Striker Position Tracking via Audio Strike Time Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in accurately identifying the position of a striker, such as a golf player, in an unpartitioned open space, particularly in distinguishing between multiple strikers and filtering out ambient noise.

Innovation Solution

A tracking system that uses audio recordings from a computing device operated by the striker to identify the striker's position by comparing strike times from the audio recording with observed strike times from sensors, allowing for the association of physical locations with strikers and the filtering of ambient noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If GPS is used to identify striker position, then coverage area is large, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidposition identification precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces audio recordings as an intermediary to bridge the gap between GPS's large coverage area and the need for precise position identification. The audio recording captured by the computing device serves as a mediator that enables precise location determination through audio matching, while GPS continues to provide broad area coverage. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to leverage both the wide coverage of GPS and the precision of audio-based location matching without compromising either aspect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If audio recording is used to identify striker position, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition identification precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The computing device operated by the striker automatically captures audio recordings and performs the matching process without requiring additional specialized equipment or manual intervention. The device uses its built-in microphone and processing capabilities to identify the striker's position by matching the audio recording with pre-recorded audio signatures from different locations. This self-service approach enables precise position identification while avoiding the need for complex additional hardware, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If audio recording is used to filter ambient noise, then reliability improves, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition identification reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-recording audio signatures at various striker locations before actual position identification is needed. These pre-recorded audio signatures are stored and ready for immediate comparison when a striker's position needs to be identified. By preparing the audio matching references in advance, the system can quickly compare incoming audio recordings against the pre-existing signatures, thereby improving reliability through thorough noise filtering while minimizing the time required for position identification during actual use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enables accurate and reliable identification of a striker's position in an unpartitioned space, improving upon conventional methods like GPS by reducing errors and hardware requirements, and providing real-time tracking and performance analysis.

Implementation Method 1

using data obtained from an audio recording recorded by a computing device operated by the striker to identify a striker's position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound: Sound

Data Source

PatentEP4087666B1Identifying a location for a striker of an object
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 TOPGOLF INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP4087666B1 patent drawingFigure 1
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  • EP4087666B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for identifying the location of a striker of an object, includes, in at least one aspect, a method including receiving a request from a mobile computing device operated by a striker located in a striking area having space for two or more strikers to strike objects into a target area; initiating an audio recording by the microphone of the mobile computing device; identifying a physical location in the striking area and a first strike time determination for an object struck from the striking area based on sensor observations of the object in flight between the striking area and the target area; identifying a second strike time determination in the audio recording; and associating the physical location with the mobile computing device when the second strike time determination is matched with the first strike time determination.