Green terrain information providing device and Green terrain information providing method

Abstract

To provide an apparatus for providing terrain information on a green and a method for providing terrain information on a green.SOLUTION: According to one embodiment, there is presented an apparatus for providing terrain information on a green, the apparatus including: a simulation processor configured to display a virtual golf course image regarding a green, a hole cup on the green, and a first ball; and a guide processor configured to display a guide path between the hole cup and the first ball to provide terrain information on the green.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed in this specification relate to a green terrain information providing apparatus and a green terrain information providing method, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for providing terrain information about a green on a virtual golf course.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, the popularity of screen golf courses has been increasing. As screen golf courses that are cheaper than using a golf course and can be enjoyed without restrictions such as location and time have emerged within the user's living area, anyone can easily enjoy a golf simulation game.

[0003] On the other hand, in golf competition, putting on the green is important for the user to accurately putt in the correct direction with the correct force when accurately grasping the terrain state from the position of the golf ball to the position of the hole cup. Therefore, prior to the user taking a shot on an actual golf course, the terrain is observed by aligning the height of the ground with the eye level around the golf ball or the golf ball.

[0004] However, since it is difficult for the user to actually align their eye level in screen golf, it is important to provide information so that the user can grasp the terrain.

[0005] By the way, in the currently proposed screen golf system, there is a limit to providing information about the terrain to the user, so it is difficult for the user to come up with a strategy for conquest. Therefore, there is a need for a technology that enhances the interest of the round and the immersion of the game by providing an element that allows the user to formulate a strategy.

[0006] In this regard, prior art document Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2001-0016043 proposes a golf simulation system that can achieve the same effect as playing golf on an actual golf course in an indoor or confined space. While the system describes the use of various putting lies, even with the prior art, users still find it difficult to grasp the terrain. Therefore, a technology was needed to solve the aforementioned problems.

[0007] On the other hand, the aforementioned background technology is technical information that the inventor possesses for the purpose of deriving the present invention or acquired during the process of deriving the present invention, and is not necessarily publicly known technology that was made public before the filing of the present invention. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-2001-0016043 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The embodiments disclosed herein are intended to present a green terrain information providing device and a green terrain information providing method.

[0010] Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed herein aim to present a green topographic information providing device and a green topographic information providing method that can intuitively provide users with information about topography.

[0011] Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed herein aim to present a green terrain information providing device and a green terrain information providing method that can display the afterimage of the ball as it moves. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] As a technical means for achieving the technical problems described above, one embodiment described herein is an apparatus and method for providing topographic information about a green on a virtual golf course. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to one of the aforementioned problem-solving methods, a green topographic information providing device and a green topographic information providing method can be presented.

[0014] According to one of the aforementioned problem-solving methods, a green topographic information providing device and a green topographic information providing method can be presented that can intuitively provide users with information about the terrain.

[0015] According to one of the aforementioned problem-solving methods, a green terrain information providing device and method can be presented that can display the afterimage of the ball as it moves. Therefore, it is possible to guide the user to devise new strategies and thereby increase the user's immersion in the golf game.

[0016] The effects obtained by the disclosed embodiments are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed embodiments belong, as described below. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This figure shows a screen golf system embodying a green terrain information providing device according to one embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a green terrain information providing device according to one embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 3] This is an illustrative diagram illustrating a green terrain information providing device according to one embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 4] This is an illustrative diagram illustrating a green terrain information providing device according to one embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 5] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining a green terrain information providing apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed in this specification. [Figure 6] It is a flowchart for explaining a method for providing green terrain information according to an embodiment disclosed in this specification. [Figure 7] It is a flowchart for explaining a method for providing green terrain information according to an embodiment disclosed in this specification. [Figure 8] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining a method for providing green terrain information according to an embodiment disclosed in this specification. [Figure 9] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining a method for providing green terrain information according to an embodiment disclosed in this specification. [Figure 10] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining a method for providing green terrain information according to an embodiment disclosed in this specification.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] As a technical means for achieving the above-described technical problem, according to an embodiment disclosed in this specification, a green terrain information providing apparatus may include a simulation processing unit that displays a virtual golf course image for a green and a hole cup and a first ball on the green, and a guide processing unit that displays a guide path between the hole cup and the first ball for providing the terrain information of the green.

[0019] Also, as a technical means for achieving the above-described technical problem, according to an embodiment disclosed in this specification, a method for a green terrain information providing apparatus to provide green terrain information may include a step of displaying a virtual golf course image for a green and a hole cup and a first ball on the green, and a step of displaying a guide path between the hole cup and the first ball for providing the terrain information of the green.

[0020] The following describes various embodiments in detail based on the attached drawings. The embodiments described below can also be modified and implemented in various different forms. In order to more clearly describe the characteristics of the embodiments, detailed explanations of matters that are commonly known to those who have ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong are omitted. Furthermore, parts of the drawings that are not relevant to the description of the embodiments are omitted, and similar parts are denoted by similar reference numerals throughout the specification.

[0021] Throughout the specification, when we say that one configuration is linked to another, this includes not only cases where they are directly linked, but also cases where other configurations are in between. Furthermore, when we say that one configuration includes another, unless otherwise stated, this means that it may include other configurations, rather than excluding them.

[0022] The following describes an embodiment in detail based on the attached drawings.

[0023] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a screen golf system embodying one embodiment of the green terrain information providing device disclosed herein, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the green terrain information providing device, and Figures 3 to 5 are illustrative diagrams for explaining one embodiment of the green terrain information providing device disclosed herein.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, a screen golf system 100 according to one embodiment disclosed herein includes a hitting bay 10 on which a user U can hit a golf ball G, a sensing device 20 that detects at least one of the movements of the user U, the golf ball G, and the golf club, a video output device 40 that outputs a predetermined image to a screen 30 provided in front of it, and a green terrain information providing device 200 that stores and processes all data necessary for providing green terrain information.

[0025] The green terrain information providing device 200 according to the embodiments disclosed herein is configured to store all data necessary for providing green terrain information and to process all green terrain information providing related video, such as video of a virtual golf course and video of the movement of a golf ball. The video processed by the green terrain information providing device 200 is then displayed on the screen 30.

[0026] Therefore, when user U hits a golf ball G towards the screen 30 from the batting cage 10, the sensing device 20 senses this and transmits it to the green terrain information providing device 200. The green terrain information providing device 200 can then simulate the movement trajectory of a virtual ball on a virtual golf course based on at least one of the movements of user U, golf ball G, and golf club. In other words, the green terrain information providing device 200 considers the actual movement characteristics of a golf ball and constructs golf simulation video information, such as video of the ball's movement on a virtual golf course. This is then projected onto the screen 30 via a video output device 40, which is realized by a projector or the like, enabling the simulated golf game to proceed.

[0027] Additionally, the green terrain information provider 200 operates in a way that allows it to handle all the complex operations of the virtual golf simulation. For example, by acquiring operation commands, the green terrain information provider 200 can log the user into the virtual golf simulation or operate the simulation environment. Thus, the green terrain information provider 200 can receive, for example, settings for displaying breakpoints from the user, either at the start of the round or during the round.

[0028] On the other hand, the sensing device 20 according to one embodiment monitors a certain area in the hitting area 10 where a golf ball G is placed and struck by a golf club, i.e., the striking area, and acquires an image of the golf ball G being struck by the golf club in the striking area, and senses at least one of the movements of the user U, the golf ball G, and the golf club from that image.

[0029] The sensing device 20 can consist of an imaging device such as a vision sensor that captures images of the hitting area. In this regard, Figure 1 shows the sensing device 20 installed on the wall of the screen golf system, but the sensing device 20 can also be implemented by sensors installed on the ceiling of the screen golf system and sensors installed on the side walls of the screen golf system, or on the green terrain information device 200. For example, if the sensing device 20 is implemented by two vision sensors, the two vision sensors can overlap and monitor the hitting area. This is just one example and is not necessarily limited to this, and includes cases where two or more vision sensors are installed, and the installation location of the vision sensors can include all cases where they are installed not only on the ceiling and walls, but also at any location within the booth of the screen golf system.

[0030] The sensing device 20 detects the movement of at least one of the user, the golf ball, and the golf club, calculates sensing information such as motion parameters for the movement of the golf ball, and transmits it to the green terrain information providing device 200. The green terrain information providing device 200 can then calculate shot data from the sensing information.

[0031] Although the Green terrain information providing device 200 according to one embodiment disclosed herein is described as being applicable to a screen golf system 100, it is not necessarily limited to the screen golf system 100, and is applicable to all forms of systems and devices that simulate and visualize a virtual golf course and thus simulate the movement of a virtual ball.

[0032] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 2, the green terrain information providing device 200 may include a control unit 210, a data storage unit 220, a video output unit 230, and a video processing unit 240. The control unit 210 controls the overall operation of the green terrain information provider 200 and may include a processor such as a CPU.

[0033] For example, the control unit 210 can execute a program stored in the data storage unit 220, read a file stored in the data storage unit 220, or save a new file to the data storage unit 220.

[0034] On the other hand, the data storage unit 220 can incorporate or store various types of data, such as files, applications, and programs. For example, the data storage unit 220 can incorporate a program for performing Green's terrain information provision method, and thus the control unit 210 can execute the program stored in the data storage unit 220 to perform Green's terrain information provision method.

[0035] The data storage unit 220 stores all the data necessary for the visualization of the virtual golf simulation, and can store data such as data about the virtual golf course that has been visualized and realized.

[0036] For example, the data storage unit 220 can store information about the terrain of the green on a virtual golf course, or information about the location of the hole cup on the green.

[0037] For this purpose, the data storage unit 220 can also be configured to receive and temporarily store various data, such as virtual golf course information, from a server (not shown) via a network.

[0038] Furthermore, the data storage unit 220 can be configured to receive and temporarily store sensing information such as motion parameters regarding the movement of the golf ball from the sensing device 20.

[0039] On the other hand, the video output unit 230 projects the simulated video processed by the video processing unit 240 onto the screen 30 via the video output device 40, allowing the user to view the video.

[0040] Here, the video processing unit 240 performs information processing using the data about the virtual golf course stored in the data storage unit 220 to realize an image of the virtual golf course, and can simulate and realize as an image the movement trajectory of the golf ball G hit by the user on the virtual golf course.

[0041] The video processing unit 240 may include a simulation processing unit 241 and a guide processing unit 242.

[0042] The simulation processing unit 241 can visualize and provide the golf course environment, and can also calculate the ball's movement trajectory on the virtual golf course.

[0043] Here, "movement trajectory" represents the simulated movement of a golf ball on a virtual golf course as a result of the user hitting the ball. Such a movement trajectory can be displayed as the ball's movement on the virtual golf course, as a series of connected lines showing the ball's path on the virtual golf course, or as text, images, audio, or video indicating the distance.

[0044] For example, the simulation processing unit 241 can process the simulation using shot data, which can be calculated by the simulation processing unit 241 from sensing information. Shot data may include ball speed, direction angle, launch angle, backspin, sidespin, carry, and distance.

[0045] Furthermore, the simulation processing unit 241 visualizes and provides the golf course environment based on environmental data, and when simulating the movement trajectory of the user's golf shot, it can simulate the environmental data and shot data together. Here, the environmental data represents the virtual golf course environment on which the user performed the golf shot, and can include, for example, the terrain, season, weather, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction of the virtual golf course.

[0046] Therefore, for example, the simulation processing unit 241 provides a virtual golf simulation image of a green and a hole cup on a virtual golf course. When the user takes a golf shot towards the hole cup on the green, the trajectory of the ball as it moves towards the hole cup is visualized and projected onto the screen 30 via the video output unit 230.

[0047] On the other hand, the guide processing unit 242 provides topographic information about the green, and for this purpose can provide a guide path between the hole cup and the ball.

[0048] In other words, terrain information such as lie, slope, and green speed may differ for each green, and the guide processing unit 242 can provide terrain information for the green by providing a guide path.

[0049] Here, "guide path" refers to the optimal path for a ball to go in through a hole on a virtual golf course, based on terrain information between the ball's position and the hole cup after it is struck. This is the path the ball takes during putting, and such a guide path can be connected all the way to the hole cup, or even to positions around the hole cup.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the guide processing unit 242 can provide a virtual ball other than the ball that the user is supposed to hit, and display the guide path in a shape in which the virtual ball moves along the guide path.

[0051] In the following explanation, for the sake of clarity, the ball placed on a virtual golf course and intended to be hit by the user will be referred to as the "first ball," while the ball that is not actually hit but is used to more effectively display the guide path will be referred to as the "second ball."

[0052] In other words, the guide processing unit 242 can visualize the shape of the second ball as it moves along a guide path from the position where the first ball is placed to the hole cup or a position around the hole cup. Therefore, the user can infer the shape of the green by observing the shape of the second ball as it moves along the green.

[0053] When the guide processing unit 242 displays the second ball, it can be displayed to have the same shape as the first ball, or to have a different shape.

[0054] Here, the guide processing unit 242 can move the second ball along the guide path while changing at least one of the shape and hue of the second ball according to the green terrain along the guide path. For example, when the second ball moves along the guide path, its shape can be changed by changing the hue, transparency, and effects (e.g., sparkle) of the second ball according to the elevation difference of the terrain along the guide path. Therefore, for example, if the second ball is located on terrain higher than the reference elevation, it can be displayed in red, and if the second ball is located on terrain lower than the reference elevation, it can be displayed in blue. When the position of the second ball changes due to changes in terrain, the hue of the second ball can be changed by a gradient.

[0055] Here, the reference height may be the height of the point where the first ball is placed, according to one embodiment, but may be a marker image, according to another embodiment. The marker image will be described later.

[0056] In another embodiment, the guide processing unit 242 can display the guide path as a line.

[0057] In this regard, the guide processing unit 242 can display the entire guide path from the position of the first ball to the hole cup as a line, but it can also display only a portion of the guide path. For example, it can display the guide path located between two marker images.

[0058] In this way, when displaying the guide path as a line, the guide processing unit 242 can change at least one of the shape and hue of the guide path depending on the elevation difference of the green terrain.

[0059] For example, the guide processing unit 242 can be configured so that the line shape bends and changes in response to changes in the curvature of the green terrain.

[0060] Furthermore, for example, the guide processing unit 242 can change the hue, thickness, transparency, and effects (e.g., sparkle) of the line indicating the guide path based on the elevation difference of the terrain along the guide path.

[0061] For example, lines at the reference elevation can be displayed in green, lines on terrain lower than the reference elevation in blue, and lines on terrain higher than the reference elevation in red. As the difference in elevation from the reference elevation increases, the color can be changed with a gradient from green to red, or from green to blue.

[0062] Therefore, when the starting point of the guide path is the reference height, the guide processing unit 242 can change the hue of the line indicating the guide path from green to blue in a gradient as the height of the guide path to the hole cup continuously decreases from the reference height as it approaches the hole cup.

[0063] In another embodiment, the guide processing unit 242 can display the guide path as a line along with the shape of the second ball as it moves along the guide path.

[0064] For example, the guide processing unit 242 can display the guide path as a line and show the shape of the second ball moving along the line.

[0065] In another embodiment, the guide processing unit 242 displays the shape of the second ball moving along the guide path as a line, and can display a marker image corresponding to the second ball at at least one point on the line.

[0066] The guide processing unit 242 can display a marker image on the points the second ball has passed through when the second ball moves along the guide path from the position of the first ball toward the hole cup or the area around the hole cup.

[0067] In other words, when the second ball moves along the guide path from the position of the first ball toward the hole cup or the area around the hole cup, the guide processing unit 242 can identify the point where the second ball is located on the guide path and display a marker image on the identified point.

[0068] In this case, the marker image is an image that indicates the location where the second ball passed, and its shape is either the same as or different from the shape of the second ball.

[0069] For example, when the second ball moves along the guide path, the guide processing unit 242 can identify the location of the second ball at predetermined time intervals and display a marker image for each location.

[0070] Alternatively, for example, the guide processing unit 242 can identify the location of the second ball at predetermined distance intervals as the second ball moves along the guide path, and display a marker image.

[0071] Alternatively, for example, the guide processing unit 242 can display marker images on at least a portion of the virtual grid on the green and on points identified based on the guide path.

[0072] In this regard, a virtual grid of a predetermined size may exist to represent the terrain of a given area around the hole cup on the green. The virtual grid can be composed of multiple lines intersecting each other. According to one embodiment, its shape can be determined by the elevation differences of the terrain.

[0073] In other words, the guide processing unit 242 can identify points where the guide path and the virtual grid on the green overlap, and display a marker image at each of those points. For example, when a line that makes up the virtual grid intersects with a virtual line and passes through the guide path, the guide processing unit 242 can identify that intersection and display a marker image at that intersection.

[0074] For example, when attempting to display a marker image, the guide processing unit 242 can display the marker image at the location in a manner that resembles an afterimage of the second ball. By referring to the intervals between the points displayed as afterimages, which change depending on the terrain and the ball's movement speed, the user can intuitively understand the shape of the green.

[0075] On the other hand, when the guide processing unit 242 provides a guide path, it can also provide breakpoints.

[0076] A "breakpoint" is a point on the guide path that can influence changes in terrain or the movement of the ball, and can be located at any single point on the guide path.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the guide processing unit 242 can determine the breakpoint based on a virtual line connecting the hole cup and the ball.

[0078] The guide processing unit 242 can set a straight line connecting the hole cup and the first ball as a "virtual line," and can determine the breakpoint as the point furthest from the points on the guide path that are perpendicular to the virtual line.

[0079] In this regard, Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a green terrain information providing device according to one embodiment, and shows the hole cup H, the first ball B, and the guide path 310 on the green.

[0080] Among the points on the guide path 310, the guide processing unit 242 can determine the point that is perpendicular to the virtual line 320 connecting the hole cup H and the first ball B, and is located furthest from the virtual line 320, as the breakpoint.

[0081] In other words, as shown in Figure 3, the point 300 that is the furthest point from the virtual line 320 among the points that are perpendicular to the virtual line 320 can be determined as a breakpoint. Therefore, the vertical distance 350 from the point 300 determined as a breakpoint to the virtual line 320 is the longest vertical distance from any other point on the guide path that is perpendicular to the virtual line to the virtual line 320, for example, longer than distance 360.

[0082] In another embodiment, the guide processing unit 242 can determine the break point based on the difference in elevation of the terrain between the hole cup and the ball.

[0083] The guide processing unit 242 can move the second ball along the guide path from the position of the first ball toward the hole cup or the area around the hole cup, taking into account the elevation difference of the terrain, and can determine the points where the ball moves from lower terrain to higher terrain, or from higher terrain to lower terrain, as breakpoints.

[0084] Here, the guide path from the position of the first ball towards the hole cup or the area around the hole cup may have inflection points due to differences in elevation of the terrain, and the guide processing unit 242 can determine these inflection points as breakpoints.

[0085] In this regard, Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a green terrain information providing device according to one embodiment, and shows the hole cup H, the first ball B, and the guide path 410 on the green.

[0086] Referring to Figure 4, the guide path is connected from the position of the first ball 410 to the hole cup H by moving towards higher terrain and then towards lower terrain, and the guide processing unit 242 can determine the inflection point 400 of the guide path 410 as a breakpoint.

[0087] On the other hand, according to another embodiment, if the guide processing unit 242 identifies multiple breakpoints in the guide path, it can select at least one of the multiple breakpoints and determine that the selected breakpoint should be displayed to the user.

[0088] For example, when determining breakpoints based on a virtual line, multiple breakpoints can exist if there are multiple points on the guide path that are the same distance from the virtual line.

[0089] Alternatively, for example, when determining breakpoints based on elevation differences, multiple breakpoints can exist if there are multiple points in the guide path corresponding to inflection points.

[0090] Here, the guide processing unit 242 can select any breakpoint from among multiple breakpoints.

[0091] Alternatively, the guide processing unit 242 can select at least one of several breakpoints based on predetermined conditions.

[0092] For example, the guide processing unit 242 can select the point closest to the position of the first ball from among multiple breakpoints as the breakpoint.

[0093] In this regard, Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a green terrain information providing device according to one embodiment, and shows the hole cup H, the first ball B, and the guide path 510 on the green.

[0094] As shown in Figure 5, since there are three points with the same distance to the virtual line, multiple breakpoints 500, 501, and 502 can exist.

[0095] Here, the guide processing unit 242 can display all of the breakpoints 500, 501, and 502 to the user.

[0096] Alternatively, the guide processing unit 242 can select and display to the user the breakpoint 500, which is the closest to the position of the first ball B among breakpoints 500, 501, and 502.

[0097] Alternatively, the guide processing unit 242 can select and display to the user a point 500 located to the right of the line connecting the first ball B and the hole cup H, and a point 501 located to the left of the line. In this case, the guide processing unit 242 can display to the user an inflection point 501 located to the left of the line, along with point 502 located to the right of the line.

[0098] As described above, the guide processing unit 242 determines the guide path and breakpoints, visualizes them, and projects them onto the screen 30 via the video output unit 230, thereby enabling the user to understand the terrain before putting on the green.

[0099] On the other hand, Figures 6 and 7 are flowcharts illustrating a method for providing green terrain information according to one embodiment. The method for providing green terrain information shown in Figures 6 and 7 includes a step of processing in chronological order using the green terrain information providing device 100 described in Figures 1 to 5. Therefore, even if we omit some details below, the information described above regarding the green terrain information providing device 100 shown in Figures 1 to 5 can also be used for the method for providing green terrain information according to the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0100] Furthermore, Figures 6 and 7 will be described later with reference to Figures 8 to 10. Figures 8 to 10 are diagrams illustrating the method of providing green terrain information. More specifically, Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of providing a marker image on a guide path, and Figures 9 and 10 are diagrams showing the shape of a simulation video with the guide path displayed on a screen.

[0101] The green terrain information device 100 can simulate and display a virtual golf course showing the green, the hole cup on the green, and the position of the first ball (S610).

[0102] The green terrain information device 100 can determine the guide route (S620).

[0103] Once the guide route is determined, the green terrain information device 100 can display the guide route, or it can display the guide route after determining the breakpoint in step S630.

[0104] In this regard, when displaying a guide route, the green terrain information device 100 can display the guide route by changing at least one of its shape and hue in accordance with changes in the terrain along the guide route.

[0105] Furthermore, the Green terrain information device 100 can display the shape of the second ball moving from the first ball toward the hole cup along the guide path.

[0106] Here, the green terrain information device 100 can display a marker image corresponding to the second ball at a point on the guide path.

[0107] Furthermore, the Green terrain information device 100 can move the second ball towards the hole cup along the guide path and display a marker image at the point where the second ball has passed.

[0108] Furthermore, the Green terrain information device 100 can move the second ball towards the hole cup along a guide path, identify the location of the second ball at predetermined time intervals, and display a marker image on the identified location.

[0109] Alternatively, the Green terrain information device 100 can display marker images on at least a portion of the virtual grid on the Green and on points identified based on the guide path.

[0110] In this regard, as shown in Figure 8, a virtual grid of a predetermined size may exist for representing the terrain of a predetermined area around the hole cup H on the green. The grid can be represented by multiple lines 801, 802 intersecting each other. Here, when viewed from the first ball B to the hole cup H, there are multiple horizontal lines 801 and vertical lines 802 that intersect with the horizontal lines 801, and the green terrain information providing device 100 can identify points 810, 820, 830 where the guide path 800 and the horizontal lines 801 overlap, and can display marker images on the identified points 810, 820, 830.

[0111] However, for the sake of explanation, Figure 8 shows the green grids 801 and 802. When the green terrain information device 100 provides a guide route and marker image, it can determine the marker image based on the green grid and guide route without the green grids 801 and 802, thereby providing the user with the guide route 800 and marker image.

[0112] Meanwhile, Green's terrain information device 100 can determine the breakpoint (S630).

[0113] For example, the green terrain information device 100 can determine the break point based on a virtual line connecting the hole cup and the first ball.

[0114] Alternatively, for example, the Green terrain information device 100 can determine breakpoints based on the elevation differences of the terrain along the guide route.

[0115] Referring to Figure 7, if there is only one breakpoint (S710), the process can proceed to step S640. However, if it is determined that there are multiple breakpoints (S710), it is possible to decide whether or not to display at least one of the multiple breakpoints (S720).

[0116] In other words, the green terrain information device 100 can decide whether or not to display all of the multiple breakpoints (S720), and if it chooses to display all of the breakpoints, it can proceed to step S640.

[0117] However, the Green terrain information device 100 can select at least one of several breakpoints based on predetermined conditions (S730). For example, it can select the breakpoint closest to the user, the breakpoint closest to the hole cup, a breakpoint at a depression in the terrain, a breakpoint located above or below the line connecting the hole cup and the first ball, or a breakpoint located to the left or right of the line connecting the hole cup and the first ball.

[0118] To this end, the Green terrain information device 100 can receive input from the user for breakpoint settings before or during rounding, and the user can set whether to display all of the multiple breakpoints or at least one of the multiple breakpoints.

[0119] Subsequently, the green terrain information device 100 proceeds to step S640, where it can display breakpoints on the guide route (S640).

[0120] Therefore, as shown in Figure 9, the user can view the guide path 900 with the breakpoints displayed on it via the screen 30.

[0121] In other words, the green terrain information providing device 100 can provide a guide path 900 that connects from the position of the first ball B to the hole cup H or the area around the hole cup H, and can provide a shape in which the second ball 930 moves along the guide path 900.

[0122] Furthermore, the green terrain information device 100 can identify the location of the second ball at predetermined time intervals as the second ball moves along the guide path, and display marker images 910 and 920 for each location. Therefore, the user can understand the speed at which the second ball is rolling by referring to the marker images 910 and 920. For example, if the interval between the marker images is large, it can be inferred that the terrain has a green speed or slope that allows the ball to roll quickly. Therefore, the user can infer the condition of the terrain by referring to the marker images and formulate a putting strategy.

[0123] Furthermore, the user can view the guide path shown in Figure 10 via the screen 30.

[0124] The green terrain information device 100 can provide a guide path 1000 that connects the marker images.

[0125] In other words, the Green terrain information device 100 can identify the location of the second ball as it moves along the guide path, and display marker images 1010 and 1020 for each location. It can also provide a shape in which the hue of the guide path changes depending on the elevation difference between the previous marker image 1010 and the next marker image 1020. Thus, it can provide a guide path 1000 located between the two marker images 1010 and 1020, allowing the user to infer the terrain conditions by referring to the marker images 1010 and 1020 and formulate a putting strategy.

[0126] The aforementioned method of providing Green terrain information can also be embodied in the form of a computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions and data. Here, the instructions and data can be stored in the form of program code, which, when executed by a processor, can generate a predetermined program module and perform a predetermined operation. The computer-readable medium may be any available medium accessible by a computer, and may include volatile and non-volatile media, and isolated and non-isolated media. The computer-readable medium may also be a computer recording medium. The computer recording medium may include any volatile and non-volatile, isolated and non-isolated media embodied by any method or technique for storing computer-readable information such as instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. For example, the computer recording medium may be a magnetic storage medium such as an HDD and an SSD, an optical recording medium such as a CD, DVD, and a Blu-ray disc, or memory contained in a server accessible via a network.

[0127] The aforementioned method of providing Green terrain information can also be embodied in a computer program (or computer program product) that contains computer-executable instructions. A computer program contains programmable machine instructions that are processed by a processor and can be embodied in a high-level programming language, object-oriented programming language, assembly language, or machine language. Furthermore, a computer program can be recorded on a type of computer-readable recording medium (e.g., memory, hard disk, magnetic / optical media, or SSD (Solid-State Drive)).

[0128] The aforementioned method of providing green terrain information can be realized by executing the computer program described above on a computing device. The computing device may include a processor, memory, storage devices, a high-speed interface connected to the memory and high-speed expansion ports, and at least a portion of a low-speed bus and a low-speed interface connected to the storage devices. Each of these components is connected to one another using various buses and can be mounted on a common motherboard or in other suitable manner.

[0129] Here, the processor can process instructions within the computing device. Such instructions may include, for example, instructions stored in memory or storage devices for displaying graphic information to provide a GUI (Graphical User Interface) on an external input and output device, such as a display connected to a high-speed interface. In other embodiments, a number of processors and / or a number of buses can be appropriately used together with a number of memories and memory forms. The processor can also be embodied in a chipset consisting of chips containing a number of independent analog and / or digital processors.

[0130] Memory also stores information within a computing device. For example, memory can consist of volatile memory units or a collection thereof. Alternatively, memory can consist of non-volatile memory units or a collection thereof. Furthermore, memory may be other forms of computer-readable media, such as magnetic or optical disks.

[0131] Furthermore, the storage device can provide computing equipment with a large storage capacity. The storage device may be a computer-readable medium or a configuration including such a medium, and may include, for example, a device in a SAN (Storage Area Network) or other configurations, and may be a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, an optical disk drive, or a tape drive, flash memory, or other similar semiconductor memory device or device array.

[0132] In the embodiments described above, the term "~part" refers to software or hardware components such as FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) or ASICs, and "~part" plays a role. However, "~part" is not limited to software or hardware. "~part" can be configured to reside in an addressable storage medium, or to generate one or more processors. For example, "~part" includes components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components, and task components, as well as processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of programmatic code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables.

[0133] Components and the functions provided within a "~part" can be combined with a smaller number of components and "~parts" or separated from additional components and "~parts".

[0134] Furthermore, the components and “~parts” can also be embodied to regenerate one or more CPUs within a device or security multimedia card. The embodiments described above are illustrative, and a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong will understand that the embodiments described above can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical idea or essential features. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not limiting. For example, each component described as a single type can also be implemented in a distributed form, and similarly, components described as distributed can also be implemented in a combined form.

[0135] The scope of protection sought by this specification shall be determined by the claims set forth below rather than by the detailed description above, and shall be interpreted to include all forms of modification or variation derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and the equivalent concepts thereof.

Claims

1. A simulation processing unit that displays a virtual golf course image of the green, the hole cup on the green, and the first ball, To provide the aforementioned topographic information of the green, the system includes a guide processing unit that displays a guide path, which is the optimal path for the first ball to be struck on a virtual golf course to go into the hole, based on the topographic information between the position where the first ball is placed and the hole cup. The guide processing unit is When displaying the movement of a virtual second ball, different from the first ball, from the first ball toward the hole cup along the guide path, the points where the second ball is located are identified at predetermined time intervals, and a marker image is displayed on the identified points. A green topographic information providing device that, when displaying multiple marker images, provides a configuration in which the hue of the guide path located between one marker image and the next marker image changes according to the difference in elevation between the first marker image and the next marker image.

2. A method by which a green terrain information providing device provides green terrain information, A step of displaying a virtual golf course image of the green, the hole cup on the green, and the first ball, To provide topographic information of the green, the step includes displaying a guide path, which is the optimal path for the first ball to be struck on a virtual golf course to go into the hole, based on topographic information between the position where the first ball is placed and the hole cup. The step of displaying the aforementioned guide path is: When displaying the movement of a second ball, different from the first ball, from the first ball toward the hole cup along the guide path, the steps include identifying the location of the second ball at predetermined time intervals and displaying a marker image on the identified location, A method for providing green terrain information, further comprising the step of providing a configuration in which, when displaying multiple marker images, the hue of the guide path located between one marker image and the next marker image changes according to the difference in elevation between the first marker image and the next marker image.

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