Methods and Computer Program Products for Providing Information About a User During a Physical Activity

• US 20110082641A1
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: DOYLE, Scot, WERNER, Jon H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• 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 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• 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 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• 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 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: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a method for execution on a portable fitness device of providing information about a first user engaged in a physical activity with the portable fitness device includes determining user performance data while the first user is engaged in the physical activity and determining whether or not to transmit the user performance data to a remotely located server computer system via a wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity, wherein the determination of whether or not to transmit the user performance data is based on an indication of whether or not a remotely located second user is currently monitoring the first user.

Claims

1. A method for execution on a portable fitness device of providing information about a first user engaged in a physical activity with the portable fitness device, the method comprising:

determining user performance data while the first user is engaged in the physical activity; and

determining whether or not to transmit the user performance data to a remotely located server computer system via a wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the determination of whether or not to transmit the user performance data is based on an indication of whether or not a remotely located second user is currently monitoring the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining user performance data further comprises the steps of:

determining time-stamped GPS waypoints associated with the location of the portable fitness device based on GPS signals; and

determining the user performance data based on the time-stamped GPS waypoints.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user performance data comprises speed, pace, elapsed distance, elapsed time, distance to go, heart rate, or elevation data, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

receiving from the server computer system via the wide-area wireless network an instruction for the first user to change their directional heading while the first user is engaged in the physical activity.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining time-stamped GPS waypoints associated with the location of the portable fitness device based on GPS signals while the first user is engaged in the physical activity;

determining the first user'"'"'s location at a first time based on one or more of the time-stamped GPS waypoints while the first user is engaged in the physical activity; and

initiating a visual display on a display of a remotely located second user'"'"'s client computer system while the first user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the visual display includes an indication of the first user'"'"'s location at the first time.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

determining the first user'"'"'s location at a second time subsequent to the first time based on one or more of the time-stamped GPS waypoints while the first user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the visual display simultaneously includes indications of the first user'"'"'s location at the first time and at the second time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving weather data via the wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity; and

associating the weather data with the user performance data.

8. A computer program product comprising computer-useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a portable fitness device, provides information about a first user engaged in a physical activity with the portable fitness device, the computer program logic comprising:

first computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine user performance data while the first user is engaged in the physical activity;

second computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine whether or not to transmit the user performance data to a remotely located server computer system via a wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the determination of whether or not to transmit the user performance data is based on an indication of whether or not a remotely located second user is currently monitoring the first user; and

third computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit the user performance data to the server computer system.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the first computer readable program code comprises:

fourth computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine time-stamped GPS waypoints associated with the location of the portable fitness device based on GPS signals; and

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine the user performance data based on the time-stamped GPS waypoints.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the user performance data comprises speed, pace, elapsed distance, elapsed time, distance to go, heart rate, or elevation data, or a combination thereof.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

fourth computer readable program code that enables a processor to receive from the server computer system via the wide-area wireless network an instruction for the first user to change their directional heading while the user is engaged in the physical activity.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

fourth computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine time-stamped GPS waypoints associated with the location of the portable fitness device based on GPS signals while the first user is engaged in the physical activity;

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine the first user'"'"'s location at a first time based on one or more of the time-stamped GPS waypoints while the first user is engaged in the physical activity; and

sixth computer readable program code that enables a processor to initiate a visual display on a display of a remotely located second user'"'"'s client computer system while the first user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the visual display includes an indication of the first user'"'"'s location at the first time.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising:

seventh computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine the first user'"'"'s location at a second time subsequent to the first time based on one or more of the time-stamped GPS waypoints while the first user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the visual display simultaneously includes indications of the first user'"'"'s location at the first time and at the second time.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

fourth computer readable program code that enables a processor to receive weather data via the wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity; and

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to associate the weather data with the user performance data.

15. A method for execution by a server computer system of providing information about a first user engaged in a physical activity with a portable fitness device, the method comprising:

receiving first user location data from the portable fitness device via a wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity;

receiving first user performance data from the portable fitness device via a wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity;

determining the first user'"'"'s location with respect to a route path based on the received first user location data; and

initiating a visual display on a remotely located second user'"'"'s client computer system while the first user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the visual display includes performance related content that is based on the first user performance data, and

wherein the visual display further includes an indication of the first user'"'"'s location with respect to the route path.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

transmitting to the portable fitness device via the wide-area wireless network an indication of whether or not the remotely located second user is monitoring the first user.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first user performance data comprises speed, pace, elapsed distance, elapsed time, distance to go, heart rate, or elevation data, or a combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the second user'"'"'s client computer system a training recommendation; and

transmitting the training recommendation to the portable fitness device via the wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

transmitting to the portable fitness device via the wide-area wireless network an instruction for the first user to change their directional heading while the first user is engaged in the physical activity.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a third user is engaged in a physical activity with a second portable fitness device, further comprising the step of:

receiving third user location data from a second portable fitness device via a wide-area wireless network while the third user is engaged in the physical activity;

receiving third user performance data from the second portable fitness device via a wide-area wireless network while the third user is engaged in the physical activity;

determining the third user'"'"'s location with respect to a route path based on the received third user location data; and

initiating a visual display on a remotely located second user'"'"'s client computer system while the third user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the visual display includes performance related content that is based on the third user performance data, and

wherein the visual display further includes an indication of the third user'"'"'s location with respect to the route path.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the client computer system is a desktop computer.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the indication of the first user'"'"'s location with respect to the route path simultaneously includes indications of the first user'"'"'s location at the first time and at a second time subsequent to the first time.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the indication of the third user'"'"'s location with respect to the route path simultaneously includes indications of the third user'"'"'s location at the first time and at a second time subsequent to the first time.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

determining weather condition information while the user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the visual display further includes the weather condition information.

25. A computer program product comprising computer-useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a server computer system, provides information about a first user engaged in a physical activity with the portable fitness device, the computer program logic comprising:

first computer readable program code that enables a processor to receive first user location data from the portable fitness device via a wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity;

second computer readable program code that enables a processor to receive first user performance data from the portable fitness device via a wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity;

third computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine the first user'"'"'s location with respect to a route path based on the received first user location data; and

fourth computer readable program code that enables a processor to initiate a visual display on a remotely located second user'"'"'s client computer system while the first user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the visual display includes performance related content that is based on the first user performance data, and

wherein the visual display further includes an indication of the first user'"'"'s location with respect to the route path.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit to the portable fitness device via the wide-area wireless network an indication of whether or not the remotely located second user is monitoring the first user.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the first user performance data comprises speed, pace, elapsed distance, elapsed time, distance to go, heart rate, or elevation data, or a combination thereof.

28. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to receive from the second user'"'"'s client computer system a training recommendation; and

sixth computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit the training recommendation to the portable fitness device via the wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity.

29. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit to the portable fitness device via the wide-area wireless network an instruction for the first user to change their directional heading while the first user is engaged in the physical activity.

30. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein a third user is engaged in a physical activity with a second portable fitness device, further comprising:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to receive third user location data from a second portable fitness device via a wide-area wireless network while the third user is engaged in the physical activity;

sixth computer readable program code that enables a processor to receive third user performance data from the second portable fitness device via a wide-area wireless network while the third user is engaged in the physical activity;

seventh computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine the third user'"'"'s location with respect to a route path based on the received third user location data; and

eighth computer readable program code that enables a processor to initiate a visual display on a remotely located second user'"'"'s client computer system while the third user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the visual display includes performance related content that is based on the third user performance data, and

wherein the visual display further includes an indication of the third user'"'"'s location with respect to the route path.

31. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the client computer system is a desktop computer.

32. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the indication of the first user'"'"'s location with respect to the route path simultaneously includes indications of the user'"'"'s location at the first time and at a second time subsequent to the first time.

33. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the indication of the third user'"'"'s location with respect to the route path simultaneously includes indications of the third user'"'"'s location at the first time and at a second time subsequent to the first time.

34. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine weather condition information while the user is engaged in the physical activity,

wherein the visual display further includes the weather condition information.