GOLF INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROVISION GUIDANCE APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING GOLF INFORMATION, AND GOLF INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a golf information providing system, an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information, and a golf information providing method which are capable of efficiently inputting information generated during a round of golf in a golf course, creating predetermined golf information content based on the input information after the round of golf is finished, providing the created golf information content to each golfer, providing a score card to each golfer with efforts made by a caddie to fill the score card using a conventional method, and inserting various kinds of content, such as images taken before, after, and during the round of golf, into the score card such that high-quality score cards can be provided to all golfers participating in the round of golf, thereby exciting golfers' interest, improving golfers' convenience, and improving quality of a service provided to the golfers.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a golf information providing system, an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information, and a golf information providing method and, more particularly, to a golf information providing system, an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information, and a golf information providing method that are capable of easily and conveniently providing golfers with information generated during a round of golf in a golf course.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, three or four golfers and a caddie who assists the golfers play a round of golf around 9 holes or 18 holes as a team in a golf course. At every hole, the caddie records strokes of the respective golfers and makes a score card. After the round of golf is finished, the caddie provides the score card having the strokes of the respective golfers written thereon to the golfers.

At this time, however, only one score card is made and provided to the golfers. That is, the golfers participating in the round of golf cannot have their own score cards. Consequently, the golfers may not have their own score cards even when the golfers have good records.

Meanwhile, technologies that are capable of enabling each golfer to record and store his/her strokes at each hole using a smart phone or a golf terminal held by each golfer have been proposed. In these cases, however, the golfers may not concentrate on playing golf since the golfers must record their own strokes while playing a round of golf in a golf course.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf information providing system, an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information, and a golf information providing method that are capable of efficiently inputting information generated during a round of golf in a golf course, creating predetermined golf information content based on the input information after the round of golf is finished, and providing the created golf information content to each golfer, thereby exciting golfers' interest, improving golfers' convenience, and improving quality of a service provided to the golfers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf information providing system, an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information, and a golf information providing method that are capable of providing a score card to each golfer with efforts made by a caddie to fill the score card using a conventional method, and inserting various kinds of content, such as images taken before, after, and during the round of golf, into the score card such that high-quality score cards can be provided to all golfers participating in the round of golf.

Technical Solution

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a golf information providing system including a round operation terminal for allowing input of information generated during a round of golf, a management server configured to communicate with the round operation terminal in a wireless communication mode for receiving and storing the information input through the round operation terminal, and an information provision guidance apparatus configured to communicate with the management server in a wired/wireless communication mode for receiving information requested by a golfer from the management server and providing the received information to the golfer according to a request of the golfer.

The management server may be configured to prestore personal information of golfers participating in each round of golf, the round operation terminal may be configured to transmit identification information of a round of golf which is being played currently to the management server, the management server may be configured to identify the corresponding round of golf and to transmit personal information of golfers participating in the corresponding round of golf to the round operation terminal, and the round operation terminal may be configured to constitute and provide an interface for inputting score information based on the personal information of the golfers received from the management server.

The round operation terminal may be configured to allow input of score information of the golfer generated during the round of golf and to have a camera unit for acquiring an image and the management server may be configured to receive the score information and image information from the round operation terminal and to store the received score information and image information per round of golf.

The information provision guidance apparatus may be configured to receive score information and image information of the golfer during the round of golf transmitted by the round operation terminal from the management server and to edit and print a score card using the received score information and image information of the golfer.

A golf cart or the round operation terminal may be configured to have a wireless access point (AP) device for enabling the golf cart or the round operation terminal to access the management server over a network such that a mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf can access to the management server over the network through the wireless AP device and information input through the round operation terminal and transmitted to the management server, in which the information is stored, may be transmitted to the mobile terminal of each golfer accessing the management server over the network through the wireless AP device.

Information input through the round operation terminal and transmitted to the management server, in which the information is stored, may be transmitted to a mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf via a base station of a mobile communication system.

A mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf may be configured to drive an application that enables the mobile terminal to access the management server over a network, at least one selected from between golf score information input through the mobile terminal and image information taken by the mobile terminal may be transmitted to the management server over the network, and the management server may be configured to store at least one selected from between the golf score information and the image information received from the mobile terminal per golfer playing the round of golf.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information configured to communicate with a management server for receiving and storing information input through a round operation terminal during a round of golf in a wired/wireless communication mode, the information provision guidance apparatus including an input unit and a display unit configured such that input and display of information is performed by a single means or by separate means, a control unit comprising an information editing means for editing the information received from the management server according to preset conditions to create predetermined golf information content, and an output unit for outputting the golf information content created by the information editing means.

The control unit may further include an authentication means for matching the information input through the input unit with prestored information to authenticate a golfer, whereby the controller may output the golf information content of the golfer authenticated by the authentication means.

The control unit may further include an advertisement processing means for processing the golf information content output through the output unit such that the golf information content contains predetermined advertisement content.

A mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf may be configured to have a radio frequency identification information transmitting unit for transmitting information in radio frequency identification (RFID) communication or in near field communication (NFC) communication, the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit being set to prestore identification information of each golfer, the information provision guidance apparatus may further include a radio frequency identification information receiving unit for receiving information in the RFID communication or in the NFC communication, the information stored in the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit being transmitted to the radio frequency identification information receiving unit by tagging the mobile terminal on the information provision guidance apparatus, and the controller may be configured to authenticate each golfer according to the received radio frequency identification information, to receive golf score information regarding the round of golf played by each golfer from the management server, and to output the received golf score information.

The mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf may be configured to have a terminal wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving information in Bluetooth communication or in Wi-Fi communication, the mobile terminal being set to store information input by each golfer during the round of golf or image information taken by each golfer during the round of golf, the information provision guidance apparatus may further include a wireless information communication unit for transmitting and receiving information in the Bluetooth communication or in the Wi-Fi communication, the wireless information communication unit being configured to receive information stored in the mobile terminal through communication with the terminal wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal, and the controller may be configured to edit the information received from the mobile terminal and information received from the management server according to preset conditions such that predetermined golf information content is created and to output the created golf information content.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf information providing method including inputting information generated during a round of golf to a round operation terminal or a mobile terminal for personal mobile communication held by each golfer participating in the round of golf and transmitting the information to a management server communicating with the round operation terminal or the mobile terminal in a wireless communication mode, requesting to output predetermined golf information content of each golfer participating in the round of golf through an information provision guidance apparatus after the round of golf is finished, receiving information regarding the requested golf information content from the management server and editing the received information according to preset conditions to create golf information content, and outputting the created golf information content.

A golf cart or the round operation terminal may be provided with a wireless AP device for enabling the golf cart or the round operation terminal to access the management server over a network such that a mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf can access to the management server over the network through the wireless AP device, the step of transmitting the information to the management server may include inputting the information generated during the round of golf through the round operation terminal and transmitting the information to the management server, and the golf information providing method may further include transmitting the information input through the round operation terminal, transmitted to the management server, and stored in the management server to the mobile terminal held by each golfer accessing the management server over the network through the wireless AP device.

The step of transmitting the information to the management server may include inputting the information generated during the round of golf through the round operation terminal and transmitting the information to the management server and the golf information providing method may further include transmitting the information input through the round operation terminal, transmitted to the management server, and stored in the management server to the mobile terminal of each golfer via a base station of a mobile communication system.

The step of requesting to output the predetermined golf information content of each golfer participating in the round of golf may include matching the information input by each golfer through the information provision guidance apparatus with prestored information to authenticate each golfer, whereby outputting of the golf information content of each golfer authenticated through the authenticating step is requested.

The mobile terminal may be provided with a radio frequency identification information transmitting unit for transmitting information in RFID communication or in NFC communication, the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit being set to prestore identification information of each golfer, the information provision guidance apparatus may include a radio frequency identification information receiving unit for receiving information in the RFID communication or in the NFC communication, and the step of requesting to output the predetermined golf information content of each golfer participating in the round of golf may include transmitting identification information of each golfer stored in the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit to the radio frequency identification information receiving unit by tagging the mobile terminal on the information provision guidance apparatus and authenticating each golfer according to the transmitted identification information, whereby outputting of the golf information content of each authenticated golfer is requested.

The mobile terminal may be provided with a terminal wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving information in Bluetooth communication or in Wi-Fi communication, the mobile terminal being set to store information input by each golfer during the round of golf or image information taken by each golfer during the round of golf, the information provision guidance apparatus may include a wireless information communication unit for transmitting and receiving information in the Bluetooth communication or in the Wi-Fi communication, and the step of creating the golf information content may include transmitting input information or image information stored in the mobile terminal to the information provision guidance apparatus through communication between the terminal wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal and the wireless information communication unit of the information provision guidance apparatus, receiving information regarding the requested golf information content from the management server, and editing the information received from the mobile terminal and the information received from the management server according to preset conditions to create golf information content.

The step of creating the golf information content may include, in a case in which a plurality of images related to the requested golf information content is present, displaying a selection screen for allowing each golfer to select a predetermined number of ones from the images through the information provision guidance apparatus and creating the golf information content using the images selected by each golfer through the selection screen.

The golf information content requested by each golfer at the step of requesting to output the golf information content may be a score card having golf score during the round of golf written thereon and the step of creating the golf information content may include displaying a selection screen for allowing each golfer to select any one from various kinds of card styles having different backgrounds and formats of a predetermined score card and creating the score card based on the card style selected by each golfer through the selection screen.

Advantageous Effects

In a golf information providing system, an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information, and a golf information providing method according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently input information generated during a round of golf in a golf course, to create predetermined golf information content based on the input information after the round of golf is finished, and to provide the created golf information content to each golfer. In particular, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a score card to each golfer with efforts made by a caddie to fill the score card using a conventional method. In addition, it is possible to insert various kinds of content, such as images taken before, after, and during the round of golf, into the score card such that high-quality score cards can be provided to all golfers participating in the round of golf. Consequently, it is possible to excite golfers' interest, to improve golfers' convenience, and to improve quality of a service provided to the golfers.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing the construction of a golf information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a golf information providing system based on the construction of an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a golf information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a case in which a score card is output as golf information content using the golf information providing method shown in FIG. 3 in detail;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a score card which may be created according to the golf information providing method shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the construction of a golf information providing system according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views illustrating golf information providing systems according to other embodiments of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Now, exemplary embodiments of a golf information providing system, an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information, and a golf information providing method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the construction of a golf information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be schematically described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a golf information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a management server 100, round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc., and an information provision guidance apparatus 300.

The management server 100 may be installed inside or outside a golf course. The management server 100 may be configured to store information regarding operation of a golf course, personal information of golfers registered as members or non-members of the golf course, and information regarding golf round operation of the golfers, to communicate with the respective round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. and the information provision guidance apparatus 300 for transmitting and receiving information to and from the respective round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. and the information provision guidance apparatus 300, and to perform general management regarding provision of golf information to customers.

Each of the round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. is a means for allowing a caddie to input various kinds of information generated during a round of golf performed on the basis of a team constituted by the caddie and golfers. The respective round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. are configured to communicate with the management server 100 in a wireless mode such that information input through the respective round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. can be transmitted to the management server 100 and the management server 100 can store the received information.

The round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. may be provided per team performing a round of golf such that various kinds of information, such as score information, of golfers constituting each team can be integrally input through each of the round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc.

In addition, each of the round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. is provided with a wireless access point (AP) device, via which mobile terminals, such as smart phones, held by golfers performing a round of golf may access the management server 100 such that score information input to each of the round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. can be transmitted to the mobile terminal of each of the golfers via the management server 100.

On the other hand, a golf cart may be provided with an additional wireless AP device that is capable of communicating with the management server 100 in a wireless mode such that a round operation terminal held by a caddie and mobile terminals held by golfers can access the management server 100 through the wireless AP device of the golf cart, which will hereinafter be described in detail.

Meanwhile, the management server 100 may manage a plurality of rounds of golf. For this reason, the management server 100 may preset and store identification information regarding each round of golf. In this case, the management server 100 may also set and store identification information regarding a round operation terminal which will be used during each round of golf.

For example, in a case in which golfers A, B, C, and D play a round of golf on a team together with caddie E, identification information regarding the round of golf and identification information regarding a round operation terminal which will be used during the round of golf may be preset and, in addition, golfers A, B, C, and D and caddie E may be preregistered as members using the round operation terminal during the round of golf.

The round operation terminal may be held by the caddie such that the caddie can input the number of strokes taken by each golfer during each hole. The round operation terminal may be provided with a camera unit so as to take pictures or videos In addition to the input of information.

Consequently, the caddie may input the number of strokes taken by each golfer during the round of golf through the round operation terminal and take group pictures of the golfers or videos regarding swing motions of the respective golfers. That is, the caddie may collect various kinds of information generated before, after, and during the round of golf and transmit the collected information to the management server such that content configured in a predetermined form may be provided to the respective golfers later.

Meanwhile, the information provision guidance apparatus 300 may be configured to provide various kinds of information generated during a round of golf to golfers participating in the round of golf in a predetermined form. For example, the information provision guidance apparatus 300 may be configured in a KIOSK form.

The information provision guidance apparatus 300 may be installed in a club house of a golf course such that, after completion of a round of golf, golfers participating in the round of golf may read their score information through the information provision guidance apparatus 300 or content configured in a predetermined form using their score information may be provided to the respective golfers through the information provision guidance apparatus 300.

For example, in a case in which golfers A, B, C, and D play a round of golf as a team together with caddie E, the caddie may take group pictures of the golfers through the round operation terminal and input score information of the respective golfers through the round operation terminal during the round of golf. The input score information may be transmitted to the management server together with image information, i.e. the group pictures of the golfers such that the score information and the image information can be stored in the management server. After completion of the round of golf, each of the golfers may request a score card containing his/her score information to be output through the information provision guidance apparatus in the club house. The information provision guidance apparatus may receive corresponding information from the management server in response to the request, properly process and edit the corresponding information to create a score card containing the pictures of the golfers, and output the score card as golf information content such that their unique score cards can be conveniently provided to all of the golfers.

The construction of the information provision guidance apparatus 300 will hereinafter be described in more detail.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information according to an embodiment of the present invention and the construction of a golf information providing system including the information provision guidance apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2, an information provision guidance apparatus 300 for providing golf information according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an input unit 310 for allowing input of predetermined information, a display unit 320 for outputting the predetermined information to a screen, a storage unit 340 for storing the predetermined information, an output unit 350 for outputting, e.g. printing, the predetermined information, and a control unit 330 for generally controlling the above-mentioned components and performing various functions, such as authentication of golfers participating in a round of golf, information editing for creating golf information content regarding information requested by the golfers, and advertisement processing.

The input unit 310 and the display unit 320 may be provided as separate means. Alternatively, the input unit 310 and the display unit 320 may be integrated into a single means.

For example, the display unit 320 may be realized as a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and the input unit 310 may be realized as a keyboard. Alternatively, the input unit 310 and the display unit 320 may be realized as a touchscreen, which a user may touch to input information while watching the touchscreen.

The control unit 330 may include an authentication means 331 for matching information input through the input unit 310 with prestored information to authenticate golfers, an information editing means 332 for editing information received from the management server 100 according to preset conditions to create a predetermined form of golf information content, and an advertisement processing means 333 for processing golf information content output through the output unit 350 such that the golf information content contains predetermined advertisement content.

The authentication means 331, the information editing means 332, and the advertisement processing means 333 may be realized as software programmed in one processor. Alternatively, the authentication means 331, the information editing means 332, and the advertisement processing means 333 may be realized as separate processors in the form of hardware.

The authentication means 331 may be configured to authenticate golfers based on numbers of lockers assigned to the respective golfers or names or membership numbers of the respective golfers.

Although not shown definitely in the drawing, a card, having a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip mounted therein, held by each golfer may be read by a reader (not shown) provided in the information provision guidance apparatus 300 to authenticate the golfer. Alternatively, authentication of each golfer may be achieved using a communication terminal held by each golfer or a card, having a near field communication (NFC) function mounted therein, held by each golfer in an NFC mode.

The information editing means 332 may create a predetermined form of golf information content using information collected during a round of golf received from the management server 100. For example, the information editing means 332 may receive score information and image information of an authenticated golfer from the management server 100, edit the score information and the image information in a beautiful and valuable form to create a unique score card as golf information content, and output the score card through the output unit 350 such that the score card can be printed on a high-quality paper sheet.

The golf information content may be configured in various forms in addition to the score card. For example, various images of a golfer collected during a round of golf may be received from the management server 100 (the images being information collected through the round operation terminal 200 during the round of golf and transmitted to the management server 100) and content may be created and output in the form of a catalog of a photo album.

In addition, history information of a golfer may be received from the management server 100, edited in a beautiful form, and output.

The advertisement processing means 333 may process advertisement information received from an advertisement server (not shown) that is capable of performing wired/wireless communication such that the advertisement information can be inserted into golf information content which will be output through the output unit 350. Although not connected to the advertisement server (not shown), the advertisement processing means 333 may process advertisement information prestored in the storage unit 340 such that the advertisement information can be inserted into golf information content which will be output through the output unit 350.

Hereinafter, a golf information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 3.

When a golfer starts to play a round of golf in a golf course after admittance, the management server recognizes basic information, such as personal information, of the golfer and, in addition, identification information regarding the round of golf which will be played by the golfer and identification information regarding a round operation terminal which will be used in the round of golf.

When the round of golf starts to be played in this state, information generated during the round of golf is input through the round operation terminal (S10) and the input information is transmitted to the management server (S20).

When the round of golf is finished (S30), the golfer may request golf information content to be output through the information provision guidance apparatus installed in the club house. Upon receiving a request to output the golf information content from the golfer (S40), relevant information is transmitted from the management server to the information provision guidance apparatus (S50). The information provision guidance apparatus creates requested golf information content based on the received information (S60) and outputs the created golf information content such that the golf information content can be provided to the golfer (S70).

A more concrete example of the golf information providing method shown in FIG. 3 is shown in a flowchart of FIG. 4. Hereinafter, a case in which a score card is output using the golf information providing method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

Before a round of golf starts to be played or during the round of golf, identification information regarding the round of golf, identification information regarding a round operation terminal which will be used in the round of golf, and information regarding golfers and a caddie as members participating in the round of golf are stored in the management server (S100).

Subsequently, personal information of the golfers playing the round of golf is transmitted from the management server to the round operation terminal (S110) and the round operation terminal constitutes an interface for inputting score information based on the personal information of the golfers (S120).

During the round of golf, the caddie inputs score information of the respective golfers using the round operation terminal (S130). In a case in which the caddie takes pictures of the golfers using the round operation terminal before, after, and during the round of golf, image information is stored in the round operation terminal.

When the round of golf is finished (S300), the score information input through the round operation terminal and the image information stored in the round operation terminal are transmitted to the management server (S310). Each of the golfers may request a score card having his/her score written thereon to be output through the information provision guidance apparatus installed in the club house (S400).

Upon receiving requests to output the score card from each golfer, authentication of the golfer is carried out first of all (S410). At this time, authentication of the golfer may be carried out using various methods. Authentication of the golfer was previously described and, therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

After authentication of the golfer is completed, the score information and/or the image information of the golfer is transmitted from the management server to the information provision guidance apparatus (S500). In a case in which the golfer requests to output only his/her score information, only the score information of the golfer is transmitted. On the other hand, in a case in which the golfer requests to output score information of all the golfers participating in the round of golf, all of the score information of the respective golfers is transmitted.

The information provision guidance apparatus edits the score information and/or the image information of the golfer received from the management server based on preset conditions, i.e. a form prepared for outputting a score card, and inserts predetermined advertisement content into the form to create a score card (S600).

Subsequently, the created score card is output (S700) such that the score information acquired during the round of golf may be provided to the golfer in the form of a beautiful score card. Score cards may be created for all of the golfers participating in the round of golf in the same manner as described above and then output and provided to all of the golfers.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a score card which may be output according to the golf information providing method shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, a score card SC may contain an image 10 of all members taken with a golf course in the background during a round of golf, score information 20 of golfers, and advertisement content 30.

Meanwhile, the golf information providing system according to the present invention provides various kinds of information, such as score information, to the golfers through the information provision guidance apparatus as described above. In addition, the golf information providing system according to the present invention may directly provide score information through mobile terminals, such as smart phones, held by the respective golfers.

FIG. 6 is a view showing additional construction of the golf information providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 that enables golfers not only to receive predetermined information through the information provision guidance apparatus 300 but also to receive predetermined information, such as score information, through mobile terminals 500 of the golfers.

A round operation terminal 200 held by a caddie or a golf cart 400 may be provided with a wireless AP device, via which mobile terminals 500 of golfers within a predetermined radius range of the round operation terminal 200 or the golf cart 400 can access the management server 100 over a network.

Consequently, the respective golfers playing a round of golf may access the management server 100 via the golf cart 400 or the round operation terminal 200 using the mobile terminals 500, such as the smart phones, held by the golfers such that respective golfers can receive score information input by the caddie through the round operation terminal 200 or various kinds of image information of the golfers stored in the round operation terminal 200 from the management server 100.

For example, when the caddie inputs score information through the round operation terminal 200 during the round of golf, the input information is transmitted to the management server 100, which stores the information, and the respective golfers may access the management server 100 via the round operation terminal 200 or the golf cart 400 using their mobile terminals 500 to receive the score information stored in the management server 100.

On the other hand, the mobile terminal of each golfer may receive various kinds of information, such as score information, generated during the round of golf via a base station 20 on a mobile communication system. For example, score information input through the round operation terminal 200 may be transmitted to the management server 100, which may store the score information, and the management server 100 may transmit the corresponding information to the mobile terminal 500 of each golfer via the base station 20 located in the vicinity of the management server 100.

In addition, the mobile terminal held by each golfer may drive an application that enables the mobile terminal to directly access the management server over a network. In a state in which the mobile terminal held by each golfer accesses the management server over the network, each golfer may input his/her golf score information through his/her mobile terminal instead of the round operation terminal and the input score information may be transmitted to the management server 100, which may store the score information (the management server may store the score information per golfer).

In general, the mobile terminal is provided with a camera means. Each golfer may take his/her picture using the mobile terminal held by each golfer during the round of golf and store image information corresponding to the picture of each golfer in the mobile terminal held by each golfer. In addition, the image information may be transmitted to the management server which the mobile terminal accesses over the network such that the image information may be stored in the management server.

FIG. 7 is a view showing access to an information provision guidance apparatus of a golf information providing system according to the present invention using a mobile terminal held by each golfer.

As shown in FIG. 7, an information provision guidance apparatus of a golf information providing system according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a radio frequency identification information receiving unit 360 (components denoted by reference numerals 310 to 360 are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 2 and, therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted). The radio frequency identification information receiving unit 360 may be configured to communicate with a radio frequency identification information transmitting unit (not shown) mounted in a mobile terminal 500 held by each golfer.

The radio frequency identification information transmitting unit may be mounted in a mobile terminal, such as a smart phone. The radio frequency identification information transmitting unit is configured to transmit information in a RFID mode or in an NFC mode.

In a case in which the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit performs RFID communication, the radio frequency identification information receiving unit 360 may be realized as an RFID reader. On the other hand, in a case in which the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit performs NFC communication, the radio frequency identification information receiving unit 360 may be realized as an NFC receiver.

The golfer may store his/her identification information (for example, ID or personal information of the golfer registered with a golf course) in the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit of his/her own mobile terminal (of course, such identification information should be registered with the system) and tag the mobile terminal on the information provision guidance apparatus according to the present invention to transmit the identification information stored in the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit of the mobile terminal to the control unit 330 via the radio frequency identification information receiving unit 360. The controller 330 may match the identification information with prestored information of the golfer through the authentication means 31 to authenticate the golfer.

After authentication of the golfer is carried out using the mobile terminal as described above, the golfer may receive golf information content, such as score information, of the round of golf played by the golfer through the information provision guidance apparatus (This was previously described with reference to FIG. 2 and, therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted).

Meanwhile, FIG. 8 is a view showing that predetermined information stored in a mobile terminal held by each golfer (for example, image information taken using the mobile terminal of each golfer during a round of golf) is transmitted to an information provision guidance apparatus of a golf information providing system according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, an information provision guidance apparatus of a golf information providing system according to a further embodiment of the present invention may further include a wireless information communication unit 370 (components denoted by reference numerals 310 to 360 are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 2 and, therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted). The wireless information communication unit 370 may be configured to communicate with a terminal wireless communication unit (not shown) mounted in a mobile terminal 500 held by each golfer.

The wireless information communication unit 370 of the information provision guidance apparatus may be mounted in a mobile terminal, such as a smart phone. The wireless information communication unit is configured to transmit and receive predetermined information to and from the terminal wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal through communication based on a wireless local area network (LAN), such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

The golfer may input various kinds of information, such as score information, record voices, or take videos using his/her own mobile terminal during a round of golf and store the obtained information in the mobile terminal. After the round of golf is finished, the mobile terminal may access the information provision guidance apparatus in wireless communication, such as Bluetooth such that various kinds of information, such as the image information, stored in the mobile terminal can be transmitted to the information provision guidance apparatus.

At this time, authentication of the golfer has already been carried out by the information provision guidance apparatus (Authentication of the golfer may be carried out through input of predetermined information using the input unit or through RFID or NFC communication or identification information may be contained in information transmitted through Bluetooth communication such that authentication of the golfer can be automatically carried out). The control unit 330 may edit not only various kinds of information, such as image information, received from the mobile terminal but also information regarding the round of golf played by the golfer received from the management server based on preset conditions to create unique golf information content of the golfer (for example, a score card containing the image information of the golfer) and provide the created golf information content to the golfer.

At this time, the created golf information content may be output and provided to the golfer. Alternatively, the created golf information content may be transmitted to the mobile terminal of the golfer such that the golf information content can be provided to the golfer in an electronic form of information.

In a case in which a plurality of images of the golfer is present during creation of the golf information content, the information provision guidance apparatus may display a selection screen for allowing the golfer to select at least one of the images and, when the golfer selects a specific one of the images, create golf information content using the selected image.

In addition, in a case in which the control unit of the information provision guidance apparatus presets various kinds of card styles having different backgrounds and formats of the score card, the information provision guidance apparatus may display a selection screen for allowing the golfer to select any one of the card styles during creation of the create golf information content, specifically the score card having scores during the round of golf written thereon, and, when the golfer selects a specific one of the card styles, create or output score card information based on the selected card style.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Various embodiments for carrying out the invention have been described in the best mode for carrying out the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In a golf information providing system, an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information, and a golf information providing method according to the present invention, it is possible to conveniently provide users with information related to a round of golf in a golf course such that the users are provided with various conveniences related to golf while enjoying golf Consequently, the present invention is applicable to an industry related to golf.

Claims

1. A golf information providing system comprising:

a round operation terminal for allowing input of information generated during a round of golf;

a management server configured to communicate with the round operation terminal in a wireless communication mode for receiving and storing the information input through the round operation terminal; and

an information provision guidance apparatus configured to communicate with the management server in a wired/wireless communication mode for receiving information requested by a golfer from the management server and providing the received information to the golfer according to a request of the golfer.

2. The golf information providing system according to claim 1, wherein

the management server is configured to prestore personal information of golfers participating in each round of golf,

the round operation terminal is configured to transmit identification information of a round of golf which is being played currently to the management server,

the management server is configured to identify the corresponding round of golf and to transmit personal information of golfers participating in the corresponding round of golf to the round operation terminal, and

the round operation terminal is configured to constitute and provide an interface for inputting score information based on the personal information of the golfers received from the management server.

3. The golf information providing system according to claim 1, wherein

the round operation terminal is configured to allow input of score information of the golfer generated during the round of golf and to have a camera unit for acquiring an image, and

the management server is configured to receive the score information and image information from the round operation terminal and to store the received score information and image information per round of golf.

4. The golf information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information provision guidance apparatus is configured to receive score information and image information of the golfer during the round of golf transmitted by the round operation terminal from the management server and to edit and print a score card using the received score information and image information of the golfer.

5. The golf information providing system according to claim 1, wherein

a golf cart or the round operation terminal is configured to have a wireless access point (AP) device for enabling the golf cart or the round operation terminal to access the management server over a network such that a mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf can access to the management server over the network through the wireless AP device, and

information input through the round operation terminal and transmitted to the management server, in which the information is stored, is transmitted to the mobile terminal of each golfer accessing the management server over the network through the wireless AP device.

6. The golf information providing system according to claim 1, wherein information input through the round operation terminal and transmitted to the management server, in which the information is stored, is transmitted to a mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf via a base station of a mobile communication system.

7. The golf information providing system according to claim 1, wherein

a mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf is configured to drive an application that enables the mobile terminal to access the management server over a network,

at least one selected from between golf score information input through the mobile terminal and image information taken by the mobile terminal is transmitted to the management server over the network, and

the management server is configured to store at least one selected from between the golf score information and the image information received from the mobile terminal per golfer playing the round of golf.

8. An information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information configured to communicate with a management server for receiving and storing information input through a round operation terminal during a round of golf in a wired/wireless communication mode, the information provision guidance apparatus comprising:

an input unit and a display unit configured such that input and display of information is performed by a single means or by separate means;

a control unit comprising an information editing means for editing the information received from the management server according to preset conditions to create predetermined golf information content; and

an output unit for outputting the golf information content created by the information editing means.

9. The information provision guidance apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the control unit further comprises an authentication means for matching the information input through the input unit with prestored information to authenticate a golfer, whereby

the controller outputs the golf information content of the golfer authenticated by the authentication means.

10. The information provision guidance apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control unit further comprises an advertisement processing means for processing the golf information content output through the output unit such that the golf information content contains predetermined advertisement content.

11. The information provision guidance apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

a mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf is configured to have a radio frequency identification information transmitting unit for transmitting information in radio frequency identification (RFID) communication or in near field communication (NFC) communication, the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit being set to prestore identification information of each golfer,

the information provision guidance apparatus further comprises a radio frequency identification information receiving unit for receiving information in the RFID communication or in the NFC communication, the information stored in the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit being transmitted to the radio frequency identification information receiving unit by tagging the mobile terminal on the information provision guidance apparatus, and

the controller is configured to authenticate each golfer according to the received radio frequency identification information, to receive golf score information regarding the round of golf played by each golfer from the management server, and to output the received golf score information.

12. The information provision guidance apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

a mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf is configured to have a terminal wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving information in Bluetooth communication or in Wi-Fi communication, the mobile terminal being set to store information input by each golfer during the round of golf or image information taken by each golfer during the round of golf,

the information provision guidance apparatus further comprises a wireless information communication unit for transmitting and receiving information in the Bluetooth communication or in the Wi-Fi communication, the wireless information communication unit being configured to receive information stored in the mobile terminal through communication with the terminal wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal, and

the controller is configured to edit the information received from the mobile terminal and information received from the management server according to preset conditions such that predetermined golf information content is created and to output the created golf information content.

13. A golf information providing method comprising:

inputting information generated during a round of golf to a round operation terminal or a mobile terminal for personal mobile communication held by each golfer participating in the round of golf and transmitting the information to a management server communicating with the round operation terminal or the mobile terminal in a wireless communication mode;

requesting to output predetermined golf information content of each golfer participating in the round of golf through an information provision guidance apparatus after the round of golf is finished;

receiving information regarding the requested golf information content from the management server and editing the received information according to preset conditions to create golf information content; and

outputting the created golf information content.

14. The golf information providing method according to claim 13, wherein

a golf cart or the round operation terminal is provided with a wireless AP device for enabling the golf cart or the round operation terminal to access the management server over a network such that a mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf can access to the management server over the network through the wireless AP device,

the step of transmitting the information to the management server comprises inputting the information generated during the round of golf through the round operation terminal and transmitting the information to the management server, and

the golf information providing method further comprises transmitting the information input through the round operation terminal, transmitted to the management server, and stored in the management server to the mobile terminal held by each golfer accessing the management server over the network through the wireless AP device.

15. The golf information providing method according to claim 13, wherein

the step of transmitting the information to the management server comprises inputting the information generated during the round of golf through the round operation terminal and transmitting the information to the management server, and

the golf information providing method further comprises transmitting the information input through the round operation terminal, transmitted to the management server, and stored in the management server to the mobile terminal of each golfer via a base station of a mobile communication system.

16. The golf information providing method according to claim 13, wherein the step of requesting to output the predetermined golf information content of each golfer participating in the round of golf comprises

matching the information input by each golfer through the information provision guidance apparatus with prestored information to authenticate each golfer, whereby

outputting of the golf information content of each golfer authenticated through the authenticating step is requested.

17. The golf information providing method according to claim 13, wherein

the mobile terminal is provided with a radio frequency identification information transmitting unit for transmitting information in RFID communication or in NFC communication, the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit being set to prestore identification information of each golfer,

the information provision guidance apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification information receiving unit for receiving information in the RFID communication or in the NFC communication, and

the step of requesting to output the predetermined golf information content of each golfer participating in the round of golf comprises:

transmitting identification information of each golfer stored in the radio frequency identification information transmitting unit to the radio frequency identification information receiving unit by tagging the mobile terminal on the information provision guidance apparatus; and

authenticating each golfer according to the transmitted identification information, whereby

outputting of the golf information content of each authenticated golfer is requested.

18. The golf information providing method according to claim 13, wherein

the mobile terminal is provided with have a terminal wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving information in Bluetooth communication or in Wi-Fi communication, the mobile terminal being set to store information input by each golfer during the round of golf or image information taken by each golfer during the round of golf,

the information provision guidance apparatus comprises a wireless information communication unit for transmitting and receiving information in the Bluetooth communication or in the Wi-Fi communication, and

the step of creating the golf information content comprises:

transmitting input information or image information stored in the mobile terminal to the information provision guidance apparatus through communication between the terminal wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal and the wireless information communication unit of the information provision guidance apparatus;

receiving information regarding the requested golf information content from the management server; and

editing the information received from the mobile terminal and the information received from the management server according to preset conditions to create golf information content.

19. The golf information providing method according to claim 13, wherein the step of creating the golf information content comprises:

in a case in which a plurality of images related to the requested golf information content is present, displaying a selection screen for allowing each golfer to select a predetermined number of ones from the images through the information provision guidance apparatus; and

creating the golf information content using the images selected by each golfer through the selection screen.

20. The golf information providing method according to claim 13, wherein

the golf information content requested by each golfer at the step of requesting to output the golf information content is a score card having golf score during the round of golf written thereon, and

the step of creating the golf information content comprises:

displaying a selection screen for allowing each golfer to select any one from various kinds of card styles having different backgrounds and formats of a predetermined score card; and

creating the score card based on the card style selected by each golfer through the selection screen.