Cloud based activity monitor for human powered vehicle

• US 8,949,022 B1
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wi-Mm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wi-Mm Corporation
• Inventors: Fahrner, Kevin, Levitt, Leslie, Echavarria, Pablo
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/157,473
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 701/433, 340/995.19
• US Class Current: 701/433
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/00 Appliances preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of cycles; Locks integral with cycles fittings for preventing or indicating use or theft of vehicles in general B60R; general features of locks E05B
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/20 indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications

Abstract

A device is provided. The device is an electronic device configured to attach to a human-powered vehicle. The electronic device is further configured to perform actions. The actions include producing position coordinates based on global positioning system data and coupling to a network via a wireless connection. The actions include relaying the position coordinates to the network via the wireless connection. In some embodiments the electronic device is integrated with a bicycle.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

an electronic device configured to attach to a human-powered vehicle; and

the electronic device further configured to perform actions, including;

producing position coordinates based on global positioning system data;

coupling to a network via a wireless connection;

relaying the position coordinates to the network via the wireless connection; and

tracking one from a group consisting of;

riding habits, usage patterns, and bicycle performance.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

the electronic device configured to be powered by energy harvested from the human-powered vehicle.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a frame of the human-powered vehicle has a portion with radiowave transparency; and

the electronic device is configured to install within the portion of the frame.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one from a group consisting of;

an altimeter, an air quality sensor, a gyro sensor, an accelerometer, a tamper sensor, and a signal strength sensor, wherein the electronic device is configured to process data from the at least one from the group and relay the processed data to the network via the wireless connection.

5. The bicycle electronic device of claim 1, wherein the network includes one from a group consisting of:

a cellular telephonic network, a wireless local area network, and a vehicle wireless area network.

6. The bicycle electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

the electronic device configured to apply the position coordinates to one from a group consisting of;

geo-fencing the human-powered vehicle, and tracking the human-powered vehicle.

7. An electronic device for a bicycle, comprising:

a global positioning system receiver;

a wireless communication unit; and

a processing engine, coupled to the global positioning system receiver and the wireless communication unit, the processing engine configured to communicate position coordinates from the global positioning system receiver to a network via the wireless communication unit, wherein the electronic device is configured to attach to a bicycle, and wherein the electronic device is configured to track one from a group consisting of;

riding habits, usage patterns, and bicycle performance.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

a housing, dimensioned to contain the global positioning system receiver, the wireless communication unit and the processing engine, the housing configured to attach to a frame of the bicycle.

9. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

a housing, holding the global positioning system receiver, the wireless communication unit and the processing engine therewithin;

the housing having a width approximately equal to a width of a bicycle frame tube, the housing having a length longer than the width; and

the housing holding an antenna of the global positioning system receiver and an antenna of the wireless communication unit at opposed ends of the housing.

10. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

a wireless handheld device, wherein the processing engine is configured to activate and deactivate an alarm function in response to one or more commands from the wireless handheld device.

11. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

a movement sensor, coupled to the processing engine.

12. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

a tamper sensor, coupled to the processing engine.

13. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

a display monitor, coupled to the processing engine; and

the display monitor integrated with one from a group consisting of;

a frame of the bicycle, and a housing containing the global positioning system receiver, the wireless communication unit and the processing engine.

14. A bicycle electronic device, comprising:

a global positioning system unit, configured to receive global positioning system data and to generate position coordinates from the global positioning system data;

a wireless communication unit, configured to couple to a network;

a processing device, configured to send the position coordinates to the network, via the wireless communication unit; and

the global positioning system unit, the wireless communication unit, and the processing device configured to attach on or within a bicycle;

wherein the electronic device is configured to track one from a group consisting of;

riding habits, usage patterns, and bicycle performance.

15. The bicycle electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:

a housing, containing the global positioning system unit, the wireless communication unit and the processing device, the housing configured to attach to a frame of the bicycle, the housing further configured to attach a water bottle to the housing.

16. The bicycle electronic device of claim 14, wherein the processing device is integrated with at least one of the global positioning system unit and the wireless communication unit.

17. The bicycle electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:

a battery, coupled to the global positioning system unit, the wireless communication unit and the processing device; and

a battery management system configured to charge the battery via one from a group consisting of;

a universal serial bus (USB) port, a hub dynamo of the bicycle, and energy harvesting from one or more pedals of the bicycle.

18. The bicycle electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:

the processing device configured to apply the position coordinates and a network coupling via the wireless communication unit, to one from a group consisting of;

bike sharing, fleet management, activity monitoring, theft recovery, and tracking.

19. The bicycle electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:

an alarm unit, configured to produce an alarm sound that is one from a group consisting of;

personalized to the bicycle, unique to a group of bicycles, and unique to each instance of the bicycle electronic device.