Golf Green Imaging System for Real-Time Golfer Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf information systems require golfers to manually capture images, which is inconvenient, and primarily serve to provide video recordings for outdoor golf course management rather than real-time information to golfers during play.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising green photographing units, golfer terminals, and an information providing server that captures and processes images of golf greens, recognizes key objects like hole cups and golf balls, and transmits relevant information, such as distances and safety alerts, to golfer terminals in real-time via a communication network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a golfer manually captures images using a mobile terminal, then the golfer can obtain green images, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the inconvenience of manual image capture
Solution Approach 1:
The green photographing unit automatically captures images of the green without requiring golfer intervention. The system serves itself by having dedicated photographing units positioned around the course that continuously or periodically capture green images, which are then transmitted to the server for processing and delivery to golfers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces green photographing units as intermediary devices between the green and the golfer. These units are positioned strategically around the course and act as mediators that capture, transmit, and provide green images to golfers through their terminals, eliminating the need for golfers to manually capture images themselves.
2Loss of information
If a system is constructed for outdoor golf course management with camera and server, then video recording and storage are improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as it only provides video to internet users rather than real-time information to golfers during play
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static video recording to dynamic real-time image transmission. The green photographing units continuously capture current green conditions, and the server dynamically processes and transmits this live data to golfer terminals, enabling golfers to access real-time information about green conditions, hole cup positions, and other relevant data during their play.
Solution Approach 2:
The server performs preliminary processing of green images by recognizing and extracting key information such as hole cup positions, flagstick locations, and green contours before transmitting this processed information to golfers. This preliminary action of information extraction and preparation enables golfers to receive ready-to-use data without needing to manually analyze raw video or images.
3Measurement precision
If green images are captured and processed to recognize hole cups and golf balls, then measurement precision of position information is improved, but device complexity increases due to image processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The server extracts only the essential information from captured green images, such as hole cup positions, flagstick locations, and green boundaries. By taking out only the necessary data elements rather than processing and transmitting entire images, the system achieves high measurement precision for position information while minimizing the complexity of image processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical image analysis with automated computer vision algorithms. The server uses image processing software to automatically recognize and locate hole cups, flagsticks, and golf balls in captured images, substituting manual or mechanical measurement methods with automated digital recognition that provides high precision without requiring complex physical measurement devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing golf information, the system which includes a green photographing unit for photographing an image of an area including a green on a golf course and communicatively connected to a communication network to transmit green image data to an outside, a golfer terminal that is carried by a golfer on the golf course and communicatively connected to a communication network to transmit golfer position data to the outside, and an information providing server that is communicatively connected to the communication network to generate golf information using the green image data and the golfer position data and transmit the generated golf information to the golfer terminal.