REAL-TIME EVENT FEEDBACK

• US 20130231760A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: ROSEN, Eric C., HENNENFENT, Susan M., GILL, Harleen K., BREWER, Beth A., ANDERSON, Matthew K., KEMLER, Vincent M., DEPRATT, Natalie A., LEUNG, Lauren K., PARIKH, Hemish
• Granted Patent: US 9,330,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/91
• 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: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/40 Data acquisition and logging for input to computer G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices are provided for presenting event feedback information regarding participants to an event. A first radio of a first participant device carried by a first participant receives a first checkpoint communication from a checkpoint device at a first checkpoint located along a first course of the event. The first checkpoint communication includes a first checkpoint identifier and a first event time reflecting when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint. A first checkpoint event time is determined based upon the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time. Also, the first checkpoint event time is displayed on the first participant device. Further, a checkpoint device and an event server may be used to in presenting the event feedback information.

Claims

1. A device for presenting feedback information associated with an event participant, the device comprising:

a first structure adapted to be carried by a first participant during an event;

a first radio connected to the first structure and configured to receive a first checkpoint communication from a checkpoint device at a first checkpoint located along a first course of the event, the first checkpoint communication including a first checkpoint identifier and a first event time reflecting when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint;

a processor connected to the first structure and the first radio, the processor configured to determine a first participant elapsed time based upon a first participant event start time and the first event time; and

a display connected to the first structure and adapted to present the first participant elapsed time on the first radio.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second radio connected to the first structure and adapted to transmit a participant status from the device to an event server, the participant status including the first participant elapsed time, the second radio adapted to receive event feedback including at least one of a ranking of the first participant and information regarding at least one second participant, the display being configured to present at least a portion of the event feedback on the first radio.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one second radio connected to the first structure and adapted to receive at least one of GPS location information and physiological data associated with the first participant.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second structure remote from the first structure; and

a second radio connected to the second structure and adapted to receive at least one of GPS location information and physiological data associated with the first participant.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first radio receives at least one of an RFID signal and an ANT signal.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the display presenting the first participant elapsed time is changed in response to the event feedback indicating an official participant elapsed time corresponding to when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint that is different from the first participant elapsed time.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second radio connected to the first structure, the second radio configured to be powered on in response to the first radio being within a predetermined distance of the first checkpoint.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the second radio is configured to transmit a request for a second checkpoint event time in response to determining the device has passed a second checkpoint without receiving a second checkpoint communication.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the second radio is configured to transmit at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time to a second device adapted to be carried by the first participant during the event, the second device being disposed on the first participant remote from the first structure.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time are transmitted by the second radio to the second device adapted to be carried by the first participant during the event, the at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time being regularly transmitted until a second checkpoint communication is received by the first radio from a second checkpoint located along the first course of the event.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the first radio is adapted to scan for at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time in response to a determination that the first checkpoint is within a predetermined distance.

12. A method of presenting feedback information associated with an event participant, the method comprising:

receiving by a first radio of a first participant device carried by a first participant a first checkpoint communication from a checkpoint device at a first checkpoint located along a first course of an event, the first checkpoint communication including a first checkpoint identifier and a first event time reflecting when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint;

determining a first participant elapsed time based upon a first participant event start time and the first event time; and

displaying the first participant elapsed time on the first participant device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting a participant status from the first participant device using a second radio of the first participant device to an event server, the participant status including the first participant elapsed time;

receiving an event feedback including at least one of a ranking of the first participant and information regarding at least one second participant; and

displaying at least a portion of the event feedback on the first participant device.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving by at least one second radio carried by the first participant, at least one of GPS location information and physiological data associated with the first participant.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second radio is part of a second participant device disposed on the first participant remote from the first participant device.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving an RFID signal and an ANT signal at the first participant device, wherein one of the RFID signal and the ANT signal is received by the first radio.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

changing the first participant elapsed time displayed on the first participant device in response to the event feedback indicating an official participant elapsed time corresponding to when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint that is different from the first participant elapsed time.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

powering on at least one of a second radio and a third radio of the first participant device in response to the first participant device being within a predetermined distance of the first checkpoint.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting a request for a second checkpoint event time in response to determining the first participant device has passed a second checkpoint without receiving a second checkpoint communication.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time to a second participant device carried by the first participant during the event, the second participant device being disposed on the first participant remote from the first participant device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time are transmitted by the first participant device to the second participant device regularly until a second checkpoint communication is received by the first participant device from a second checkpoint located along the first course of the event.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein a scan is initiated by the second participant device for at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time in response to determining that the first checkpoint is within a predetermined distance from at least one of the first participant device and the second participant device.

23. A device for presenting feedback information associated with an event participant, the device comprising:

means for receiving by a first radio of a first participant device carried by a first participant a first checkpoint communication from a checkpoint device at a first checkpoint located along a first course of an event, the first checkpoint communication including a first checkpoint identifier and a first event time reflecting when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint;

means for determining a first participant elapsed time based upon a first participant event start time and the first event time; and

means for displaying the first participant elapsed time on the first participant device.

24. The device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for transmitting a participant status from the first participant device using a second radio of the first participant device to an event server, the participant status including the first participant elapsed time; and

means for receiving an event feedback including at least one of a ranking of the first participant and information regarding at least one second participant, wherein the means for displaying is configured to present at least a portion of the event feedback on the first participant device.

25. The device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving by at least one second radio carried by the first participant, at least one of GPS location information and physiological data associated with the first participant.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the second radio is part of a second participant device disposed on the first participant remote from the first participant device.

27. The device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving an RFID signal and an ANT signal at the first participant device, wherein one of the RFID signal and the ANT signal is received by the first radio.

28. The device of claim 24, further comprising:

means for changing the first participant elapsed time displayed on the first participant device in response to the event feedback indicating an official participant elapsed time corresponding to when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint that is different from the first participant elapsed time.

29. The device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for powering on at least one of a second radio and a third radio of the first participant device in response to the first participant device being within a predetermined distance of the first checkpoint.

30. The device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for transmitting a request for a second checkpoint event time in response to determining the first participant device has passed a second checkpoint without receiving a second checkpoint communication.

31. The device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for transmitting at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time to a second participant device carried by the first participant during the event, the second participant device being disposed on the first participant remote from the first participant device.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time are transmitted by the first participant device to the second participant device regularly until a second checkpoint communication is received by the first participant device from a second checkpoint located along the first course of the event.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein a scan is initiated by the second participant device for at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time in response to determining that the first checkpoint is within a predetermined distance from at least one of the first participant device and the second participant device.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a wireless communication device processor to perform operations, comprising:

receiving by a first radio of a first participant device carried by a first participant a first checkpoint communication from a checkpoint device at a first checkpoint located along a first course of an event, the first checkpoint communication including a first checkpoint identifier and a first event time reflecting when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint;

determining a first participant elapsed time based upon a first participant event start time and the first event time; and

displaying the first participant elapsed time on the first participant device.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting a participant status from the first participant device using a second radio of the first participant device to an event server, the participant status including the first participant elapsed time;

receiving an event feedback including at least one of a ranking of the first participant and information regarding at least one second participant; and

displaying at least a portion of the event feedback on the first participant device.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving by at least one second radio carried by the first participant, at least one of GPS location information and physiological data associated with the first participant.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations such that the second radio is part of a second participant device disposed on the first participant remote from the first participant device.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving an RFID signal and an ANT signal at the first participant device, wherein one of the RFID signal and the ANT signal is received by the first radio.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

changing the first participant elapsed time displayed on the first participant device in response to the event feedback indicating an official participant elapsed time corresponding to when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint that is different from the first participant elapsed time.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

powering on at least one of a second radio and a third radio of the first participant device in response to the first participant device being within a predetermined distance of the first checkpoint.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting a request for a second checkpoint event time in response to determining the first participant device has passed a second checkpoint without receiving a second checkpoint communication.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time to a second participant device carried by the first participant during the event, the second participant device being disposed on the first participant remote from the first participant device.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations such that at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time are transmitted by the first participant device to the second participant device regularly until a second checkpoint communication is received by the first participant device from a second checkpoint located along the first course of the event.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations such that a scan is initiated by the second participant device for at least one of the first checkpoint identifier and the first event time in response to determining that the first checkpoint is within a predetermined distance from at least one of the first participant device and the second participant device.

45. A device for providing event feedback associated with a first participant of an event, the method comprising:

an event server adapted to maintain an official event time during the event;

a transmitter operatively coupled to the event server and configured to transmit a first time value based on the official event time to a first checkpoint located along a first course of the event relative to when the first participant started the event; and

a receiver operatively coupled to the event server and configured to receive a first participant elapsed time from the first checkpoint using a first communication network, the first participant elapsed time based on the first time value and when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint, the receiver further configured to receive a participant status transmitted from a first participant device carried by the first participant during the event, the participant status received by way of a second communication network bypassing the first checkpoint, the participant status including a second participant elapsed time based upon when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint relative to when the first participant started the event.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit official event data from the event server to the first participant device by way of the second communication network, the official event data including a ranking of the first participant.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein the second communication network includes a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) and the first participant device includes a WWAN transceiver.

48. The device of claim 45, wherein the participant status includes at least one of GPS location information identifying a geographic location of the first participant and physiological data of the first participant.

49. The device of claim 45, further comprising:

a checkpoint detector at the first checkpoint configured to detect the first participant device being within a predetermined distance from the first checkpoint; and

a checkpoint transmitter at the first checkpoint configured to transmit from the first checkpoint a first checkpoint communication to a first radio of the first participant device, the first checkpoint communication including a first checkpoint identifier and a first checkpoint event time associated with when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint relative to the official event time, the checkpoint transmitter configured to transmit the first participant elapsed time based upon the first checkpoint event time and a first participant event start time.

50. The device of claim 49, further comprising:

a checkpoint processor configured to determine a participant identifier associated with the first participant device in response to the first participant device being detected at the first checkpoint, the checkpoint processor configured to establish a solid channel connection between the first checkpoint and the first participant device using the participant identifier.

51. The device of claim 45, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a request for at least one of the first time value and the first participant elapsed time, the request transmitted from the first participant device.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit at least one of the first time value and an official participant elapsed time to a second radio of the first participant device by way of the second communication network.

53. The device of claim 45, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the first time value based on the official event time to a third checkpoint located on a second course of the event, the receiver configured to receive the second participant elapsed time associated with a second participant transmitted from at least one of the third checkpoint and a second participant device worn by the second participant.

54. The device of claim 45, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit official event data to a remote user interface viewable by a non-participant of the event during the event, wherein the official event data includes at least one of the official event time, a first participant start time, the first participant elapsed time, the second participant elapsed time, the physiological data, the location information and a participant ranking.

55. A method of providing event feedback associated with a first participant of an event, the method comprising:

maintaining at an event server an official event time during the event;

transmitting from the event server a first time value based on the official event time to a first checkpoint located along a first course of the event relative to when the first participant started the event;

receiving at the event server a first participant elapsed time from the first checkpoint using a first communication network, the first participant elapsed time based on the first time value and when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint; and

receiving at the event server a participant status transmitted from a first participant device carried by the first participant during the event, the participant status received by way of a second communication network bypassing the first checkpoint, the participant status including a second participant elapsed time based upon when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint relative to when the first participant started the event.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

transmitting official event data from the event server to the first participant device by way of the second communication network, the official event data including a ranking of the first participant.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the second communication network includes a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) and the first participant device includes a WWAN transceiver.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein the participant status includes at least one of GPS location information identifying a geographic location of the first participant and physiological data of the first participant.

59. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

detecting at the first checkpoint the first participant device being within a predetermined distance from the first checkpoint;

transmitting from the first checkpoint a first checkpoint communication to a first radio of the first participant device, the first checkpoint communication including a first checkpoint identifier and a first checkpoint event time associated with when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint relative to the official event time; and

transmitting from the first checkpoint the first participant elapsed time based upon the first checkpoint event time and a first participant event start time.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

determining a participant identifier associated with the first participant device in response to the first participant device being detected at the first checkpoint; and

establishing a solid channel connection between the first checkpoint and the first participant device using the participant identifier.

61. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

receiving at the event server a request for at least one of the first time value and the first participant elapsed time, the request transmitted from the first participant device.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

transmitting from the event server at least one of the first time value and an official participant elapsed time to a second radio of the first participant device by way of the second communication network.

63. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

transmitting from the event server the first time value based on the official event time to a third checkpoint located on a second course of the event; and

receiving at the event server the second participant elapsed time associated with a second participant transmitted from at least one of the third checkpoint and a second participant device worn by the second participant.

64. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

transmitting official event data from the event server to a remote user interface viewable by a non-participant of the event during the event, wherein the official event data includes at least one of the official event time, a first participant start time, the first participant elapsed time, the second participant elapsed time, the physiological data, the location information and a participant ranking.

65. A device for providing event feedback associated with a first participant of an event, the device comprising:

means for maintaining at an event server an official event time during the event;

means for transmitting from the event server a first time value based on the official event time to a first checkpoint located along a first course of the event relative to when the first participant started the event;

means for receiving at the event server a first participant elapsed time from the first checkpoint using a first communication network, the first participant elapsed time based on the first time value and when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint; and

means for receiving at the event server a participant status transmitted from a first participant device carried by the first participant during the event, the participant status received by way of a second communication network bypassing the first checkpoint, the participant status including a second participant elapsed time based upon when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint relative to when the first participant started the event.

66. The device of claim 65, further comprising:

means for transmitting official event data from the event server to the first participant device by way of the second communication network, the official event data including a ranking of the first participant.

67. The device of claim 65, wherein the second communication network includes a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) and the first participant device includes a WWAN transceiver.

68. The device of claim 65, wherein the participant status includes at least one of GPS location information identifying a geographic location of the first participant and physiological data of the first participant.

69. The device of claim 65, further comprising:

means for detecting at the first checkpoint the first participant device being within a predetermined distance from the first checkpoint;

second means for transmitting from the first checkpoint a first checkpoint communication to a first radio of the first participant device, the first checkpoint communication including a first checkpoint identifier and a first checkpoint event time associated with when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint relative to the official event time; and

third means for transmitting from the first checkpoint the first participant elapsed time based upon the first checkpoint event time and a first participant event start time.

70. The device of claim 69, further comprising:

means for determining a participant identifier associated with the first participant device in response to the first participant device being detected at the first checkpoint; and

means for establishing a solid channel connection between the first checkpoint and the first participant device using the participant identifier.

71. The device of claim 65, further comprising:

means for receiving at the event server a request for at least one of the first time value and the first participant elapsed time, the request transmitted from the first participant device.

72. The device of claim 71, further comprising:

second means for transmitting from the event server at least one of the first time value and an official participant elapsed time to a second radio of the first participant device by way of the second communication network.

73. The device of claim 65, further comprising:

second means for transmitting from the event server the first time value based on the official event time to a third checkpoint located on a second course of the event; and

second means for receiving at the event server the second participant elapsed time associated with a second participant transmitted from at least one of the third checkpoint and a second participant device worn by the second participant.

74. The device of claim 65, further comprising:

second means for transmitting the official event data from the event server to a remote user interface viewable by a non-participant of the event during the event, wherein the official event data includes at least one of the official event time, a first participant start time, the first participant elapsed time, the second participant elapsed time, the physiological data, the location information and a participant ranking.

75. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a wireless communication device processor to perform operations, comprising:

maintaining at an event server an official event time during an event;

transmitting from the event server a first time value based on the official event time to a first checkpoint located along a first course of the event relative to when a first participant started the event;

receiving at the event server a first participant elapsed time from the first checkpoint using a first communication network, the first participant elapsed time based on the first time value and when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint; and

receiving at the event server a participant status transmitted from a first participant device carried by the first participant during the event, the participant status received by way of a second communication network bypassing the first checkpoint, the participant status including a second participant elapsed time based upon when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint relative to when the first participant started the event.

76. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting official event data from the event server to the first participant device by way of the second communication network, the official event data including a ranking of the first participant.

77. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations such that the second communication network includes a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) and the first participant device includes a WWAN transceiver.

78. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations such that the participant status includes at least one of GPS location information identifying a geographic location of the first participant and physiological data of the first participant.

79. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

detecting at the first checkpoint the first participant device being within a predetermined distance from the first checkpoint;

transmitting from the first checkpoint a first checkpoint communication to a first radio of the first participant device, the first checkpoint communication including a first checkpoint identifier and a first checkpoint event time associated with when the first participant crossed the first checkpoint relative to the official event time; and

transmitting from the first checkpoint the first participant elapsed time based upon the first checkpoint event time and when the first participant started the event.

80. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining a participant identifier associated with the first participant device in response to the first participant device being detected at the first checkpoint; and

establishing a solid channel connection between the first checkpoint and the first participant device using the participant identifier.

81. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving at the event server a request for at least one of the first time value and the first participant elapsed time, the request transmitted from the first participant device.

82. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 81, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting from the event server at least one of the first time value and an official participant elapsed time to a second radio of the first participant device by way of the second communication network.

83. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting from the event server the first time value based on the official event time to a third checkpoint located on a second course of the event; and

receiving at the event server the second participant elapsed time associated with a second participant transmitted from at least one of the third checkpoint and a second participant device worn by the second participant.

84. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the wireless communication device processor to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting official event data from the event server to a remote user interface viewable by the non-participant of the event during the event, wherein the official event data includes at least one of the official event time, when the first participant started the event, the first participant elapsed time, the second participant elapsed time, the physiological data, the location information and a participant ranking.