Portable fitness monitoring methods

• US 9,675,842 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Oleson, Mark Arthur, Munson, Ian Michael, Dibenedetto, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US14/736,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20150273271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• 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 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1016 using wireless transmission calling systems using transmission by inductive loop H04B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/90 Wireless transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

Portable fitness monitoring methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a portable fitness monitoring method includes a method for providing audible output to a user during an athletic activity using a portable fitness monitoring device. The method includes the steps of receiving an audio feedback file package that includes a first audio feedback file, updating the audio feedback file package, and processing the updated audio feedback file package to provide audible output to the user through an audio output device during the athletic activity.

Claims

1. A method for providing audible output to a user during an athletic activity using a portable fitness monitoring device comprising the steps of:

the portable fitness monitoring device updating an audio feedback file package comprising a first audio feedback file;

the portable fitness monitoring device processing, via a processor, the updated audio feedback file package to provide audible output to the user through an audio output device during the athletic activity; and

the portable fitness monitoring device receiving an indication of a user input during the athletic activity, wherein the portable fitness monitoring device further provides the audible output to the user through the audio output device by processing the indication of the user input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio feedback file package is updated via download from at least one of a personal computer, a server, and a network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio feedback file package is updated wirelessly.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the audio feedback file package occurs before the user begins the athletic activity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the audio feedback file package comprises modifying the first audio feedback file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the audio feedback file package comprises downloading a second audio feedback file to the audio feedback file package.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the audio feedback file package comprises downloading a plurality of audio feedback files to the audio feedback file package.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the audio feedback file package comprises downloading a second audio feedback file package configured for use with a specific athletic activity in response to a determination that the user wishes to engage in the specific athletic activity.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of the portable fitness monitoring device receiving settings data, wherein the portable fitness monitoring device further provides the audible output to the user through the audio output device by processing the settings data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the setting data comprises portable fitness monitoring device settings data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the user input is generated in response to the user actuating a button of the portable fitness monitoring device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio feedback file package further comprises an index source that connects the first audio feedback file to one or more additional audio feedback files.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio output is provided to the user based on a trigger point during the athletic activity.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the trigger point is selected from the group consisting of an initiation of the athletic activity and a completion of the athletic activity.

15. A method for providing audio feedback output to a user during an athletic activity using a portable fitness monitoring device comprising the steps of:

the portable fitness monitoring device selecting an audio feedback file package from a plurality of audio feedback file packages and processing the selected audio feedback file package to provide audible output to the user through an audio output device during the athletic activity, wherein the processing comprises generating an audio feedback phrase; and

the portable fitness monitoring device receiving an indication of a user input during the athletic activity, wherein the portable fitness monitoring device further provides the audible output to the user through the audio output device by processing the indication of the user input.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further includes receiving the selected audio feedback file package via download from at least one of a personal computer, a server, and a network.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected audio feedback file package comprises audio feedback files for supporting feedback related to the user'"'"'s performance.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected audio feedback file package comprises audio feedback files for supporting course specific narration.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected audio feedback file package comprises audio feedback files for supporting feedback based on a distance traveled by the user during the athletic activity.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected audio feedback file package comprises audio feedback files for supporting race specific narration and feedback related to the user'"'"'s performance.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the audio feedback phrase output to the user comprises race specific narration and feedback related to the user'"'"'s performance.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected audio feedback file package comprises audio feedback files for supporting course specific narration, wherein the portable fitness monitoring device is a global positioning system enabled portable fitness monitoring device, and wherein the audible output to the user is based on a global positioning satellite system reading and the audio feedback files for supporting course specific narration.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the processing the selected audio feedback file package is conducted in response to detecting a performance parameter of the user during the athletic activity.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of the portable fitness monitoring device receiving settings data, wherein the portable fitness monitoring device further provides the audible output to the user through the audio output device by processing the settings data.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the settings data comprises portable fitness monitoring device settings data.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the indication of the user input is generated in response to the user actuating a button of the portable fitness monitoring device.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected audio feedback file package comprises a first audio feedback file and a second audio feedback file connected through an index source, and wherein processing the selected audio feedback file package to provide audible output to the user comprises generating the audio feedback phrase based on the connection of the first audio feedback file and a second audio feedback file through the index source.

28. A method for providing audible output to a user during an athletic activity using a portable fitness monitoring device comprising the steps of:

the portable fitness monitoring device updating an audio feedback file package comprising a first audio feedback file, wherein updating the audio feedback file package comprises downloading a second audio feedback file package configured for use with a specific athletic activity in response to a determination that the user wishes to engage in the specific athletic activity; and

the portable fitness monitoring device processing, via a processor, the updated audio feedback file package to provide audible output to the user through an audio output device during the athletic activity.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the processing the updated audio feedback file package is conducted in response to detecting a performance parameter of the user during the athletic activity.