A system and method for immersive ball striking game

Abstract

A multi-player golf or other ball-striking game device enabling simultaneous or non- simultaneous play by multiple players at a time hitting balls onto the same screen and having a sensor and computer server configured to generate vector data regarding ball movement and point of impact with the screen, the server connected to the at least one screen, the server including: a projector or targeter element for projecting or conveying an image having a scorable area when impacted by a ball.

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMMERSIVE BALL STRIKING GAMEFIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The present invention is directed, in general, towards ball striking simulators and ball striking game entertainment, including but not limited to golfing entertainment, and, more specifically, to a multi-player, computer simulation ball striking target game, including those simulating baseball or tennis ball hitting, soccer, rugby, or football kicking, or golf ball hitting, which enables essentially simultaneous play among multiple players hitting or otherwise striking a ball onto the same common target screen.BACKGROUND

[0002] Ball striking games, including cricket, baseball, football, rugby soccer, tennis, and golf have a long history. For example, the modern game of golf originated in 15thcentury Scotland. Today, the game boasts millions, perhaps tens of millions, of adherents around the world. Golf has a traditional manner of game play, typically involving one player of a “foursome” at a time hitting a ball, which can land far away in a wide area, usually onto a “fairway.” After each player of the foursome takes his or her turn, each of the balls must then be found by the player that hit the ball, walking on foot or riding in a golf cart. Then the balls are each hit again, by each player in turn, gradually leading to the hole. All of this makes game play inherently slow and also limits the number of fullpower tee shots (called “drives”) to, typically, about 18 per full game. Players of a foursome typically spend a large amount of time traveling over wide expanse of a golf course to find the resting place of their respective balls, which are usually separated by 10 yards or more, which reduces socialization opportunities. Traditionally, on the putting green, most players stay quiet while another player putts, which also reducesopportunities to socialize. Furthermore, players of a given foursome have little interaction with other foursomes during play, even when several foursomes are simultaneously playing on the course as part of a larger group (such as members of a company or social club), further reducing opportunities for socializing. As such, the manner of play of a traditional game of golf on a golf course can take many hours and have limited opportunities socialize, except for time spent in a golf cart or at the “19thhole,” after play is complete.

[0003] Conventional golf simulators, where a single player hits a golf ball toward a nearby small screen, generally up 100 square feet in area, and relatively close; less than twenty feet away from the player. The screen displays a projected image of a golf course, and a sensor or sensors track the path of the ball after is hit until it impacts the screen. Once the ball hits the screen, the computer simulates, based on physics-based computations, what the continued path of the ball would be if it was actually on the golf course that is simulated, based on the sensed trajectory and computed motion of the ball up to the point of impact with the screen, including the motion of the ball bouncing and rolling down the fairway. After multiple hits, the player moves the ball down the virtual fairway, onto the green and, ultimately into the hole. It is possible for multiple singlescreen simulators to be employed. However, in this case, each group of players at each simulator and its screen still hit the ball onto the same small screen and must play in turn. Other groups of players would play on a separate tee-off area with its own separate screen spaced apart from the first group’s tee and screen, possibly with an entirely different golf course being projected and simulated, though they can, in some cases, compete against people in other locations.

[0004] Conventional simulators improve some aspects of the traditional game of golf, including the speed of play, because it is not necessary for each player to physically walk down a long fairway to find his or her ball before being able to hit it again. However, otherwise, game play proceeds similarly to a traditional golf game played on a physical golf course. In conventional golf simulators, the speed of play is still limited by that fact that, after the ball impacts the screen, often less than a second after the ball is hit, the simulator projects the calculated path of the ball as it simulates it flying down the fairway, bouncing and then rolling and slowing until it reaches its simulated stopping place, which can take up to a minute. Once the ball stops, if there is a group of players playing together on the same simulated course and screen, as is typical, the next player would take his or her turn. Thus, other than players not having to physically walk down the fairway or ride in a golf cart, play proceeds much like traditional golf game, with most of the same limitations, including those relating to socialization opportunities.

[0005] Still further, the scoring and manner of play of traditional golf, which are usually only well-known to persons who play golf regularly, would still apply to golf played on a conventional golf simulator. As such, interest in playing on golf simulators is, in general, primarily only of interest to persons already well-versed in playing traditional golf.

[0006] Another type of type of golf game apparatus, commonly called a golf entertainment venue, is exemplified by that provided by TopGolf International, Inc. Such a golf entertainment venue provides for hitting golf balls by individual plays of an intercompeting group from a tee-off area (one tee-off area per inter-competing group), one- player-at-a-time, into an open, outdoor, generally horizontally flat arena with real or artificial grass, much like a conventional driving range. A special micro-chipped ball isused for tracking ball trajectory. After the ball is hit toward the open outdoor arena, it will fly, bounce, roll and ultimately come to rest somewhere on the horizontal surface of the arena. After the ball is hit, its tracked trajectory flies, bounces, rolls and ultimately stops in the outdoor arena is determined by a computer, and displayed on a separate computer monitor viewable by the players of that inter-competing group. The computer monitor can display a number of backgrounds, including a simulated golf course, or fantasy themes and targets. The computer monitor is not an impact screen, however, and is not in a normally hittable location. There is no upright impact screen with displayed target images; rather, players hit into the open outdoor arena with its horizontal surface and come to rest on that horizontal surface (or a hole therein) only.

[0007] Players at other tee-off areas, which may be from different inter-competing grounds, although they could incidentally hit a ball at the same time as a player at tee-off area, are not necessarily presented with the same images on their respective monitors at the same time. That is, for each separate inter-competing group, all members of that group play must play from a single tee-off area for their group, one player at a time, hitting into the arena, with the ball trajectory tracked onto the game and background of only that inter-competing group’s computer monitor being shown.

[0008] The foregoing simulator and golf entertainment games allow competition against others, usually with all players of a particular inter-competing group playing at the same tee-off area. For the players of any particular inter-competing group in one tee-off area, it is one player taking a turn at a time to hit, with one ball being tracked at a time for each such. Although it is possible to play competitions between tee-off areas (also called “bays”) , all players at a single bay are not hitting to the same screen, or any screen, andare not playing cooperatively (but could play competitively). Within each bay, players are always playing one at a time vs simultaneously.

[0009] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved golf simulator that addresses and overcomes at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art, including those of both the traditional game or golf, conventional computerized golf simulators, and conventional golf entertainment venues.OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball striking game, including but not limited to a golf-type game, where multiple players use golf clubs or other strikers, including feet, to hit balls toward the same common screen, hitting at will and, when desired, simultaneously, at one or several scorable computer-generated images of targets projected onto the common screen, which can be images of anything having a scorable area, such as bulls eyes, planets, space aliens, zombies space ships or any other desired image, stationary or moving, and where scoring is achieved essentially immediately, as soon as a sensor and computer system (referred to as a “monitor” system herein) determines the expected or actual initial impact position, whether it is in a scorable area, and the amount of the score.

[0011] It is a further object to increase the variety of games possible, speed of play and provide a more robust, interactive spectator experience over traditional golf, golf entertainment venues and conventional simulators, by providing for multiple players to play and hit at will, including simultaneously, on a common impact screen, up to as fast as each of the players can physically swing his or her club, bat, foot, etc., as the balls are repositioned for another strike at the ball.SUMMARY

[0012] These and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the invention, which, in one aspect, provides a multi-player golf game device enabling play by multiple players hitting balls at will, including simultaneously, having at least three adjacent singleplayer tee-off areas for holding a golf ball, the center of each of said tee-off areas being spaced apart at least eight feet from the others and generally in a line facing the same target screen, the majority area of which is generally upright, the center of each tee-off area being disposed in a position for hitting a golf ball by a golf club swung by a player addressed at a ball on his or her tee-off area, and positioned so that, when the golf ball is hit in a normal manner toward the center of the screen, it is likely to impact the screen. This aspect of the invention further has one or more light projectors for projecting at least one computer-generated image onto the same target screen, which image includes at least one target image having a scorable area; the target screen being configured to receive light from the projector and to display at least one projected target image having a scorable area; further to receive the impact of a golf ball driven by a golf club swung by any of the players positioned at any of the tee-off areas, the screen having a generally upright area of at least 800 square feet and being disposed at least 30 feet away from the center of each of the tee-off areas; at least one sensor for determining the location a golf ball hit from each of the tees has or will impact onto the screen after being hit, and which player hit which golf ball, whether the golf balls hit by different players will impact the screen at the same time or different times; and a suitably programmed computer for comparing the location of impact of a golf ball onto the screen hit by any of the players and determining whether that location is within the scorable area of the at least one imageand, if so, storing an achieved score for the player who hit the golf ball onto the scorable area.

[0013] The system preferably has a launch monitor including at least a sensor above each tee-off station to sense, at least, initial speed, direction and spin. Each launch monitor includes at least one sensor sensing the ball motion from the time it is hit. The launch monitor is connected to a suitably programmed microprocessor to digitize the signals, the signals for each monitor then being sent to a server system. Once the initial speed, direction and spin signals from the sensor or sensors are digitized, the digitized data is then input into a microprocessor, either included as part of the launch monitor at each station, or in the server, which will then calculate the trajectory of the ball from the instant it is hit from that respective station to where it would hit on the target screen. In this way, the technology tracks each ball from the multiple stations and knows where exactly each will hit on the screen and by which station it was hit, even if all the balls are hit simultaneously. That data is incorporated into the game to determine if a target / object has been or will be hit, and what the achieved score is for that hit. The game is designed with the scoring point values per target or object and scores the game by person to allow competitive or cooperative games by all players hitting at will, including simultaneously, onto a common screen that has a generally upright area of at least 800 square feet.

[0014] The games use projection mapping technology to project the images onto the screen on the main wall but also can use multiple projectors to show images on ceiling and side walls to allow an immersive experience.

[0015] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the computer has an arithmetic unit for calculating each player’s running total score.

[0016] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the computer has an output to the light projector for projecting the score onto the screen.

[0017] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the computer has an output to the light projector for projecting each player’s running total score onto the target screen.

[0018] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the target screen has a side edge and a side wall target screen disposed at an angle with respect to the side edge, the second screen being configured to receive light from at least one projector to display at least one projected target image having a scorable area and to receive the impact of a golf ball driven by a golf club swung by at least one of the players from any of the tee-off areas.

[0019] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the target screen has a generally upright main portion having at least 800 square feet, a top edge and a ceiling portion disposed at an angle with respect to the top edge, the ceiling screen being configured to receive light from at least one of the projectors to display at least one projected target image having a scorable area; and further to receive the impact of a golf ball driven by a golf club swung by at least one of the players at any of the tee-off areas.

[0020] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the sensor senses multiple parameters correlated to golf ball movement, the parameters comprising a vector.

[0021] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the vector includes the parameters of at least speed and direction.

[0022] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the vector further includes the parameter of golf ball spin speed and axis of spin.

[0023] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the sensor comprises a camerapointed at the screen to sense location of a golf ball at the time of impact with the screen.

[0024] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the multi parameters are sufficient to determine at least speed of the golf ball at the time of impact with the screen.

[0025] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the multiple parameters are sufficient to determine at least direction of the golf ball at the time of impact with the screen.

[0026] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, wherein the score is different for different locations of impact within the scorable area.

[0027] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the score is different for different speeds of impact within the scorable area.

[0028] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the score is different for different directions of impact within the scorable area.

[0029] In another aspect of the invention, a multi-area golf play device having a set of multiple, multi-player golf game devices, each of which is segregated into a separate physical area and enables play by multiple players hitting balls at will, including simultaneously, and wherein each of the multiple, multi-player golf game devices comprises a multi-player golf game device enabling play by multiple players hitting balls at will, including simultaneously, having at least three adjacent single-player tee-off areas for holding a golf ball, the center of each of said tee-off areas being spaced apart at least eight feet from the others and generally in a line facing the same target screen, the center of each tee-off area being disposed in a position for hitting a golf ball by a golf club swung by a player addressed at ball on his or her tee-off area, and positioned so that, when the golf ball is hit in a normal manner toward the center of the screen, it is likely to impact thescreen. This aspect of the invention further has one or more light projectors for projecting at least one computer-generated image onto the same target screen, which image includes at least one target image having a scorable area; the target screen being configured to receive light from the projector and to display at least one projected target image having a scorable area; further to receive the impact of a golf ball driven by a golf club swung by any of the players at any of the tees, the screen having an area of at least 800 square feet and being disposed at least 30 feet away from the center of each of the tee-off areas; at least one sensor for determining the location a golf ball hit from each of the tees has or will impact onto the screen after being hit, and which player hit which golf ball, whether the golf balls hit by different players will impact the screen at the same time or different times; and a suitably programmed computer for comparing the location of impact of a golf ball onto the screen hit by any of the players and determining whether that location is within the scorable area of the at least one image and, if so, storing an achieved score for the player who hit the golf ball onto the scorable area.

[0030] In a variation of the foregoing aspect of the invention, the multi-area golf game device further comprises a competitive socializer element that allows for a competition between separate groups of players, each of which is playing on a screen in one of the multi-player golf game devices segregated into its own separate physical area.

[0031] In another variation of the foregoing aspect of the invention, the multi-area golf game device further comprising a competitive socializing element.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment as described herein, wherein a golf-type game is both a golf ball hitting game and an immersive experience, includingelements of competitive socializing.

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary plurality of multi-player immersive multi-player golfing environments.

[0034] FIG. 3A illustrates a prior-art movie theatre architecture.

[0035] FIG. 3B is a diagram of FIG. 3A updated with spectator seating, queuing lines, and event / meeting space for an immersive multi-player golfing and competitive socializing experience

[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary forms of immersive multi-player golf to be used in the environment of FIG. 1 .

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of immersive multi-player immersive golf during peak play time.

[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of immersive multi-player golf during non-peak play time.

[0039] FIG. 7A illustrates an exemplary computer system for employment of an immersive multi-player golfing and competitive socializing experience, such as FIG. 1 .

[0040] FIG. 7B illustrates the first screen having a side edge and a side wall target screen disposed at an angle with respect to the side edge and extending from it.

[0041] FIG. 70 illustrates the first screen having a top edge and a ceiling target screen disposed at an angle with respect to the top edge and extending from it.

[0042] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method for employing the immersive multiplayer golfing and competitive socializing experience, such as the environment of FIG. 1 .DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Conventional prior art golfing simulators generally extrapolate a ball flight to hita virtual target where the ball would land, including bouncing and rolling.

[0044] However, players within the immersive multi-player golfing simulation of the present application instead hit virtual targets having scorable areas projected onto the impact screen, and feedback and a score is given immediately or essentially immediately upon the ball hitting the screen in a scorable area thus, desirably, providing an “instant gratification” to the player. This is unlike prior art golfing simulators, which extrapolate the path of the ball out to where a golf ball would continue virtually through the screen and onto a golf course fairway, as if the screen was not physically there, and the only scoring occurs when the ball ultimately reaches the virtual hole.

[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates an overall immersive golfing environment (“environment”) 100 in an entertainment venue, such as a seating area for persons when not playing, including a restaurant, which can further include enhancements for competitive socializing in this game and other social interactions.

[0046] In the illustrated environment, there are a plurality of immersive multi-player golf theatres 105 wherein each theater can have a different game and customers would move from theatre to theatre to play different games. Each theatre and game have the same or different projected images having scorable areas (also referred to herein as devices for “conveying targeting,” that is, projecting or otherwise delivering an image having a scorable area to the screen), enhancements for competitive socializing and overall immersion, which can include an immersive eighteen-hole putting course 110, a plurality of private theatres 115 (for exclusive group rentals), a kitchen 120, and a bar 125 with seating. Each one of these items combines synergistically to create a social environment which can be a competitive social environment for the immersiveenvironment, which can include social competitiveness.

[0047] In the immersive multi-player golf theatres 105 and 115, play can allow a number of fun interactions that would typically not be available in prior art golfing simulators, such as teeing off multiple golf shots in a row within a single game without having to wait for a final position of where the golf ball would travel on a simulated fairway, as with conventional golf simulators and golf entertainment venues. It can also provide amusing moving or stationary images with scorable areas as “targets” for the player to attempt to hit with a struck golf ball, and with consequences from success or failure in doing so (e.g., trying to hit a golf ball to hit a ‘spaceship’ that is ‘attacking’, or amusing or entertaining ‘cowboy’ or ‘third-party shooter’ images, such as zombies, space aliens or clowns) that, when hit successfully, provide the golfer with a particular score, immediately or essentially immediately when the ball impacts the screen. This can increase the interest factor by the players, which can also lead to a revenue increase per game. Moreover, incorporating ‘pop culture’ elements into the targeting aspect of the environment 100 as discussed above can lead to a broadened appeal of golfing to a larger than the traditional audience for traditional golf on an actual course, golf entertainment venue or conventional golf simulators.

[0048] In a further embodiment, the immersive golf theatres 105 and 115, including multi-player ball tracking that occurs within the same game. Unlike the prior art, wherein the golf simulators, golf entertainment venues and outdoor places track one ball per game / bay, according to the principles of the present application, multiple players at all bays facing the common impact screen in a theater are hitting balls at will, including potentially simultaneously, and the environment 100 is tracking all in the same gamewithin a theatre. This can also aid in a further goal of competitive socializing as different games will be in each theatre.

[0049] In a yet further embodiment of the immersive golf theatres 105 and 115, projections are mapped onto side walls and ceilings and bring those elements into useful interactions for a player within the environment 100. Wherein typically in the prior art, the prior art conventional golf simulators are focused on tracking the simulated ball flight to a simulated virtual point past the screen, the present application allows for a much faster play by assigning an achieved score for a hit at soon as the golf ball impacts a scorable area of an image conveyed to the screen.

[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary plurality of individual immersive multi-player, common screen, golfing theatres 105 in an immersion group 200, which can have one, two or more stories, each of which have at least three striking or, for golf, tee-off areas 106, including tees or other tee-off areas (such as carpets or artificial grass) for at least three players 107, though fewer than three players may actually play at any given time. There also can be a plurality of individuals 107 playing simultaneously in each immersive golfing theatre 105 and 115, up to the number of tee-off areas. Moreover, in further embodiments, the different immersive golfing theatres 105 and 115 can have different games in each theater or be simultaneously competing or cooperating with each other, wherein an image 108 having a scorable area (i.e. a target) 109 may be simultaneously projected onto the screen in in multiple ones of the theaters (each having a common screen for all players), allowing simultaneous play on a duplicated set of images 108 having scorable areas 109 in each theatre, by multiple separate groups (e.g. one group in each theater, with each theatre having the same set of images at the other theatres).

[0051] FIG. 3A illustrates a prior-art movie theatre seating.

[0052] FIG. 3B illustrates a diagram of the movie theatre seating of FIG. 3A, after it has been updated and refitted to an immersive multi-player golfing environment 300 with spectator seating 305, queuing lines, an event / meeting space 310, and multiple hitting areas 106 for an immersive multi-player golfing experience 315 constructed according to the principles of the present application. In a further embodiment, the environment 300 is also employed for competitive socializing. The hitting area 315 in a theatre 105 has a large common screen 307 for all players, and has at least a front, generally upright central face 308 having an area of at least 800 square feet and is facing the line or tee-off areas 106 for the players 107, and which receives images having scorable areas (not shown in FIG. 3B). In some embodiments, the front, central face308 of the common screen 307 can have a top edge 316 adjoining, at an angle, a ceiling 318, which can also receive projected images, and side edges 319 adjoining side walls 320, which can also receive projected images. The projected images projected onto the ceiling and side wall or walls may, or may not, also include images having scorable areas.

[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary forms of immersive golf to be used in the environment of FIG. 1 according to the principles of the present application. As discussed above, various golfers 107 are simultaneously attempting to hit targets 321 on the screen. In a first scenario 401 , a golfer 107 is trying to strike images of various images 321 , including, for example, comical figures 32V, 321” and 32V”, and the scenario proceeds accordingly. In a second scenario 403, multiple golfers 107 are simultaneously having a social competition among each other within a golfing game to score the most points. In a third scenario 405, multiple golfers 107 are cooperating to hit certain scorable targets322’, 322” and / or 322”’ to aggregate a score.

[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates immersive targeting golf games played by golfers 107 in various scenarios. In one embodiment, in ‘peak ‘immersive golf (i.e., golf played during the most popular playing times), the golf games are 3-6 minutes a piece, and can be multi player. In one embodiment, there can be multiple theatres for immersive golf per venue, so there can be many game options. The guests can move through the venue for golfing, from one theatre 105 to another. In a further embodiment, a group of players 107 plays the game, then a next group plays (which is more like a ‘tee time’ approach vs. pay by the hour approach), or alternatively can indeed pay by the hour.

[0055] FIG. 6 illustrates a non-peak immersive golf game played by golfers in various scenarios. In one embodiment, in non-peak times, a guest can also choose golf practice mode or immersive. This non-peak time can include individualized shot data. In a further embodiment, the large screens can include game watch parties, private events, audio visual spectacles, and moreover, guests can start to play right after meeting one another. Movie-watch parties are also possible. In a yet further embodiment, multiple theatres per venue allow for events / watch parties, whilst still keeping the rest of venue generating revenue.

[0056] Turning now to FIG. 7A, illustrated is a device and system 700 constructed according to the principles of the present invention. In the system 700, a first screen 710 and a second screen 720 are connected to a server 730, each of which is in a separate theatre 105. Golf ball launch sensors (also called “monitors”), which may include a suitably programmed microprocessor for pre-processing and digitizing raw signals from the sensors, are placed above each station in screen 710 to sense multiple parameterscorrelated to golf ball movement, also referred to as “vector” information herein, and then convey this data (which can be in either analog or in digitized form) to the server 730 for processing for the virtual environment and determining which, if any target or object is hit on screen 720 (based on the computed trajectory) and awards the point values for that target or object.

[0057] In a further embodiment in a FIG 7B, the first screen 710 has a side edge and a side wall target screen 320 disposed at an angle with respect to the side edge and extending from it. In another embodiment, depicted in FIG 7C, the first screen 710 has a top edge and a top “ceiling” target screen 318 disposed at an angle with respect to the top edge and contiguously extending from it. In either case, the second screen is configured to receive light from at least one projector to display at least one projected target image having a scorable area and to receive the impact of a golf ball driven by a golf club swung by at least one of the players 107 from any of the tees 700 in any of the hitting areas 106, with the associated scoring conducted in the same manner as in the previous embodiments.

[0058] The server 730 includes a targeter element 732 and a multi-player, multi-shot element 734 which enables play by multiple players, individually and / or as a member of any inter-competing group or inter-cooperating group, from any or all tee-off areas, hitting balls at will, including simultaneously. The embodiment also includes a competitive socializer element 736, all of which can comprise processes, chips, or functions, etc.

[0059] The targeter element 732 allows for conveying or projecting targeting images having scorable areas onto a screen and the subsequent interaction with a golfer, and scoring, according to the principles of the present application. The multi-shot element 734allows for multiple golf balls to be hit at will by multiple players, each to potentially strike the scorable areas of one or more images or targets in a single instance of a game, including when the balls hit by multiple players impact the screen simultaneously. The competitive socializer element 736 allows for the various competitive socialization functions of the game players, when not playing the multi-player golf game device.

[0060] The server 730 is connected to a first I / O device 740 to be used in conjunction with the first screen 710 for presentation and selection of options to a first group of users. The server 730 is also connected to a second I / O device 750 to be used in conjunction with the second screen 720 for presentations and selection of options to a second group of users.

[0061] Generally, the server 730 can be employed to generate a golfing simulation of the environment 100 to hit virtual targets right on the screen at the time and place of impact with the screen, rather than extrapolating out to where the golf ball would travel on a simulated fairway, if the screen was not present to stop the ball.

[0062] With employment of the server 730, this ‘targeting’ can allow a number of fun interactions, such as teeing off multiple golf shots in a row. Moreover, amusing ‘targets’ can be hit and consequences dealt with (e.g., trying to hit a golf ball to hit a spaceship that is ‘attacking’). Because any golfer can hit a ball immediately when ready, this translates to faster play than for conventional simulators, which can also lead to a revenue increase per game. Moreover, incorporating ‘pop culture’ elements into the targeting aspect can lead to a broader appeal of golfing to a larger audience than a traditional golfer audience.

[0063] In a further embodiment, with employment of the server 730, multi-player balltracking occurs within the same game. Unlike the prior art, wherein the golf simulators and outdoor places track one ball at a time per game / bay, according to the principles of the present application, multiple players at all the bays in a theatre 105 can all be simultaneously hitting balls at the same common screen, and the server 730 is tracking all in the same game displayed on the same common screen. This can aid in the further goal of competitive socializing.

[0064] In a yet further embodiment, with employment of the server 730, projections can also be mapped onto side walls and ceilings and bring those elements into useful interactions for a player who interacts with the server 730. As such, the present application allows for a much broader range of hits and tracking of the golf balls hit by multiple players, all hitting at will, including simultaneously, at the same or different conveyed or projected targets.

[0065] Turning now to FIG. 8, illustrated is a method 800. After a start step 810, in a select a scenario step 820, a golfer selects what type of immersive targeting experience he or she desires, as well as any social competition. In a step 830, a golfer attempts to hit a golf ball at a target on the screen. In a step 840, the server 730 employs extracted information from the golf ball vector information. In a step 850, the server 730 provides an updated scenario with targeting and scoring based on the golf ball vector information. In a step 860, new information is applied from the updated scenario to update another player or players, hitting from the same or different bays, that might be either cooperating or competing with the first golfer. In a step 870, the second golfer in competition (or with cooperation, which can be defined as a type of competition within the present environment for some embodiments), where the second golfer also golfs and tries to hithis or her own target, or a common target, but on the same common screen. That is, although the background on the screen is the same for all players, it is possible for players to score differently from other players if they hit a particular target, such as a blue target for one player and a red target for another player. It is also possible to have “mixing and matching” for players to compete or cooperate, individually, or in any or all intercompeting or inter-cooperating groups or combination thereof, simultaneously or not. In a step 880, it is determined whether the first golfer is finished with this game, or wishes to hit another golf ball. If so, the method loops back to step 830. If the first golfer wishes to no longer golf, the method stops in a step 890.

[0066] It should be understood that, although one or more embodiments of the invention have been described in detail primarily directed to an application of the invention to the ball striking game of golf, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be applied to any ball striking computer simulation target game that enables essentially simultaneous play among multiple players hitting or otherwise striking a ball onto the same common target screen, including but not limited to those directed to baseball, cricket ball or tennis ball hitting, or soccer, rugby or football kicking.

[0067] Any of the functions disclosed herein may be implemented using means for performing those functions. Such means include, but are not limited to, any of the components disclosed herein, such as the computer-related components described below.

[0068] The techniques described above may be implemented, for example, in hardware, one or more computer programs tangibly stored on one or more computer- readable media, firmware, or any combination thereof. The techniques described abovemay be implemented in one or more computer programs executing on (or executable by) a programmable computer including any combination of any number of the following: a processor, a storage medium readable and / or writable by the processor (including, for example, volatile and non-volatile memory and / or storage elements), an input device, and an output device. Program code may be applied to input entered using the input device to perform the functions described and to generate output using the output device.

[0069] Embodiments of the present invention include features which are only possible and / or feasible to implement with the use of one or more machines, such as computers, computer processors, and / or other elements of a computer system. Such features are either impossible or impractical to implement mentally and / or manually. For example, embodiments of the present invention read data from a machine-readable object, such as by using a wand to read data from a chip. This function cannot be performed by a human manually or mentally.

[0070] Any claims herein which affirmatively require a computer, a processor, a memory, or similar computer-related elements, are intended to require such elements, and should not be interpreted as if such elements are not present in or required by such claims. Such claims are not intended, and should not be interpreted, to cover methods and / or systems which lack the recited computer-related elements. For example, any method claim herein which recites that the claimed method is performed by a computer, a processor, a memory, and / or similar computer-related element, is intended to, and should only be interpreted to, encompass methods which are performed by the recited computer-related element(s).

[0071] Such a method claim should not be interpreted, for example, to encompass amethod that is performed mentally or by hand (e g., using pencil and paper). Similarly, any product claim herein which recites that the claimed product includes a computer, a processor, a memory, and / or similar computer-related element, is intended to, and should only be interpreted to, encompass products which include the recited computer-related element(s). Such a product claim should not be interpreted, for example, to encompass a product that does not include the recited computer-related element(s).

[0072] Each computer program within the scope of the claims below may be implemented in any programming language, such as assembly language, machine language, a high-level procedural programming language, or an object-oriented programming language. The programming language may, for example, be a compiled or interpreted programming language. Each such computer program may be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device for execution by a computer processor. Method steps of the invention may be performed by one or more computer processors executing a program tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium to perform functions of the invention by operating on input and generating output. Suitable processors include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors.

[0073] Generally, the processor receives (reads) instructions and data from a memory (such as a read-only memory and / or a random-access memory) and writes (stores) instructions and data to the memory. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include, for example, all forms of non-volatile memory, such as semiconductor memory devices, including EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic discs such as internal hard discs and removable discs;magneto-optical discs; and CD-ROMs. Any of the foregoing may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, specially designed ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) or FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays).

[0074] A computer can generally also receive (read) programs and data from, and write (store) programs and data to, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as an internal disc (not shown) or a removable disc. These elements will also be found in a conventional desktop or workstation computer as well as other computers suitable for executing computer programs implementing the methods described herein, which may be used in conjunction with any digital print engine or marking engine, display monitor, or other raster output device capable of producing color or gray scale pixels on paper, film, display screen, or other output medium.

[0075] Any data disclosed herein may be implemented, for example, in one or more data structures tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Embodiments of the invention may store such data in such data structure(s) and read such data from such data structure(s).

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 23 October 2025 (23.10.2025)Replacement Set of Claims 1-19 - Filed 23.10.20251. A multi-player ball striking game device enabling play by multiple players hitting balls at will, including simultaneously, comprising: at least three adjacent single-player ball striking-off areas for holding each ball, the center of each of said striking-off areas being spaced apart substantially equally at least eight feet from the others and generally in a line facing a target screen, the target screen being the same target screen for all players and being positioned so as to be exposed on its entire surface to direct impact by a ball struck by any player, the center of each striking-off area being disposed in a position for hitting each ball by a strike delivered by a player addressed at the ball on his or her striking-off area, and positioned so that, when the ball is hit in a normal manner toward the center of the screen, it is likely to impact the screen; one or more light projectors for projecting the at least one computer-generated image onto the same target screen, which image includes at least one target image having the scorable area; the target screen being configured to receive light from the projector and to display the at least one projected target image having the scorable area; further to receive the impact of each ball driven by each strike delivered by any of the players at any of the striking-off areas, the screen having a generally upright and being disposed away from the center of each of the striking-off areas;at least one launch monitor device for determining the location a ball hit from each of the striking-off areas has or will impact onto the screen after being hit, and which player hit which ball, whether the balls hit by different players will impact the screen at the same time or different times; and a suitably programmed computer for comparing the location of impact of a ball onto the screen hit by any of the players and determining whether that location is within the scorable area of the at least one target image and, if so, storing an achieved score for the player who hit the ball onto the scorable area.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the computer has an arithmetic unit for calculating each player’s running total score.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the computer has an output to the light projector for projecting the score onto the screen.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the computer has an output to the light projector for projecting each player’s running total score onto the target screen.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the target screen has a front and side edge connecting contiguously to a side wall portion disposed at an angle with respect to the front of the target screen and extending from it, the side wall portion also being configured to receive light from at least one projector to display at least one projected target image having a scorable area and to receive the impact of a ball driven by a striking delivered by at least one of the players from any of the striking-off areas.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the target screen has a front and a top edge connecting contiguously to a ceiling portion disposed at an angle with respect to the top edge and extending from it, the ceiling portion also being configured to receive light from the at least one projector to display the at least one projected target image having the scorable area and being exposed on its entire surface to direct impact by a ball struck by any player to receive the impact of each ball driven by each strike delivered by at least one of the players.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein a sensor senses multiple parameters correlated to ball movement, the parameters comprising a vector.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the vector includes the parameters of at least speed and direction.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the vector further includes the parameters of ball spin speed and axis of spin.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein a sensor comprises a camera pointed at the screen to sense location of a ball at the time of impact with the screen.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the multiple parameters are sufficient to determine at least speed of the ball at the time of impact with the screen.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the multiple parameters are sufficient to determine at least direction of the ball at the time of impact with the screen.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the score is different for different locations of impact within the scorable area.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein the score is different for different speeds of impact within the scorable area.

15. The device of claim 7, wherein the score is different for different directions of impact within the scorable area.

16. The device of Claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a competitive socializer element.

17. A multi-area ball striking play device having a set of multiple, multi-player ball striking game devices, each of which is segregated into a separate physical area and enables play by multiple players hitting balls at will, including simultaneously, and wherein each of the multiple, multi-player striking ball game devices comprise: at least three adjacent single-player ball striking-off areas for holding each ball, the center of each of said striking-off areas being spaced apart substantially equally at least eight feet from the others and generally in a line facing a target screen, the target screen being the same target screen for all players and being positioned so as to be exposed on its entire surface to direct impact by a ball struck by any player to direct impact by a ball struck by any player, the center of each striking-off area being disposed in a position for hitting each ball by a strike delivered by a player addressed at the ball on his or her striking-off area, and positioned so that, when the ball is hit in a normal manner toward the center of the screen, it is likely to impact the screen; one or more light projectors for projecting the at least one computer-generated image onto the same target screen, which image includes at least one target image having the scorable area;the target screen being configured to receive light from the projector and to display the at least one projected target image having the scorable area; further to receive the impact of each ball driven by a strike delivered by any of the players at any of the striking- off areas, the screen having a generally upright area and being disposed away from the center of each of the striking-off areas; at least one sensor for determining the location of each ball hit from each of the striking-off areas has or will impact onto the screen after being hit, and which player hit which ball, whether the balls hit by different players will impact the screen at the same time or at different times; and a suitably programmed computer for comparing the location of impact of a ball onto the screen hit by any of the players and determining whether that location is within the scorable area of the at least one image and, if so, storing an achieved score for the player who hit the ball onto the scorable area.

18. The multi-area ball striking game device of claim 17 further comprising a competitive socializer element that allows for a competition between separate groups of players, each group playing on the screen in one of the multi-player ball striking game devices segregated into its own separate physical theatre area physically apart from the other groups.

19. The multi-area ball-striking game device of claim 17, further comprising a competitive socializing element.

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