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

• US 7,957,752 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas International Incorporated (Adidas AG)
• Inventors: Doyle, Scot, Werner, Jon H.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, NHAN T
• Application Number:
  US11/932,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/422.1, 455/436, 455/440, 4554561-4563, 455/457, 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 user input describing a route of an activity. A graphical representation of the route is served to a user device in association with a toolset including at least one of a set including an annotation tool, a rating tool, and a review tool. The server receives route-related information including at least one of a set including a user annotation, a user rating and a user review of the route entered utilizing the toolset. The route and the route-related information is stored on the server, and the server permits access to the route and the route-related information by a plurality of users.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a server receiving user input describing a route of an activity;

serving a graphical representation of the route to a user device in association with a toolset including at least one of a set including an annotation tool, a rating tool, and a review tool;

the server receiving route-related information including at least one of a set including a user annotation, a user rating and a user review of the route entered utilizing said toolset;

storing the route and the route-related information on the server; and

the server permitting access to the route and the route-related information by a plurality of users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving user input comprises receiving the user input describing the route from a portable device communicatively coupled to the server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the portable device is a mobile phone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity is an athletic activity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user input describing the route includes data indicative of time-stamped geographical waypoints encountered by an athlete during the athletic activity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation of the route includes a graphical representation of the route overlaying a street map.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is a mobile phone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is a remote client computer system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the annotation tool is adapted to allow the user to associate an annotation with a particular geographic location along the route.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the annotation tool is adapted to allow the user to associate an annotation with a particular geographic location along the route after a traversal of the route has been completed.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the annotation tool is adapted to allow the user to associate an annotation with a particular geographic location along the route in substantially real time while a traversal of the route is being completed.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the annotation is a graphical annotation.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the annotation is a textual annotation.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the annotation is an audio annotation.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the annotation indicates the location of a potable water source along the route.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the rating tool is adapted to allow the user to associate one or more stars with the route.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the rating tool is adapted to allow the user to associate one or more symbols with the route, wherein the one or more symbols are indicative of the user'"'"'s level of satisfaction of the route.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the review tool is adapted to allow the user to associate a review with the route.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the review is a written review.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the review is an audio review.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of serving a graphical representation of the route to a user device in association with a route condition tool, wherein said receiving route-related information includes receiving route condition information entered utilizing the route condition tool.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the route condition tool is adapted to allow the user to associate route condition information with the route including at least one of a set including route surface information and traffic information.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said permitting access to the route and the route-related information by a plurality of users occurs in response to receiving an indication from the user that the user desires to permit access to the route and the route-related information by a plurality of users.

24. A method comprising:

a server receiving user input describing a route of an activity; and

serving a graphical representation of the route to a user device in association with a toolset including at least one of a set including an annotation tool, a rating tool, and a review tool;

wherein the rating tool is adapted to allow the user to associate one or more symbols with the route, wherein the one or more symbols are indicative of the user'"'"'s level of satisfaction of the route.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the user input describing the route includes data indicative of time-stamped geographical waypoints encountered by an athlete during the athletic activity.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the annotation tool is adapted to allow the user to associate an annotation with a particular geographic location along the route.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the review tool is adapted to allow the user to associate a written review with the route.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the activity is an athletic activity.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said receiving user input comprises receiving the user input describing the route from a mobile phone.