Systems for Locating a Golf Ball Position of a Plurality of Golfers

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/643,884 filed on May 7, 2024, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to systems used locate a golf ball position for one or more golfers on a golf course during tournament play.

Recently, golf telecasts have communicated an increasing quantity of information to viewers regarding such items as: scoring; player equipment and statistics; sponsor information; the position of a player's ball or other course features; and distance(s) to a plurality of targets on a golf hole, including but not limited to hazards, natural features, and the pin on a green. Much of this same information is also communicated via the Internet to supplement the telecast and provide additional information to golf consumers.

In one example, the PGA TOUR utilizes ShotLink™, a scoring system and platform that captures and reports vital information for every shot, by every player, in real-time during tournament competition. ShotLink™ works by calculating the exact locations and distances between any two points—typically between the golf ball and the pin—using a digital image of each hole mapped in an x,y-coordinate system prior to the tournament and/or round. Global Positioning System (GPS) devices are used to record different layers and elevations utilized to denote the locations of greens, fairways, bunkers, water, rough, trees and other course elements within the coordinate system.

Since 2003, ShotLink™ has compiled and stored data for millions of golf shots, all of which are tracked by a team of spotters who accompany each pairing and use wireless handheld devices to record and transmit data, including distance, lie, location and score, from every hole, for each player. This information is sent to the ShotLink™ trailer on site, laser operator volunteers throughout the course, and to a front-line application that packages and delivers the data to the media, broadcasters, and spectators at the event site. Successfully pulling off such a complex system is a highly labor- and equipment-intensive process requiring as many as 400 volunteers and staff per tournament, for more than 30 tournaments events per year. Such tournaments commonly contain a field of up to 144 players competing simultaneously throughout the entire golf course over four days.

In another example, the PGA TOUR has also developed its own score tracking and tournament management system (STTM), which includes a tracking module, companion device, location system, and scoring system (see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,607,601 and 11,745,084, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties). Each tracking module worn by a player regularly transmits its current location coordinates over an interval, for example, every five or ten seconds, to the location system, which saves and stores the accumulated location coordinates in a database. Tracking modules either comprise: a cellular modem to connect directly to the Internet and upload, via the cloud, location coordinates and time stamps associated with the location coordinates; or, components configured to communicate with a plurality of cellular antennas and/or mesh networks positioned throughout the course, which perform the task of uploading the location coordinates and associated time stamps to the Internet.

In parallel with the automatic collection of location coordinates, walking scorers associated with each playing group carry a portable scoring device to document a “stroke event” each time one of the golfers in the playing group takes a stroke. Each stroke event is then logged into a separate scoring system, which accumulates each of the golfer's stroke events onto a virtual scorecard for the round. Each score on the player's virtual scorecard represents the number of strokes (stroke events) made on each hole, which is saved and communicated to a scoring database for all the players competing in the round and/or for the tournament.

Because the location system and scoring systems independently operate to obtain location coordinates and document scoring events, the location of a player at the time of the stroke event can only be determined upon synchronizing the time stamp of the stroke event with time stamps associated with each of the regularly-generated location coordinates. As a result, extensive, precise, and accurate time synchronization of all tracking modules, the location system, the scoring system, and other components of the STTM is required to query and pair data across systems to avoid causing data synchronization issues, such as if a stroke event reaches the scoring system prior to receiving the most recent (or relevant) location coordinates.

Further, the continuous obtaining and uploading of location coordinates by the tracking modules over a wireless connection requires a substantial amount of battery power, particularly in tracking modules comprising a cellular modem. Accordingly, for the tracking module to remain operational throughout an entire round, which can last up to about six hours, the tracking module must necessarily be robust in size and weight to house such a high-capacity battery. Although such bulky tracking modules may be suitable for men playing on the PGA TOUR, such a form factor can interfere with the golf swings of smaller individuals, including women and juniors.

Ultimately, the technical, financial, and personnel burden that must be overcome just to implement either or both of ShotLink™ or the PGA TOUR's STTM at a single event can be onerous, let alone for an entire season, particularly for organizations and tours that may not have access to the resources that large corporate sponsors can provide. Even at tournaments where many of the ground-level operators are local volunteers, a substantial number of employees is still required to train and manage the volunteers at each location.

Accordingly, there is a continued need to optimize processes and systems for data collection and content delivery to television viewers and/or internet consumers of golf tournaments.

The present invention describes equipment and systems utilizable to determine the at-rest position of a golf ball, in real-time, of one or more golfers competing in a golf tournament at a golf course. Generally, golfers competing in a high-end amateur or professional tournament are assigned to a playing group of two to four golfers, each of whom may have a caddy to carry their clubs and assist them during play. Depending on the event, each playing group may also comprise a couple to several people that may perform various functions associated with the tournament or the golfers themselves, including but not limited to tournament officials, rules officials, walking scorers, scoreboard operators, camera operators, broadcast analysts, coaches, parents, sponsors, and others.

One person associated with a playing group may be assigned to wear a beacon configured to collect or receive a location signal transmitted from one or more global navigation satellite system (GNSS) satellites and transmit that location to a portable device operated by either the same person or a different person associated with the playing group. Each beacon location can be accumulated on the portable device or transmitted to one or more systems external to the portable device.

In conjunction with determining the location of the beacon, the at-rest position of a golf ball can also be approximated or determined using the location of the beacon itself in relation to the ball, or by mathematical methods upon determining the slope distance, angle, and azimuth to the ball from a hand-held laser rangefinder operated by the person wearing the beacon. Slope distance, angle, and azimuth values can be transmitted from the laser rangefinder to the portable device, which can either determine the at-rest position of the ball natively or transmit the GNSS location of the beacon and the relative position of the ball relative to the rangefinder to one or more systems external to the portable device. Such methods are described in further detail below.

In one non-limiting example, and in various embodiments, a method of locating the at-rest position of the golfer's ball can comprise the steps of: requesting, by a portable device configured to be carried by a user associated with a playing group comprising one or more golfers, a GNSS location of a beacon worn by the user, wherein the request is made by the portable device to the beacon; collecting or receiving, by the beacon, a location signal associated with the beacon, from one or more GNSS satellites; transmitting, by the beacon, the GNSS location of the beacon to the portable device via the first RF communications link; measuring, using a hand-holdable rangefinder operated by the user, the relative position of the golf ball, wherein the relative position of the golf ball is determined from the straight-line distance, inclination angle, and azimuth value of the golf ball relative to the user; transmitting, by the rangefinder, the relative position of the golf ball to the portable device via a second RF communications link between the rangefinder and the portable device; and determining, by the portable device, the at-rest position of the golf ball.

In various embodiments, the azimuth corresponds to the angle formed from a first imaginary line extending from the golf ball to the user, and from a second imaginary line extending from the user to magnetic north. In other embodiments, the azimuth corresponds to the angle formed from a first imaginary line extending from the golf ball to the user, and from a second imaginary line extending from the user to a fixed secondary location. One such non-limiting example of a fixed secondary location is the golf pin located on the green of a particular golf hole.

In various embodiments, the method for locating the at-rest position of the golfer's ball can further comprise the step of determining the distance of the golf ball to the golf pin position on the golf hole. In some embodiments, the further step of determining the distance of the golf ball to the pin position can comprise the steps of: determining the GNSS location of a pin position on a golf hole; storing the GNSS location of the pin position within a memory of the portable device; and executing computer-readable instructions stored within the portable device memory to compare the stored GNSS location of the pin position with the determined at-rest position of the golf ball, thereby determining the distance from the golf ball to the pin position. In one non-limiting example, the pin position can be determined prior to, or during, the round, by using a portable device to request the GNSS location of a beacon worn by a user standing at the pin position, or by positioning the beacon on the golf pin or within the hole itself. In another non-limiting example, the distance of the golf ball to the pin position can be determined without determining the GNSS location of the pin prior to, or during, the round, using the laser rangefinder. In various embodiments, the method can further comprise the steps of: storing the determined at-rest position of the golf ball within a memory of the portable device; measuring, using the rangefinder operated by the user, the relative position of a golf pin on a golf hole, wherein the relative position of the golf pin is determined from a straight-line distance, inclination angle, and azimuth value of the golf ball relative to the user; determining, by the portable device, the at-rest position of the golf pin, upon geometrically applying the measured relative position of the golf pin to the GNSS location of the beacon; and computer-readable instructions stored within the portable device memory to compare the stored at-rest position of the golf ball with the determined at-rest position of the golf pin, thereby determining the distance from the golf ball to the golf pin.

In various embodiments, and in combination with any of the embodiments described above, the method for locating the at-rest position of the golfer's ball can further comprise the step of determining the distance of a golfer's golf shot. In some embodiments, the further step of determining the distance of the golf shot can comprise the steps of: storing the determined at-rest position of the golf ball within a memory of the portable device, thereby accumulating a first at-rest position of the golf ball; striking, by the golfer, a golf shot that displaces the golf ball from the first at-rest position of the golf ball; determining a second at-rest position of the golf ball; and executing computer-readable instructions stored within the portable device memory to compare the stored first at-rest position of the golf ball with the second at-rest position of the golf ball, thereby determining the distance of the golf shot.

In another embodiment, the distance of a golf shot from a tee box on a golf hole can be determined, comprising the steps of: determining the GNSS location of the tee box; storing the GNSS location of the tee box within a memory of the portable device; striking, by the golfer, a golf shot that displaces the golf ball from the tee box; determining the at-rest position of the golf ball after the golf shot; and executing computer-readable instructions stored within the portable device memory to compare the stored GNSS location of the tee box with the determined at-rest position of the golf ball, thereby determining the distance the golf ball was struck from the tee box to the at-rest position.

In another non-limiting example, and in various embodiments, a method of locating the at-rest position of the golfer's ball can comprise the steps of: addressing the golf ball, by the golfer, in an address position; requesting, by a portable device configured to be carried by a user associated with a playing group comprising one or more golfers, a GNSS location of a beacon worn by the golfer, wherein the request is made by the portable device to the beacon; collecting or receiving, by the beacon, a location signal associated with the beacon, from one or more GNSS satellites; and transmitting, by the beacon, the GNSS location of the beacon to the portable device via an RF communications link from the portable device to the beacon, wherein the GNSS location of the beacon is used as a proxy for the location of the golf ball.

In various embodiments, the method can further comprise a step of applying, by the portable device, a correction factor to the GNSS location of the beacon, the correction factor corresponding to the beacon's distance from the golf ball at the address position. In various embodiments, the correction factor is unique to the golfer and based upon the golfer's profile information, which can include at least one value selected from the group consisting of the golfer's name, height, hip height, arm length, swing dexterity (left- or right-handed), equipment data, and any combination thereof, wherein the golfer's equipment data comprises one or more data points for one or more of the golfer's golf clubs, the one or more data points selected from the group consisting of: club type, club brand, club model, loft, lie angle, shaft length, and any combination thereof. In various embodiments, the golfer's profile information and computer-readable instructions for determining the correction factor from the golfer's profile information can be stored within the portable device's memory.

When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the accuracy of the GNSS location of the beacon can be enhanced upon applying real-time kinematic (RTK) correction data from an RTK corrections source. Accordingly, and in various embodiments, any of the methods described herein can further comprise the steps of: collecting or receiving, by the portable device, real time kinematic (RTK) correction data from a RTK corrections source; transmitting, by the portable device, the RTK correction data via the RF communications link between the portable device and the beacon; and executing computer-readable instructions stored within a memory inside the beacon to combine the location signal with the RTK correction data, thereby determining and RTK-corrected GNSS location of the beacon.

Accordingly, in another aspect of the invention, any of the methods described herein, including embodiments described above, may be practiced using a system for locating a golf ball position, in real-time, of a golfer competing in a golf tournament at a golf course, the system comprising a beacon, a portable device configured to be carried by a user associated with a playing group comprising the golfer; and an RTK correction source.

When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the RTK correction source is an RTK base station positioned at a fixed location on the golf course. In other various embodiments, the RTK corrections source is a Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol (NTRIP) service provider, the NTRIP service provider having one or more RTK base stations positioned offsite relative to the golf course.

When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the GNSS location of the beacon determined using any of the methods or systems described herein has an accuracy of plus or minus 100 centimeters (cm) relative to its actual GNSS location, including such non-limiting examples as plus or minus 75 cm, 50 cm, 25 cm, 10 cm, 5 cm, 3 cm, 2 cm, or 1 cm. In various embodiments, the determined at-rest position of the golf ball has an accuracy of plus or minus 100 centimeters (cm) relative to its actual GNSS location, including such non-limiting examples as plus or minus 75 cm, 50 cm, 25 cm, 10 cm, 5 cm, 3 cm, 2 cm, or 1 cm.

When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the one or more GNSS satellites are global positioning system (GPS) satellites. However, and in various embodiments, GNSS satellites within any satellite navigation or augmentation system can be utilized. Non-limiting examples of navigation systems are GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, NAVIC, GZSS. Non-limiting examples of augmentation systems are OmniSTAR, StarFire, WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN, and SDCM. In various embodiments, the location signal transmitted by the GPS satellites is made over one or more frequencies selected from the group consisting of the L1 band, L2 band, L5 band, and any combination thereof.

When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the beacon is unconnected to the Internet or a cellular network and in electronic communication only with the portable device. In some embodiments, the beacon is unconnected to the Internet or a cellular network and in electronic communication only the portable device and the laser rangefinder.

When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the portable device comprises a user interface configured to receive an input from the user requesting from the beacon the GNSS location of the beacon, and a memory comprising computer-readable instructions for executing any of the processes described herein. In a non-limiting example, the memory comprises computer-readable instructions for collecting or receiving real time kinematic (RTK) correction data from a RTK corrections source, transmitting the RTK correction data to the beacon, collecting or receiving, from the beacon, the GNSS location of the beacon, and/or applying a correction factor to the GNSS location of the beacon, wherein the correction factor corresponds to the beacon's distance from the golf ball at an address position by the golfer, when the golfer is wearing the beacon during play.

When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, any of the RF communications links described herein can utilize an RF communications protocol selected from the group consisting of the BlueTooth communication protocol, Zigbee communication protocol, LoRa-wide area network (LoRaWAN) protocol, and the Wi-Fi communication protocol. In various embodiments, the portable device, beacon, and/or laser rangefinder can electronically communicate using a Bluetooth communication protocol. In various embodiments, the portable device, beacon, and/or laser rangefinder can electronically communicate using a LoRaWAN communication protocol.

When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, any of the portable device, beacon, or laser rangefinder can be equipped with an RF range extender to amplify the RF communications link between the devices over expanded distances. As a non-limiting example, the portable computing device can be equipped with a Bluetooth range extender connected to the device via a serial bus.

When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, any of the methods or systems described herein can be utilized to locate the golf ball position of a plurality of golfers within the same playing group. In one non-limiting example, and in various embodiments, the user interface on the portable device operated by a user using a laser rangefinder and wearing his or her own beacon can be configured to receive an input from the user to select one of the plurality of golfers prior to measuring the relative position of the selected golfer's golf ball. In various embodiments, upon the selection of one of the plurality of golfers, the portable device can be programmed to execute a computer-readable instruction stored within a memory of the portable device to request the GNSS location of the user's beacon.

In another non-limiting example, each golfer within the playing group wears their own beacon in RF communication with the portable device, and wherein the portable device is configured to request and receive a GNSS location of each separate beacon. In various embodiments, the portable device can have a user interface configured to receive an input from the user to select one of the plurality of golfers and request the GNSS location of the selected golfer's beacon.

When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the user operating the portable device is a walking scorer that follows the playing group throughout the golf course. In various embodiments, the portable device transmits each of the determined golf ball locations to a central scoring system. In various embodiments, the scoring system accumulates one or more golf ball positions for the golfer on a golf hole and determines the golfer's score for that hole based on the number of accumulated golf ball positions. When tracking the at-rest positions and score of a plurality of golfers, the scoring system can accumulate one or more golf ball positions for each golfer on the golf hole; and determine a score for each golfer on the golf hole, using the accumulated golf ball positions for each golfer on the golf hole. In various embodiments, the portable device and the scoring system are in electronic communication via the Internet or a cellular network.

These and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description.

The present description describes methods and systems for locating the golf ball position one or more golfers during tournament play, preferably in real time. Such information can be processed and communicated to broadcast teams and/or Internet content providers during the presentation of a golf tournament. The devices, systems, and methods described herein represent an improvement over existing technology, including ShotLink™, by streamlining and simplifying the real-time collection, communication, display, and updating of the golf ball positions of a plurality of golfers at a plurality of positions on a golf course. As a result, the volume and scale of the manpower, equipment, and cost required to conduct and/or broadcast a golf tournament can all be reduced.

Particularly, methods and systems of the present invention overcome the above issues by facilitating the collection of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) location data on demand, instead of continuously, by beacons worn during tournament play, either by the golfer or by an independent user associated with a playing group. Further, and when implemented in conjunction with tracking one or more of a golfer's score, the methods and systems described herein provide self-authenticating and time-independent processes for associating the location of a player's golf ball with their score, obviating the requirement to synchronize from multiple systems a set of continuously-collected, time-stamped locations with the occurrence of “stroke events,” as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,607,601 and 11,745,084, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Several of the operations described herein can be performed in association with one or more electronic user devices. Generally, methods and systems for determining the location of the golf ball for a single golfer will comprise a wearable beacon configured to collect or receive a location signal from one or more GNSS satellites, as well as a portable device in radio frequency (RF) communication with the beacon and configured to request the GNSS location of the beacon on demand, receive the GNSS location from the beacon, and to perform one or more additional processes to determine the location of the golf ball upon receiving the GNSS location of the beacon. In various embodiments, methods and systems of the present invention may also comprise a real time kinematic (RTK) corrections source to increase both the accuracy and precision of the GNSS location of the beacon. Additionally, methods and systems of the present invention may also comprise a central management system configured to perform non-limiting exemplary functions such as accumulating GNSS locations for each golfer, managing the location(s) of other golfers playing in the same tournament, and forwarding such information to a television or radio broadcast provider. Detailed description of each of these user devices and systems, as well as non-limiting examples of such systems in use, are provided in further detail below.

Computer readable instructions may be stored in memory and when executed by a processor cause a user device to perform operations described herein. The memory and/or processor may be local or remote with respect to the user devices, which may include, but are not limited to, beacons worn by a golfer or other user associated with a playing group, as well as devices operated by event staff, such as mainframes, servers, computers, dedicated handheld devices, desktops, laptops, tablets, smart device/phones, and/or personal data assistants. User devices can be configured to execute applications programmed to perform any of the operations described herein, wherein computer-readable instructions for executing such applications can be stored in local and/or remote memory and executed by local and/or remote processors. In various embodiments, some applications are provided in whole or in part in a cloud computing environment, non-limiting examples of which are SaaS, DCaaS, DaaS, PaaS, iPaaS, and IaaS.

A memory comprised within any of the electronic devices described herein may comprise one or more non-transitory computer-readable media for storing computer-executable instructions, code, or software. Non-transitory computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, one or more types of hardware memory, non-transitory tangible media (for example, one or more magnetic storage disks, one or more optical disks, one or more flash drives), and the like. For example, a memory included in the electronic device may store computer-readable and computer-executable instructions or software for implementing performing one or more of the steps of any of the methods described herein. In another embodiment, the memory may include a computer system memory or random-access memory, non-limiting examples include DRAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, and others. The memory may include other types of memory as well, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the portable computing device also includes one or more configurable and/or programmable processing devices, for example, processors and associated cores.

Additionally, although some embodiments may incorporate or utilized advanced infrastructure with a large footprint, many of the methods and systems described herein can be provided in a flexible or modular package configured to minimize the size, weight, and power requirements of the associated equipment. Beacons can be configured with a minimal footprint, particularly when worn by a golfer, so it is unobtrusive when swinging or otherwise traveling throughout the golf course. As a non-limiting example, beacons utilized in accordance with the methods and systems of the present invention can be as small as 30 mm×30 mm×50 mm and weigh less than 2.5 ounces.

As illustrated in, a non-limiting example is provided of a golf ball positioning systemconfigured to determine the GNSS location of a golfer's ball during a round of golf. Each GNSS location is communicated to a central management system. The golf ball positioning systemcan comprise one or more devices, particularly one or more of a beacon, one or more of a portable device, and a RTK base stationfor obtaining real-time kinematic (RTK) correction data. In some embodiments, the RTK base station can be positioned at the golf course itself or off-site (andrespectively). Data can be transmitted to or from each of the portable devicesand the central management system, from either RTK base stationorto the central management system, and between a beaconand a portable device. Finally, each beaconis configured to receive its GNSS location from one or more GNSS satellites.

Each of the beaconsare user devices generally configured to be carried by a competing player, or another person otherwise located proximal to the competing player. Beacons may include memories comprising computer-readable instructions and processors for executing the instructions stored within a memory to perform various operations, as further detailed below. In certain embodiments, processors may be hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Beaconsmay be configured to perform various location operations. For example, beaconsmay be configured to track their location and/or communicate locating information to one or more portable devicesand/or other devices controlled by the central management system. In various embodiments, during the round of golf, beaconsare configured to directly communicate only with an assigned portable device, without being paired with any other device.

In a non-limiting example,illustrates an internal hardware diagram for a beacon comprising a GNSS antenna, a GNSS receiver, a microcontroller (MCU), an RF radio, an RF antenna, a power supply circuit, a battery, a serial busconnecting the GNSS receiverand MCU, status () and charging () indicator lights, a power button, and an external device interface, all configured within a mechanical enclosure. The GNSS antennais configured to receive and amplify signals transmitted by the one or more GNSS satellites and convert them into an electronic signal for use by the GNSS receiver, wherein the GNSS receiveris configured to determine the terrestrial GNSS location of the beaconfrom the electronic signal, and wherein the MCUis configured to request the GNSS location from the GNSS receiverand transmit the GNSS location to a portable device. The external device interfacecan be utilized to transmit or receive information from another computing device. In some embodiments, the external device interfacecomprises one or more data buses. Non-limiting examples of protocols utilized by each data bus are Lightning, Thunderbolt, Universal Serial Bus (USB), MicroUSB, and USB-C.

In various embodiments, the beaconcomprises a compact mechanical enclosure, an exterior portion of which can comprise an attachment, typically fastened to the waist band or belt loop at the rear of the wearer's pants, skirt, or shorts using a clip, opposing pair of magnets, or similar means. Preferably, the beaconis configured to have as small of a footprint as possible to promote comfortability and prevent interference during the golfer's golf swing when the golfer is wearing the beacon. However, beaconsof any size may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. In various embodiments, the mechanical enclosurecan be configured to be opened for maintenance, part replacement, upgrades, or other desired purpose. As a non-limiting example, the mechanical enclosuremay include a removable panel or comprise a clamshell design. In various embodiments, the mechanical enclosurecan be three-dimensionally printed. In various embodiments, the mechanical enclosurecan water-resistant, or water-proof.

In various embodiments, the batterycan be a standard- or custom-sized battery, depending on the desired capacity and power needs of the beacon. Non-limiting examples are AA, CR123A, 23A, or coin cell such as CR2032. Optionally, larger batteries and/or power sources can be utilized, including external battery packs that can be utilized to power the beaconeither wirelessly or via a wired connection using the external device interface. Ultimately, any battery sufficient to power the beaconcan be utilized, including but not limited to batteries comprising lithium, alkaline, silver oxide, carbon zinc, zinc air, lithium ion, NiCD, or NiMH. In various embodiments, beaconscan be outfitted with a rechargeable battery, such a lithium ion, NiCD, or NiMH battery. In various embodiments, the external device interfacecan be utilized as a charging port to recharge a rechargeable battery. Any of the data bus protocols described above may be utilized, or custom charging interfaces may also be used. In various embodiments, the external device interfaceis configured to be plugged into a charger having a plurality of charging ports for bulk charging of multiple beaconsat once.

In various embodiments, a beaconcan be configured to transmit and/or receive wireless data communications via any communication medium or protocol, such as those including or incorporating radio waves, cellular, WiFi, short-range wireless, Bluetooth, ZigBee, LoRa-wide area network (LoRaWAN), or other suitable wireless communication technology. In a non-limiting example, and as illustrated in, a beacon can be outfitted with a radio-frequency (RF) radioand an RF antenna. In various embodiments, a beaconis configured to solely communicate over RF with one or more portable deviceswithout having access to a cellular network (e.g., 5G, 4G, LTE-M, NBIOT, 2G, etc.) or the Internet. In various embodiments, each beaconis configured to wirelessly communicate with a portable deviceusing such non-limiting exemplary protocols as Bluetooth, LoRaWAN, and Wi-Fi. In various embodiments, and as described in further detail below, each beaconis configured to transmit and/or receive its GNSS location data, and to transmit or receive phase correction data to enhance the accuracy of the determined location.

In various embodiments, a beaconcan further comprise a memory to store computer-readable instructions prior to their execution by the MCU. In various embodiments, the mechanical enclosureincludes a memory expansion port or slot for connecting to additional memory storage. The expansion slot may be configured to house an expansion memory device, such as a microSD card or the like, or receive a plug for a wired connection to an expansion memory device. The memory may be used to store collected location data. Such data may be transmitted to a storage device, receiving device, processing device continuously, periodically, daily, or upon request.

In various embodiments, the beaconcan optionally include a speaker operable to output sound. The speaker may be used to output audible alarms for locating purposes, battery life, confirmation of receipt of a user interaction or a communication, initiation of wake-up and/or sleep modes, communication of instructions received from a portable device, or other desired use.

In various embodiments, the beaconcan also optionally be equipped with locating, positioning, and/or proximity technology to assist in locating a misplaced beaconand/or determining precision location of the beacon. For example, the beaconmay be configured to output locating signals, such as packets, blinks, requests, response, etc., directionally or omni directionally, that may be used by a portable deviceand/or central management systemto locate and/or determine the location/position of the beacon, e.g., based on signal strength, signal parameters, and/or signal characteristics.

In various embodiments, a beaconcan be programmed to remain on standby and conserve power until a GNSS location is requested by the user operating the portable device.