Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems and methods

• US 7,771,320 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Riley, Raymond W., Rauchholz, William F., Schrock, Allan M., Hoffer, Kevin W., Berner, William E. Jr., Niegowski, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganesan; Sundhara M
• Application Number:
  US11/848,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20080096726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 600/587, 600/595, 434/236, 434/238
• US Class Current: 482/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• 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 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 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/00 Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• 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 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 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0059 Exercising apparatus with reward systems
• 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 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• 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 71/0616 : 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: A63B 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 : by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 : Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 : Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 : Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 : with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 : with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems include components for measuring or sensing athletic performance data and/or for storing and/or displaying desired information associated with the athletic performance to the user (or others). Such systems can allow users a wide variety of options in creating workouts, selecting and presenting media content during the athletic performance, etc., e.g., to help keep users entertained and motivated. In some instances, user feedback may be used, optionally in combination with objective data relating to a workout, to control features of the workout routine, to control the music or other media content selected and/or presented, and/or to control features of future workout routines and/or the presented media content.

Claims

1. An athletic performance control system, comprising:

a display system that presents workout information to a user, wherein the workout information includes information relating to content of a user'"'"'s workout routine;

a user interface system that prompts the user for a first input relating to a desired workout intensity parameter for the workout routine, wherein the user interface system prompts the user during performance of athletic activity of the workout routine in response to determining that the user is having difficulty with the workout routine;

an input system for receiving the first input; and

a processing system programmed and adapted to;

provide, under at least some circumstances, a revised or modified workout routine based, at least in part, on the first input; and

determine whether the user is having difficulty with the workout routine,

wherein the user interface system is further configured to;

Prompt the user for a second input relating to a subjective evaluation of the workout routine upon completion of the workout routine, wherein the workout routine includes a plurality of types of athletic activity; and

Provide a workout comment to the user, wherein the workout comment is determined based on a comparison of the second input and previous workout data.

2. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor that senses a physical or physiological characteristic relating to user participation in the workout routine, wherein the workout information includes information based on output from the sensor.

3. An athletic performance control system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor senses at least one of speed information, distance information, or timing information.

4. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the display system includes a display screen.

5. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the display system includes an audio output system.

6. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the display system and the input system are portable and carried by the user during the workout routine.

7. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface system prompts the user for the first input during an initial workout activity of the workout routine.

8. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface system prompts the user for the first input during an initial warm-up time period.

9. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface system prompts the user for the first input within a first 10% of the workout routine time period.

10. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface system prompts the user for the first input within a first 5% of the workout routine time period.

11. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface system prompts the user for the first input toward an end of a workout activity included in the workout routine.

12. An athletic performance control system according to claim 11, wherein the user interface system prompts the user to indicate whether the workout activity should be extended.

13. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface system prompts the user for a second input relating to the desired workout intensity parameter for the workout routine in response to determining that the user'"'"'s performance in a workout activity or in the workout routine is projected to meet or exceed a personal best.

14. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface system requests that the user indicate whether an additional song or other media content should be added to the workout routine.

15. An athletic performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the revised or modified workout routine is revised or modified in at least one manner selected from the group of:

increasing a time period associated with at least one workout activity in the workout routine;

decreasing a time period associated with at least one workout activity in the workout routine;

increasing a resistance level associated with use of a piece of exercise equipment for at least one workout activity in the workout routine;

decreasing a resistance level associated with use of a piece of exercise equipment for at least one workout activity in the workout routine;

increasing workout speed associated with use of a piece of exercise equipment for at least one workout activity in the workout routine;

decreasing workout speed associated with use of a piece of exercise equipment for at least one workout activity in the workout routine;

increasing a hill climb, step count goal, or elevation change parameter associated with use of a piece of exercise equipment for at least one workout activity in the workout routine;

decreasing a hill climb, step count goal, or elevation change parameter associated with use of a piece of exercise equipment for at kast one workout activity in the workout routine;

increasing a distance parameter associated with at least one workout activity in the workout routine; and

decreasing a distance parameter associated with at least one workout activity in the workout routine.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is adapted to determine whether the user is having difficulty with the workout routine based on a detected pulse of the user.

17. A machine implemented athletic performance control method, comprising:

presenting workout information to a user via a portable display system, wherein the workout information includes information relating to content of a user'"'"'s workout routine;

determining that the user is having difficulty with the workout routine during performance of athletic activity of the workout routine;

prompting the user for a first input relating to a desired workout intensity parameter for the workout routine, wherein the prompting occurs in response to determining that the user is having difficulty with the workout routine;

receiving the first input; and

providing, under at least some circumstances, a revised or modified workout routine based, at least in part, on the first input,

prompting the user for a second input relating to a subjective evaluation of the workout routine upon completion of the workout routine, wherein the workout routine includes a plurality of types of athletic activity;

determining a workout comment to provide to the user based on a comparison of the second input and previous workout data; and

providing the workout comment to the user.

18. The athletic performance control method of claim 17, wherein determining that the user is having difficulty with the workout routine is based on a detected pulse of the user.

19. The athletic performance control method of claim 17, further comprising comparing the second input to a subjective evaluation of the workout routine by another user.