SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATED WORKOUT REMINDERS

• US 20100197463A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rottler, Benjamin, Haughay, Allen P. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 9,067,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• 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 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a user'"'"'s progress towards a workout goal spanning multiple workouts and providing a workout reminder based on the progress. An electronic device can monitor the user'"'"'s progress towards the goal by monitoring the user'"'"'s rate of motion and/or one or more physiological parameters of the user. Based on the user'"'"'s progress towards the goal, the electronic device can provide a workout reminder. For example, if a user'"'"'s progress is not sufficient to achieve the workout goal, the electronic device may provide a reminder to the user. The reminder can include a visual and/or audio alert to the user, and the reminder may interrupt other functions on the device.

Claims

1. A method for providing an automated workout reminder for a goal spanning multiple workouts, the method comprising:

monitoring a user'"'"'s progress towards a goal spanning multiple workouts;

determining whether the user is working out; and

providing a reminder through the user'"'"'s portable electronic device in response to determining that the user is not working out.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input specifying the goal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the goal comprises a metric selected from the group consisting of:

distance traversed;

time spent working out;

number of workouts;

number of exercise repetitions; and

calories burned.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the goal comprises a deadline for achieving the goal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the user'"'"'s progress towards the goal comprises monitoring the user'"'"'s rate of motion during a workout.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the user'"'"'s progress towards the goal comprises monitoring the user'"'"'s physiological parameters during a workout.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether it is a suitable time for working out; and

wherein the providing further comprises providing in response to determining that it is a suitable time for working out.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the user is near a suitable location for working out; and

wherein the providing further comprises providing in response to determining that the user is near a suitable location for working out.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user is working out comprises determining the mode of the user'"'"'s portable electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the reminder comprises interrupting other functions being performed by the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the reminder comprises providing a summary of the user'"'"'s progress towards the goal.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating whether the user'"'"'s progress is sufficient to achieve the goal; and

wherein the providing further comprises providing in response to determining that the calculated user'"'"'s progress is not sufficient to achieve the goal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

storing goal progress data based on the monitored user'"'"'s progress towards the goal, wherein the calculating comprises;

accessing goal data representing the goal; and

comparing the goal progress data to the goal data.

14. An electronic device for providing an automated workout reminder for a goal spanning multiple workouts, the electronic device comprising:

storage operable to store goal data representing a user'"'"'s goal and goal progress data representing the user'"'"'s progress towards the goal;

control circuitry coupled to the storage circuitry and operable to compare the stored goal progress data and stored goal data; and

output circuitry coupled to the control circuitry and operable to provide an output to remind the user to work out.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the control circuitry and operable to monitor the user'"'"'s rate of motion during a workout, wherein the control circuitry is operable to generate new goal progress data based on the user'"'"'s rate of motion.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the control circuitry and operable to monitor the user'"'"'s physiological parameter during a workout, wherein the control circuitry is operable to generate new goal progress data based on the user'"'"'s physiological parameters.

17. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:

communications circuitry coupled to the control circuitry and operable to communicate with an external sensor, wherein;

the external sensor is operable to monitor the user'"'"'s rate of motion during a workout; and

the control circuitry is operable to generate new goal progress data based on the user'"'"'s rate of motion.

18. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:

audio output circuitry coupled to the control circuitry and operable to provide a reminder to the user when.

19. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the control circuitry is operable to instruct the output circuitry to provide an output in response to determining that the stored goal progress data represents a rate of progress that is insufficient to achieve a goal represented by the goal data.

20. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:

positioning circuitry coupled to the control circuitry and operable to determine the location of the device, wherein the control circuitry is operable to instruct the output circuitry to provide an output in response to determining that the device is near a suitable location for working out.

21. A method for providing an automated workout reminder for a goal spanning multiple workouts, the method comprising:

receiving a user input specifying a goal spanning multiple workouts;

storing goal data representing the goal;

monitoring a user'"'"'s progress towards the goal;

storing goal progress data representing the user'"'"'s progress towards the goal;

comparing the goal progress data to the goal data to determine if the user'"'"'s progress is sufficient to achieve the goal; and

providing a reminder through the user'"'"'s portable electronic device in response to determining that the user'"'"'s progress is not sufficient to achieve the goal.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining whether it is a suitable time for working out; and

wherein the providing further comprises providing in response to determining that it is a suitable time for working out.

23. A computer readable medium for an electronic device, the computer readable medium comprising:

a first instruction code for monitoring a user'"'"'s progress towards a goal spanning multiple workouts;

a second instruction code for determining whether the user is working out; and

a third instruction code for providing a reminder through the user'"'"'s portable electronic device in response to determining that the user is not working out.