Interactive Athletic Equipment System

• US 20120095578A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,585,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/91
• 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:

an athletic performance module configured to detect athletic activity of a user; and

a display configured to display a user interface comprising;

an athletic performance data section providing athletic activity information; and

a message section providing one or more messages to the user, wherein the one or more messages are provided based on the athletic activity information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more messages includes a comment from at least one other user.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface further includes an avatar display section for displaying an electronic avatar representing the user.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein an appearance of the electronic avatar changes based on the athletic activity of the user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the athletic activity information includes a measure of the athletic activity of the user in a common unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the athletic activity information is provided in the common unit and a unit in which the athletic activity is measured.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user interface is configured to provide the athletic activity information in the common unit in a perceptively different manner than the unit in which the athletic activity is measured.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is further configured to display athletic activity information of at least one other user.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the display is configured to display athletic activity information of at least one other user in comparison with the athletic activity of the user.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message section is configured to provide the one or more messages to the user upon the user reaching a halfway mark to a specified goal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more messages include a message of encouragement.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface further includes a history section configured to display historical workout information of the user.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the historical workout information includes only data relating to a type of athletic activity corresponding to the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the historical workout information includes a best workout time.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more messages are provided to the user in response to determining that the user is on track to beat a best workout time, wherein the determination is made based on the athletic activity detected by the athletic performance module.

16. A method comprising:

measuring, by an athletic performance module, athletic activity of a user; and

displaying a user interface comprising;

an athletic performance data section providing athletic activity information; and

a message section providing one or more messages to the user, wherein the one or more messages are provided based on the athletic activity information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more messages includes a comment from at least one other user.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the user interface further includes an avatar display section for displaying an electronic avatar representing the user.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising changing an appearance of the electronic avatar based on the athletic activity of the user.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the athletic activity information includes a measure of the athletic activity of the user in a common unit.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the athletic activity information is provided in the common unit and a unit in which the athletic activity is measured.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the user interface displays the athletic activity information in the common unit in a perceptively different manner than the unit in which the athletic activity is measured.

23. The method of claim 16, the user interface further comprises athletic activity information of at least one other user.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising displaying the athletic activity information of at least one other user in comparison with the athletic activity of the user.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying the one or more messages to the user in the message section upon the user reaching a halfway mark to a specified goal.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the user interface further comprises a history section for displaying display historical workout information of the user.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the historical workout information includes only data relating to a type of athletic activity corresponding to the athletic performance module.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the historical workout information includes a best workout time.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining that the user is on track to beast a best workout time; and

in response to the determination, providing the one or more messages to the user, wherein the determination is made based on the athletic activity detected by the athletic performance module.