Bicycle computer having position-determining functionality

• US 8,121,785 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Swisher, Sarah L., Lovitt, John H., Stevenson, Claudette D., Downey, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/965,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• 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 5/221 Ergometry, e.g. by using bicycle type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0641 with a marker advancing in function of the exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• 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 2220/51 Force
• 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 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 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 : for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications

Abstract

A bicycle computer having position-determining functionality is described. In an implementation, an apparatus includes a housing configured to attach to a bicycle. The apparatus has one or more modules to store training metrics of a user of the bicycle as a function of geographic position.

Claims

1. A bicycle computer comprising:

a housing;

a display disposed on the housing; and

one or more modules, disposed within the housing, to;

determine the current geographic position and a current map segment type, the map segment being one of a street map-matched segment or a segment that is not street map-matched;

calculate a route from the determined position to a destination;

identify one or more positions along the calculated route where the current map segment type varies;

output a map having an indication of the calculated route and the current geographic position in real time on the display;

output an alert on the display if the current position is in proximity to one of the positions along the calculated route where the current map segment type varies; and

output one or more training metrics of a user of a bicycle in real time on the display.

2. A bicycle computer as described in claim 1, wherein the training metrics are selected from a group consisting of heart rate, cadence and power output.

3. A bicycle computer as described in claim 1, wherein the modules are configured to receive at least one said training metric wirelessly from a device that collects data describing the at least one said training metric.

4. A bicycle computer as described in claim 3, wherein the device is configured to be attached to the user.

5. A bicycle computer as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to output at least one training metric that was previously stored by the one or more modules that corresponds to the current geographic position.

6. A bicycle computer comprising one or more modules, disposed within a housing, to:

determine the current geographic position and a current map segment type, the map segment being one of a street map-matched segment or a segment that is not street map-matched;

calculate a route from the determined position to a destination;

identify one or more positions along the calculated route where the current map segment type varies;

store one or more training metrics of a user of a bicycle as a function of geographic position;

output an alert if the current position is in proximity to one of the positions along the calculated route where the current map segment type varies; and

output information related to the calculated route on a map in real time on a display.

7. A bicycle computer as described in claim 6, wherein the one or more training metrics are stored at predetermined intervals.

8. A bicycle computer as described in claim 6, wherein the information includes at least one of the training metrics.

9. A bicycle computer as described in claim 6, wherein the information includes at least one of the training metrics stored previously at the geographic position by the one or more modules.

10. A bicycle computer as described in claim 6, wherein the one or more modules are configured to determine the geographic position using one or more Global Positioning System (GPS) techniques.

11. A method comprising:

determining a geographic position and a current map segment type of a bicycle computer, the map segment being one of a street map-matched segment or a segment that is not street map-matched;

identifying one or more stored routes that correspond to the determined geographic position;

identifying one or more positions along the calculated route where the current map segment type varies;

calculating a route from the determined geographic position to a destination, the route including a portion of one or more stored routes; and

outputting a virtual training partner, having one or more training metrics, by the bicycle computer based on the determined geographic position on a map in real time, wherein an alert is communicated for changes in map segment type.

12. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the virtual training partner is illustrated on a map that includes the determined geographic position.

13. A method as described in claim 11, further comprising outputting the determined geographic position by the bicycle computer.

14. A method as described in claim 11, further comprising outputting at least one said training metric of a current user of a bicycle having the bicycle computer concurrently with the virtual training partner.

15. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the determining is performed through use of one or more Global Positioning System (GPS) techniques.