Game pod

• US 8,956,228 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Shum, Albert, Case, Charles Whipple Jr., Schrock, Allan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US11/055,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20050227811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,659 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36- 37, 463/39, 463/1, 463/7, 361/32, 482/79, 731/72
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 999/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• 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 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 : involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 : for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 : for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 : for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

A system for promoting physical activity for video game players. A video game player wears an article of footwear with a physical activity monitor or “game pod” mounted thereon while exercising or performing some other type of physical activity. The game pod measures the amount of the player'"'"'s physical activity, and records that amount in a memory. When the player desires to play a video game according to the invention, the player disengages at least the memory from the article of footwear, and then engages the memory with the computer hosting the video game through a computer interface. The computer then obtains the recorded amount of physical activity, and provides a computer function associated with the recorded amount of physical activity. The computer function may include the initiation of the video game itself, the instantiation of a specified gaming environment within the video game, the instantiation of one or more specified characteristics for the player'"'"'s avatar within the video game, a lengthened playing time for the user'"'"'s avatar, allowing the player to access data associated with the video game, or a combination of two or more of these functions.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a physical activity monitor comprising;

a detector configured to measure an amount of physical exercise performed by a user;

a storage device configured to store the amount of physical exercise;

an interface configured to transfer the amount of physical exercise;

a mount configured for attaching the detector to the user; and

a computer hosting a video game and comprising;

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to at least;

(a) receive an amount of physical exercise from the storage device via the interface;

(b) determining whether the amount of physical exercise is sufficient to activate a supplemental function of the computer hosting the video game;

wherein the supplemental function permits access to a specified gaming environment within the video game.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the supplemental function includes the instantiation of one or more specified characteristics for a user'"'"'s avatar within the video game.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises determining whether the amount of physical exercise exceeds a physical performance metric for a predetermined amount of time.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises determining whether the amount of physical exercise exceeds a distance traveled value.