Method, system, measurement device and receiving device for providing feedback

• US 8,088,042 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elisa Oyj
• Original Assignee: Elisa Oyj
• Inventors: Limma, Ilkka, Kampman, Ville, Moilanen, Hannu
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US10/581,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20080108481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,583 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• 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: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

A method, system, measurement device and receiving device for providing feedback relating to an activity to at least one individual. In the method, activity information relating to an activity is measured with a measurement device. Activity information is transmitted to a receiving device via a communication link. The receiving device selects from the received activity information a predefined set of pieces of activity information and provides the at least one individual with feedback based on the selected activity information.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting measured sports activity information and providing at least one individual with feedback based on the measured sports activity information, wherein the method comprises:

measuring sports activity information with a measurement device comprising a plurality of measuring elements connected to a processing unit;

transmitting, with the measurement device, the measured sports activity information to a receiving device via a short-range wireless radio communication link during the activity, wherein the receiving device provides different user interfaces in different sports or activities, according to the use or purpose of the information for the different sports or activities;

selecting, based on the sport in question, from the received sports activity information a predefined set of pieces of sports activity information with the receiving device based on at least one definition, stored in a memory, of a predefined set of pieces of activity information selected from the measured sports activity information; and

providing, through a standard communication interface connection, with the receiving device on a user interface display selected based on the sport in question, the at least one individual with feedback based on the selected sports activity information, wherein, in the case of at least one activity, the user interface display comprises activity-specific information according to the sport in question and comprising geophysical data selected from at least one of a group consisting of longitude and latitude, air pressure, heading, speed, temperature and graphical information, whereby the standard communication interface provides a capability to provide said display size, durability and usability according to the characteristic of said one activity.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing step comprises providing the at least one individual at least one sports activity indicator based on the selected sports activity information with at least one feedback device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein prior to said providing step the method further comprises:

calculating at least one additional sports activity indicator based on the at least one selected sports activity information; and

providing the at least one individual with the calculated at least one additional sports activity indicator with the at least one feedback device.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said providing step comprises presenting the at least one sports activity indicator to the at least one individual as at least one of a graphical form and voice signals.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein prior to said transmitting step the method further comprises:

calculating at least one additional piece of sports activity information based on the measured sports activity information.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting sports activity information according to a communication protocol.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing step comprises providing the at least one individual with feedback with the receiving device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing step comprises providing the at least one individual with feedback with at least one device connected to the receiving device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said measuring step comprises measuring at least one of the following quantities:

time;

location;

altitude;

temperature; and

heart rate.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving device is carried by the at least one individual.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving device comprises stored in its memory at least one definition based on which the predefined set of pieces is selected from the received sports activity information.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sports activity information provided by the measurement device, such as information provided by a barometer, is used in different ways for different sports.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a standard wireless communication interface for the receiving device to connect to.

14. A measurement device configured to measure and transmit sports activity information, wherein the measurement device comprises:

a processor;

a plurality of measuring elements configured to measure a plurality of quantities relating to a sports activity according to the use or purpose of the information for the sports activity, wherein the plurality of measuring elements comprise at least one of the following;

a GPS receiver;

a barometer;

a thermometer; and

at least one pulse coil configured to measure heart rate;

a memory configured to store measurement data provided by the measuring elements;

a transmitter configured to transmit sports activity information via a short-range wireless radio communication link during the sports activity according to a communication protocol, said transmission of sports activity information subject to a selection by a receiving device based on the sport in question, to at least one receiving device based on at least one definition, stored in the memory, of a predefined set of pieces of activity information selected from the measured sports activity information, wherein, in the case of at least one activity, transmission of sports activity specific to the sport in question comprises activity-specific information comprising geophysical data selected from at least one of a group consisting of longitude and latitude, air pressure, heading, speed, temperature and graphical information; and

a user interface display interface including a standard communication interface connection, permitting connection to a user interface display selected based on the sport in question, thereby providing a capability to provide said display size, durability and usability according to the characteristic of said one activity.

15. The measurement device according to claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to calculate at least one additional piece of sports activity information based on the measured sports activity information;

and the transmitter is configured to transmit the calculated sports activity information via a communication link.

16. A receiving device configured to receive sports activity information from a measurement device, wherein the receiving device comprises:

a receiver configured to receive, during a sports activity, a transmission from the measurement device via a short-range wireless radio communication link, wherein the transmission includes sports activity information measured with the measurement device, and the receiver provides different user interfaces in different sports or activities, according to the use or purpose of the information for the different sports or activities, wherein, in the case of at least one activity, the transmission includes sports activity information comprises activity-specific information comprising geophysical data selected from at least one of a group consisting of longitude and latitude, air pressure, heading, speed, temperature and graphical information;

a memory configured to store at least one definition, based on which a predefined set of pieces of sports activity information is selected from the received sports activity information according to the use or purpose of the information for the sports activity;

a processor configured to select the predefined set of pieces of sports activity information from the received sports activity information based on the at least one definition, which is defined based on the sport in question, stored on the memory and connected through a standard communication interface connection; and

at least one feedback device connected to the standard communication interface connection and configured to provide at least one individual with feedback on a user interface display based on the selected sports activity information, whereby the standard communication interface provides a capability to provide said display size, durability and usability according to the characteristic of said one activity.

17. The receiving device according to claim 16, wherein the receiving device further comprises an output to which at least one feedback device can be connected.

18. The receiving device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one feedback device is configured to provide at least one individual with at least one sports activity indicator based on the selected sports activity information.

19. The receiving device according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to calculate at least one additional piece of sports activity information based on the at least one selected sports activity information, and the at least one feedback device is configured to provide the at least one individual with the calculated at least one sports activity indicator.

20. The receiving device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one feedback device is configured to present the at least one sports activity indicator to the at least one individual as at least one of a graphical form and voice signals.

21. The receiving device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one feedback device comprises at least one of a display, a speaker and an earpiece.

22. A system of transmitting measured sports activity information and providing at least one individual with feedback based on the measured sports activity information, wherein the system comprises:

a measurement device comprising a first processor, a plurality of measuring elements configured to measure a plurality of quantities relating to a sports activity, a first memory configured to store measurement data provided by the measuring elements, and a transmitter configured to transmit sports activity information during the sports activity, according to the use or purpose of the information for the different sports activity, to at least one receiving device based on at least one definition, stored in a memory, of a predefined set of pieces of activity information selected from the measured sports activity information, via a local communication link according to a communication protocol, wherein the plurality of measuring elements comprise at least one of the following;

a GPS receiver;

a barometer;

a thermometer; and

at least one pulse coil configured to measure heart rate; and

the receiving device comprising a receiver configured to receive a transmission from the measurement device during the sports activity via a short-range wireless radio communication link, wherein the transmission includes sports activity information measured with the measurement device, a second memory configured to store at least one definition based on which a predefined set of pieces of sports activity information is selected from the received sports activity information, and a second processor configured to select the predefined set of pieces of sports activity information from the received sports activity information based on the at least one definition, which is defined based on the sport in question, stored on the second memory; and

at least one feedback device, connected through a standard communication interface connection, configured to provide the at least one individual with feedback on a user interface display based on the selected sports activity information, wherein, in the case of at least one activity, the user interface display comprises activity-specific information comprising geophysical data selected from at least one of a group consisting of longitude and latitude, air pressure, heading, speed, temperature and graphical information, whereby the standard communication interface provides a capability to provide said display size, durability and usability according to the characteristic of said one activity.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the first processor is configured to calculate at least one additional piece of sports activity information based on the measured sports activity information;

and the transmitter is configured to transmit the calculated sports activity information via a communication link to the receiving device.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the receiving device further comprises an output to which at least one feedback device can be connected.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the at least one feedback device is configured to provide at least one individual with at least one sports activity indicator based on the selected sports activity information.

26. The system according to claim 22, wherein the second processor is configured to calculate at least one additional piece of sports activity information based on the at least one selected sports activity information, and the at least one feedback device is configured to provide the at least one individual with the calculated at least one sports activity indicator.

27. The system according to claim 22, wherein the at least one feedback device is configured to present the at least one sports activity indicator to the at least one individual as at least one of a graphical form and voice signals.

28. The system according to claim 22, wherein the at least one feedback device comprises at least one of a display, a speaker and an earpiece.

29. Apparatus for providing at least one individual with feedback based on the measured sports activity information, the apparatus comprising:

means for measuring sports activity information with a measurement device comprising a plurality of measuring elements connected to a processing unit, the plurality of measuring elements comprising at least one of the following;

a GPS receiver;

a barometer;

a thermometer; and

at least one pulse coil configured to measure heart rate;

means, comprising a short-range radio communication link, for transmitting the measured sports activity information to a receiving device according to the use or purpose of the information for the sports activity, by transmitting the measured sports activity via the short-range wireless radio communication link during the activity;

means for selecting, based on the sport in question, from the received sports activity information a predefined set of pieces of sports activity information with the receiving device; and

means, comprising a standard communication interface connection, for providing, with the receiving device on a user interface display, the at least one individual with feedback based on the selected sports activity information, wherein, in the case of at least one activity, the user interface display comprises activity-specific information comprising geophysical data selected from at least one of a group consisting of longitude and latitude, air pressure, heading, speed, temperature and graphical information, whereby the standard communication interface provides a capability to provide said display size, durability and usability according to the characteristic of said one activity.