Interactive athletic equipment system

• US 10,881,910 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2017
• Issued: 01/05/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tchao, Michael, Robinette, Christopher A., Nims, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Megan
• Application Number:
  US15/484,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20170216677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• 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 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 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• 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 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Systems and techniques for the collection and display of athletic information. Athletic data relating to a single person or group of people is collected at a central location, and subsequently displayed at a desired remote location so that the person or people can review and critique their performance. In addition, athletic data for multiple persons can be collected at a central location, and subsequently displayed to a user at a desired remote location, so that the user can compare his or her athletic activities to others.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a wearable device assembly, further comprising;

a processor;

a sensor;

an interface;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, that when executed by the processor are configured to;

receive, from the sensor, athletic activity data associated with daily activities of a user;

display, on the interface, a first icon that is user selectable and a second icon with a dark outline that is not available for user selection;

measure athletic activity performed by the user;

store in a database historical data for athletic activity performed by the user, and

provide the second icon for user selection as once the athletic activity performed by the user has reached a specified value, wherein the user receives a reward from a second user if the second user sees that the user is falling behind in training.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, are further configured to provide one or more messages to the user based on how the athletic activity of the user compares with the historical data.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more messages includes a motivational message.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more messages includes a suggestion for beating an average of the historical data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user is located at a first location and wherein the apparatus further comprises a transceiver configured to transmit the historical data to a second location, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive athletic performance data from the second location and wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor are further configured to compare the athletic activity performed by the user with the athletic performance data received form the second location, wherein the first location is a first athletic training facility and wherein the second location is a second athletic training facility.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a filtering module configured to extract data specific to a type of athletic activity from the received athletic performance data, wherein the type of athletic activity corresponds to the athletic activity performed by the user and wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor are configured to compare only the extracted data to the athletic activity performed by the user.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver configured to transmit the historical data to a remote network site.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a data transfer module configured to transfer the historical data to a portable user device.