Systems and Methods for Integrating a Portable Electronic Device with a Bicycle

• US 20100198453A1
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wood, Policarpo, Krueger, Scott, Mason, James Eric, Johnson, Timothy, Novotney, Donald J., Dorogusker, Jesse L., Haughay, Allen P. JR., Schubert, Emily Clark, Hodge, Andrew, Fadell, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• 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 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• 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 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo 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 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• 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 2230/065 : within a certain range
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• 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 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: B62J 45/20 : Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 : electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 : Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 : received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 : Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 : for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 : with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 : Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00

Abstract

Systems and methods are providing for interfacing an electronic device with a bicycle system. The electronic device can receive the output from sensors coupled to the bicycle and generate riding characteristics for display to the user. The electronic device can in addition receive communications from other electronic devices and provide the communications to the user. In some embodiments, the electronic device can be paired with the devices of one or more other cyclists so that the cyclists can share riding characteristics and other information. This can allow the cyclists to ride as a team and better assist each other.

Claims

1. A system for communicating riding characteristics among a plurality of bicycles, comprising:

a first electronic device coupled to a first bicycle, the first electronic device operative to;

determine at least one riding characteristic of the first bicycle;

receive in real-time from a second electronic device coupled to a second bicycle at least one riding characteristic other than location of the second bicycle; and

provide the determined and received at least one riding characteristics to a display associated with the first electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is further operative to:

determine the current position of the first bicycle;

receive from the second electronic device the current position of the second bicycle;

identify a path to reach the second bicycle from the determined current position of the first bicycle; and

provide the identified path to the user of the first bicycle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is operative to receive data from at least one sensor connected to a component of the first bicycle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a cadence sensor, a power sensor, an accelerometer, an incline sensor, a derailleur setting, and a speedometer.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the first electronic device is operative to provide the received data to the second electronic device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is further operative to provide at least one of a text communication, a voice communication and a video communication to the second electronic device.

7. An electronic device for providing cycling information to the users of a plurality of bicycles riding in a group, the electronic device associated with a first bicycle, comprising control circuitry operative to:

detect a plurality of electronic devices, each associated with one of the plurality of bicycles;

determine at least one riding characteristic of the first bicycle, wherein the riding characteristic comprises at least one of speed, distance, time, altitude, elevation, incline, decline, heart rate, power, derailleur setting, cadence, wind speed, path completed, expected future path, heart rate, power, and pace; and

receive, in real-time from each of the detected plurality of electronic devices, at least one riding characteristic of each of the plurality of bicycles.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

determine the current position of the first bicycle;

identify at least one cycling path located in the vicinity of the determined current position; and

provide the identified at least one path to a display for display.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

receive an indication of an interest from a user;

identify at least one attraction located in the vicinity of the determined current position; and

provide the at least one identified attraction to the display for display.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

generate a map of the vicinity of the determined current location for display to the user; and

include representations of the identified at least one path and identified at least one attraction in the generated map.

11. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

identify the location of at least one of the plurality of bicycles; and

direct a display to display the identified location and received riding characteristic for the at least one of the plurality of bicycles.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to direct the display to display the identified location and received riding characteristic on a map.

13. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

receive a comparison profile comprising at least one riding characteristic; and

direct a display to simultaneously display the at least one riding characteristic of the comparison profile and the corresponding at least one riding characteristic of the first bicycle.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

provide a listing of available comparison profiles, wherein at least one of the comparison profiles corresponds to past riding performances of the user of the first bicycle; and

receive a user selection of one of the available comparison profiles.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the comparison profile comprises at least one riding characteristic that changes based on at least one of the environment of the first bicycle, the location of the first bicycle along a course, the duration of the ride, and the amount of time that the bicycle has been ridden.

16. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to receive a user selection of the plurality of bicycles from which to receive at least one riding characteristic.

17. A sensor for use with an electronic device, the sensor coupled to a bicycle and comprising:

communications circuitry operative to pair with at least one authorized electronic device; and

control circuitry operative to;

monitor the movement of at least one bicycle component;

determine, from the monitored movement, that the bicycle is in use;

detect that the communications circuitry has not received a communication from the at least one authorized electronic device;

generate an alert indicating that the bicycle is being used without authorization; and

direct the communications circuitry to broadcast the alert.

18. The sensor of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

determine the current location of the sensor;

determine the current time; and

generate an alert that includes at least one of the determined current location and the determined current time.

19. The sensor of claim 17, wherein the communications circuitry is further operative to broadcast the alert to a remote server.

20. The sensor of claim 17, wherein the communications circuitry is further operative to:

detect an unauthorized electronic device; and

transmit the alert to the unauthorized electronic device, wherein the alert comprises an instruction to relay the alert to a remote server.

21. The sensor of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

define a region where the bicycle can be used without an electronic device;

determine that the bicycle has left the defined region; and

generate the alert in response to determining that the bicycle has left the defined region.

22. The sensor of claim 17, wherein:

the communications circuitry is operative to detect an authorized electronic device; and

the control circuitry is operative to;

generate a message canceling the alert; and

direct the communications circuitry to transmit the generated message.