Methods, systems, and products for monitoring athletic performance

• US 7,841,966 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2007
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A., Ruckart, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, LoAn
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROLAND, DANIEL F
• Application Number:
  US11/699,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20080182723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 600/587, 600/595, 377/24.2, 702/160, 702/141, 702/176, 701/216, 434/247, 7337901-37903
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• 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 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• 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 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/20 Swimming
• 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 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for monitoring athletic performance. Information is acquired that indicates a device is in movement. The movement is differentiated from transportation. When the movement indicates transportation, then the movement is excluded as unrelated to the athletic performance.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring athletic performance, comprising:

acquiring location information by a processor that indicates a device is in movement;

determining a velocity of the movement and a distance traversed by the processor;

retrieving from memory a maximum velocity and a cumulative distance;

comparing the velocity of the movement to the maximum velocity;

adding the movement to the cumulative distance when the velocity is less than or equal to the maximum velocity;

retrieving topographical information associated with the location information;

querying a database of difficulty that stores a table that maps topographies to levels of difficulty;

retrieving a level of difficulty that is associated to the topographical information;

associating the level of difficulty to the distance traversed during the movement; and

ignoring the movement when the velocity exceeds the maximum velocity, such that the processor determines the movement is vehicular transportation and unrelated to human athletic performance

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing an acceleration associated with the movement to a threshold value, and when the acceleration fails to satisfy the threshold value, then the movement is the vehicular transportation and excluded as unrelated to the human athletic performance.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the acceleration satisfies the threshold value, then acquiring a distance traversed during the movement.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising computing an amount of work expended during the movement.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the velocity is associated with exercise and accumulating the distance traversed in a database when the velocity is less than the threshold velocity.