Monitoring activity of a user in locomotion on foot

• US 7,428,472 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Blackadar, Thomas P., Darley, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, Jr.; John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US11/706,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 702/160, 702141-142, 702/144, 702/176, 735/97, 361/32, 361/36, 377/23, 377/24.2
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/24 Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 : using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 : using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 : Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 : Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• 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 2225/02 : Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 : Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02827 : Elastic parameters, strength or force
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 : for acceleration measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/08 : with conversion into electric or magnetic values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0922 : of the bending or flexing mode type
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 : for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

A device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing may monitor a performance parameter of the user. The performance parameter may comprise a pace and/or a speed of the user. Prior to the outing, the device may be configured to specify a first interval and second interval, corresponding to a first and second performance zone, respectively, for the outing. Each performance zone may be different from one another and each zone may comprise one of a zone of paces and a zone of speeds. During the first interval, an action may be taken with the device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter has fallen outside of the first performance zone. During the second interval, an action may be taken with the device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter has fallen outside the second performance zone.

Claims

1. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing, monitoring a performance parameter of the user comprising one of a pace of the user and a speed of the user;

(b) prior to the outing, configuring the at least one device to specify first and second intervals of the outing and corresponding first and second performance zones for the first and second intervals, wherein each of the first and second performance zones comprises one of a zone of paces and a zone of speeds and is different than the other of the first and second performance zones;

(c) during the first interval, taking an action with the at least one device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter of the user has fallen outside the first performance zone; and

(d) during the second interval, taking an action with the at least one device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter of the user has fallen outside the second performance zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step (c) comprises generating a user-perceptible output with the at least one device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter of the user has fallen outside of the first performance zone during the first interval; and

the step (d) comprises generating a user-perceptible output with the at least one device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter of the user has fallen outside of the second performance zone during the second interval.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second intervals comprises a particular amount of time.

4. The mehod of claim 1, wherein the first and second intervals comprise first and second particular amounts of time, respectively.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first particular amount of time is different than the second particular amount of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second intervals comprises a particular distance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second intervals comprise first and second particular distances, respectively.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first particular distance is different than the second particular distance.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b) comprises:

manipulating a computer to specify the first and second intervals and the first and second performance zones;

establishing a connection between the computer and the at least one device;

transferring information indicative of the specified first and second intervals and first and second performance zones from the computer to the at least one device via the connection; and

de-establishing the connection between the at least one device and the computer prior to the outing.

10. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing, monitoring a distance traveled by the user;

(b) prior to the outing, configuring the at least one device to specify first and second distance intervals that are different from one another;

(c) taking a first action with the at least one device in response to determining that the user has completed the first distance interval during the outing, wherein the first action includes generating a first user-perceptible output with the at least one device in response to determining that the user has completed the first distance interval during the outing; and

(d) taking a second action with the at least one device in response to determining that the user has completed the second distance interval during the outing, wherein the second action includes generating a second user-perceptible output with the at least one device in response to determining that the user has completed the second distance interval during the outing.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of:

(e) with the at least one device, indiciating to the user that the user should rest for a period of time after having completed the first distance interval and before beginning the second distance interval.

12. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing, monitoring a distance traveled by the user;

(b) prior to the outing, configuring the at least one device to specify first, second, and third distance intervals that are each different from one another;

(c) taking a first action with the at least one device in response to determining that the user has completed the first distance interval during the outing;

(d) taking a second action with the at least one device in response to determining that the user has completed the second distance interval during the outing; and

(e) taking a third action with the at least one device in response to determining that the user has completed the third distance interval during the outing.

13. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) with at least one device supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing, monitoring a distance traveled by the user and monitoring a heart rate of the user;

(b) prior to the outing, configuring the at least one device to specifiy first and second distance intervals that are different from one another and first and second heart rate zones that are different than one another;

(c) taking a first action with the at least one device in response to determining that the user has completed the first distance interval during the outing;

(d) taking a second action with the at least one device in response to determining that the user has completed the second distance interval during the outing;

(e) generating a first user-perceptible output with the at least one device in response to determining that an identified heart rate of the user has fallen outside the first heart rate zone during the first distance interval; and

(f) generating a second user-perceptible output with the at least one device in response to determining that an identified heart rate of the user has fallen outside the second heart rate zone during the second distance interval.

14. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing, monitoring a distance traveled by the user;

(b) prior to the outing, configuring the at least one device to specify first and second distance intervals that are different from one another, wherein this step includes;

(b1) manipulating a computer to specify the first and second distance intervals;

(b2) establishing a connection between the computer and the at least one device;

(b3) transferring information indicative of the specified first and second distance intervals from the computer to the at least one device via the connection; and

(b4) de-establishing the connection between the at least one device and the computer prior to the outing;

(c) taking a first action with the at least one device in response to determining that the user has completed the first distance interval during the outing; and

(d) taking a second action with the at least one device in response to determining that the user has completed the second distance interval during the outing.

15. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) monitoring a performance parameter of a user with at least one device supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing, the at least one device having at least one configurable operational characteristic;

(b) manipulating a computer to specify a particular configuration of the at least one configurable operational characteristic;

(c) establishing a connection between the computer and the at least one device;

(d) transferring information from the computer to the at least one device via the connection that causes the at least one device to take on the particular configuration of the at least one configurable operational characteristic; and

(e) de-establishing the connection between the computer and the at least one device prior to the outing.

16. The method of claim 15;

wherein;

the at least one configurable operational characteristic of the at least one device comprises a selected group of data items that are to be displayed simultaneously on a wristwatch in at least one mode of operation; and

the step (b) comprises manipulating the computer to specify which of a plurality of data items are to be included in the selected group.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the step (a) comprises monitoring a performance parameter of the user comprising one of a pace of a user and a speed of the user.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the at least one configurable operational characteristic of the at least one device comprises a performance zone comprising one of a zone of paces and a zone of speeds;

the step (b) comprises manipulating the computer to specify the performance zone; and

the step (a) further comprises taking an action with the at least one device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter of the user has fallen outside of the specified performance zone.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step (a) further comprises generating a user-perceptible output with the at least one device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter of the user has fallen outside of the specified performance zone.