OUTDOOR GEAR PERFORMANCE AND TRIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20080142060A1
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, North Face Apparel Corporation (V.F. Corporation)
• Original Assignee: North Face Apparel Corporation (V.F. Corporation)
• Inventors: Orth, Maggie, Elginsmith, Brian, Kennedy, Sheila, Verplaetse, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 135/91
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/005 with controlled temperature

Abstract

Systems and methods of managing the performance of host products such as outdoor gear provide for detecting a connection between drive and performance modules. The performance module has an associated output type and is installed in a host product. A drive profile is selected from a plurality of drive profiles based on the output type and performance characteristic of the host product and is modified by controlling the performance module based on the selected drive profile. Other embodiments include systems and methods of managing trips provide for a performance unit that generates profile data for a performance module based on pre-trip data. The profile data instructs a drive module to modify a performance characteristic of a host product in which the performance module is installed. A trip management unit collects sensor data from a sensor based on the pre-trip data and generates post-trip data based on the sensor data.

Claims

1. An outdoor gear performance management system comprising:

a host product having a plurality of performance characteristics associated therewith;

a first performance module connected to the host product that generates a first output to modify one of the performance characteristics of the host product;

a second performance module connected to the host product that generates a second output to modify another of the performance characteristics of the host product; and

at least one drive module for controlling the performance modules based on a selected drive profile to modify the performance characteristics of the host product,

wherein the drive profile is selected by the drive module based upon the type of output of the performance module and the type of host product.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the host product is selected from the group consisting of jackets, gloves, hats, footwear, tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the performance characteristics are selected from a group of parameters consisting of temperature, airflow, and illumination.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second host product having a plurality of performance characteristics associated therewith, the second host product includes third and fourth performance modules, and the drive module controls each.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the drive profile is selected based upon user input.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first performance module is a fan whose output increases ventilation of the host product.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the second performance module is a light of which light output is used to illuminate the host product.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the drive profile uses a current/voltage signature to operate the performance modules.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the performance modules include a tether to provide a electrical connection to a connector.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the drive module has a connector that interfaces with a connector of the performance modules.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the drive module connector has a pin assigned to each type of performance module.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the drive module is wirelessly connected to the performance modules.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the drive module includes a power supply.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller to remotely control the drive modules.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the drive modules are configured to sense and track parameters selected from the group consisting of body temperature, heart rate, hydration, motion, ambient temperature, compass/heading, weather forecast, GPS, altitude, distance, pace, calories burned, humidity, barometer pressure, and time.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller including a performance unit to generate profile data for the performance modules based on pre-trip data, wherein the profile data instructs the drive module to modify the performance characteristics of the host product, and

a trip management unit to collect sensor data from a sensor based on the pre-trip data and generate post-trip data based on the sensor data.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the controller is configured to interact with one or more computing devices to exchange pre-trip and post-trip data.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the controller functions as a multi-functional link between the computing device and the performance modules.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the controller is wireless.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the sensor tracks and provides data related to at least one of speed, distance, altitude, temperature, and heart rate.