Personal training device using GPS data

• US 6,837,827 B1
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Downey, David J., Fisher, Claudette D., Olivier, Tracy L., Lovitt, John H., Brunk, Scott J., Moore, Ryan T., Lee, Wai C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULL, FRED H
• Application Number:
  US10/462,968
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06, 342/357.17, 340/539.13, 482/3, 482 8- 9
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• 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 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• 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 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/20 Swimming
• 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: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 : Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 : having computer circuitry

Abstract

A personal training device (10) adapted to assist a user in reaching performance goals, navigating, and accumulating performance statistics. In a preferred embodiment, the device broadly comprises a housing (10); an attachment mechanism (30); a GPS component (40); a user interface (50), including an input portion (52) and an output portion (54); a processor (60), including a timer (62) and a memory element (64); a data interface (70), including an input portion (72) and an output portion (74); an audio component (80); and a power supply (90). The device (10) is adapted to store goal information, monitor performance using GPS-derived data, and communicate performance information.

Claims

1. A personal training device comprising:

a location determining component adapted to determine a geographic

location of the device;

a user interface including an output portion adapted to communicate an output and an input portion adapted to receive an input; and

a processor adapted to receive geographic location information from the location determining component, to receive goal information from the user interface, to calculate performance information using the geographic location information, to compare the performance information with the goal information, and to provide the output to the output portion of the user interface, wherein the processor is further adapted to receive training interval information from the user interface which defines two or more training intervals and a goal for each interval.

2. The personal training device as set forth in claim 1, wherein each training interval is defined by a performance characteristic chosen from the group consisting of time, distance, speed, average speed and altitude.

3. The personal training device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to automatically store performance information at a given distance interval.

4. The personal training device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to calculate performance information relating to one or more of the intervals.

5. The personal training device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the output relates to performance and to one or more of the intervals.

6. The personal training device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the goal information includes performance threshold information for one or more of the intervals.

7. The personal training device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the processor calculates the performance information using the threshold information.

8. A personal training device comprising:

a location determining component for determining a geographic location of the device;

a user interface including an output portion for communicating an output and an input portion for receiving an input;

a memory element for receiving and storing information; and

a processor adapted to receive geographic location information from the location determining component, to receive goal information from the user interface, to calculate performance information using the geographic location information, to store the goal information and the performance information in the memory element, to compare the performance information with the goal information, to provide the output to the output portion of the user interface, to perform statistical and historical analyses on the performance information stored in the memory element, wherein the performance information selectively relates to two or more training sessions, and to communicate analysis information to the output portion of the user interface.

9. The personal training device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the information is geographic location information.

10. The personal training device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the processor is further adapted to automatically store the information when a timer function is started, when a timer function is stopped, and at a specified distance interval.

11. A personal training device comprising:

a location determining component based on a global positioning system and adapted to determine a geographic location of the device;

a user interface including an output portion adapted to communicate an output and an input portion adapted to receive an input;

a timer for providing timing information;

a memory element for receiving and storing information; and

a processor adapted to receive the geographic location information from the location determining component, to receive goal information from the user interface, to calculate performance information using the geographic location information and the timing information from the timer, to compare the performance information with the goal information, and to provide the output to the output portion of the user interface, wherein the output is communicated both visually and audibly and relates to performance and the processor is further adapted to receive training interval information from the user interface which defines two or more training intervals and a goal for each interval and to calculate performance information relating to an interval.

12. The personal training device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the processor is further adapted to automatically store performance information at a given distance interval.

13. The personal training device as set forth in claim 12, wherein each training interval is defined by a performance characteristic chosen from the group consisting of time, distance, speed, average speed and altitude.

14. The personal training device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the output relates to the interval.

15. A method of aiding a user in reaching performance goals, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving goal information from the user, wherein the goal information defines two or more training intervals and a goal for each of the training intervals;

(b) storing the goal information;

(c) determining performance information using geographic location information and timing information;

(d) comparing the performance information with the goal information; and

(e) communicating training information to the user, wherein the training information relates to both the goal information and the performance information.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the training information includes an interval transition.

17. A method of aiding a user in reaching performance goals, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving goal information from the user;

(b) storing the goal information;

(c) determining performance information using geographic location information and timing information;

(d) comparing the performance information with the goal information; and

(e) communicating training information to the user, wherein the training information relates to both the goal information and the performance information;

(f) storing the performance information; and

(g) performing historical and statistical analyses on the performance information, wherein the information selectively relates to two or more training sessions.

18. A method of aiding a user in reaching performance goals, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an input from the user indicating course segment information;

(b) receiving goal information, wherein the goal information is related to the course segment information;

(c) storing the goal information;

(d) determining performance information using geographic location information, timing information, and the course segment information;

(e) comparing the performance information with the goal information; and

(f) communicating training information to the user, wherein the training information relates to both the goal information and the performance information.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the training information includes a course segment transition.