Multi-Sensor Monitoring of Athletic Performance

• US 20140330409A1
• Filed: 06/10/2014
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Case, Charles W. Jr., Martin, Jason P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,443,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• 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 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/75 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/08 other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 : Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 : wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 : Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 : with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving data relating to an athletic performance of an athlete;

detecting, by a sensor, one or more physical movements of the athlete; and

processing, by a processor, output from the sensor, wherein the sensor output is configured to provide control input to an audio, video, or display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a hand or arm mounted accelerometer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hand or arm mounted accelerometer is provided on a ring or bracelet worn by the athlete during the athletic performance.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a voice input system, data relating to one or more audio commands, wherein the audio, video, or display device is controlled based, at least in part, on the received data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to control media playback volume via the control input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to activate media playback via the control input.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a global positioning satellite receiver, data relating to a location of the athlete, wherein the portable audio, video, or display device is controlled based, at least in part, on the received location data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one feature of content played by the audio, video, or display device is adjusted based on approaching route conditions as determined using the received location data.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the audio, video, or display device selects content for playback during the athletic performance at a specific location when the global positioning satellite receiver indicates that the athlete has reached that specific location.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one feature of content played by the audio, video, or display device is adjusted when the received location data indicates that an athlete has fallen behind a predetermined pace.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein media playback speed for the audio, video, or display device is adjusted based on the received athletic performance data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable audio, video, or display device includes at least one of:

a cell phone, an MP3 player, and an arm/wrist worn display device.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus at least to perform:

receiving data relating to an athletic performance of an athlete;

detecting, by a sensor, one or more physical movements of the athlete; and

processing, by a processor, output from the sensor, wherein the sensor output is configured to provide control input to an audio, video, or display device.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a hand or arm mounted accelerometer.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the hand or arm mounted accelerometer is provided on a ring or bracelet worn by the athlete during the athletic performance.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the executable instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to perform:

receiving, from a voice input system, data relating to one or more audio commands, wherein the audio, video, or display device is controlled based, at least in part, on the received data.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the executable instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to perform:

receiving, from a global positioning satellite receiver, data relating to a location of the athlete, wherein the portable audio, video, or display device is controlled based, at least in part, on the received location data.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the audio, video, or display device selects content for playback during the athletic performance at a specific location when the global positioning satellite receiver indicates that the athlete has reached that specific location.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein at least one feature of content played by the audio, video, or display device is adjusted when the received location data indicates that an athlete has fallen behind a predetermined pace.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein media playback speed for the audio, video, or display device is adjusted based on the received athletic performance data.