Personal items network, and associated methods

• US 10,427,050 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Vock, Curtis A., Amsbury, Burl W., Jonjak, Paul, Larkin, Adrian F., Youngs, Perry
• Primary Examiner(s): Barbee, Manuel L
• Application Number:
  US14/736,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20150312712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 463 23
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0285 Apparatus for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 : Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 : of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 : for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 : for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/22 : Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow exercising apparatus A63B21/00 ; measuring of work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 : Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 : Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 : Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 : Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 : using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7242 : using integration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 : specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/50 : Force related parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/26 : attached to the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 : for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: B68B 1/00 : Devices in connection with harness, for hitching, reining, training, breaking or quietening horses or other traction animals devices of this kind combined with traction harness B68B3/00; stable equipment A01K1/00; devices forming part of a vehicle B62C
• CPC Class Codes: B68C 1/00 : Saddling equipment for riding- or pack-animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 : for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 : for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/00 : Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 : with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/04 : by measuring elastic deformation of gauges, e.g. of springs
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/16 : using properties of piezoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/22 : using resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 : for acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 : with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 : in two or more dimensions
• 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: G01P 3/50 : for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/08 : Systems for determining direction or position line
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/00 : Satellite radio beacon positioning systems; Determining position, velocity or attitude using signals transmitted by such systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3089 : Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in sensing the monitored data, e.g. interfaces, connectors, sensors, probes, agents software debugging using additional hardware using a specific debug interface G06F11/3656; performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring G06F11/3466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 : Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 : together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 : Race time-recorders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 9/00 : Traffic control systems for craft where the kind of craft is irrelevant or unspecified
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 : Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 : Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 : using a wireless architecture
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 : for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 : Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

A system employs data taken from monitor devices and applies that data to video games, arcade games, computer games and the like (collectively a “game”) to “personalize” the game to real ability and persons. For example, when a monitor device is used to capture airtime (and e.g., heart rate) of a snowboarder, that data is downloaded to a database for a game and used to “limit” how a game competitor plays the game. In this way, a snowboard game player can compete against world-class athletes, and others, with some level of realism provided by the real data used in the game.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an output component;

a receiver operative to receive real performance data indicative of real performance metrics indicative of physical activity by a particular participant; and

a processor operative to;

associate a particular identification code to the received real performance data, wherein the particular identification code is unique to the particular participant;

for a virtual competition in which the particular participant is a competitor, determine the particular identification code for the particular participant;

access the received real performance data associated with the determined particular identification code;

adjust the virtual competition based on the accessed real performance data associated with the determined particular identification code; and

present information indicative of the adjusted virtual competition to the particular participant using the output component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to adjust the virtual competition by:

receiving user input data from the particular participant requesting a particular virtual competition maneuver;

comparing the accessed real performance data and the received user input data;

modifying the particular virtual competition maneuver based on the comparing; and

performing the modified particular virtual competition maneuver.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further operative to communicate a factor by which the particular virtual competition maneuver was modified based on the comparing.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the real performance metrics comprise at least one of airtime, heart rate, distance, speed, impact, or spin rate.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to associate the particular identification code to the received real performance data by associating the particular identification code to one of an average of different portions of the received real performance data or a single value of the received real performance data.

6. A system comprising:

an output component;

a receiver that receives performance metric data of a user collected during a real-life performance of a physical activity, wherein the performance metric data comprises information indicative of at least one of airtime, impact, or spin rate of the user during the real-life performance of the physical activity; and

a processor that;

converts the received performance metric data into at least one control parameter of a virtual game in which the user is a participant; and

presents information indicative of the virtual game controlled by the at least one control parameter to the user via the output component.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor converts the received performance metric data by:

receiving user input data from the user requesting a particular game maneuver;

after the receiving, accessing the received performance metric data associated with the user;

comparing the accessed received performance metric data and the received user input data;

modifying the particular game maneuver based on the comparing; and

performing the modified particular game maneuver.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor communicates to the user a factor by which the particular game maneuver was modified based on the comparing.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the performance metric data comprises information indicative of airtime of the user during the real-life performance of the physical activity.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor converts the received performance metric data to enable the gameplay of the game by the user to restrict the user'"'"'s ability in the game to the user'"'"'s ability in real-life performance of the physical activity.

11. A system comprising:

an output component;

a receiver that accesses physical performance data of a user sensed during a real-life performance of a physical activity by the user, wherein the physical performance data comprises information indicative of at least one of airtime, impact, or spin rate of the user during the real-life performance of the physical activity; and

a processor that;

modifies the ability of a game character in a virtual game based on the accessed physical performance data; and

presents information indicative of the virtual game with the game character'"'"'s modified ability to the user via the output component.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the processor receives a game input provided by a player of the virtual came after the receiver accesses the physical performance data; and

the processor modifies the ability of the game character to maneuver in the virtual game based on the accessed physical performance data and based on the received game input.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor communicates to the player a factor by which the ability of the game character was modified based on the accessed physical performance data.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the user is the player.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor modifies the ability of the game character to enable the gameplay of the virtual game by the player to restrict the player'"'"'s ability in the game to the user'"'"'s ability in real-life performance of the physical activity.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the physical performance data comprises information indicative of airtime of the user during the real-life performance of the physical activity.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the receiver accesses other physical performance data of another user sensed during another real-life performance of another physical activity by the other user; and

the processor simultaneously modifies the ability of the game character in the virtual game based on the accessed physical performance data and modifies the ability of another game character in the virtual game based on the accessed other physical performance data.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the processor receives a game input provided by a player of the virtual game after the receiver accesses the physical performance data of the user;

the processor receives another game input provided by another player of the virtual game after the receiver accesses the physical performance data of the other user;

the processor modifies the ability of the game character to maneuver in the virtual game based on the accessed physical performance data and based on the received game input; and

the processor modifies the ability of the other game character to maneuver in the virtual game based on the accessed other physical performance data and based on the received other game input.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor modifies the ability of the game character and modifies the ability of the other game character to enable simultaneous competitive gameplay of the virtual game by the player and the other player.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the processor modifies the ability of the game character and modifies the ability of the other came character to enable the competitive gameplay of the virtual game by the player to restrict the player'"'"'s ability in the game to the user'"'"'s ability in real-life performance of the physical activity; and

the processor modifies the ability of the game character and modifies the ability of the other game character to enable the competitive gameplay of the virtual game by the other player to restrict the other player'"'"'s ability in the game to the other user'"'"'s ability in real-life performance of the other physical activity.