Method and system for facilitating interaction between players on a golf course

Abstract

A method and system are provided to facilitate interaction between players on a golf course. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention provides a mobile computing device, also called Personal Golf Game Assistant (PGGA). The PGGA is adapted to assist a player to track game-related data during a round of golf and establish communication with one or more compatible PGGAs carried by other players on the golf course. As various types of information data can be exchanged among the PGGAs of the players on the golf course, interaction between the players is thus facilitated.

1 . A mobile computing device adapted to assist a first player in a round of golf on a golf course, the mobile computing device comprises:
 a processing unit;   a memory system;   a satellite-aided navigation module; and   a short-range wireless module capable of detecting at least one instance of the mobile computing device in a given distance range, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate group data identifying at least a second player who is provided with the one instance of the mobile computing device and plays on a same hole on the golf course as the first player.   
   
   
       2 . The mobile computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to include information associated with the second player in the group data if the first player and the second player are present in a teeing ground and subsequently in a putting green of the same hole. 
   
   
       3 . The mobile computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to include information associated with the second player in the group data if a substantial number of successful handshakes are achieved between the instances of the mobile computing device carried by the first player and the second player. 
   
   
       4 . The mobile computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to cause information exchange between the instances of the mobile computing devices carried by the first player and the second player, who are identified in the group data, via a wireless connection. 
   
   
       5 . The mobile computing device of  claim 4 , wherein the information exchanged comprises personal information data of the first player and the second player. 
   
   
       6 . The mobile computing device of  claim 4 , wherein the information exchanged comprises relationship data associated with the first player and the second player. 
   
   
       7 . The mobile computing device of  claim 4 , wherein the information exchanged comprises game-related data associated with the first player and the second player. 
   
   
       8 . The mobile computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to collect game-related data during the round of golf. 
   
   
       9 . The mobile computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the game-related data comprise a number of strokes, a physical location on the golf course where each stroke is made, and a type of club selected for each stroke. 
   
   
       10 . The mobile computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to cause transfer of data between the mobile computing device and a host computer so that post-round processing of the data can take place. 
   
   
       11 . The mobile computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to allow the first player to talk to the second player via a radio communication session supported by the instances of the mobile computing devices after the first player and the second player are identified in the group data. 
   
   
       12 . A system adapted to assist a first player in a round of golf on a golf course, the system comprises:
 a host computer; and   a mobile computing device adapted to exchange information with the host computer, wherein the mobile computing device is provided to the first player and comprises:
 a processing unit; 
 a memory system; 
 a satellite-aided navigation module; and 
 a short-range wireless module capable of detecting at least one instance of the mobile computing device in a given distance range, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate group data identifying at least a second player who is provided with the one instance of the mobile computing device and plays on a same hole of the golf course as the first player. 
   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to include information associated with the second player in the group data if the first player and the second player are present in a teeing ground and subsequently in a putting green of the same hole. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to include information associated with the second player in the group data if a substantial number of successful handshakes are achieved between the instances of the mobile computing device carried by the first player and the second player. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to cause information exchange between the instances of the mobile computing devices carried by the first player and the second player, who are identified in the group data, via a wireless connection. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the information exchanged comprises personal information data of the first player and the second player. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the information exchanged comprises relationship data associated with the first player and the second player. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the information exchanged comprises game-related data associated with the first player and the second player. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to collect game-related data during the round of golf. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the game-related data comprise a number of strokes, a physical location on the golf course where each stroke is made, and a type of club selected for each stroke. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to cause transfer of data between the mobile computing device and a host computer so that post-round processing of the data can take place. 
   
   
       22 . A method for assisting a first player in a round of golf on a golf course, comprising:
 enabling a mobile computing device carried by the first player to exchange data with a host computer; and   exchanging information between the mobile computing device of the first player and at least one instance of the mobile computing device of a second player via a wireless connection, wherein the first player and the second player are deemed to belong to a same group since the first player and the second player are determined to play on a same hole of the golf course.