Interactive athletic equipment system

• US 9,278,256 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tchao, Michael, Robinette, Christopher A., Nims, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): GINSBERG, OREN ISAAC
• Application Number:
  US14/726,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20150258371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/901, 482/902, 434/247, 434/255, 700/91, 700/92
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• 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 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• 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 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Systems and techniques for the collection and display of athletic information. Athletic data relating to a single person or group of people is collected at a central location, and subsequently displayed at a desired remote location so that the person or people can review and critique their performance. In addition, athletic data for multiple persons can be collected at a central location, and subsequently displayed to a user at a desired remote location, so that the user can compare his or her athletic activities to others.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an athletic performance module configured to receive athletic activity data from a wirelessly-connected sensor worn on an appendage of a first user, wherein the first user is performing athletic activities at a first location; and

a challenge module configured to;

receive information specifying a challenge, wherein the challenge includes a competition between the first user, and a second user performing athletic activities at a second location, different to, and remote from, the first location;

determine, from the received athletic activity data, a first amount of athletic activity performed by the first user;

receive data from a second sensor indicating a second amount of athletic activity performed by the second user;

determine whether the challenge has been met by the first user based on a comparison of the first amount of athletic activity performed by the first user and a second amount of athletic activity performed by the second user; and

continuously generate and simultaneously communicate in real-time to the first user at the first location and the second user at the second location, an interface indicating whether the challenge has been met.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge is received from the second user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first user is prompted, by the challenge module, to accept the challenge.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge comprises travelling a predetermined distance in a shortest amount of time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge comprises travelling as far as possible within a predetermined time.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge comprises travelling a predetermined distance in a predetermined time.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge is defined in terms of a common unit used for multiple types of athletic activities.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge is specified in terms of a unit in which the athletic activity is measured.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge includes a competition between a first athletic training facility and a second athletic training facility.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second athletic training facilities correspond to an athletic training facility provider.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a prompt inviting a first user to participate in a challenge, wherein the challenge includes a competition between the first user performing athletic activities at a first location and a second user performing athletic activities at a second location different to, and remote from, the first location;

determining an amount of athletic activity performed by the first user based on sensor data received from a sensor worn on an appendage of the first user; and

receiving data from a second sensor indicative of an amount of athletic activity performed by the second user;

determining whether the challenge has been met by the first user based on a comparison of the amount of athletic activity performed using the first user to the amount of athletic activity performed by the second user; and

continuously generating and simultaneously communicating in real-time to the first user at the first location and the second user at the second location, an interface indicating whether the challenge has been met.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor worn on the appendage of the first user comprises a location-determining sensor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor worn on the appendage of the first user comprises an accelerometer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the challenge is received from the second user.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the challenge is defined in terms of a common unit used for multiple types of athletic activities.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the challenge is specified in terms of a unit in which the athletic activity is measured.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the challenge includes a competition between a first athletic training facility and a second athletic training facility.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second athletic training facilities correspond to an athletic training facility provider.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the challenge includes a competition between a first athletic training facility provider and a second athletic training facility provider.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first athletic training facility provider includes multiple athletic training facilities.