Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems and methods

• US 9,959,090 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• 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:
  US15/498,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20170225035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 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. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a sensor;

a display; and

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

provide playback of a first content as a first user is performing an activity;

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

comparing a performance parameter of the received performance data of the first user in performing the activity with a target performance parameter;

based on the comparing, alter a playback characteristic of the first content to adjust the performance parameter of the first user in performing the activity;

store the altered playback characteristic of the first content and the performance parameter specific to the playback of the first content; and

generate a display of the stored performance parameter specific to the playback of the first content.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein altering the playback characteristic of the first content comprises one of speeding up or slowing down a beat of the first content.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

compare a first beat of the first content with a second beat of a second content associated with the first user performing the activity at the target performance parameter.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein altering the playback characteristic of the first content comprises matching the first beat to the second beat.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein altering the playback characteristic of the first content comprises matching a beat of the first content with a cadence of the first user in performing the activity.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the activity comprises running and step landing during the running establishes the cadence.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the activity comprises cycling and wherein foot presses during the cycling establishes the cadence.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor;

a processor;

a display; and

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

receive performance data from a sensor measuring athletic performance of a first user as the first user is performing an activity;

provide a playback of a first song as the first user is performing the activity;

provide a playback of a second song after the playback of the first song as the first user continues to perform the activity;

analyze received performance data specific to the playback of the first song to determine if a performance parameter has decreased between the playback of the first song and the second song; and

alter a first playback characteristic of the second song based on determining that the performance parameter of the activity by the first user has decreased, wherein altering the first playback characteristic of the second song comprises altering the first playback characteristic of the second song to more closely match a playback characteristic of the first song; and

generate a display of the performance parameter specific to the playback of the second song.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

determine if the performance parameter has increased after altering the first characteristic of the second song.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

alter a second playback characteristic of the second song based on determining that the performance parameter of the activity by the first user has not increased.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

alter the first playback characteristic of the second song to match a target cadence associated with the first user performing the activity.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a display;

a sensor; and

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

provide playback of a first content as a user is performing an activity;

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

determine if a performance parameter of the user in performing the activity meets a performance target based on performance data received from the sensor as the user is performing the activity, wherein the performance target is based on previous performances of the activity by the user;

based on determining that the performance parameter does not meet the performance target, alter a playback characteristic of the first content to increase the performance parameter of the activity by the user; and

generating a display of the performance parameter specific to the playback characteristic of the first content.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein data related to the previous performances of the activity by the user is stored on a remote server.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the performance target is based on a pace during the activity.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

store the playback characteristic of the first content and the performance parameter specific to the playback characteristic of the first content; and

generate a display of stored performance parameter data responsive to receiving a user display request.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the playback characteristic comprises a beat of the first content.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

alter a second playback characteristic of the first content based on determining that the performance parameter does meet the performance target.