Portable fitness monitoring systems with displays and applications thereof

• US 8,360,936 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: DiBenedetto, Christian, Oleson, Mark Arthur, Tomlinson, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US13/328,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20120095356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 1/00 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/00 Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 13/00 Hook or eye fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 17/00 Press-button or snap fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/00 Fasteners of the touch-and-close type; Making such fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0007 Bracelets specially adapted for other functions or with means for attaching other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A44D 2203/00 Fastening by use of magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• 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 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 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• 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 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: Y10S 482/901 : having computer circuitry

Abstract

Portable fitness monitoring systems with displays, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of providing training feedback to an individual using a heart rate sensor and a display module supported by the individual during a physical activity includes the steps of determining a maximum heart rate value for the individual, defining a heart rate zone as a range of heart rate values that correspond to a range of percentages of the maximum heart rate value, associating a color with the heart rate zone, wirelessly transmitting heart rate data from the heart rate sensor to the display module during the physical activity, and displaying the color associated with the heart rate zone to the individual on the display module during the physical activity in response to the heart rate data.

Claims

1. A method of providing training feedback to an individual using a performance parameter sensor and a display module supported by the individual during a physical activity, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a maximum performance parameter value for the individual;

(b) defining a performance parameter zone as a range of performance parameter values that correspond to a range of percentages of the maximum performance parameter value;

(c) associating a color with the performance parameter zone;

(d) wirelessly transmitting performance parameter data from the performance parameter sensor to the display module during the physical activity;

(e) displaying the color associated with the performance parameter zone to the individual on the display module during the physical activity in response to the performance parameter data;

(f) transmitting performance parameter data from the display module to a remote computer after the physical activity;

(g) requesting feedback from the individual about the physical activity; and

(h) adjusting the range of performance parameter values that make up the performance parameter zone based upon at least one of feedback received from the individual and the performance parameter data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (a) is based on input received from the individual via an input control of the display module.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (a) is based on input received from the individual via a remote computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (a) is based on the results of an assessment exercise.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the color is displayed when the performance parameter data indicates that the performance parameter data of the individual falls within the performance parameter zone.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the color associated with the performance parameter zone displayed to the individual during the physical activity is the only indication displayed to the individual during the physical activity that the performance parameter data of the individual falls within the performance parameter zone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the display module supported by the individual is supported by the individual'"'"'s wrist.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance parameter is speed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance parameter is pace.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

time, distance, speed, pace, pedal count, wheel rotation count, stride count, stride length, stride rate, altitude, strain, impact force, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen level, blood flow, hydration level, respiration rate, calories burned, and body temperature.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of defining a second performance parameter zone as a second range of performance parameter values that correspond to a second range of percentages of the maximum performance parameter value.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

associating a second color with the second performance parameter zone that is different than the color associated with the first performance parameter zone.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance parameter sensor and the display module are configured to be supported by different portions of the individual'"'"'s body.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance parameter data is transmitted to the remote computer via a wireless network.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance parameter data is transmitted to the remote computer via a wired connection.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote computer comprises a server computer.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback is requested from the individual by posing one or more questions to the individual.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the range of performance parameter values that make up the performance parameter zone based upon both the feedback received from the individual and the performance parameter data.

19. A method of providing training feedback to an individual using a performance parameter sensor and a display module supported by the individual during a physical activity, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a maximum performance parameter value for the individual based on the results of an assessment exercise;

(b) defining a performance parameter zone as a range of performance parameter values that correspond to a range of percentages of the maximum performance parameter value;

(c) associating a color with the performance parameter zone;

(d) wirelessly transmitting performance parameter data from the performance parameter sensor to the display module during the physical activity; and

(e) displaying the color associated with the performance parameter zone to the individual on the display module during the physical activity in response to the performance parameter data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the color is displayed when the performance parameter data indicates that the performance parameter data of the individual falls within the performance parameter zone.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the color associated with the performance parameter zone displayed to the individual during the physical activity is the only indication displayed to the individual during the physical activity that the performance parameter data of the individual falls within the performance parameter zone.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

(f) transmitting performance parameter data from the display module to a remote computer after the physical activity;

(g) requesting feedback from the individual about the physical activity; and

(h) adjusting the range of performance parameter values that make up the performance parameter zone based upon at least one of feedback received from the individual and the performance parameter data.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the display module supported by the individual is supported by the individual'"'"'s wrist.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the performance parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

time, distance, speed, pace, pedal count, wheel rotation count, stride count, stride length, stride rate, altitude, strain, impact force, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen level, blood flow, hydration level, respiration rate, calories burned, and body temperature.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the assessment exercise comprises prompting the individual to run as fast as they can.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the assessment exercise comprises prompting the individual to run as fast as they can for a set period of time.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the assessment exercise comprises collecting ventilation threshold heart rate information.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the assessment exercise comprises prompting the individual to run at a progressively increasing intensity level.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the assessment exercise comprises prompting the individual to exercise intensely for a set period of time.