BICYCLE COMPUTER HAVING POSITION-DETERMINING FUNCTIONALITY

• US 20120109511A1
• Filed: 01/12/2012
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Swisher, Sarah L., Lovitt, John H., Downey, David J., Stevenson, Claudette D.
• Application Number:
  US13/349,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20120109511A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/221 Ergometry, e.g. by using bicycle type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0641 with a marker advancing in function of the exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• 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 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 : for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications

Abstract

A bicycle computer having position-determining functionality is described. In an implementation, an apparatus includes a housing configured to attach to a bicycle. The apparatus has one or more modules to store training metrics of a user of the bicycle as a function of geographic position.

Claims

1. A bicycle computer comprising:

a display;

a position receiver;

a communications module operable to wirelessly communicate with a second bicycle computer of another rider to receive current position and metrics data from the second bicycle computer;

a memory operable to store one or more modules; and

a processing system coupled to the display, position receiver, and memory, the processing system operable to execute the one or more modules to;

determine a current position of the bicycle computer,

store metrics data in memory,

communicate information to the second bicycle computer, the communicated information including the determined current position and stored metrics data of the bicycle computer, and

cause navigation information to be presented by the display, the navigation information including a map, the determined current position of the bicycle computer, and the communicated current position of the second bicycle computer.

2. The bicycle computer as described in claim 1, wherein the communications module is further operable to wirelessly communicate with a team car, wherein the communicated information includes the determined current position of the bicycle computer.

3. The bicycle computer as described in claim 2, wherein the stored metrics data includes at least one of distance, time, speed, incline or altitude gain of a plurality of positions.

4. The bicycle computer as described in claim 3, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to store the metrics data in memory as a function of position and output the stored metrics data at a similar position at a later time.

5. The bicycle computer as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are further operable to poll the second bicycle computer for information, the polled information including a current position of the second bicycle computer, wherein the navigation information presented on the display includes the polled current position of the second bicycle computer.

6. The bicycle computer as described in claim 5, wherein the second bicycle computer is polled for information using a challenge and response technique.

7. The bicycle computer as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are further operable to determine a current position of a second bicycle computer capable of communicating with the bicycle computer.

8. The bicycle computer as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to calculate an arrival time to a destination, wherein the communicated information includes the calculated arrival time and the position of the destination.

9. The bicycle computer as described in claim 1, wherein the communications module is further operable to wirelessly communicate with an aid station.

10. The bicycle computer as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are configured to present heart rate, cadence and power output on the display.

11. A method for presenting navigation information on a bicycle computer, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining, using a processing system associated with the bicycle computer and coupled to a position receiver, a current position of the bicycle computer, wherein the processing system is operable to execute one or more modules stored in a memory;

b) storing, using the processing system, metrics data in the memory;

c) wirelessly communicating, using the processing system coupled with a communications module, with a second bicycle computer of another rider to receive current position and metrics data from the second bicycle computer;

d) wirelessly communicating, using the processing system coupled with a communications module, information to the second bicycle computer, wherein the communicated information includes the determined current position and stored metrics data of the bicycle computer; and

e) causing, using the processing system and a display associated with the bicycle computer, navigation information to be presented by the display, wherein the presented navigation information includes a map, the determined current position of the bicycle computer, and the communicated current position of the second bicycle computer.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of wirelessly communicating, using the communications module, with a team car, wherein the communicated information includes the determined current position of the bicycle computer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the stored metrics data includes at least one of distance, time, speed, incline or altitude gain of a plurality of positions.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of storing, using the one or more modules, the metrics data in memory as a function of position and outputting the stored metrics data on the display at a similar position at a later time.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of polling, using the wherein the one or more modules, the second bicycle computer for information, wherein the polled information includes a current position of the second bicycle computer, wherein the navigation information presented on the display includes the polled current position of the second bicycle computer.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of polling the second bicycle computer for information using a challenge and response technique.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of determining, using the wherein the one or more modules, a current position of a second bicycle computer capable of communicating with the bicycle computer.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of calculating, using the wherein the one or more modules, an arrival time to a destination, wherein the communicated information includes the calculated arrival time and the position of the destination.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications module is further operable to wirelessly communicate with an aid station.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of presenting, using the wherein the one or more modules, heart rate, cadence and power output on the display.