Modular personal network systems and methods

• US 9,253,817 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael, Schwartz, Caron
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US13/785,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20130249709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/556.1, 455/507, 455/502, 455/521
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Modular personal networks (MPNs) are disclosed that include multiple devices that may be worn, carried, or used in close proximity to a user. The devices communicate wirelessly. Devices include security circuitry that prevents them from being used in a different MPN once the user has configured them. Devices not designed for use within an MPN can be included in the network using a bridge device. Devices can be integrated into items of jewelry, such as earrings, rings, pendants, and bracelets. One item of jewelry, such as a bracelet, can support multiple replaceable modules with variable functions. Functions of the MPN can include communications, entertainment, medical monitoring, sports monitoring, personal organization, and games. Multiple users each with his or her own MPN can use them to collaborate in creation of music. An MPN can be used for mobile recognition and logging of wildlife.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an individual'"'"'s performance during a physical activity, the system comprising:

a portable performance monitoring device, the portable performance monitoring device comprising;

a wireless personal-area network transceiver adapted to wirelessly communicate with a sensor and an output device during the physical activity;

a wireless wide-area network transceiver adapted to wirelessly receive communication data from a remote device; and

a processor coupled to the wireless personal-area network transceiver and the wireless wide-area network transceiver and adapted to determine performance information for the individual,

wherein the portable performance monitoring device is adapted to provide the performance information to the output device,

wherein the portable performance monitoring device is adapted to provide the communication data to the output device to generate an output based on the communication data, and

wherein communications within the wireless personal-area network comprise a common identifier that is unique to the wireless personal-area network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to determine the performance information for the individual based on sensor data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable performance monitoring device is further adapted to wirelessly communicate with the sensor and the output device via a communications protocol featuring a low-power consumption mode.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is adapted to be secured to the individual'"'"'s body during the physical activity, and wherein the output device is adapted to be secured to the individual'"'"'s body during the physical activity.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the sensor is adapted to generate one of position, distance, speed, and heart rate sensor data.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the output device is adapted to convey at least some of the performance information to the individual during the physical activity.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the output device is adapted to convey one of a visual output and an audio output.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises external packaging, and wherein the external packaging is waterproof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable performance monitoring device is adapted to receive an indication of a status of the battery of the sensor, and is further adapted to transmit an indication of a status of the battery of the sensor to the output device to alert the individual of the status of the battery of the sensor.

10. A method of monitoring an individual'"'"'s performance during a physical activity, the method comprising:

receiving sensor data from a sensor via a wireless personal-area network transceiver of a portable performance monitoring device;

processing the sensor data to determine performance information for the individual via a processor of the portable performance monitoring device;

receiving communication data from a remote device via a wireless wide-area network transceiver of the portable performance monitoring device;

transmitting the performance information to an output device via the wireless personal-area network transceiver of a portable performance monitoring device to generate an output based on the performance information; and

transmitting the communication data to the output device via the wireless personal-area network transceiver of a portable performance monitoring device to generate an output based on the communication data,

wherein communications within the wireless personal-area network comprise a common identifier that is unique to the wireless personal-area network.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the portable performance monitoring device communicating with the sensor and the output device via a communications protocol featuring a low-power consumption mode.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising securing the sensor and the output device to the individual'"'"'s body during the physical activity.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor data is one of position, distance, speed, and heart rate data.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising conveying at least some of the performance information to the individual during the physical activity.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising the output device conveying one of a visual output and an audio output.

16. A system for monitoring an individual'"'"'s performance during a physical activity, the system comprising:

a portable performance monitoring device, the portable performance monitoring device comprising;

a wireless personal-area network transceiver adapted to wirelessly receive data from a first local device during the physical activity and wirelessly transmit information to a second local device during the physical activity; and

a wireless wide-area network transceiver adapted to wirelessly receive data from a remote device during the physical activity,

wherein the portable performance monitoring device is adapted to wirelessly transmit information about the individual'"'"'s performance during the physical activity to the second local device based on the data front the first local device,

wherein the portable performance monitoring device is adapted to wirelessly transmit other information to the second local device based on the data from the remote device, and

wherein communications within the wireless personal-area network comprise a common identifier that is unique to the wireless personal-area network.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first local device comprises a sensor.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the other information comprises a message from an individual stationed at the remote device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the message comprises information about the individual'"'"'s performance during the physical activity.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the message is based at least in part on data from the first local device that was transmitted to the remote device.