GPS features and functionality in an athletic watch system

• US 9,122,250 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoffman, Michael T., Brown, Miles W., Weast, Aaron B., Capozzi, Matt, Lakovic, Tomislav, Molyneux, James, Cobbett, Jamian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US12/767,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20110032105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,954 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/573.4, 702/85, 702 95- 99, 702/141, 702/142, 702/144, 702/249, 702/150, 702/160, 702/176, 702/182, 702/183, 702/187, 702/188, 701/213, 701/214, 701/472, 700/91, 710/300, 600/300, 128/905, 34235706-35709, 342/357.12, 482/3, 482/4, 482/7, 482/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 10/00 Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/04 Mounting of electronic components
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/045 Mounting of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0064 in which functions not related to time can be displayed digital output to display devices of digital computers G06F3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/007 combined with a calculator or computing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 : on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 : in connection with sports or games
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 : Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 : for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45

Abstract

Athletic performance monitoring systems include GPS data to enhance various features of the workout as well as the post-workout data analysis. Such features include using output from multiple sensors to determine the most accurate data available for providing distance measurements for individual segments of a route. The most accurate data for each route segment, from whatever source, then is used to provide the overall route distance and as the basis for making other calculations, such as pace, calorie burn, etc. Another feature relates to the ability to both input and output geographically tagged messages while moving along a route during an athletic performance.

Claims

1. An athletic performance monitoring system, comprising:

an input system configured to receive;

a first type of input data indicative of an athlete'"'"'s location on a route as the athlete moves along the route during an athletic performance, a second type of input data indicative of a message trigger location, a third type of input data including a message payload, and a fourth type of input data indicative of the athlete'"'"'s movement speed or movement distance on the route, wherein the second type of input data and the third type of input data are received through a computing device temporarily connected to the input system for data exchange; and

a processing system having a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor are configured to perform at least;

compare the first type of input data indicative of the athlete'"'"'s location on the route and the second type of input data indicative of the message trigger location;

evaluate the fourth type of input data generated at a time before the athlete reaches the message trigger location; and

deliver the message payload when the first type of input data indicates that the athlete is or has been physically present at the message trigger location only if the fourth input data indicates that the message trigger location was reached by the athlete as a result of an athletic performance, wherein comparison of the first type of input data and delivery of the message payload are accomplished when the computing device is not connected to the input system and while the athlete is at or in close proximity to the message trigger location.

2. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the first type of input data is global positioning satellite data.

3. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the message payload is delivered to the athlete through a portable electronic device carried by the athlete during the athletic performance.

4. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the message payload includes information delivered to the athlete in at least one form selected from the group consisting of:

a textual message, an audio message, a video message, a tactile message arrival indicator, and an audio message arrival indicator.

5. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein information used in generating the second type of input data and the third type of input data for transmission to the input system is generated by a person other than the athlete making the athletic performance.

6. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a portable electronic device supporting the input system and the processing system, wherein the portable electronic device is carried by the athlete during the athletic performance.

7. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein the portable electronic device is a wrist borne device.

8. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein the portable electronic device includes a display screen, wherein the display screen displays an indicator of the message trigger location before the athlete reaches the message trigger location.

9. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein the portable electronic device includes a display screen, wherein the display screen does not display an indicator of the message trigger location before the athlete reaches the message trigger location.

10. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein, during the athletic performance, the portable electronic device does not have cellular network communications capabilities.

11. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein, during the athletic performance, the portable electronic device does not have wireless fidelity or wide area network communications capabilities.

12. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the fourth type of input data is provided by a speed or distance sensor operatively coupled to the input system.

13. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 12, wherein the processing system is further configured to deliver the message payload only if data from the speed or distance sensor indicates that the athletic performance by the athlete has satisfied one or more threshold speed or distance parameters.

14. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a pedometer sensor operatively coupled to the input system to provide input data indicative of the athlete'"'"'s movement speed or movement distance on the route, wherein the processing system is further configured to evaluate the input data from the pedometer sensor generated at a time before the athlete reaches the message trigger location and delivers the message payload only if the input data from the pedometer sensor indicates that the message trigger location was reached by the athlete as a result of ambulatory activity.

15. The athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a bicycle speedometer or odometer sensor operatively coupled to the input system to provide input data indicative of the athlete'"'"'s movement speed or movement distance on the route, wherein the processing system is further configured to evaluate the input data from the bicycle speedometer or odometer sensor generated at a time before the athlete reaches the message trigger location and delivers the message payload only if the input data from the bicycle speedometer or odometer sensor indicates that the message trigger location was reached by the athlete as a result of cycling activity.

16. An athletic performance monitoring method, comprising:

operably connecting a portable electronic device to a computing device for data exchange;

receiving input data indicative of a message trigger location on the portable electronic device from the computing device;

receiving input data including a message payload on the portable electronic device from the computing device;

terminating the connection between the portable electronic device and the computing device;

receiving input data on the portable electronic device indicative of the athlete'"'"'s location and a movement speed on a route as the athlete moves along the route during an athletic performance and while there is no operable data exchange connection between the portable electronic device and the computing device;

comparing the input data indicative of the athlete'"'"'s location on the route and the input data indicative of the message trigger location while there is no operable data exchange connection between the portable electronic device and the computing device; and

delivering, only if the input data indicates that the message trigger location was reached by the athlete as a result of an athletic performance, the message payload when the input data indicates that the athlete is or has been physically present at the message trigger location while there is no operable data exchange connection between the portable electronic device and the computing device.

17. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 16, wherein the input data indicative of the athlete'"'"'s location on the route is global positioning satellite data.

18. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 17, wherein the message payload is delivered to the athlete through the portable electronic device during the athletic performance while the athlete is at or in close proximity to the message trigger location.

19. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 18, wherein the message payload includes information delivered to the athlete in at least one form selected from the group consisting of:

a textual message, an audio message, a video message, a tactile message arrival indicator, and an audio message arrival indicator.

20. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 17, wherein information used in generating the input data indicative of the message trigger location and the input data including the message payload is generated by a person other than the athlete making the athletic performance.

21. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 17, wherein the portable electronic device is a wrist borne device.

22. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 17, wherein the portable electronic device includes a display screen, and wherein the method further includes displaying an indicator of the message trigger location on the display screen before the athlete reaches the message trigger location.

23. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 17, wherein the portable electronic device includes a display screen, and wherein the method further includes not displaying an indicator of the message trigger location on the display screen before the athlete reaches the message trigger location.

24. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 17, wherein, during the athletic performance, the portable electronic device does not have cellular network communications capabilities.

25. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 17, wherein, during the athletic performance, the portable electronic device does not have wireless fidelity or wide area network communications capabilities.

26. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 17, further comprising:

receiving input data indicative of the athlete'"'"'s movement distance on the route.

27. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 26, wherein delivery is performed only if the input data indicative of the athlete'"'"'s movement speed or movement distance indicates that the athletic performance by the athlete in reaching the message trigger location has satisfied one or more threshold speed or distance parameters.

28. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 26, wherein the input data indicative of the athlete'"'"'s movement speed or movement distance on the route is generated by a pedometer sensor operatively coupled to the portable electronic device during the athletic performance, and wherein delivery is performed only if the input data from the pedometer sensor indicates that the message trigger location was reached by the athlete as a result of ambulatory activity.

29. The athletic performance monitoring method according to claim 26, wherein the input data indicative of the athlete'"'"'s movement speed or movement distance on the route is generated by a bicycle speedometer or odometer sensor operatively coupled to the portable electronic device during the athletic performance, and wherein delivery is performed only if the input data from the bicycle speedometer or odometer sensor indicates that the message trigger location was reached by the athlete as a result of cycling activity.