Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems and methods

• US 9,623,315 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Riley, Raymond W., Hoffer, Kevin W., Berner, William E., Schrock, Allan M., Niegowski, James A., Rauchholz, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): GANESAN, SUNDHARA M
• Application Number:
  US14/724,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20150265902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• 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 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/00 Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• 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 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0059 Exercising apparatus with reward systems
• 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• 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 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 : Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 : Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• 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: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 : by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 : Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 : Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 : Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 : with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 : with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems include components for measuring or sensing athletic performance data and/or for storing and/or displaying desired information associated with the athletic performance to the user (or others). Such systems can allow users a wide variety of options in creating workouts, selecting and presenting media content during the athletic performance, etc., e.g., to help keep users entertained and motivated. In some instances, user feedback may be used, optionally in combination with objective data relating to a workout, to control features of the workout routine, to control the music or other media content selected and/or presented, and/or to control features of future workout routines and/or the presented media content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

activating a sensor to record first athletic performance data upon detecting movement of a first user as the first user is performing an activity;

receiving, at a processor associated with a user device, the first athletic performance data from the sensor as the first user is performing the activity;

analyzing, at the processor, the first athletic performance data to determine that the first user should receive first reward content, wherein the analyzing is based on a performance metric of the first user in performing the activity;

upon determining that the first user should receive first reward content, communicating with a remote server to access the first reward content;

receiving the first reward content from the remote server; and

providing, at the processor, playback of the first reward content to the first user; and

upon determining that the first user should receive the first reward content, automatically generating a display of the first athletic performance data simultaneously with an indication of the first reward content as the first user is performing the activity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance metric is based on traversing a distance faster than a predetermined pace.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance metric is based on increasing a number of weights when weightlifting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reward content comprises a congratulatory statement.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reward content comprises a reward song.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accepting input from the first user to indicate times for activating the first reward content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reward content comprises alphanumeric content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reward content is presented prior to completion of the activity by the first user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reward content comprises an advertisement.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, at a processor associated with a user device, a first indication that a first user desires to record first reward content, wherein the first reward content comprises content to be provided to the first user during or after athletic activity;

responsive to receiving the first indication, recording, at the processor, the first reward content;

receiving, at the processor, a second indication that the first user desires to import second reward content, wherein the second reward content comprises content to be provided to the first user during or after athletic activity;

responsive to receiving the second indication, communicating with a remote server to access the second reward content;

receiving the second reward content from the remote server;

receiving, at the processor, a third indication of a conditional event for which the first user desires to provide at least one of the first reward content and the second reward content;

activating a sensor to record first athletic performance data upon detecting movement of the first user as the first user is performing an activity;

receiving, at the processor, the first athletic performance data from the sensor as the first user is performing the activity;

analyzing, at the processor, the first athletic performance data to determine that the conditional event has occurred;

upon determining that the conditional event has occurred, providing, at the processor, playback of at least one of the first reward content and the second reward content to the first user; and

upon determining that the first user should receive the first reward content, automatically generating a display of the first athletic performance data and an indication of the first reward content.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second reward content comprises an advertisement.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second reward content comprises a congratulatory statement from a celebrity.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the conditional event comprises the first user running a predetermined distance above a predetermined pace.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the second reward content comprises textual content.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a sensor configured to measure athletic performance of a first user;

a display; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to at least perform;

activate a sensor to record first athletic performance data upon detecting movement of the first user as the first user is performing an activity;

receive, from the sensor, the first athletic performance data as the first user is performing the activity;

analyze the first athletic performance data to determine that the first user should receive a first reward content, wherein the determination is made based on achievement of a performance milestone by the first user in performing the activity;

upon determining that that first user should receive the first reward content, access the first reward content within a memory;

provide playback of the first reward content to the first user; and

upon determining that the first user should receive the first reward content, automatically generate a display of the first athletic performance data, simultaneously with an indication of the first reward content as the first user is performing the activity.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the performance milestone comprises running a predetermined distance.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the performance milestone comprises increasing resistance levels on exercise machines.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first reward content comprises content presented by a famous athlete.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first reward content is presented before the first user completes the activity.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first reward content comprises an advertisement.