Fitness Activity Monitoring Systems And Methods

• US 20130166048A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Black, Stephen John, Vaterlaus, Amy Jones, WERNER, Jon Harald, DiBenedetto, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 9,643,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• 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 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• 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 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/42 rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• 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: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 10/65 : Entertainment or amusement; Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 20/10 : relating to the environment, e.g. temperature; relating to location
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 40/60 : Positioning; Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods for tracking the location of an individual during a fitness activity are disclosed. A method of tracking a participant engaged in a fitness activity includes determining a location of the participant during the fitness activity based on data received at a portable fitness device used by the participant; determining a location of a spectator during the fitness activity based on data received at a mobile spectator device used by the spectator; from a server, sending an alert to a spectator at a spectator device during the fitness activity indicating that the participant is within a predetermined distance of the spectator; and sending an alert to the portable fitness device during the fitness activity indicating that the spectator is within a predetermined distance of the participant.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a participant engaged in a fitness activity, comprising:

determining a location of the participant during the fitness activity based on data received at a portable fitness device used by the participant;

determining a location of a spectator during the fitness activity based on data received at a mobile spectator device used by the spectator; and

from a server, sending an alert to the portable fitness device during the fitness activity indicating that the spectator is within a predetermined distance of the participant.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an alert to the spectator at the spectator device during the fitness activity indicating that the participant is within a predetermined distance of the spectator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert sent to the portable fitness device indicates a location of the spectator.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of at a server, receiving participant location information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fitness activity includes a predetermined route.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fitness activity is a competitive event including a plurality of participants.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the fitness activity is a marathon.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fitness activity is a fitness activity scheduled by the participant.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fitness activity includes as route created by the participant.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the alert sent to the participant and the alert sent to the spectator is a visual alert.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the alert sent to the participant and the alert sent to the spectator is an audible alert.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the alert sent to the participant and the alert sent to the spectator is a tactile alert.

13. The method of claim 2, Wherein the alert sent to the spectator indicates the distance from the spectator to the participant.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the alert sent to the spectator indicates an estimated time of arrival of the participant at the spectator location.

15. A method of tracking an individual using a portable fitness device during a fitness activity, comprising:

at a server, receiving fitness activity registration information from a spectator of a fitness activity, wherein the registration information includes information about a participant in the fitness activity;

determining a location of the participant during the fitness activity using the portable fitness device; and

sending an alert to the portable fitness device during the fitness activity that a predetermined spectator parameter threshold has been reached.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, from the portable device, sending an invitation to the spectator to register for tracking the participant.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined spectator parameter is distance based.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the alert indicates that the spectator is within a predetermined distance of the participant.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined spectator parameter is time based.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining that the predetermined spectator parameter threshold has been reached based on athletic performance data about the participant.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the alert is sent from a server.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the registration information is received before the fitness activity.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising sending an alert to the spectator when the participant is within a predetermined distance of the spectator.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more of the spectator, the participant, and the fitness activity are associated with a social network accessible by a plurality of users via the Internet.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the social network is associated with a fitness database accessible by a plurality of users via the Internet.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the spectator and the participant are connected via the social network.

27. A method of tracking a participant using a portable fitness device during a fitness activity, comprising;

from a server, prior to the fitness activity sending an invitation to a spectator to participate in tracking the participant during the fitness activity, wherein the spectator is a member of a social network accessible by the spectator and the participant via the Internet;

at a server, receiving an acceptance of the invitation from the spectator;

determining a location of the participant during the fitness activity using the portable fitness device;

determining a location of the spectator during the fitness activity using a mobile spectator device; and

from a server, sending an alert to the portable fitness device during the fitness activity indicating that the spectator is within a predetermined distance of the participant.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising sending an alert to the spectator at the spectator device during the fitness activity indicating that the participant is within a predetermined distance of the spectator.

29. A method of tracking a participant engaged in a fitness activity, comprising:

determining a location of the participant during the fitness activity based on data received at a portable fitness device used by the participant;

determining a location of a spectator during the fitness activity based on data received at a mobile spectator device used by the spectator; and

from a server, sending an alert to the spectator at the spectator device during the fitness activity indicating that the participant is within a predetermined distance of the spectator.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising sending an alert to the portable fitness device during the fitness activity indicating that the spectator is within a predetermined distance of the participant.

31. A method of tracking a participant using a portable fitness device during a fitness activity, comprising:

from a server, prior to the fitness activity sending an invitation to a spectator to participate in tracking the participant during the fitness activity, wherein the spectator is a member of a social network accessible by the spectator and the participant via the Internet;

at a server, receiving an acceptance of the invitation from the spectator;

determining a location of the participant during the fitness activity using the portable fitness device; and

from a server, sending an alert to a spectator at a spectator device during the fitness activity indicating that the participant is within a predetermined distance of the spectator.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising sending an alert to the portable fitness device during the fitness activity indicating that the spectator is within a predetermined distance of the participant.

33. A method of tracking a participant engaged in a fitness activity, comprising:

determining a location of the participant during the fitness activity based on data received at a portable fitness device used by the participant;

determining a location of a spectator during the fitness activity based on data received at a mobile spectator device used by the spectator;

from a server, sending an alert to the portable fitness device during the fitness activity indicating that the spectator is within a predetermined distance of the participant.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising sending an alert to the spectator at the spectator device during the fitness activity indicating that the participant is within a predetermined distance of the spectator.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the alert sent to the portable fitness device indicates a location of the spectator.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of at a server, receiving participant location information.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of at a server, receiving participant location information.

38. The method of any of the preceding claims 33-37, wherein the fitness activity includes a predetermined route.

39. The method of any of the preceding claims 33-37, wherein the fitness activity is a competitive event including a plurality of participants.

40. The method of any of the preceding claims 33-37, wherein the fitness activity is a competitive marathon.

41. The method of any of the preceding claims 33-37, wherein the fitness activity is a fitness activity scheduled by the participant.

42. The method of any of the preceding claims 33-37, wherein the fitness activity includes a route created by the participant.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein at least one of the alert sent to the participant and the alert sent to the spectator includes one or more of a visual alert, an audible alert and a tactile alert.

44. The method of claim 34, wherein the alert sent to the spectator indicates the distance from the spectator to the participant or an estimated time of arrival of the participant at the spectator location.

45. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

at a server, receiving fitness activity registration information from a spectator of the fitness activity, wherein the registration information includes information about a participant in the fitness activity; and

sending an alert to the portable fitness device during the fitness activity that a predetermined spectator parameter threshold has been reached.

46. The method of claim 33, further comprising, from the portable device, sending an invitation to the spectator to register for tracking the participant.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the predetermined spectator parameter is distance based.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising determining that the predetermined spectator parameter threshold has been reached based on athletic performance data about the participant.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the registration information is received before the fitness activity.

50. The method of claim 33, wherein one or more of the spectator, the participant, and the fitness activity are associated with a social network accessible by a plurality of users via the Internet.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the spectator and the participant are connected via the social network.

52. A system for tracking a participant engaged in a fitness activity, adapted for performing a method in accordance with claim 33.

53. A computer program comprising instructions for implementing a method in accordance with claim 33.

54. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer useable medium having computer program logic stored therein for causing one or more processors to track a participant engaged in a fitness activity, the computer program logic comprising:

first computer readable program code for determining a location of the participant during the fitness activity based on data received at a portable fitness device used by the participant;

second computer readable program code for determining a location of a spectator during the fitness activity based on data received at a mobile spectator device used by the spectator; and

third computer readable program code for sending an alert to the portable fitness device during the fitness activity indicating that the spectator is within a predetermined distance of the participant.