Interactive use and athletic performance monitoring and reward method, system, and computer program product

• US 10,304,072 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Schrock, Allan M., Shum, Albert Y. S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bekerman, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/848,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20180114241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 705 141, 705 1436, 482 8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/12 Healthy persons not otherwise provided for, e.g. subjects of a marketing survey
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0487 Special user inputs or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• 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: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 : Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 : During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0232 : Frequent usage rewards other than merchandise, cash or travel
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 : Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 : Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 : Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and system for monitoring and rewarding athletic performance and use of a product worn by a person, thereby motivating use of the product and promoting customer loyalty. The present invention includes and system and method for measuring, tracking, and recording use of the product, preferably related to the athletic performance of an athlete, using a portable, remote device; transferring that data from the remote device to a common location, such as an Internet web site service; calculating, assigning, and tracking rewards based on the level of use determined from the data; and allowing the user to redeem his or her rewards or compare his or her performance level with other athletes using other remote devices.

Claims

1. A method of electronically providing content to an electronic device of a user based on the user'"'"'s use of an item that comprises a passive radio frequency transmitter encoded with an item identifier that identifies the item, the passive radio frequency transmitter configured to transmit the item identifier to the electronic device when the electronic device is positioned proximate to the passive radio frequency transmitter, the method comprising:

receiving, at a remote server and from the electronic device, the item identifier obtained from the passive radio frequency transmitter via the electronic device;

receiving, at the remote server, usage information detailing actions conducted by the user with the item;

determining, at the remote server, that the item identifier is associated in a non-transitory data store with information about one or more events at a geographic location;

based on determining that the item identifier is associated with information about one or more events, determining with a processor of the remote server, that reward content related to the item is available for transmission to the user, wherein the content related to the item includes information about the one or more events associated with the item; and

based on the determination, transmitting the content related to the item to the electronic device of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage information is received from the user'"'"'s electronic device after a predetermined amount of the usage information has been collected by the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the usage information received from the user'"'"'s electronic device was automatically obtained from the item when the electronic device was previously positioned proximate to the passive radio frequency transmitter of the item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage information is directly received from the item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about one or more events associated with the item includes athletic performance by an athlete, the method further comprising:

determining, at the remote server and based on the information about the one or more events, the reward content.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the information includes audio-visual content of the athlete.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the content transmitted to the user is a first content, and wherein the determination of whether content is available for transmitting to the user further comprises:

determining whether to transmit the first content or a second content to the user, wherein the determination to transmit the first content is based, at least, in part, on the user'"'"'s usage of the item.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reward content is a first content amongst a plurality of rewards comprising at least a second content, wherein the availability of the first and second content to be transmitted to the user is proportional to usage of the item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more events include at least one athletic event conducted on a specific day.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determination that the content is available for transmitting to the user further comprises:

determining that the user used the item during the specific day.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the item identifier comprises a user identifier identifying the user of the item.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the remote server, a user identifier specific to the user to be associated with the usage information of the item.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to at least to perform:

receiving an item identifier of an athletic item from a portable electronic device of user, the receiving automatically conducted upon the item'"'"'s identifier being received at the portable electronic device from a passive radio frequency transmitter that is configured to transmit the item identifier to the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is positioned proximate to the passive radio frequency transmitter;

receiving a user identifier identifying the user of the item;

obtaining usage information relating to the user'"'"'s interactions with the item;

based on the user'"'"'s interactions with the item and the item identifier automatically received, electronically determining with a processor that reward content related to the item is available for transmission to the user, wherein the content related to the item includes information about one or more athletic events associated with the item; and

based on the determination, transmitting the content related to the item to the user in a format that is viewable on the electronic device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein:

a first athletic event of the one or more athletic events occurs on a first date and a second athletic event of the one or more athletic events is on a second date;

the item is an article of sports apparel; and

the usage information comprises information that the user is using the article of sports apparel on the first date.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the determining the reward content comprises:

determining the reward content is available based upon the user using the article of sports apparel on the first date.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the determining the reward content comprises:

determining the reward content is available based upon the user using the article of sports apparel on the first date and the second date.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the reward content is a first content amongst a plurality of rewards comprising at least a second content, wherein the availability of the first and second content to be transmitted to the user is proportional to usage of the item.

18. A method comprising:

receiving an item identifier of an athletic item from a portable electronic device of user, the receiving automatically conducted upon the item'"'"'s identifier being received at the portable electronic device from a passive radio frequency transmitter that is configured to transmit the item identifier to the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is positioned proximate to the passive radio frequency transmitter;

receiving a user identifier identifying the user of the item;

obtaining usage information relating to the user'"'"'s interactions with the item;

based on the user'"'"'s interactions with the item and the item identifier automatically received, electronically determining with a processor that reward content related to the item is available for transmission to the user, wherein the content related to the item includes information about one or more athletic events associated with the item; and

based on the determination, transmitting the content related to the item to the user in a format that is viewable on the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

a first athletic event of the one or more athletic events occurs on a first date and a second athletic event of the one or more athletic events is on a second date;

the item is an article of sports apparel; and

the usage information comprises information that the user is using the article of sports apparel on the first date.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining the reward content comprises:

determining the reward content is available based upon the user using an article of sports apparel on the first date.