Multi-sensor monitoring of athletic performance

• US 7,603,255 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Case, Charles Whipple Jr., Martin, Jason P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Bryan
• Application Number:
  US11/769,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20070287596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 702/95, 702/96, 702/97, 702/142, 702/182, 702/188, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 482/3, 482/4, 482/7, 482/8
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• 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 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• 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 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/75 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/08 other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 : Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 : wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 : Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 : with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.

Claims

1. An athletic performance monitoring system, comprising:

a global positioning satellite receiver that obtains data relating to a series of time-stamped position points;

a first athletic performance monitor that measures physical data relating to an athlete'"'"'s performance;

means for generating calibration data for the first athletic performance monitor based on data obtained via the global positioning satellite receiver, wherein the means for generating calibration data generates a plurality of correction factors for use under different athletic performance conditions; and

means for determining at least one of speed data or movement distance data for the athlete'"'"'s performance, wherein the means for determining uses a first correction factor for a first portion of a first athletic performance and a second correction factor for a second portion of the first athletic performance, wherein the first correction factor differs from the second correction factor.

2. An athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the first athletic performance monitor provides movement distance data relating to a distance moved by the athlete during the first athletic performance.

3. An athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the first athletic performance monitor provides speed data relating to a movement speed of the athlete during the first athletic performance.

4. An athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining uses the first correction factor under athletic performance conditions during which a first step size is expected and uses the second correction factor under athletic performance conditions during which a second step size is expected.

5. An athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of correction factors generated by the means for generating calibration data includes at least one set of correction factors selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a first set of correction factors including the first correction factor for use at a first movement speed and the second correction factor for use at a second movement speed that differs from the first movement speed;

(b) a second set of correction factors including the first correction factor for use during uphill movement and the second correction factor for use during downhill movement;

(c) a third set of correction factors including the first correction factor for use during a first wind speed condition and the second correction factor for use during a second wind speed condition; and

(d) a fourth set of correction factors including the first correction factor for use during a first wind direction condition and the second correction factor for use during a second wind direction condition.

6. An athletic performance monitoring system, comprising:

an altitude measuring system that obtains data relating to an altitude at an athlete'"'"'s location as an athletic performance is taking place;

a first athletic performance monitor that provides data relating to at least one of a speed or a distance moved by the athlete;

a second athletic performance monitor that provides data relating to physiological data relating to the athlete'"'"'s performance;

means for storing data relating to the athlete'"'"'s performance, wherein the means for storing stores at least some data collected via the altitude measuring system, the first athletic performance monitor, and the second athletic performance monitor; and

means for displaying at least some data collected via the altitude measuring system, the first athletic performance monitor, and the second athletic performance monitor in a time correlated manner, wherein the means for displaying simultaneously displays at least some of the data relating to the altitude, at least some of the data relating to the speed or distance moved by the athlete, and at least some of the data relating to the physiological data in the time correlated manner after the athletic performance has been completed.

7. An athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein the means for displaying displays at least some of the data relating to the altitude, at least some of the data relating to the speed or distance moved by the athlete, and at least some of the data relating to the physiological data with respect to a graphical representation of a route over which the athlete moved during the athletic performance.

8. An athletic performance monitoring system, comprising:

a global positioning satellite receiver that obtains data relating to a series of time-stamped position points encountered during an athletic performance;

means for determining data relating to at least one of a speed or a distance moved by an athlete during the athletic performance based, at least in part, on the data from the global positioning satellite receiver;

means for determining whether a route covered during the athletic performance corresponds to a route covered during a previous athletic performance based on data obtained via the global positioning satellite receiver during the athletic performance; and

means for comparing the data relating to at least one of the speed or the distance moved by the athlete during the athletic performance with data relating to the speed or the distance moved during the previous athletic performance when the route covered during the athletic performance is determined to have corresponded to the route covered during the previous athletic performance.

9. An athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 8, further comprising:

means for correlating at least some data collected via the global positioning satellite receiver to the athlete'"'"'s location along the route covered during the athletic performance.

10. An athletic performance monitoring system, comprising:

a global positioning satellite receiver that obtains data relating to a series of time-stamped position points encountered during an athletic performance; and

means for controlling an audio device during the athletic performance based, at least in part, on data obtained via the global positioning satellite receiver, wherein the means for controlling the audio device adjusts at least one feature of content played by the audio device based on approaching route conditions as determined using data obtained via the global positioning satellite receiver.

11. An athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein the means for controlling the audio device provides audio output including safety or warning information based on the approaching route conditions.

12. An athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein the means for controlling the audio device provides audio output information regarding at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

information regarding an approaching route curve, information regarding approaching terrain changes along the route, information regarding route slope, and information regarding bicycle gearing based on conditions along the route.

13. An athletic performance monitoring system, comprising:

a global positioning satellite receiver that obtains data relating to a series of time-stamped position points encountered during an athletic performance; and

means for controlling an audio device during the athletic performance based, at least in part, on data obtained via the global positioning satellite receiver, wherein the means for controlling the audio device selects a specific song or video clip to be played by the audio device based on a location approached by an athlete as determined via the global positioning satellite receiver.

14. An athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 13, wherein the specific song or video clip is a song or video clip designated by the athlete as providing motivational content prior to the athletic performance.

15. An athletic performance monitoring system, comprising:

means for receiving input data relating to an athletic performance; and

means for displaying information relating to the athletic performance, wherein the information displayed correlates at least one physical characteristic of the athletic performance to time, distance, or location along a route used during the athletic performance, wherein the information displayed correlates at least one physiological characteristic of the athletic performance to time, distance, or location along the route used during the athletic performance, and wherein the means for displaying simultaneously displays at least some of the data relating to the physical characteristic and at least some of the data relating to the physiological characteristic correlated to time, distance, or location along the route after the athletic performance has been completed.

16. An athletic performance monitoring system according to claim 15, wherein the means for displaying displays at least some of the data relating to the physical characteristic of the athletic performance and at least some of the data relating to the physiological characteristic of the athletic performance with respect to a graphical representation of a route over which the athlete moved during the athletic performance.

17. An athletic performance monitoring system, comprising:

a global positioning satellite receiver that obtains data relating to a series of time-stamped position points encountered during an athletic performance; and

means for controlling an audio device during the athletic performance based, at least in part, on data obtained via the global positioning satellite receiver, wherein the means for controlling the audio device controls content played by the audio device to include historical or tourist information based on a location approached by an athlete as determined via the global positioning satellite receiver.