Athletic performance monitoring system and method

• US 7,251,454 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: White, Russell W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phu; Sanh D.
• Application Number:
  US11/448,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20060240865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/550.1, 455/553.1, 600/300, 600/309, 600/316, 600/365
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• 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 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• 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 2244/20 Swimming
• 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 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/10 : by using measurements of speed or acceleration G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 : for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 : Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 : Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 : Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 : specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 : Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 : for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 : with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 : including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 : including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

An athletic performance monitoring system and method are disclosed that assist a user in monitoring an athletic endeavor. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a local area wireless transceiver capable of receiving a signal from a motion sensor. A performance engine may be communicatively coupled to the local area wireless transceiver. In operation, the performance engine may utilize the signal from the motion sensor to generate a performance metric like average speed or distance traveled. The system may also include an output mechanism such as an audio device capable of presenting the performance metric to a user in an audible message while also being capable of playing an audio representation of music to the user.

Claims

1. An athletic monitoring system, comprising:

a music file player operable to store and play a music file;

a wireless transceiver communicatively coupled to the music file player and operable to receive a wireless communication from a motion sensor located remote from the music file player, wherein the wireless communication includes information about a step of a user;

a pedometer element operable to utilize the information about the step to generate a performance metric;

a performance engine operable to provide the user with an indication of the performance metric, wherein the indication comprises a spoken message that is transmitted to the user;

wherein the spoken message includes a human voice speaking at least two of a pace metric, a distance metric, and an elapsed time metric; and

an audio output mechanism operable to simultaneously output a song represented by the music file and the spoken message.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mounting system to secure a housing component for the music file player to an arm of the user, the mounting system comprising a strap.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising the sensor, wherein the sensor comprises a local area communication device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting system to secure a housing component for the music file player to an arm of the user;

the sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to be located in a location remote from the arm; and

a speaker assembly formed to interact with an ear of the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance metric is selected from a group consisting of a speed metric and a distance metric.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance metric takes into account a user stride length.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is fixed within a space at least partially formed by a housing component for the music file player.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a graphic on a display device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the music file player is operable to play an MP3 file.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory operable to maintain a collection of performance metrics.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an output interface configured to allow the collection of performance metrics to be transferred from the memory to a computing device.