Multi-mode acceleration-based athleticism measurement system

• US 8,337,212 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2012
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Prstojevich, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US13/358,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20120123569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 434/265, 434/247
• US Class Current: 434/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• 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 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 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• 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 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• 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 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

Abstract

A multi-mode athleticism movement measurement system includes an athlete-borne acceleration sensor and an athleticism processing device to determine athleticism information based upon one or more timing measurements from the athlete-borne acceleration sensor, the athleticism information corresponding to any of multiple athleticism measurement modes available on athleticism processing device and selectable by a user. A data link between the athlete-borne acceleration sensor and the athleticism rating processing device transmits the one or more timing measurements from the athlete-borne acceleration sensor to the athleticism rating processing device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an athleticism processing device configured to determine athleticism information, the athleticism information corresponding to any of a first athleticism mode corresponding to a first athletic test involving a first type of athletic movement and a second athleticism mode corresponding to a second athletic test involving a second type of athletic movement,

wherein the athleticism processing device is further configured to;

generate a first set of one or more cues corresponding to instructions for a user to perform the first type of athletic movement at a specified time during the first athletic test when the first athleticism mode is selected;

generate a second set of one or more cues, different from the first set of one or more cues, corresponding to instructions for the user to perform the second type of athletic movement at a specified time during the second athletic test when the second athleticism mode is selected, wherein the first set of one or more cues and the second set of one or more cues include at least one of;

an audible cue, a visual cue and a haptic cue;

process data received from one or more athletic activity sensors to generate a first set of one or more performance metrics when the first athleticism mode is selected; and

generate a second set of one or more performance metrics when the second athleticism mode is selected, wherein the first set of one or more performance metrics is different from the second set of one or more performance metrics.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the athleticism processing device is further configured to communicate over a data link to one or more other devices, wherein the data link is a wireless data link.

3. The system of claim 1 in which the athleticism processing device includes a wireless athlete timing system.

4. The system of claim 1 in which the athleticism processing device is borne by the athlete.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the athleticism processing device is a wrist-worn device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the athleticism processing device includes the one or more athletic activity sensors.

7. The system of claim 1 in which the athleticism rating processing device provides real-time feedback of athletic performance to the user during performance of the first athletic test or the second athletic test.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the real-time feedback includes an indication of whether the user performance meets a predefined performance threshold.

9. The system of claim 7 in which the real-time feedback includes an indication of whether the athletic performance matches the first set of one or more cues when the first athleticism mode is selected, wherein the first set of one or more cues includes cadence cues.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the athleticism processing device is further configured to generate an athleticism rating of athletic performance using the first and second sets of performance metrics, wherein the athleticism rating comprises a single athleticism value generated based on performances in the first and second athleticism modes.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by an athleticism processing device, a selection of an athleticism measurement mode from among a plurality of athleticism measurement modes available on the athleticism processing device, each of the plurality of athleticism measurement modes corresponding to a different athletic test comprising a different type of athletic movement;

generating, by the athleticism processing device, a first set of one or more cues corresponding to instructions for a user to perform a first type of athletic movement at a specified time during a first athletic test when a first athleticism measurement mode is selected;

generating, by the athleticism processing device, a second set of one or more cues, different from the first set of one or more cues, corresponding to instructions for a user to perform a second type of athletic movement at a specified time during a second athletic test when a second athleticism measurement mode is selected, wherein the first set of cues and the second set of one or more cues include at least one of;

an audible cue, a visual cue and a haptic cue;

generating, by the athleticism processing device, a first set of one or more performance metrics based on activity sensor data when the selected athleticism measurement mode is the first athleticism measurement mode; and

generating, by the athleticism processing device, a second set of one or more performance metrics based on the activity sensor data when the selected athleticism measurement mode is the second athleticism measurement mode.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing real-time feedback of athletic performance to a user during performance of one or more of the first athletic test and the second athletic test.

13. The method of claim 12 in which the real-time feedback includes an indication of whether the user'"'"'s performance meets a predefined performance threshold.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the real-time feedback includes an indication of whether the user'"'"'s performance matches the first set of one or more cues when the first athleticism measurement mode is selected, wherein the first set of one or more cues includes cadence cues.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising incorporating the first and second sets of one or more performance metrics into an athleticism rating of athletic performance.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the activity sensor data is received from an athletic activity sensor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the athletic activity sensor is included in the athleticism processing device.

18. A system comprising:

one or more wrist-worn sensors configured to sense athletic activity performed by a user; and

an athleticism processing device configured to determine athleticism information based upon athletic activity data received from the one or more wrist-worn sensors, the athleticism information corresponding to any of a first athleticism mode corresponding to a first athletic test involving a first type of athletic movement and a second athleticism mode corresponding to a second athletic test involving a second type of athletic movement, wherein the athleticism processing device is different from the one or more wrist-worn sensors,

wherein the athleticism processing device is further configured to;

generate a first set of one or more cues corresponding to instructions for the user to perform the first type of athletic movement at a specified time during the first athletic test when the first athleticism mode is selected;

generate a second set of one or more cues, different from the first set of one or more cues, corresponding to instructions for the user to perform the second type of athletic movement at a specified time during the second athletic test when the second athleticism mode is selected, wherein the first set of one or more cues and the second set of one or more cues include at least one of;

an audible cue, a visual cue and a haptic cue;

process the athletic activity data to generate a first set of one or more performance metrics when the first athleticism mode is selected; and

generate a second set of one or more performance metrics when the second athleticism mode is selected, wherein the first set of one or more performance metrics is different from the second set of one or more performance metrics.