ADAPTIVE WATCH

• US 20090270744A1
• Filed: 07/06/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Prstojevich, Michael D., Helprin, Theodore H., Case, Charles W. JR., Robinette, Christopher A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/503
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/40 respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 19/12 Arrangements for reducing power consumption during storage
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 : for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 : relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A watch or other type of portable electronic console that employs a number of different functions in order to improve its usability. The watch may, for example, allow a user to connect the watch to one or more remote electronic devices, such as an electronic performance sensor or MP3 player. The watch then displays information related to the connected electronic devices. Still further, the watch may allow a user to control the operation of one or more connected remote electronic devices. Thus, if the watch is connected to a remote speed/distance monitor employing a calibration variable, then the watch may allow the user to adjust the calibration variable. The watch also provides a multi-tiered menu for accessing its various functions. Each operational mode in the first tier relates to a broad category of different functions of the watch, and contains one or more operational submodes in a second tier. The submodes in the second tier are for performing specific functions related to the generic category of functions identified by the first-tier operational mode. Still further, the watch allows a user to conveniently select how the information provided by the watch is displayed. Moreover, the watch includes a power save function that reduces the power consumption of the watch when it is not in use.

Claims

1. A method of determining a heart rate zone, comprising:

instructing a user to exercise at a first level of exertion;

obtaining a first representative heart rate for the user after instructing the user to exercise at the first level of exertion;

designating the first representative heart rate as a lower limit value for a heart rate zone;

instructing a user to exercise at a second level of exertion more strenuous than the first level of exertion;

obtaining a second representative heart rate for the user after instructing the user to exercise at the second level of exertion; and

designating the second representative heart rate as an upper limit value for the heart rate zone.

2. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 1, further comprising:

designating the second representative heart rate as a lower limit value for a second heart rate zone;

instructing a user to exercise at a third level of exertion more strenuous than the second level of exertion;

obtaining a third representative heart rate for the user after instructing the user to exercise at the third level of exertion; and

designating the third representative heart rate as an upper limit value for the second heart rate zone.

3. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 2, further comprising:

designating the third representative heart rate as a lower limit value for a third heart rate zone.

4. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 1, wherein the first level of exertion corresponds to aerobic exercise for the user and the second level of exertion corresponds to anaerobic exercise for the user.

5. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 1, wherein the step of instructing a user to exercise at a first level of exertion is performed for a first period of time and wherein the first representative heart rate is obtained by calculating an average heart rate of the user for at least a portion of the first period of time.

6. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 1, wherein the step of instructing a user to exercise at a second level of exertion is performed for a second period of time and wherein the second representative heart rate is obtained by calculating an average heart rate of the user for at least a portion of the second period of time.

7. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 1, wherein the first representative heart rate is between 40% and 60% of the user'"'"'s maximum heart rate.

8. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 1, wherein the second representative heart rate is between 60% and 80% of the user'"'"'s maximum heart rate.

9. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 1, wherein the first level of exertion corresponds to a first workout intensity that the user can maintain for approximately 30-60 minutes.

10. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 1, wherein the second level of exertion corresponds to a second workout intensity that the user can maintain for approximately 20-40 minutes.

11. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 1, wherein the first representative heart rate and the second representative heart rate are obtained from a heart rate monitor attached to the user.

12. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 1, wherein the steps of instructing a user to exercise at a first level of exertion and instructing a user to exercise at a second level of exertion more strenuous than the first level of exertion are communicated to the user via a watch device.

13. The method of determining a heart rate zone recited in claim 12, wherein the communication of the instructions to the watch device are at least one of audio and visual instructions.

20. A method of instructing exercise, comprising the steps of:

determining a heart rate zone having a first representative heart rate and a second representative heart rate, the heart rate zone determined in accordance with claim 1;

instructing a user to exercise for a first period of time so that the user'"'"'s heart rate is between the first representative heart rate and the second representative heart rate.

21. The method of instructing exercise recited in claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

after the first period of time, instructing the user to exercise for a second period of time so that the user'"'"'s heart rate exceeds the second representative heart rate.

22. The method of instructing exercise recited in claim 20, wherein the first period of time is a warm-up for the user.

23. The method of instructing exercise recited in claim 22, wherein the second period of time is a physical challenge for the user.

14. A method of instructing a user to maintain a heart rate, comprising the steps of:

determining a heart rate zone for the user, comprising the steps of;

instructing a user to exercise at a first level of exertion;

obtaining a first representative heart rate for the user after instructing the user to exercise at the first level of exertion;

designating the first representative heart rate as a lower limit value for a heart rate zone;

instructing a user to exercise at a second level of exertion more strenuous than the first level of exertion;

obtaining a second representative heart rate for the user after instructing the user to exercise at the second level of exertion; and

designating the second representative heart rate as an upper limit value for the heart rate zone;

instructing the user to exercise;

determining the user'"'"'s heart rate during the exercise;

alerting the user if the user'"'"'s heart rate is not within the heart rate zone.

15. The method of instructing a user to maintain a heart rate recited in claim 14, wherein the step of determining a heart rate zone for the user is associated with how the user is physically feeling when determining the heart rate.

16. The method of instructing a user to maintain a heart rate recited in claim 14, wherein the step of instructing the user to exercise includes instructing the user to exercise so that the user'"'"'s heart rate is between the first representative heart rate and the second representative heart rate.

17. The method of instructing a user to maintain a heart rate recited in claim 14, wherein the step of determining the user'"'"'s heart rate during the exercise is determined by a heart rate monitor attached to the user.

18. The method of instructing a user to maintain a heart rate recited in claim 14, wherein the steps of instructing the user to exercise and alerting the user if the user'"'"'s heart rate is not within the heart rate zone are communicated to the user via a watch device.

19. The method of instructing a user to maintain a heart rate recited in claim 18, wherein the communication of the instructions to the watch device are at least one of audio and visual instructions.

24. A portable electronic console, comprising:

a heart rate sensor for determining a heart rate of a user;

an electronic device for attachment to the user, the electronic device in electronic communication with the heart rate sensor; and

a computing system having;

a processor; and

a memory for storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing system to;

instruct a user to exercise at a first level of exertion;

obtain a first representative heart rate for the user after instructing the user to exercise at the first level of exertion;

designate the first representative heart rate as a lower limit value for a heart rate zone;

instruct a user to exercise at a second level of exertion more strenuous than the first level of exertion;

obtain a second representative heart rate for the user after instructing the user to exercise at the second level of exertion; and

designate the second representative heart rate as an upper limit value for the heart rate zone.

25. The portable electronic console recited in claim 24, further comprising a speed and distance sensor for determining the speed and distance of the user and wherein the speed and distance sensor is in electronic communication with the electronic device.

26. The portable electronic console recited in claim 25, wherein the electronic device includes an output element for outputting the data sensed by the heart rate sensor, the speed and distance sensor, and the instructions to the user to exercise.

27. The portable electronic console recited in claim 26, wherein the output element is one or both of audio and visual output.

28. The portable electronic console recited in claim 24, wherein the electronic device is a watch.

30. The portable electronic console recited in claim 28, wherein the electronic device outputs the instructions to exercise to the user by one or both of audio or visual output.

29. A portable electronic console, comprising:

a plurality of sensors including at least one heart rate sensor for determining a heart rate of a user;

an electronic device for attachment to the user, the electronic device in electronic communication with each of the sensors; and

a computing system having;

a processor; and

a memory for storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing system to;

instruct a user to exercise at a first level of exertion;

obtain a first representative heart rate for the user after instructing the user to exercise at the first level of exertion;

designate the first representative heart rate as a lower limit value for a heart rate zone;

instruct a user to exercise at a second level of exertion more strenuous than the first level of exertion;

obtain a second representative heart rate for the user after instructing the user to exercise at the second level of exertion; and

designate the second representative heart rate as an upper limit value for the heart rate zone;

wherein the electronic device outputs the instructions to exercise to the user.