Location-aware fitness training device, methods, and program products that support real-time interactive communication and automated route generation

• US 7,941,160 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Werner, Jon H., Doyle, Scot
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, NHAN T
• Application Number:
  US11/932,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/422.1, 455/436, 455/440, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 701/207, 701213-216, 34235701-35709, 3423571-35717
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• 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 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• 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 71/0616 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: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a server receives a description of an activity of interest to a user. In response to receiving the description, a route corresponding to the activity of interest is identified and a graphical element corresponding to the route is presented. The route is stored for future reference by the user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a server receiving a description of an activity of interest to a user;

in response to receiving the description, identifying a route corresponding to the activity of interest and presenting a graphical element corresponding to the route; and

scheduling a prospective traversal of the route in a training plan of the user on the server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the route includes building the route in response to receipt of the description.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of identifying the route includes locating the route in a database containing a plurality of routes including the route;

the step of presenting the graphical element includes presenting a plurality of graphical elements including the graphical element; and

the step of scheduling comprises scheduling the prospective traversal of the route in response to receipt of an indication of selection of the graphical element.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting data associated with the route from the server to a mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of transmitting data associated with the route to the mobile device comprises wirelessly transmitting data associated with the route to the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the data associated with the route is route map data.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the data associated with the route is a sequence of turn-by-turn instructions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the description includes an indication of difficulty.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the description includes a distance.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the description includes at least one attribute of the route.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the description includes a geographic location.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting an overall route rating associated with the route that is based upon at least one individual rating associated with the route.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of presenting the overall route rating associated with the route occurs simultaneously with the step of presenting of the graphical element corresponding to the route.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the user is a first user; and

the at least one individual rating was provided by a second user who is different from the first user.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the description does not include a location of a terminal point of the route.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the training plan includes a plurality of prospective fitness activities; and

the step of scheduling the prospective traversal of the route in the training plan of the user includes associating the prospective traversal of the route with a particular prospective fitness activity.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the prospective traversal of the route is associated with the particular prospective fitness activity in order to fulfill one or more requirements of the particular prospective fitness activity.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of scheduling the prospective traversal of the route in the training plan of the user includes associating the prospective traversal of the route with a particular date.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting a map with a marker located thereupon indicating a location with which one or more routes, including the route corresponding to the activity of interest, are associated,

wherein the step of presenting the graphical element corresponding to the route corresponding to the activity of interest occurs in response to a selection of the marker located on the map.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises presenting a route review associated with the route, in conjunction with said presenting of the graphical element corresponding to the route.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the user is a first user; and

the route review was provided by a second user who is different from the first user.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of presenting the graphical element occurs prior to the step of scheduling the prospective traversal of the route.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical element corresponding to the route includes a visual depiction of the course of the route.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the description includes an average pace.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the description includes a desired safety characterization.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the description includes a desire to avoid traffic lights.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the description includes a desired elevation.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the description includes a desired time.

24. A method, comprising:

a server receiving a description of an activity of interest to a user;

in response to receiving the description, identifying a route corresponding to the activity of interest and presenting a graphical element corresponding to the route;

scheduling a prospective traversal of the route in a training plan of the user on the server at a first time for traversal at a second time; and

transmitting data associated with the route from the server to the mobile device after the first time and before the second time.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of transmitting occurs automatically at a predetermined time prior to the second time.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of presenting the graphical element occurs prior to the step of scheduling the prospective traversal of the route.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the graphical element corresponding to the route includes a visual depiction of the course of the route.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the description includes an indication of difficulty.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the description includes a distance.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the description includes at least one attribute of the route.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein the description includes a geographic location.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein the description includes an average pace.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein the description includes a desired safety characterization.

39. The method of claim 24, wherein the description includes a desire to avoid traffic lights.

40. The method of claim 24, wherein the description includes a desired elevation.

41. The method of claim 24, wherein the description includes a desired time.

42. The method of claim 24, further comprising presenting an overall route rating associated with the route that is based upon at least one individual rating associated with the route.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein:

the user is a first user; and

the at least one individual rating was provided by a second user who is different from the first user.

44. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of scheduling the prospective traversal of the route in the training plan of the user includes associating the prospective traversal of the route with a particular date.

45. A method, comprising:

a server receiving a description of an activity of interest to a user;

in response to receiving the description, identifying a route corresponding to the activity of interest;

scheduling a prospective traversal of the route in a training plan of the user on the server at a first time for traversal at a second time; and

transmitting data associated with the route from the server to the mobile device after the first time and before the second time.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the description includes an indication of difficulty.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the description includes a distance.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the description includes at least one attribute of the route.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the description includes a geographic location.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the description includes an average pace.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein the description includes a desired safety characterization.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein the description includes a desire to avoid traffic lights.

53. The method of claim 45, wherein the description includes a desired elevation.

54. The method of claim 45, wherein the description includes a desired time.

55. The method of claim 45, further comprising presenting an overall route rating associated with the route that is based upon at least one individual rating associated with the route.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein:

the user is a first user; and

the at least one individual rating was provided by a second user who is different from the first user.

57. The method of claim 45, wherein:

the training plan includes a plurality of prospective fitness activities; and

the step of scheduling the prospective traversal of the route in the training plan of the user includes associating the prospective traversal of the route with a particular prospective fitness activity.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the prospective traversal of the route is associated with the particular prospective fitness activity in order to fulfill one or more requirements of the particular prospective fitness activity.

59. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of scheduling the prospective traversal of the route in the training plan of the user includes associating the prospective traversal of the route with a particular date.