Portable media device with workout support

• US 7,643,895 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gupta, Sandeep, Archibald, John Wesley, Marriott, Greg, Sprauer, Max, Shayer, David A., Wells, Shannon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Briney, III; Walter F
• Application Number:
  US11/439,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482/3, 482/4, 482/8, 482/9, 700/94
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/50 with sound or music sources
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• 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 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• 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 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• 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: G11B 27/105 : of operating discs

Abstract

Improved techniques and systems for utilizing a portable electronic device to monitor, process, present and manage data captured by a remote sensor are disclosed. The portable electronic device offers a convenient user interface that can be visual and/or audio based customized to a particular application, user-friendly and/or dynamic. The portable electronic device can pertain to a portable media player and thus also provide media playback.

Claims

1. A method for using a portable media player, comprising:

(a) selecting a workout template that characterizes a workout to be performed by a user of the portable media player;

(b) using the workout template to select workout music to be utilized for the workout; and

(b1) modifying the operation of the portable media player using the workout template, the modifying comprising;

(c) receiving, processing and storing workout data acquired from a sensor;

(d) playing the workout music;

(e) presenting at least a portion of the workout data to the user; and

(e1) modifying the workout template based at least on the presented workout data.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said modifying (e1) is based upon the workout template.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(f) repeating the acts of (c)-(e1) until the workout has ended.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the acts of (c) and (d) are concurrently performed.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said method further comprises:

(g) displaying workout summary data once the workout has ended.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the workout data pertains to at least distance traveled.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the workout music is a plurality of songs.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining (b) includes receiving a user selection of a list of available playlists that can be used as the workout music.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the workout music being played and the workout data being presented are determined by the workout template that is downloaded to the portable media player.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the portable media player includes a display for presenting at least a graphical user interface that enables the user of the portable media player to configure the portable media player and to monitor the workout undertaken by the user, comprising:

using a workout screen presented on the display by the user to select at least a workout type; and

presenting a workout characteristics screen on the display in response to the user selection of the workout type, said workout characteristics screen enabling the user to select at least one workout characteristic for the workout of the workout type.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said graphical user interface comprises:

a workout music screen presented on the display of the portable media player said workout music screen enabling the user to select the plurality of songs to be played during the workout.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the plurality of songs is a predetermined playlist.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said workout music screen is presented on the display of the portable media player in response to the user selection of the at least one workout characteristic.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said graphical user interface comprises:

a workout start screen presented on the display of the portable media player said workout start screen enabling the user to signal the portable media player when the workout begins.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said graphical user interface comprises:

a workout progress screen presented on the display of the portable media player during at least a portion of the workout, said workout progress screen presenting substantially real-time workout data to the user.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said workout progress screen is presented on the display of the portable media player in response to the user signaling with respect to said workout start screen that the workout has begun.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the invention displayed in said workout progress screen is determined by a template associated with the workout.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface comprises:

a workout data selection screen presented on the display of the portable media player, said workout data selection screen enabling the user to provide a workout data selection so as to facilitate presentation of workout data from one or more prior workouts.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said graphical user interface comprises:

a workout data review screen presented on the display of the portable media player in response to the workout data selection, said workout data review screen presenting the workout data pertaining to one or more prior workouts.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the workout data selection is associated with one or more data categories.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein at least one of the data categories pertains to recent workouts, personal bests or total.

22. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said graphical user interface comprises:

a workout summary screen presented on the display of the portable media player when the workout ends, said workout summary screen presenting a summary of the workout data from the workout to the user.

23. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a user interface adapted to receive user inputs;

a memory device for storing at least digital media items including at least one song item; and

a processor coupled to the memory device and display arranged to respond to a user input received at the user interface by at least selecting a workout template that characterizes a workout selected by the user of the portable electronic device, using the workout template to select workout music to be utilized for the workout, modifying the operation of the portable electronic device using the workout template, and modifying the workout template in accordance user performance data.

24. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

a removable wireless interface device coupled to said portable electronic device; and

a remote wireless sensor.

25. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 24, wherein said remote wireless sensor is a wireless pedometer.

26. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 24, wherein said removable wireless interface device is an accessory for said portable electronic device.

27. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 24 wherein the memory device also stores at least a workout template for with a portable electronic device.

28. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 27, wherein, said template comprises:

a header including at least

an identification of what to display following a workout on a display associated with the portable electronic device; and

at least one interval including at least

an identification of what to display during at least an interval of the workout on the display associated with the portable electronic device;

an indication of what and when voice prompts are to be provided during at least the interval of the workout; and

an identification of what to display during at least the interval of a workout on the display associated with the portable electronic device.

29. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 28, wherein said at least one interval further comprises one or more of:

(i) a title for the workout, (ii) instructions for the workout, (iii) a workout category, and (iv) a goal for the workout.

30. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 29, wherein said at least one interval further including an indication of whether data recording using data from a remote should be performed.

31. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 23, wherein the modifying comprises:

receiving, processing and storing workout data acquired from a sensor, playing the workout music, presenting at least a portion of the workout data to the user on the display, and modifying the workout template based at least on the presented workout data.

32. Computer readable medium for storing computer code for using portable media player, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer code for selecting a workout template that characterizes a workout to be performed by a user of the portable media player;

computer code for using the workout template to select workout music to be utilized for the workout; and

computer code for modifying the operation of the portable media player using the workout template, the modifying comprising;

computer code for receiving, processing and storing workout data acquired from a sensor;

computer code for playing the workout music;

computer code for presenting at least a portion of the workout data to the user; and

computer code for modifying the workout template based at least on the presented workout data.

33. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 32, wherein the computer code for modifying comprises:

computer code for receiving, processing and storing workout data acquired from a sensor;

computer code for playing the workout music;

computer code for presenting at least a portion of the workout data to the user on the display; and

computer code for modifying the workout template based at least on the presented workout data.