Event and sport performance methods and systems

• US 10,071,301 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2013
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Vock, Curtis A., Youngs, Perry, Larkin, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US14/065,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 702182
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/19 Skiing
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting and measuring performance characteristics and metrics of participants and vehicles. These performance characteristics and metrics include, but not are limited to, airtime, g-force, spin, rotation, drop distance, acceleration, and video and still images. These vehicles include, but are not limited to a snowboard, ski, skateboard, wakeboard, motorcycle, bicycle, ice skates and rollerblades. In one implementation, a camera provides near real-time images and video footage of a participant'"'"'s actions on a vehicle which can be correlated with performance metrics. The camera may be located on the participant, the participant'"'"'s vehicle or other equipment, or from some other observation point. The images recorded by the camera can be downloaded to a recording or other storage device to produce memorabilia (e.g., a CD ROM, or video cassette). If desired, the images can be sent in real-time through an event system and network (e.g., using a radio or other transmitter) to television, the Internet, and to other locations for producing the memorabilia or for providing images to television display devices, such as those located in a ski lodge for entertainment purposes or in a coach'"'"'s or personal trainer'"'"'s office for training purposes.

Claims

1. A mobile data capture system comprising:

a sensing unit comprising at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to generate sensor data that is associated with a skateboarding training exercise, the sensor data based on detected motion of a skateboard associated with the skateboarding training exercise during the skateboarding training exercise;

at least one camera configured for capturing a plurality of images of the skateboarding training exercise; and

processing electronics for receiving and storing data representing the captured plurality of images of the skateboarding training exercise, and correlating the plurality of images of the skateboarding training exercise to a performance metric based on the sensor data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing electronics include digital video memory for storing data representing the captured plurality of images of the skateboarding training exercise.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit further comprises an interface for transmitting data representing the captured plurality of images of the skateboarding training exercise and the sensor data to a computer via a network.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the interface comprises an antenna and relay electronics, and wherein the transmitting data representing the captured plurality of images of the skateboarding training exercise and the sensor data to the to the computer occurs in real-time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing electronics are configured to apply a time stamp to each of the plurality of images of the skateboarding training exercise based upon a common time reference.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit further comprises a global positioning system device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit further comprises an accelerometer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is configured to measure acceleration, speed, distance, height, and drop distance of the skateboard associated with the skateboarding training exercise.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is configured to measure airtime of the skateboard associated with the skateboarding training exercise.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is configured to measure a time duration that the skateboard associated with the skateboarding training exercise is on a side or at the edge of a ramp.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensing unit is configured to measure tilt or leaning information, flip information, scraping information, and edge time of the skateboard associated with the skateboarding training exercise.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensing unit is configured to measure experienced G-force of the skateboard associated with the skateboarding training exercise.

13. A method of correlating image data with performance metrics, the method comprising:

generating, with a sensor unit sensor data that is associated with a skateboarding training exercise, the sensor data based on detected motion of a skateboard associated with the skateboarding training exercise during the skateboarding training exercise;

capturing, with at least one camera, a plurality of images of the skateboarding training exercise; and

receiving and storing, with processing electronics, data representing the captured plurality of images of the skateboarding training exercise; and

correlating, with processing electronics, the plurality of images of the skateboarding training exercise to a performance metric based on the sensor data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the processing electronics include digital video memory for storing data representing the captured plurality of images of the skateboarding training exercise.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing unit comprises a global positioning system device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing unit comprises an accelerometer.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing unit is configured to measure acceleration, speed, distance, height, and drop distance of the skateboard associated with the skateboarding training exercise.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing unit is configured to measure airtime of the skateboard associated with the skateboarding training exercise.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing unit is configured to measure a time duration that skateboard associated with the skateboarding training exercise is on a side or at the edge of a ramp.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing unit is configured to measure tilt or leaning information, flip information, scraping information, and edge time of the skateboard associated with the skateboarding training exercise.