] Also preferably, the step of displaying the putting guide information includes determining a putting direction starting from the position of the ball based on a green line between the position of the ball and the position of the cup on the virtual green, and displaying, as the putting guide, a putting direction line, which is a straight line from the position of the ball to a putting aiming point in the putting direction, on the putting interface.

[0025] Also preferably, the step of displaying the putting guide information includes determining a putting direction starting from the position of the ball based on a green line between the position of the ball and the position of the cup on the virtual green, and displaying, as the putting guide, a putting line, which is a line connecting the paths to the position of the cup formed by the green line when a golf ball is struck in the putting direction from the position of the ball, on the putting interface.

[0026] Also, preferably, the step of displaying the putting guide information determines a putting direction starting from the position of the ball based on a green line between the position of the ball on the virtual green and the position of the cup, determines a putting aiming point in the putting direction from the position of the ball, and further includes the step of displaying, on the putting interface, a direction distance that is the distance from the position of the cup to the putting aiming point.

[0027] The present invention also provides a computer-readable recording medium on which a control method for the user terminal as described above is recorded.

[0028] On the other hand, a putting information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a system that provides putting information for guiding a putting play to a user who plays a golf round at a golf course using a user terminal, and includes a database that stores green terrain information about the green of each hole of the golf course, and communicates with the user terminal via a network connection, extracts green terrain information about the green of the hole where the user is playing from the database, and transmits it to the user terminal, and generates and provides putting information for guiding the user's putting play based on a virtual green according to the extracted green terrain information. The server determines the position of the ball on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the golf ball on the green by the operation of the user via a putting interface for calculating putting information including the distance and green line between the golf ball and the hole cup on the green where the user is playing, calculates the putting information using the determined position of the ball and the position of the cup on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the hole cup on the green, and calculates putting guide information including at least one of a putting predicted path and a putting direction from the position of the ball to the position of the cup using the putting information, and provides it via the putting interface.

Advantages of the Invention

[0029] The putting information providing system, putting information providing method, control method for a user terminal for guiding a user's putting play, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the same is recorded according to the present invention connect to a server via a user terminal held by a user who is playing a golf round on a golf course. When the user is putting on the green, based on the information obtained using the putting interface displayed on the user terminal, accurate putting guidance is provided from the server regarding the information about the green during putting and the green terrain information between the golf ball and the hole cup on the green. As a result, a user who is putting on the green can easily putt without the help of a caddie or the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030]

Figure 1

[0031]

Figure 2

[0032]

Figure 3

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Figure 4

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Figure 5

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Figure 6

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Figure 7

[0037]

Figure 8

Figure 9

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[0038]

Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0039] The specific contents of the putting information providing system, the putting information providing method, the control method of the user terminal for guiding the putting play of the user, and the computer-readable recording medium on which the same is recorded according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] First, a putting information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of a putting information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] In the putting information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, each user terminal 100 held by a user who plays golf is connected to a server 200, and each user terminal 100 can provide golf information, particularly putting information on the green, to the user through data communication between each user terminal 100 and the server 200.

[0042] The user terminal 100 can include personal mobile communication terminals such as smartphones and tablet PCs, and can also include golf terminals for providing golf information used at a golf course.

[0043] The user terminal 100 of the putting information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention can include a control unit 105, a communication module 110, a GPS module 120, a camera 130, a data storage unit 140, a display 150, a sensor module 160, and the like.

[0044] The configuration of the user terminal 100 as described above is a configuration that ordinary smartphones and personal mobile terminals basically have, and such a configuration may already be a known configuration or a widely known configuration.

[0045] The communication module 110 enables the user terminal 100 to perform data communication with the server 200, such as wireless communication like WiFi. The control unit 105 can receive position information from satellites via the GPS module 120 and transmit it to the server 200 as the position information of the user terminal via the communication module 110.

[0046] The server 200 can calculate the position information of the golf ball using the position information of the user terminal and provide various putting information based on this.

[0047] The user terminal 100 can capture the hole cup and the golf ball on the green on the screen using the camera 130, thereby calculating the position of the golf ball, and based on this, the server can provide various putting information.

[0048] The data storage unit 140 of the user terminal 100 can store various data such as the terrain information of each hole on the golf course transmitted from the server 200, especially the terrain information about the green of each hole, and can store various data for video processing of the terrain information of each hole and the green in the form of a map, and can store data for the implementation of various putting information provided to the user.

[0049] The display 150 outputs putting information and the like provided to the user on the screen, can be composed of a touch panel, and can be configured to enable information input by the user's touch gesture.

[0050] The sensor module 160 includes an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, etc., and is a module capable of sensing the operation and posture of the terminal, and can be used when calculating the position of the golf ball and the like.

[0051] The control unit 105 is a component that performs various calculations and information processing required for various programs or applications driven by the user terminal. In the putting information providing system according to the present invention, the control unit 105 of the user terminal controls the data storage unit 140, the display 150, the camera 130, the GPS module 120, the sensor module 160, etc. by a predetermined program or application, or receives transmission of necessary information and performs necessary calculations and information processing, and finally functions to generate putting information to be provided to the user.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 1, a putting information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a database 300 that stores terrain information about each hole of a golf course (including green terrain information about the green of each hole), and performs data communication with the user terminal through a network connection, extracts green terrain information about the green of the hole where the user is playing from the database 300, transmits it to the user terminal 100, and generates and provides putting information for guiding the user's putting play based on a virtual green according to the extracted green terrain information.

[0053] The server 200 determines the position of the ball on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the golf ball on the green by the operation of the user through a putting interface for calculating putting information including the distance between the golf ball and the hole cup on the green where the user is playing and the green line, and uses the determined position of the ball and the position of the cup on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the hole cup on the green to calculate the above-mentioned putting information.

[0054] In addition, the server 200 can calculate putting guide information including at least one of the above-described putting predicted path and putting direction from the above-described ball position to the above-described cup position by using the above-described padding information, that is, the distance between the golf ball on the green and the hole cup and the green line information, etc., and provide it via the putting interface on the user terminal device.

[0055] More specific details regarding the provision of putting guide information via the putting interface as described above will be described later.

[0056] On the other hand, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 10, a putting information providing method using the putting information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention or a control method of a user terminal device for guiding a user's putting play will be described.

[0057] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process for a putting information providing method or a control method of a user terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 to 10 are exemplary diagrams for more specifically explaining each step of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2. Hereinafter, the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the exemplary diagrams of FIGS. 3 to 10.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 2, first, each user who plays on the golf course can connect to the server via the user terminal device they have (S100), and each user terminal device can download map information (including green terrain information) about the hole on which the user plays golf from the server and display it on the display screen (S110).

[0059] Each user who plays golf can play a golf round using various types of information necessary for playing a golf round, such as golf information provided via their own user terminal, for example, the form, configuration, location of terrain features, distance to the hole cup, hole strategy information, predicted progress route, and distances to each point on the route (S120).

[0060] FIG. 3 shows an example of information about a hole provided via a user terminal as described above and information about the green of the hole.

[0061] In FIG. 3(a), the necessary hole information is shown on the display screen of the user terminal at the tee shot position of the hole where the user is currently playing, (b) shows the necessary hole information at the second shot position, and (c) shows the necessary green information at the approach shot position.

[0062] When the user enters a specific hole and takes a tee shot or before that, the user terminal downloads map information about the hole from the server and, as shown in FIG. 3(a), displays the overall map Mh1 on the display 150, providing information that allows the user to conceive how to play the hole at the tee shot position with what strategy.

[0063] When taking a second shot after taking a tee shot, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the user terminal recognizes the second shot position or the user's position and then displays an intermediate map Mh2 that expands the area to the green, providing information that allows the user to conceive how to proceed at the second shot position with what strategy.

[0064] When the user comes to a position where they can take an approach shot or from the second shot position, as shown in FIG. 3(c), a green map GM that expands the green according to the user's selection can be displayed on a separate screen 152.

[0065] As described above, the server and the user terminal provide detailed information about the current hole being played while recognizing the position of the user terminal or the position of the golf ball, so that the user can play golf well on the hole.

[0066] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, when the user's golf ball lands on the green during the process described above, that is, when it is on the green (S130), the server and the user terminal can recognize the position of the user terminal or the position of the golf ball and recognize that the golf ball is on the green. Therefore, it is possible to provide information that enables the user to putt.

[0067] That is, if the server recognizes that the user's golf ball is on the green, a putting interface can be displayed on the display screen of the user terminal (S200). Here, the "putting interface" is a screen image displayed on the display of the user terminal to calculate and provide "putting information" including information such as the distance between the golf ball and the hole cup on the actual green and the green line.

[0068] With the putting interface displayed on the user terminal, the server can determine the position of the ball on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the golf ball on the actual green through the user's operation via the putting interface displayed on the user terminal (S210).

[0069] Here, the "virtual green" is a virtual green assumed by the server based on the green terrain information of the actual green in order to provide the above-mentioned putting information via the user terminal. The virtual green is a terrain assumed in a virtual space that has the same terrain information as the actual green.

[0070] Since the server already has information about the position of the hole cup on the green of the relevant hole, it already knows the position of the cup on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the hole cup on the actual green.

[0071] The server can use the position of the ball and the position of the cup on the virtual green (which similarly corresponds to the position of the golf ball and the position of the hole cup on the actual green) to calculate putting information, that is, information such as the distance between the golf ball and the hole cup, the green line (topography-related information such as the slope of the green, terrain undulations, etc. between the position of the ball and the position of the cup) (S220).

[0072] Also, the server can determine the putting direction starting from the position of the ball based on the green line between the position of the ball and the position of the cup on the virtual green based on the green terrain information as described above (S230).

[0073] That is, when hitting the golf ball at the position of the ball, it is possible to calculate the putting direction that allows the golf ball to reach the position of the cup according to the green line between the position of the ball and the position of the cup.

[0074] The user terminal can generate a putting direction line from the position of the ball on the virtual green as described above to the putting aiming point in the putting direction as described above, and display it with the putting direction line from the part corresponding to the golf ball displayed on the putting interface to guide the user's putting (S240).

[0075] In addition, the server can generate a putting line that connects the path of the simulated golf ball from the position of the ball on the virtual green based on the putting direction and the green line between the position of the ball and the position of the cup as described above, and can display it as a putting line from the part corresponding to the golf ball displayed on the putting interface to the part corresponding to the hole cup to guide the user's putting (S250).

[0076] The determination of the position of the ball in the aforementioned S210 step, the calculation of the putting information in the S220 step, the determination of the putting direction in the S230 step, the generation of the putting direction line in the S240 step, and the generation of the putting line in the S250 step, etc. can also be executed in such a way that the server assumes a virtual green based on the green terrain information, calculates the information using the position of the ball and the position of the cup on the virtual green, transmits it to the user terminal, and displays it via the putting interface of the user terminal. The basic terrain information, etc. is received from the server, and various operations and calculations in the aforementioned steps are executed on the user terminal side, and the result can also be executed in such a way that it is displayed on the putting interface.

[0077] Also, as described above, in FIG. 2, after determining the putting direction from the position of the ball using the position of the ball and the position of the cup on the virtual green, it was described as generating a putting line from the position of the ball to the position of the cup based on this. However, it is also possible to first calculate the putting line calculated by simulating the movement path of the golf ball from the position of the ball to the position of the cup on the virtual green, and determine the putting direction starting from the position of the ball based on the putting line to generate a putting direction line.

[0078] Hereinafter, the process from the aforementioned S200 step to the S250 step will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 10 respectively.

[0079] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a situation where the position of a golf ball on the green is specified during the user's golf round, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a process in which the user specifies the position of the golf ball via the putting interface of the user terminal in the state shown in FIG. 4 and displays putting information thereby on the putting interface, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state where a putting guide is displayed via the putting interface of the user terminal in the state shown in FIG. 5.

[0080] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another situation where the position of a golf ball on the green is specified during the user's golf round, FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing a process in which the user specifies the position of the golf ball via the putting interface of the user terminal in the state shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where a putting guide is displayed via the putting interface of the user terminal in the state shown in FIG. 7.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 4, when the golf ball GB lands on the green GR during the user GP's golf round, that is, when on the green, as shown in FIG. 5, a putting interface 170 for providing the user with putting information is displayed on the display 150 of the user terminal 100, and the user can specify the position where the golf ball is placed on the green GR using the putting interface 170.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 5, the putting interface 170 can be configured to show a cup object 172 representing a hole cup and a ball position button portion 175 representing a golf ball on a background video 171 representing green. It is a view in which the hole cup can be seen at the position of the golf ball on the screen of the putting interface 170, and the hole cup object 172 can be configured to be seen from the ball position button portion 175. The ball position button portion 175 can be configured to be input by a user's touch or gesture. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, an operation guide portion 173 can be displayed so that a user can operate the putting interface 170.

[0083] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a user GP is positioned adjacent to the position where a golf ball GB is placed on a green GR (for example, standing close to the rear side of the golf ball GB). As shown in FIG. 5, by inputting a touch or gesture of a finger F to the ball position button portion 175 of the putting interface 170 on the user terminal 100, a GPS module in the user terminal 100 can extract the current position information of the user terminal 100 and transmit it to a server.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 4, the position of the user terminal at a position adjacent to the golf ball GB (the position by the GPS module) can be made to approach or coincide within an allowable error range with the position of the golf ball GB on the plane.

[0085] Therefore, in the situations shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, by a user touching the ball position button portion 175 on the putting interface 170 displayed on the user terminal 100, the position of the terminal received by the GPS module in the user terminal can be considered as the position of the golf ball GB, and the position of the ball on the virtual green corresponding to that position can be determined.

[0086] The reference numeral 180 shown in FIG. 5 represents an assumed virtual green 181 so that a server or a user terminal can calculate putting information, putting guide information, etc. based on green terrain information about green GR.

[0087] The virtual green 181 is virtually assumed based on the green terrain information about the actual green so that a server or a user terminal can provide putting information, etc. via a putting interface.

[0088] The drawing of the virtual area 180 including the virtual green 181 shown in FIG. 5 does not show that a server or a user terminal has actually embodied such an image, but illustrates that a server or a user terminal obtains putting information and putting guide information based on green terrain information through internal calculations and internal simulations, etc.

[0089] The server or the user terminal calculates the distance D between the two using the position coordinate information of the ball position 183 corresponding to the position of the golf ball on the virtual green 181 that is the same as the terrain of the actual green and the cup position 182 corresponding to the position of the hole cup, and can calculate information such as the gradient of the actual green based on the information of the green line 184 between the ball position 183 and the cup position 182.

[0090] The information on the distance D between the ball position 183 and the cup position 182 and the green line 184 calculated in this way can be displayed via the putting information window 176 on the putting interface 170 displayed on the display 150 of the user terminal 100 as shown in FIG. 5, and the user who sees this can formulate a putting strategy based on the information.

[0091] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the server or the user terminal can determine the putting direction 185 starting from the position 183 of the ball on the virtual green 181, that is, the putting direction that enables the golf ball to reach the position of the cup along the green line between the position 183 of the ball and the position 182 of the cup, based on the green line between the position 183 of the ball and the position 182 of the cup by internal calculation and simulation. The putting aiming point 186, which is the point where the horizontal line lh passing through the position 182 of the cup and the line of the putting direction 185 from the position 183 of the ball meet, can be calculated.

[0092] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the server or the user terminal can generate a putting line 187 that connects the path of the simulated golf ball from the position 183 of the ball on the virtual green 181 based on the putting direction 185 from the position 183 of the ball and the green line between the position 183 of the ball and the position 182 of the cup.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 6, the generated putting direction, putting aiming point, putting line, etc. can be generated and displayed as graphics on the putting interface 170 of the user terminal 100.

[0094] That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a ball object 191 and a hole cup object 172 are displayed on the putting interface 170 of the user terminal 100. A putting direction line 192 that progresses from the ball object 191 corresponding to the aforementioned putting direction and an aiming portion 193 at the end of the putting direction line 192 corresponding to the aforementioned putting aiming point 186 can be displayed. A putting line portion 195 that is connected from the ball object 191 to the hole cup object 172 corresponding to the aforementioned putting line 187 can be displayed.

[0095] Further, corresponding to the directional distance dh, which is the distance from the position 182 of the cup to the putting aiming point 186 on the virtual green 181, information indicating this can be displayed in the putting information window 176 on the putting interface 170. The reference numeral 177 indicates the directional distance described above in the putting information window, and it can be shown not simply as a distance but converted into the number of cups.

[0096] As described above, corresponding to the putting direction 185, the putting aiming point 186, the putting line 187, etc. calculated on the virtual green based on the actual green terrain by the server or the user terminal, a putting direction line 192, an aiming part 193, a putting line part 195, etc. can be provided on the putting interface 170 of the user terminal 100 as a putting guide for the user.

[0097] Also, in order to more effectively guide the user's putting, as shown in FIG. 6, a ball display part 174 for the golf ball is shown on one side of the putting interface 170 of the user terminal, and a direction display part 175 indicating the putting direction can also be displayed on the ball display part 174.

[0098] On the other hand, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11, a method for providing putting information and putting guide information for the user will be described.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 7, when the golf ball GB lands on the green GR during the golf round of the user GP, that is, when it is on the green, as shown in FIG. 8, a putting interface 270 for providing putting information to the user is displayed on the display 150 of the user terminal 100, and the user can specify the position where the golf ball is placed on the green GR using the putting interface 270.

[0100] Figures 8 and 9 show a new form of putting interface. The putting interface 270 as shown in Figures 8 and 9 can display the video captured by the camera of the user terminal 100 and can be configured to display a ball position alignment unit 275 so that the golf ball GB on the green GR can be aligned with a predetermined position on the putting interface 270.

[0101] Also, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, an operation guide unit 273 that guides the user's operation or gesture can be displayed so that the user can align the ball position via the putting interface 270.

[0102] As shown in Figure 7, behind the position where the golf ball GB is placed on the green GR by the user GP, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the golf ball GB and the hole cup HC can be included within the viewing angle FOV of the camera-captured video via the putting interface 270 on the user terminal 100.

[0103] Also, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the user can move the user terminal 100 so that the hole cup video iHC capturing the hole cup HC appears on the putting interface 270, and at the same time, the ball video iGB capturing the golf ball GB on the green GR is positioned and aligned with the ball position alignment unit 275 on the putting interface 270. Thus, the GPS module in the user terminal 100 can extract the current position information of the user terminal 100 and transmit it to the server.

[0104] The server or the user terminal can calculate the position of the golf ball GB on the green GR using the position of the hole cup HC based on the terrain information of the green GR, the position of the user terminal by the aforementioned GPS module, and the information sensed by the sensor module in the user terminal.

[0105] For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the terminal position PG by the GPS module of the user terminal 100 captures the cup HC and the golf ball GB through the padding interface of the user terminal 100 into the screen image and aligns the golf ball GB with the ball position alignment unit 275, the inclination angle (α) of the terminal with respect to the reference plane S can be sensed by the sensor module inside the user terminal 100.

[0106] And the height H of the user terminal 100 with respect to the reference plane S can be sensed by the sensor module.

[0107] Since the golf ball GB is aligned with the ball position alignment unit 275, the angle (θ) formed by the line connecting the position of the golf ball GB from the origin O of the user terminal with respect to the reference plane S can be calculated by the inclination angle (α) of the terminal described above and geometric analysis.

[0108] Using the height H and the angle θ as described above, the distance Dg between the position PG of the terminal and the position PB of the golf ball can be obtained, and the coordinate information of the position PB of the golf ball can be calculated using the coordinates of the position PG of the terminal sensed by the GPS module, the coordinates of the position PH of the cup according to the green terrain information, and the distance Dg calculated as described above.

[0109] In this way, the coordinates of the position PG of the terminal, the coordinates of the position PB of the golf ball, and the coordinates of the position PH of the cup can be obtained, and thus the distance D between the golf ball GB and the cup HC can also be obtained. In FIG. 10, Dt represents the total distance obtained by combining the distance Dg and the distance D (the distance from the position of the terminal at the end to the position of the cup).

[0110] As described above, the position coordinates of the golf ball GB can be calculated based on the position information of the terminal by the GPS module and geometric calculations, and this can be determined as the position of the ball on the virtual green.

[0111] The reference numeral 180 shown in Fig. 11(b) indicates the assumption of a virtual green 181 so that a server or a user terminal can calculate putting information, putting guide information, etc. based on green terrain information about green GR. The virtual green 181 is virtually assumed by the server or the user terminal based on the green terrain information about the actual green in order to provide putting information, etc. via a putting interface.

[0112] The picture of the virtual area 180 including the virtual green 181 shown in Fig. 11(b) does not show that the server or the user terminal actually embodied such an image, but illustrates that the server or the user terminal obtains putting information and putting guide information based on the green terrain information through internal calculations and internal simulations, etc.

[0113] The server or the user terminal can calculate information such as the actual green gradient based on the information of the green line 184 between the ball position 183 corresponding to the position of the golf ball on the virtual green 181 that is the same as the terrain of the actual green and the cup position 182 corresponding to the position of the hole cup.

[0114] In this way, the distance between the ball position 183 and the cup position 182 and the green line information can be displayed via the putting information window 276 on the putting interface 270 displayed on the display 150 of the user terminal 100 as shown in Fig. 11(a). The user who sees this can formulate a putting strategy based on the said information.

[0115] Also, as shown in Fig. 11(b), the server or the user terminal can, based on the green line between the position 183 of the ball on the virtual green 181 and the position 182 of the cup through internal calculations and simulations, determine the putting direction 185 starting from the position 183 of the ball, that is, the putting direction that enables the golf ball to reach the position of the cup along the green line between the position of the ball and the position of the cup when hitting the golf ball at the position of the ball, and can calculate the putting aiming point 186, which is the point where the horizontal line lh passing through the position 182 of the cup and the line of the putting direction 185 from the position 183 of the ball meet.

[0116] Also, as shown in Fig. 11(b), the server or the user terminal can generate a putting line 187 that connects the path of the simulated golf ball from the position 183 of the ball based on the putting direction 185 from the position 183 of the ball on the virtual green 181 and the green line between the position 183 of the ball and the position 182 of the cup.

[0117] The putting direction, putting aiming point, putting line, etc. generated in this way can be generated and displayed as graphics on the putting interface 270 of the user terminal 100 as shown in Fig. 6.

[0118] That is, as shown in Fig. 11(a), a putting direction line 292 that proceeds from the ball video iGB captured by the ball position alignment unit 275 on the putting interface 270 of the user terminal 100 corresponding to the above-mentioned putting direction can be displayed, and an aiming unit 293 can be displayed at the end of the putting direction line 292 corresponding to the above-mentioned putting aiming point 186, and a putting line unit 295 that is connected from the ball video iGB to the hole cup video iHC corresponding to the above-mentioned putting line 187 can be displayed.

[0119] Also, corresponding to the directional distance dh, which is the distance from the position 182 of the cup to the putting aiming point 186 on the virtual green 181, information indicating this can be displayed in the putting information window 276 on the putting interface 270.

[0120] As described above, corresponding to the putting direction 185, the putting aiming point 186, the putting line 187, etc. calculated on the virtual green based on the actual green terrain, the server or the user terminal can provide a putting direction line 292, an aiming part 293, a putting line part 295, etc. on the putting interface 170 of the user terminal 100 to the user as a putting guide.

[0121] Also, in order to more effectively guide the user's putting, as shown in FIG. 11, a ball display part 274 for the golf ball is shown on one side of the putting interface 270 of the user terminal, and a direction display part 275 indicating the putting direction can also be displayed on the ball display part 274.

[0122] As described above, the putting information providing system, the putting information providing method, and the control method of the user terminal for guiding the user's putting play according to the present invention use the information obtained using the putting interface displayed on the user terminal when the user is putting on the green, and based on information about the green and the green terrain information between the golf ball and the hole cup on the green from the server, provide an accurate putting guide. As a result, the user putting on the green can easily putt without the help of a caddy or the like, which is a feature and advantage.

Industrial Applicability

[0123] The putting information providing system, putting information providing method, control method for a user terminal for guiding a user's putting play, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the same is recorded according to the present invention are applicable to the golf-related industrial fields and the so-called screen golf and hybrid golf-related industrial fields.

Claims

1. A method for providing putting information for guiding a putting play to a user playing a round of golf at a golf course using a user terminal, comprising: transmitting green topography information about a green on which the user will play putting to the user terminal connected to a server, and the server implementing a virtual green in a virtual space based on the green topography information; a screen image in which a hole cup object representing the hole cup and a ball position button unit representing the golf ball appear on a background image representing the green as a putting interface for calculating putting information including the distance between the golf ball on the green and the hole cup and the lie of the green, is displayed on the user terminal; determining the location of the user terminal received by a GPS module of the user terminal at a corresponding time as a ball location on the virtual green corresponding to the location of the golf ball on the green by the user touching or making a gesture input on the ball location button unit of the putting interface at a location adjacent to the golf ball placed on the green; calculating putting information including the distance between the golf ball and the hole cup on the green and the lie of the green using the determined ball position on the virtual green and a cup position on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the hole cup on the green; calculating putting guide information including at least one of a predicted putting path and a putting direction from the ball position to the cup position on the virtual green using the calculated putting information, and providing the putting guide information through the putting interface; A putting information providing method including:

2. A method for providing putting information for guiding a putting play to a user playing a round of golf at a golf course using a user terminal device, comprising: transmitting green topography information about a green on which the user will play putting to the user terminal connected to a server, and the server implementing a virtual green in a virtual space based on the green topography information; a putting interface for calculating putting information including a distance between the golf ball on the green and a hole cup and a lie of the green is displayed on the user terminal; a putting interface for displaying a view captured by a camera of the user terminal on a screen of the user terminal, and a ball position aligning unit for aligning the golf ball on the green at a predetermined position on the putting interface; the user aligns the golf ball on the green in the ball position alignment unit while making the hole cup on the green appear on one side of the putting interface using the user terminal, thereby determining the ball position on the virtual green using the terminal position of the user terminal received by a GPS module of the user terminal, the cup position on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the hole cup on the green, and the positional relationship between the golf ball and the hole cup aligned via the putting interface; calculating putting information including the distance between the golf ball and the hole cup on the green and the lie of the green using the determined ball position and cup position on the virtual green; calculating putting guide information including at least one of a predicted putting path and a putting direction from the ball position to the cup position on the virtual green using the calculated putting information, and providing the information through the putting interface; A putting information providing method including:

3. The step of calculating putting guide information and providing it through the putting interface includes: the server or the user terminal determines the putting direction that allows a virtual golf ball starting from the ball position to reach the cup position through an internal simulation based on the lie of the green between the ball position on the virtual green and the cup position; and determining, as the predicted putting path, a path to the cup position defined by a lie on the green when the virtual golf ball is hit in the putting direction from the ball position.

4. The step of calculating the putting guide information and providing it via the putting interface comprises: calculating a putting aiming point for the determined putting direction; 4. The putting information providing method according to claim 3, further comprising: calculating a directional distance that is a distance from the cup position to the putting aiming point.

5. A computer program comprising program instructions for causing a processor to carry out the putting information providing method according to claim 1 or 2.

6. A method for controlling a user terminal to guide a putting play of a user playing a round of golf at a golf course, comprising: connecting to a server to download green topography information for the green on which the user will play; the server implements a virtual green in a virtual space based on the green topography information, and displays on the user terminal a screen image in which a hole cup object representing the hole cup and a ball position button unit representing the golf ball appear on a background image representing the green as a putting interface for calculating putting information including a distance between a golf ball on the green and a hole cup and a lie of the green; determining a terminal position of the user terminal received by a GPS module of the user terminal at a corresponding time as a ball position on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the golf ball on the green by the user touching or making a gesture input on the ball position button unit of the putting interface at a position adjacent to the golf ball placed on the green; calculating putting information including the distance between the golf ball and the hole cup on the green and the lie of the green using the determined ball position on the virtual green and a cup position on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the hole cup on the green, calculating putting guide information including at least one of a predicted putting path and a putting direction from the ball position to the cup position on the virtual green using the putting information, and displaying the putting guide information on the putting interface; A method for controlling a user terminal for guiding a putting play, comprising:

7. A method for controlling a user terminal for guiding a putting play of a user playing a round of golf at a golf course, comprising: connecting to a server to download green topography information for the green on which the user will play; the server creates a virtual green in a virtual space based on the green topography information, and displays on the user terminal a putting interface for calculating putting information including a distance between a golf ball on the green and a hole cup and a lie of the green; the putting interface displays a view captured in a field of view of a camera of the user terminal on a screen of the user terminal, and displays a ball position alignment unit that allows the golf ball on the green to be positioned at a predetermined position on the putting interface; aligning the golf ball on the green in the ball position alignment unit while making the hole cup on the green appear on one side of the putting interface, thereby determining the ball position on the virtual green using the terminal position of the user terminal received by a GPS module, the cup position on the virtual green corresponding to the position of the hole cup on the green, and the positional relationship between the golf ball and the hole cup aligned via the putting interface; calculating putting information including the distance between the golf ball and the hole cup on the green and the lie of the green using the determined ball position and cup position on the virtual green, calculating putting guide information including at least one of a predicted putting path and a putting direction from the ball position to the cup position on the virtual green using the putting information, and displaying the putting guide information on the putting interface; A method for controlling a user terminal for guiding a putting play, comprising:

8. The step of displaying the putting guide information on the putting interface includes:

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: determining a putting direction starting from the ball position based on a lie of the green between the ball position and the cup position on the virtual green; and displaying a putting direction line, which is a straight line from the ball position to a putting aiming point in the putting direction, on the putting interface as the putting guide information.

9. The step of displaying the putting guide information on the putting interface includes:

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: determining a putting direction that enables a virtual golf ball starting from the ball position to reach the cup position through an internal simulation based on a lie of the green between the ball position and the cup position on the virtual green of the server or the user terminal; and displaying, on the putting interface as the putting guide information, a putting line that is a line connecting a path to the cup position formed by the lie of the green when the virtual golf ball is hit from the ball position in the putting direction.

10. The step of displaying the putting guide information on the putting interface includes:

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: determining a putting direction that enables a virtual golf ball starting from the ball position to reach the cup position through an internal simulation based on the lie of the green between the ball position and the cup position on the virtual green of the server or the user terminal; determining a putting aiming point in the putting direction from the ball position; and displaying a directional distance, which is a distance from the cup position to the putting aiming point, on the putting interface.

11. 8. A computer program comprising program instructions for causing a processor to execute the method for controlling a user terminal for guiding a putting play according to claim 6 or 7.

12. A system for providing putting information to guide a user playing a round of golf at a golf course using a user terminal, a database that stores green topography information about the greens of each hole of the golf course; a server that communicates data with the user terminal via a network connection, extracts green topography information about the green of the hole the user is playing from the database, transmits the information to the user terminal, creates a virtual green in a virtual space based on the extracted green topography information, and generates and provides putting information for guiding the user's putting play based on the virtual green; the server receives a terminal location of the user terminal, determines the terminal location as a ball location on the virtual green corresponding to a golf ball location on the green of the hole being played by the user, calculates the putting information including a distance between the golf ball and the hole cup on the green and a lie of the green using the determined ball location on the virtual green and a cup location on the virtual green corresponding to a hole cup location on the green, and calculates putting guide information including at least one of a predicted putting path and a putting direction from the ball location to the cup location on the virtual green using the calculated putting information, and provides the putting guide information via a putting interface.

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