KR20230162863A - Virtual golf device and virtual golf system setting goal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a virtual golf device and a virtual golf system that allows a user to set achievable goals. The virtual golf device includes a display unit that shows a virtual golf course and a virtual golf ball, and when a user hits a real golf ball, a device that calculates the movement of the virtual golf ball in the virtual golf course based on the state of the real golf ball that was hit. It includes a calculation unit and a management unit that performs operations related to achieving the user's goal.

Description

Virtual golf device and virtual golf system for setting goals {VIRTUAL GOLF DEVICE AND VIRTUAL GOLF SYSTEM SETTING GOAL}

The present invention relates to a virtual golf device and a virtual golf system that allows a user to set achievable goals.

Recently, as the popularity of golf has increased, the number of people who enjoy golf is increasing. In addition to golf at outdoor golf courses, the popularity of screen golf, which allows you to play golf using virtual golf devices, is also increasing. In screen golf, images of the golf course are displayed on the screen, giving the impression that you are playing a real golf game outdoors. In addition, because it saves time and money compared to playing on an outdoor golf course, screen golf is very popular with busy modern people who have difficulty playing outdoor golf due to time or economic reasons.

As the number of people using screen golf increases, users' expectations for screen golf are rising. When comparing screen golf and real golf, screen golf has the advantage of being able to provide users with technical services that are difficult to provide in real golf in an open outdoor space due to the nature of the service in a closed indoor space. Therefore, there is a need to encourage users' interest in playing screen golf by providing various technical services by utilizing the unique advantages of screen golf.

The present invention was invented in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a virtual golf device that allows users to set achievable goals.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a virtual golf system that allows users to set achievable goals.

Additionally, other objects of the present invention can be clearly understood from the following description and attached drawings.

A virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a display unit that shows a virtual golf course and a virtual golf ball, and when a user hits a real golf ball, the virtual golf device is based on the state of the real golf ball that was hit. It includes a calculation unit that calculates the movement of the virtual golf ball in the virtual golf course, and a management unit that performs operations related to achieving the user's goal.

In the virtual golf device, a recommendation goal is presented, and the user can set at least one of the presented plurality of recommendation goals as his or her goal.

In the virtual golf device, the management unit may check whether the goal is achieved and determine a reward or penalty given to the user depending on whether the user achieves the goal. Here, the compensation or penalty may vary depending on the user's golf skill level.

In the virtual golf device, the goal may include a goal achieved through hitting at least one time or a goal achieved through play on at least one virtual golf course.

The virtual golf device further includes an input means that allows the user to specify a predetermined position or range in the virtual golf course, and the user can select the input means from the point where the virtual golf ball is currently located in the virtual golf course. You can specify the landing position or landing range where you intend to land the virtual golf ball by your own hitting, and set the specified landing position or landing range as the hitting target.

A virtual golf system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a virtual golf device, a service device communicatively connected to the virtual golf device, and a management unit that performs operations related to achieving the user's goal. The virtual golf device includes a display unit showing a virtual golf course and a virtual golf ball, and when a user hits a real golf ball, the virtual golf ball moves in the virtual golf course based on the state of the real golf ball hit. It includes a calculation unit that calculates, and the management unit is provided in the virtual golf device or the service device.

The virtual golf system further includes a mobile device connectable to the service device, and the user can set his or her goal through the mobile device.

According to the virtual golf device and virtual golf system of the present invention, the user can set a goal and a reward or penalty can be given depending on whether the goal is achieved, thereby motivating the user to achieve the goal and arousing interest in playing golf. It has an inspiring effect.

1 is a diagram showing the schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation process related to achieving a user goal in the virtual golf device of FIG. 1.
Figures 3 to 5 are diagrams illustrating each step of the operation process related to goal achievement.
Figure 6 is a diagram showing the schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen for setting a target point in the virtual golf device of FIG. 6 by way of example.
Figures 8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining examples of rewarding or penalizing a user.
Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the operation process of a virtual golf device that determines a user reward or penalty in consideration of the user level.
Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of the management unit and the storage unit.
Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating a screen that presents a plurality of recommendation goals to the user.
Figure 13 is a diagram showing the schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 14 is a diagram showing the schematic structure of a virtual golf system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing various implementation examples of the virtual golf system of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example screen for setting a goal through a mobile device in the virtual golf system of FIG. 14.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail through examples. The purpose, features, and advantages of the present invention will be easily understood through the following examples. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. The embodiments introduced herein are provided to ensure that the disclosed content is thorough and complete and to enable the idea of the present invention to be sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Accordingly, the present invention should not be limited by the following examples.

Although terms such as first and second are used in this specification to describe various elements, the elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are merely used to distinguish the elements from one another. Additionally, when an element is referred to as being on top of another element, it means that it can be formed directly on top of the other element or that a third element can be interposed between them.

In the drawings, the sizes of elements, or the relative sizes between elements, may be somewhat exaggerated for a clearer understanding of the present invention. Additionally, the shapes of elements shown in the drawings may change somewhat due to variations in the manufacturing process. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in this specification should not be limited to the shapes shown in the drawings unless otherwise specified, and should be understood to include some degree of modification.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation process related to achieving a user goal in the virtual golf device of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 to 3 Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating each step of the operation process related to goal achievement.

Referring to Figure 1, the virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a hitting plate (1), a control unit (2), a detection unit (3), an input unit (4), a sound unit (5), and a display unit (6). Includes.

The hitting plate 1 is an area where the user is positioned to hit the golf ball. The hitting plate 1 may be a plate-shaped object or may not be a separate object but simply a part of the floor where the virtual golf device is installed and where the user is located. Although not shown in the drawing, the hitting plate 1 is provided with a hitting mat on which the user places a golf ball and hits it. In addition, the hitting mat is equipped with an auto tee that can move up and down, so that golf balls for hitting can be automatically provided to the user through the auto tee.

The control unit 2 controls the overall operation between each component of the virtual golf device. For example, the control unit 2 can control the auto tee installed on the hitting mat so that a golf ball for hitting is provided from the auto tee according to the time when the user hits. The control unit 2 includes a calculation unit 2a, a management unit 2b, and a storage unit 2c. The calculation unit 2a performs a calculation process to calculate what trajectory the golf ball hit by the user will have under the assumption that it was hit on an actual golf course. The management unit 2b performs operations related to achieving the user's goal, which will be described in detail later. The storage unit 2c includes a storage device such as memory or a hard disk, and stores various programs or data necessary for the operation of the control unit 2.

The sensing unit 3 is used to detect the movement of the golf club or the movement of the golf ball hit by the user to determine the physical state information about the golf ball hit. Sensing means such as cameras or detection sensors that can capture movement may be used. Various sensing methods such as image sensing, light emission/reception sensing, and laser sensing may be applied to the sensing means, and through these sensing methods, information on the state of a golf club or a golf ball hit by a user can be determined. The cameras, detection sensors, etc. may be used alone or together, and only one or multiple units may be used. The information obtained through the sensing unit 3 is transmitted to the control unit 2 and used in the calculation process.

The input unit 4 is used to receive various information from the user, and a keyboard or mouse can be used. A login system that requires the user to log in before providing the service may be applied to screen golf. When the login system is applied, the user must enter his or her ID or password, and the input unit 4 may be used at this time. Additionally, the input unit 4 can be used in screen golf when the user selects a play option such as the golf course he or she wants to play or the difficulty level of play.

The sound unit 5 may include an audio device such as a speaker, and through this, guides the user to the progress of the game and plays various sound effects according to the progress of the game.

The display unit 6 includes devices such as a projector and screen. The projector projects golf-related images on the screen so that the golf course and golf balls are displayed on the screen, and the screen displays the projected images to show to the user. In this specification, some objects displayed on the screen may be expressed with the term 'virtual', which is used to mean that they are displayed as images on the screen, and to avoid confusion with objects that exist in the real world. will be. For example, 'virtual golf ball' refers to a golf ball displayed on a screen, and is expressed by adding the term 'virtual' to avoid confusion with the actual golf ball that a user hits in the real world.

The virtual golf device is a device that is installed on a screen golf course to allow screen golf to be played. When a user plays screen golf, the virtual golf device operates as follows. When the user hits a golf ball, the sensing unit 3 detects the physical state, such as the movement of the golf club or the moving speed or direction of the golf ball hit by the user. The information detected by the sensing unit 3 is transmitted to the control unit 2, and the calculation unit 2a in the control unit 2 performs a calculation process of calculating the trajectory of the golf ball based on the transmitted information. The display unit 6 displays an image of a virtual golf ball moving along the trajectory calculated in the calculation process. At this time, the virtual golf ball flies along the calculated trajectory and lands at a specific point on the virtual golf course on the screen, The user continues the next hit from the point where the virtual golf ball lands. The above operation process is repeated in the user's next hit.

In the golf play process described above, the management unit 2b sets a goal so that the user can play more interestingly and performs operations related to the user's goal, such as rewarding or granting a penalty depending on whether the goal is achieved. Hereinafter, operations related to user goals will be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2, the operation process related to achieving the user goal includes first to fourth steps (S1, S2, S3, and S4). In the first step (S1), the user sets his or her goal, in the second step (S2) the user plays golf, in the third step (S3) it is checked whether the set goal has been achieved, and in the fourth step (S4) indicates whether the goal has been achieved and notifies the user.

There may be various user goals set in the first step (S1). Golf is a sport in which players compete by comparing the total number of strokes required from tee shot to hole-in on 18 different golf courses (18 holes). Usually, 3 to 5 or more hits are made in one hole, and the user's goal may be about what can be achieved by hitting the golf ball once, or what can be achieved by playing one hole. It may be about, or it may be about what can be achieved while playing multiple holes or an entire golf course (18 holes).

For example, referring to Figure 3(a), the user can set the score for the day's play (if playing 18 holes, the total number of strokes upon completion of 18 holes) as a goal before starting play. If the user determines that he or she is in good condition, he or she can set the target score higher than his or her usual score. Conversely, if the user determines that he or she is in bad condition, he or she can set the target score lower than his or her usual score. This can improve the user's enjoyment of playing golf, similar to improving the fun of singing by setting a target score before singing in karaoke and checking whether the target score is reached when the song is finished.

Users can set goals related to play on multiple golf courses as well as goals that can be achieved on one golf course. In other words, the user can set an achievable goal in a specific hole before starting the first hit (tee shot) in that hole. For example, as shown in FIG. 3(b), birdie (standard number of strokes in one hole) Hole in after taking one less stroke) Achievement/Mulligan (cancelling the previous misshot and getting a chance to hit again) Not using/Putting (rolling the golf ball to put it into the hole cup) under a certain number of times You can set various goals, such as making a hole-in. Here, you do not necessarily have to set just one goal, and you can set multiple goals.

The user can set goals related to play on multiple golf courses or one golf course, as well as goals that can be achieved by hitting a golf ball once. For example, as shown in Figure 3(c), the target distance when hitting a golf ball, hitting the golf ball on green (settling the golf ball outside the green area into the green area) A goal of success, a goal of hitting a golf ball to get the golf ball currently in the bunker out of the bunker, etc. can be set as a goal for one hit of the golf ball.

As above, the user can set various goals in the first step (S1). Once the goal is set, the management unit 2b stores the user's goal, and in the second step (S2), the user proceeds to play golf. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, golf play mainly involves hitting a golf ball (here, 'hitting' includes a shot that sends a golf ball flying or a putt that rolls a golf ball, etc.). When the user's play is completed, in the third step (S3), the management unit 2b checks whether the goal has been achieved by checking the user's play result and comparing the user's saved goal. If the user's goal involves hitting a golf ball once, the third step (S3) is performed after the user completes the hitting. If the user's goal is related to playing on one virtual golf course, the third step (S3) is performed after the user finishes playing on the virtual golf course. Additionally, if the user's goal is related to playing multiple virtual golf courses or all 18 holes, the third step (S3) is performed after the user has finished playing the multiple virtual golf courses or playing all 18 holes. .

Referring to Figure 5, in the fourth step (S4), the result of whether the user's goal has been achieved is delivered to the user. The screen can be mainly used to convey to the user whether the goal has been achieved, and when the screen is not used, the information can be transmitted by voice through the sound unit 5. As shown in Figure 5(a), the goal set by the user and the user's play results can be displayed together to inform whether the goal has been achieved. When a user sets multiple goals and it is determined whether the goals have been achieved for some of the goals, but whether or not the goals have been achieved for the rest is undecided, the goal achievement status can be displayed on the screen and provided to the user. For example, as shown in Figure 5(b), the overall goal is displayed in the form of a bar, but success or failure is indicated with ○ or You can.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen for setting a target point in the virtual golf device of FIG. 6 by way of example.

Referring to FIG. 6, the virtual golf device according to this embodiment includes a hitting plate 10, a simulator 20, a camera 30, an input device 40 such as a keyboard/mouse, a projector 61, and a screen 62. ) and kiosk 63.

The hitting plate 10 is an area where the user is positioned to hit the golf ball. The simulator 20, camera 30, input device 40, projector 61, and screen 62 are the control unit 2, detection unit 3, and input unit 4 in the virtual golf device of the above-described embodiment. , performs the role of the display unit 6, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The virtual golf device of this embodiment is provided with a kiosk 63, which is a small display such as LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), LED (Light Emitting Diode), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), and FED (Field Emission Display). ), PDP (Plasma Display Panel), flexible display, etc. can be made up of various display devices. According to this embodiment, two devices for displaying images are provided, a screen 62 and a kiosk 63, and thus various screens and information can be dynamically provided to the user. For example, the screen 62 displays a screen that can be provided as the main image to the user, such as a virtual golf ball and a virtual golf course, and the kiosk 63 displays a screen that provides the main image or auxiliary information. It can be. For example, the kiosk 63 may be used for operations related to the user's goal setting in the above-described embodiment.

As described above, when hitting a golf ball once as the user's goal, an achievable goal can be set for that hit. Here, as the goal for the first hit, the user can set the landing position that the virtual golf ball will reach by hitting from the point where the virtual golf ball is currently located on the virtual golf course, and to set the landing position The input device 40 and kiosk 63 may be used. Referring to FIG. 7(a), a mini-map of the virtual golf course currently being played is displayed on the screen of the kiosk 63, and the user can set the landing position of the golf ball while viewing the mini-map. Specifically, the current location (P1) of the user's virtual golf ball may be displayed on the minimap. The user can use an input device 40 such as a mouse to designate a target location (P2) to which the current virtual golf ball is to be sent by hitting. That is, move the cursor displayed on the mini-map using the input device 40, and when the cursor is located at the location you want to use as the target location (P2), designate the target location (P2) by clicking the mouse, etc. , which allows you to set a target for that hit. When the user specifies the target location (P2), distance information (P3) may be provided as play information for the user. For example, the distance information (P3) may be a straight line distance from the current position (P1) to the point where the cursor is located. When distance information (P3) is provided in this way, the user can appropriately set the target position (P2) by considering his/her own average flying distance and the provided distance information (P3).

Referring to FIG. 7(b), instead of specifying a specific location on the mini-map, the user can specify within a predetermined range the location where he/she wants to send the current virtual golf ball by hitting. Virtual golf courses are mainly created by modeling actual golf courses, and since actual golf courses occupy a significant area of several hundred meters, it is very difficult to accurately send golf balls to a specific location on these golf courses. It can be said to be difficult. Therefore, rather than aiming for a specific point where you want to send the golf ball, it can be said that aiming for a range that includes specific points is a realistically achievable goal. As shown in FIG. 7(b), the target range can be designated in the form of a circle with a predetermined radius centered on the point where the cursor is located. The user can adjust the radius of the circle to increase or decrease the target range, and information on the straight line distance (P3) from the current position of the virtual golf ball (P1) before hitting to the point (P2) where the cursor is located is provided. It may be provided to the user.

If the goal is achieved, the user can be rewarded, or if the goal is not achieved, the user can be penalized, which can increase the user's motivation to achieve the goal. Figures 8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining examples of rewarding or penalizing a user.

There may be various rewards or penalties given to the user. For example, the user can be compensated or penalized by reducing or increasing the service cost required to use the screen golf service. Alternatively, the user can be compensated by giving a special graphic effect to the image displayed on the screen. For example, when the user achieves eagle (putting the golf ball into the hole cup by hitting 2 strokes less than the standard number of strokes), as shown in Figure 8, the bird represented by 'eagle', which is the dictionary meaning of eagle By displaying an image of the Phoenix with a flame image added to the image, which can give a strong impression to the image, it can give a strong impact and increase morale for the user achieving 'Eagle'.

As another example of a reward or penalty given to a user, the play information provided to the user may be varied so as to directly affect the user's golf play. Referring to FIG. 9, various play information may be provided to the user in the putting stage of screen golf. In this case, more information may be provided to provide a reward, or less information may be provided to provide a penalty. As shown in Figure 9, in the putting stage, the screen displays distance information (I1) between the golf ball and the final target point, the hole cup, topographical information (I2, I3) of the green area where putting takes place, and the virtual golf ball and final target point. Height difference information (I4) between in-hole cups may be provided. As topographic information (I2, I3) of the green area, a grid (I2) consisting of a plurality of horizontal and vertical lines is displayed, and an indicator (I3) moving along the horizontal and vertical lines is displayed. The indicator (I3) moves at a predetermined speed along the horizontal and vertical lines that make up the grid (I2). The moving direction of the indicator (I3) indicates the slope direction of the green area, and the moving speed indicates the slope. That is, the indicator (I3) moves from a place with a high slope to a place with a low slope, and as the slope increases, the moving speed increases. Therefore, when the grid (I2) and the indicator (I3) are provided, the user can determine the direction and degree of slope in the green area through the moving direction and moving speed of the indicator (I3).

If you want to give a penalty to the user, you need to check the distance between the golf ball and the hole cup, which is the final target point (I1), the topographical information of the green area where putting takes place (I2, I3), and the height between the virtual golf ball and the hole cup, which is the final target point. At least one of the difference information (I4) may be prevented from being provided. Conversely, when it is desired to compensate the user, additional information may be provided in addition to the above information. The additional information may include putting lie information (I5) in the green area, caddy's recommended distance information (I6), etc. Putting lie information (I5) in the green area represents information on how far horizontally from the hole cup the target should be when putting, considering the slope of the green area from the current golf ball position to the hole cup. The caddy's recommended distance information (I6) indicates the distance the golf ball must roll to successfully make a hole-in. In Figure 9, the distance between the golf ball and the hole cup is 8.87m, and the hole cup is located 0.26m higher than the golf ball, indicating an uphill slope. In this case, when putting with a target distance of 8.87m, there is a possibility that the golf ball will lose power as it climbs the uphill slope and may not reach the hole cup. In this case, it is necessary to target and putt at a location farther than the hole cup location. With additional information, the distance to be targeted can be provided as a specific figure of 11.6m, and as a result, the user can determine an accurate putting strategy. You can increase your chances of success in putting.

In addition to providing differences in the amount of information as above, users can be rewarded or penalized in other ways. For example, in putting, the agree range can be varied. Concede means that if the putted golf ball is within a certain distance from the hole cup, it is recognized as a hole in. For example, if the concession is set to 1m, a golf ball located within a 1m radius from the hole cup is considered a hole-in. If the allowable range is widened, a hole-in can be recognized even if the golf ball is rolled to a point further away from the hole cup, which is advantageous to the user. Conversely, if the allowable range is reduced, the range recognized as a hole-in is reduced, which is advantageous to the user. It's disadvantageous. Therefore, you can compensate the user by increasing the scope of the concession, or penalize the user by reducing the scope of the concession.

Meanwhile, in terms of user compensation or penalty, instead of granting an advantage (reward) or penalty to all users on the same basis, it takes into account the difficulty (level) of the goal achieved by the user and/or the user's own golf skill (level). A method of changing the content of advantage (compensation) or penalty can be applied.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation process of a virtual golf device that determines a user reward or penalty in consideration of the user level, FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of the management unit and the storage unit, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a plurality of functions for the user. This is a diagram illustrating a screen presenting a recommendation goal.

Referring to FIG. 10, the operation process of determining a user reward or penalty in consideration of the user level includes first to eighth steps (S10 to S80). The above operation process can be applied to the virtual golf device described with reference to FIG. 1 or FIG. 6 (therefore, reference numerals shown in FIG. 1 may be used in the following description). In the first step (S10), the user sets his or her goal, and after setting the goal, the user plays golf. In the second step (S20), the play results are checked to determine whether the goal has been achieved. Since the first and second steps (S10, S20) are similar to the first to third steps (S1, S2, S3) in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2, detailed descriptions are omitted here.

If the user succeeds in achieving the goal, the third to fifth steps (S30, S40, S50) are executed and a reward is given to the user. If the user fails to achieve the goal, the sixth to eighth steps (S60, S70, S80) are executed and a penalty is given to the user. Here, the reward and penalty do not necessarily have to be given together, and only one of them can be given to the user. For example, if the user succeeds in achieving the goal, the third to fifth steps (S30, S40, S50) are executed and a reward is given to the user, and if the user fails to achieve the goal, the sixth to eighth steps (S60, S70, S80) can be prevented from being executed and no penalty given to the user. Or, conversely, if the user succeeds in achieving the goal, the third to fifth steps (S30, S40, S50) may not be executed and the compensation process may be omitted, and only if the user fails to achieve the goal, the sixth to eighth steps (S30, S40, S50) may be omitted. S60, S70, S80) can be executed so that a penalty is given to the user.

Before giving a user reward or penalty, management may decide what reward and/or penalty to give. If the user succeeds in achieving the goal, in the third step (S30) the management checks the level according to the user's golf skills, and in the fourth step (S40), based on the checked result in the third step (S30) It is decided what kind of compensation to give, and in the fifth step (S50), the determined compensation is provided to the user. Conversely, if the user fails to achieve the goal, the level according to the user's golf skill is checked in the sixth step (S60), and in the seventh step (S70), any decision is made based on the results checked in the sixth step (S60). A decision is made as to whether to give a penalty, and in the eighth step (S80), the determined penalty is given to the user.

The third and fourth steps (S30, S40) or the fifth and sixth steps (S50, S60) may be performed by the management unit (see reference numeral 2b in FIG. 1), and for this purpose, in FIG. 11(a) As shown, the management unit is provided with a decision unit and storage. The decision unit determines what kind of reward or penalty to grant, taking into account the level of the user's golf skill. Additionally, when determining the content of the reward or penalty, the judge may consider not only the user's golf skills but also the quality of the goals the user achieved or failed to achieve. When a user sets a goal, storage stores the content of the set goal.

Information about the user's golf level is stored in the storage unit (see reference numeral 2c in FIG. 1). Referring to FIG. 11(b), a different storage area is allocated to each user in the storage unit, and various information can be stored in the area allocated to each user. For example, if there are different users A and B, the storage area has a separate area to store information about user A and an area to store information about user B, and each user space contains the user's personal information. Information, user play information, user level information, etc. may be stored. The user's personal information is stored in the user's personal information, which can be used in the login process, etc. The user's play information stores the record of the user's play. The user's level information stores the evaluation of the user's golf skills. The user's level is not fixed and may change accordingly as the user's play record is updated.

The user's level can be calculated based on data stored in the user's play information. The user's play information may include the number of plays, play time, play records, etc. The greater the number of plays or play time, it means that you have played more than other users. In general, the more you play, the better your skills will be and the higher your level. In addition, regarding the user's play record, the golf course the user played and the score recorded on the golf course, or personal records calculated from the user's play content (average number of strokes, driver distance, fairway landing rate, green accuracy, average number of putts, etc.) Information such as the like may be stored, and the level of the user's golf skill may be calculated using at least one of such information.

If the user's level is calculated as above, the determination unit may evaluate the value of the achieved goal by considering the level information of the currently playing user stored in the storage and/or the user-set goal stored in the storage. When a goal that is evaluated as having a high level of play difficulty compared to the user's level is achieved, a better reward can be provided to highly evaluate the value of goal achievement and cheer on the user who promoted it. For example, assume that users A and B both set a goal of ‘birdie’ at a specific golf course. Additionally, it is assumed that User A has an advanced level of golf skills, so the probability of success in a birdie is high, and that User B has an intermediate level of golf skills, so the probability of success in a birdie is low. Under this assumption, if both users A and B succeed in being a buddy, a greater reward can be given to user B than to user A. For example, if the screen golf service fee charged to the user is discounted as compensation, user A may receive a discount of approximately 20% and user B may receive a discount of approximately 40%. Alternatively, users A and B can both be compensated by increasing the allowable range by 0.5m when playing at the Next golf course, and additional compensation can be given to user B, who has lower golf skills than user A. As the additional compensation, for example, as described with reference to FIG. 8, a special visual effect can be generated on the screen image of user B's play.

Conversely, if the goal, which is evaluated as low in play difficulty compared to the user's level, has not been achieved, failure to achieve the goal can be evaluated harshly and a worse penalty given to urge the user to pay attention. For example, assume that users A and B both set a goal of 'driving distance of 200m or more' for tee shots on a specific golf course. In addition, it is assumed that User A has an advanced level of golf skills, so there is a high probability that the distance will be more than 200m, and that User B has a beginner level of golf skills, so the probability of achieving a distance of more than 200m is not high. Under this assumption, if the tee shot distance of both users A and B is less than 200m, a larger penalty may be given to user A than to user B. For example, if the penalty is to reduce the concession range for both users A and B when playing on the Next golf course, a penalty of reducing the concession range by 0.5m is imposed on user A, and the concession range is reduced for user B by 0.5m. A penalty that reduces the range by 0.3m can be imposed.

Once the contents of the compensation or penalty are determined as above, the user is notified of this and the compensation or penalty is applied in the fifth step (S50) or the eighth step (S80). Application of the compensation or penalty may be performed by a control unit or the like.

As above, by providing a decision unit in the management unit, different rewards or penalties depending on goal achievement/non-achievement can be given to each user, taking into account the user's golf skill level. If a list of various goals that a user can achieve is stored in the storage, the decision unit determines the difficulty of achieving the goal for each of the goals in the list stored in the storage, considering the user's golf skill level for a specific user. can be evaluated. By using this difficulty evaluation process for each user's goal, management can present a recommended goal that takes the user's level into consideration before the user sets the goal. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, considering the user's level, goals that can be achieved relatively easily, goals that can be achieved at a normal level, and goals that are difficult to achieve can be classified into play difficulty levels and presented to the user. (Figure 12 shows an example of indicating the level of difficulty with a star-shaped display). Users can set goals by looking at the items and play difficulty levels presented in the recommended goals and selecting items that they can achieve.

Figure 13 is a diagram showing the schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, the virtual golf device according to this embodiment includes a plurality of booths 101, 102, and 103. Each booth (101, 102, 103) is configured identically. For example, the first booth 101 has a hitting plate 101a, a simulator device 101b with a kiosk screen, a screen 101c, etc., and the other booths 102 and 103 also have the same components. Although not shown in the drawing, each booth (101, 102, 103) is further equipped with other devices such as cameras to detect the movement of the golf club/golf ball when hitting. In each booth (101, 102, 103), multiple users can take turns playing golf. Alternatively, in each booth (101, 102, 103), the user can play solo while being separated from users of other booths. In the virtual golf device according to this embodiment, the simulator device 101b may be provided with a control unit and a management unit as described above, and operations related to achieving the user's goal may be executed accordingly.

Figure 14 is a diagram showing the schematic structure of a virtual golf system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 15 is a diagram showing various implementation examples of the virtual golf system of Figure 14, and Figure 16 is a diagram showing the virtual golf system of Figure 14 This is a diagram showing an example screen for setting goals through a mobile device.

Referring to FIG. 14, the virtual golf system includes a virtual golf device 100 and a service device 200. As the virtual golf device 100, a virtual golf device such as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 may be used. The virtual golf device 100 is installed at a screen golf course where screen golf can be played. If there are multiple screen golf courses, the virtual golf device 100 may be installed at each screen golf course, so that there may be a plurality of virtual golf devices 100 in total. The virtual golf device 100 is connected to the service device 200 through a wired or wireless communication network. The service device 200 may be a central server used by a service provider operating a plurality of screen golf courses to manage the virtual golf device 100 provided in the plurality of screen golf courses. A user who wants to use a screen golf service first logs in to receive the service, and the service device 200 can confirm the user's identity when logging in and determine whether to approve the login.

Referring to FIG. 15, for the login operation, the service device 200 is equipped with a storage unit 210 that stores information necessary to verify the user's identity. In the storage unit 210, information about a plurality of users is stored separately for each user. Personal information, play information, user level information, etc. may be stored in the storage area for each user. The personal information of the user is stored in the personal information, which can be used in the login process, etc. The user's play information stores the record of the user's play. The play information includes the user's past play records or the user's personal records (average distance for each club, average number of strokes, etc.) that can be obtained from past play records. The user's level information stores the evaluation of the user's golf skills. The user's level is not fixed and may change accordingly as the user's play record is updated.

As various user information is stored in the storage unit 210, the virtual golf devices 100 connected to the service device 200 by wire and/or wirelessly can use the information stored in the storage unit 210. There is no need to separately store user information in each of the virtual golf devices 100.

In the virtual golf system according to this embodiment, operations related to achieving the user's goal can be performed, and a management unit is provided for this purpose. As shown in FIG. 15(a), the management unit 220 may be provided in the service device 200. In this case, operations related to achieving the user's goal may be processed in the service device 200 rather than in each virtual golf device 100.

As shown in FIG. 15(b), the management unit 110 may be provided in each virtual golf device 100, and only the determination unit 230 may be provided in the service device 200. In this case, to achieve the user goal, Among the related operations, the operation of evaluating the value of the goal achieved (and/or not achieved) by the user in consideration of the user's golf skill level and determining the contents of the user reward (and/or penalty) is performed in the service device 200. processing, and the remaining operations, such as checking whether the goal has been achieved (and/or not achieved), can be processed in the virtual golf device 100. To operate the determination unit 230, data about the user's golf ability is required. And, since the above data is stored in the storage unit 210 of the service device 200, the determination unit 230 is a service device with a storage unit 210 so that the data in the storage unit 210 can be easily used ( 200). In addition, the management unit 110 must check whether the goal has been achieved or not achieved according to the user's play results. Since the user's play is performed through the virtual golf device 100, the management unit 110 It can be placed in the virtual golf device 100 so that the user can immediately check the results of his play.

As shown in FIG. 15, the service device 200 can be accessed from the mobile device 300. The mobile device 300 may be a terminal device such as the user's own smart phone or tablet. When a user accesses the service device 200 using a mobile device 300 such as a smart phone, the mobile device 300 can process various operations related to achieving the user's goal. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, a user can easily perform operations such as setting a goal or checking goal progress using his or her smart phone.

Although we have looked at specific embodiments of the present invention as described above, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. will be. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered from an illustrative rather than a restrictive perspective. The scope of the present invention is indicated in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the equivalent scope should be construed as being included in the present invention.

1: Hitting plate
2: Control unit
3: Sensing unit
4: Input section
5: Sound section
6: Display part
100: Virtual golf device
200: service device

Claims (8)

A display unit showing a virtual golf course and a virtual golf ball;
When a user hits a real golf ball, a calculation unit that calculates the movement of the virtual golf ball on the virtual golf course based on the state of the real golf ball hit; and
a management unit that performs operations related to achieving the user's goals;
containing
Virtual golf device. According to paragraph 1,
A virtual golf device in which the management unit presents a plurality of recommended goals, and the user can set at least one of the presented plurality of recommended goals as his or her own goal. According to paragraph 1,
A virtual golf device in which the management unit checks whether the goal is achieved and determines a reward or penalty to be given to the user depending on whether the user achieves the goal. According to paragraph 3,
A virtual golf device in which the reward or penalty may vary depending on the user's golf skill level. According to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The goal is a virtual golf device including a goal achieved through at least one hitting or a goal achieved through play on at least one virtual golf course. According to any one of claims 1 to 4,
It further includes an input means that allows the user to specify a predetermined location or range in the virtual golf course,
Through the input means, the user can specify the landing position or landing range where the virtual golf ball is intended to land by the user's stroke from the point where the virtual golf ball is currently located on the virtual golf course, and the specified landing position or A virtual golf device that allows you to set the landing range as your hitting target. virtual golf device;
a service device communicatively connected to the virtual golf device; and
a management unit that performs operations related to achieving the user's goals;
Contains,
The virtual golf device,
A display unit showing a virtual golf course and a virtual golf ball,
When the user hits a real golf ball, a calculation unit that calculates the movement of the virtual golf ball in the virtual golf course based on the state of the real golf ball hit.
Includes,
The management unit is provided in the virtual golf device or the service device.
Virtual golf system. In clause 7,
Further comprising a mobile device capable of connecting to the service device,
A virtual golf system that allows users to set their own goals through the mobile device.

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