Wearable USB device assembly

• US 10,293,208 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bailly, Devin, Folske, Keith, Pheil, Holli, Schneider, Summer
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US15/629,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20170361162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 34053912
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/30 using a wired architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/86 Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Tracking and monitoring athletic activity offers individuals with additional motivation to continue such behavior. An individual may track his or her athletic activity by utilizing a wearable device assembly configured to monitor various aspects of athletic performance. In some embodiments, the wearable device assembly may comprise a USB-type device having athletic functionality and configured to transmit to and/or receive data from an external computing device.

Claims

1. An athletic performance monitoring system, comprising:

a portable electronic device including a first connector that transmits data to and receives data from an external computing device;

a piece of athletic equipment comprising a securing element that removably receives the first connector;

a first ancillary member comprising a second connector that mates with the first connector;

wherein the portable electronic device includes a first sensor that detects a first type of athletic activity data relating to an athletic performance of a user, and wherein the first ancillary member includes at least a second sensor that detects a second type of athletic activity data relating to the athletic performance of the user; and

a display device that displays information associated with the athletic performance during the athletic performance using at least one of the first type of athletic activity data or the second type of athletic activity data.

2. The athletic performance monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second ancillary member comprising a third connector that mates with the first connector, wherein the second ancillary member includes a third sensor that detects a third type of athletic activity data relating to the athletic performance of the user.

3. The athletic performance monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second ancillary member comprising a third connector that mates with the first connector, wherein the second ancillary member includes a rechargeable power source that provides a power supply to at least one of the first ancillary member and the portable electronic device.

4. The athletic performance monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data transmission system engaged with the portable electronic device, wherein the data transmission system transmits data from the portable electronic device for receipt by the display device, wherein the data transmitted includes the first type of athletic activity data.

16. The athletic performance monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first connector is a male plug and the second connector is a female receptacle that receives the male plug.

17. The athletic performance monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector comprise USB connectors.

18. The athletic performance monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first ancillary member comprises a rechargeable power source providing a power supply to at least one of the first ancillary member and the portable electronic device.

5. A method comprising:

receiving, by a portable electronic device, a first set of athletic performance data including a first activity metric associated with a first athletic performance of a user;

determining that a first ancillary member is physically engaged with the portable electronic device to produce a first device assembly that provides a second set of athletic performance data including a second activity metric associated with the first athletic performance of the user;

generating, by the portable electronic device, athletic activity data indicating a second athletic performance of the user; and

wirelessly transmitting by the portable electronic device the athletic activity data to the first ancillary member.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining the first ancillary member is physically engaged with the portable electronic device in a first orientation; and

in response to determining the first ancillary member is physically engaged with the portable electronic device in the first orientation, activating, by an activation system, a first function of the portable electronic device that is not available when the first ancillary member is not physically engaged with the portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

deactivating at least the first function of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is determined to be engaged with the first ancillary member in an orientation other than the first orientation.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first device assembly further comprises a connector, the method further comprising:

determining that the connector of the first device assembly is engaged with a securing element of a piece of athletic equipment; and

in response, determining at least one of;

a location in or on the piece of athletic equipment and a type of the piece of athletic equipment with which the first device assembly has been engaged.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

selecting a data processing algorithm from a plurality of algorithms based on, at least in part, the determined location in or on the piece of athletic equipment with which the first device assembly has been engaged.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus at least to perform:

receiving a first set of athletic performance data including a first activity metric associated with a first athletic performance of a user;

determining that a first ancillary member is physically engaged with the apparatus, resulting in a first device assembly providing a second set of athletic performance data, wherein the second set of athletic performance data comprises a second activity metric associated with the first athletic performance of the user;

generating athletic activity data indicating a second athletic performance of the user; and

wirelessly transmitting the athletic activity data to the first ancillary member.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus at least to perform:

determining the first ancillary member is physically engaged with the apparatus in a first orientation; and

in response to determining the first ancillary member is physically engaged with the apparatus in the first orientation, activating, by an activation system, a first function of the apparatus that is not available when the first ancillary member is not physically engaged with the apparatus.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus at least to perform:

deactivating at least the first function of the apparatus when the apparatus is determined to be engaged with the first ancillary member in an orientation other than the first orientation.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus at least to perform:

Generating athletic activity data indicating a second athletic performance of the user; and

wirelessly transmitting the athletic activity data to the first ancillary member.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first device assembly further comprises a connector, and wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus at least to perform:

determining that the connector of the first device assembly is engaged with a securing element of a piece of athletic equipment; and

in response, determining at least one of;

a location in or on the piece of athletic equipment and a type of the piece of athletic equipment with which the first device assembly has been engaged.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus at least to perform:

selecting a data processing algorithm from a plurality of algorithms based on, at least in part, the determined location in or on the piece of athletic equipment with which the first device assembly has been engaged.