Several uPlay Technologies’ (now Callaway) Patent Applications Publish, What Is The Next Step in Golf GPS Devices?

Earlier this year Callaway Golf acquired uPlay Technologies and launched the new Callaway uPro website. In the past couple of weeks two uPlay patent applications published giving us the first look at uPlay’s intellectual property.

The applications include US Pub. No. 20090075761 titled “Golf GPS Device and System” and US Pub. No. 20090079625 titled “Golf GPS Device with Voice Recognition.”

The first application describes the invention as:

A portable golf GPS device comprising a microprocessor operably coupled to a GPS unit, an input device such as a keypad (or touch screen) operably coupled to the microprocessor, and a display such as a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) operably coupled to the microprocessor. A program memory system which contains at least some of the software and data to operate the device is also operably coupled to the microprocessor. The portable golf GPS device is preferably contained in a housing such that the entire device has a very compact and lightweight form factor, and is preferably handheld and/or pocket size. The golf GPS device is configured to display distances to course features overlaid onto photographic satellite/aerial images of a golf course.

While the second application describes the invention as:

A portable golf GPS device comprising a microprocessor operably coupled to a GPS unit, an input device such as a keypad (or touch screen) operably coupled to the microprocessor, a voice recognition unit operably coupled to the microprocessor, and a display such as a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) operably coupled to the microprocessor. A program memory system which contains at least some of the software and data to operate the device is also operably coupled to the microprocessor. The portable golf GPS device is preferably contained in a housing such that the entire device has a very compact and lightweight form factor, and is preferably handheld and/or pocket size. The golf GPS device is configured to display distances to course features, and to receive and process voice input in order to select functions or input data into the golf GPS device.

That’s right, voice commands! The application goes on to explain:

[0075] Several examples of the use of the voice recognition capability follow. The golf GPS device 10 may be configured to allow a user to enter shot information while using the shot tracking mode using vocal inputs, or to enter scores on each hole. For instance, when entering a club selection for shot tracking, the user simply enters the voice mode and speaks into the device, “seven iron” or “driver”, or whatever club is being used. For score keeping, the device 10 can be configured to recognize a player’s name vocally input into the device, and then the score for a hole for such player. Thus, a user need only activate the voice recognition, then state the player’s name and score in order to input the score for a player (e.g. “John, six;” Jerry, four”). The device 10 determines the name and score from the voice input, and then stores the data. The score data can then be displayed on the display 18. The voice recognition feature may also be used to audibly enter commands, such as switching between Basic Mode and Pro Mode, navigating through the devices menus, changing the settings, or any other command within the devices menus. Voice recognition facilitates the use of more advanced features, such as shot tracking, by reducing the amount of inputs that must be made using the input device. The use of voice recognition can also allow faster, and simpler access to certain commands/functions by bypassing menus that might normally be encountered when accessing such commands/functions. For example, a screen brightness setting might require going to the “Settings” menu, and then a submenu for “Display” settings, and then a selection of a “Screen Brightness” setting. Instead, the device 10 may be configured to recognize a voice command, such as “Screen Brightness” spoken into the device 10, in which case the device 10 will skip directly to the “Screen Brightness” setting. Of course, the device 10 could be configured to directly perform any of the functions of the device 10 using a voice command.

Pretty cool! Would voice command capabilities give them a competitive advantage? I think so.

Dave Dawsey  – Keeping an Eye on Golf GPS Rangefinder Patent Applications

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