Systems for activating electronic devices for operation with athletic equipment

• US 9,555,285 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Case, Charles W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US14/021,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20140009258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• 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 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/22 Radio waves emitting or receiving, e.g. remote control, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/24 Processing or storing data, e.g. with electronic chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/40 Data acquisition and logging for input to computer G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Articles of clothing or pieces of athletic equipment include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the clothing or athletic equipment or for performing other functions. Such systems and methods may use physical or other interaction(s) between the module and the article of clothing or piece of athletic equipment for activating and/or deactivating the module and/or sensing devices included with the module, for confirming whether the module and clothing or piece of athletic equipment are authorized for use with one another, and/or for automatic data algorithm selection methods. Additionally, such systems and methods also may use the activation and/or authentication systems for data input to the module. Some examples of such systems and methods may utilize magnets and magnetic sensing systems and/or light (or other radiation) sources and sensing systems for activation, authentication, data input, and/or algorithm selection.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating an electronic module, comprising:

sensing, by an authentication system, that an electronic module provided on at least one of;

a watch, ring, bracelet, article of clothing, or peripheral device is within a threshold proximity relative to an electronic device associated with a piece of athletic equipment;

determining a type of the piece of athletic equipment based, at least in part, on a position of a magnet with respect to a magnetic sensor; and

determining whether the piece of athletic equipment and the electronic module are authorized for operation with one another based on the sensed proximity.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

enabling at least a first function of the electronic module in response to sensing that the electronic module is within the threshold proximity relative to the electronic device.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising wirelessly receiving data into the electronic module when the electronic module is within the threshold proximity relative to the electronic device.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic module is provided on at least one of:

a watch, ring, or bracelet.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

preventing activation of at least a first function of the electronic module in response to sensing that the electronic module is outside a second threshold proximity relative to the electronic device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining is based, at least in part, on sensing whether plural magnets are arranged at predetermined locations with respect to one another or with respect to the electronic module.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sensing, with a sensing element of the electronic device, at least one physical or physiological characteristic associated with activity taking place while the piece of athletic equipment is used.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

deactivating the electronic module or at least a first function of the electronic module when the electronic module is not with the threshold proximity relative to the electronic device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the piece of athletic equipment includes at least a first portion of the authentication system for authenticating the electronic module or a first function of the electronic module.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sensing, by the authentication system, a location on the piece of athletic equipment with which the electronic device has been engaged.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a sensed interaction between the authentication system and the electronic device indicates a first type of data to be collected from the electronic device.