Electronically triggered personal athletic device

• US 8,421,620 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Edward L., Case, Charles W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEE, ANDREW W.
• Application Number:
  US13/571,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 249 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• 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 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 60/10 inside cases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 : Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 : at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 : at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 : Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 : Race time-recorders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

An athletic device is worn by a participant during an athletic event (e.g., a race). In one example, a race course is provided with a plurality of mats or signal devices along the race course. The mats may have antennas and generate a magnetic field. The athletic device may include a chip system having an RFID tag and a display. As the participant progress along the course, the tag is triggered at each mat and race data may be displayed on the device. Data relating to a location of the participant may also be provided to the participant during the athletic event.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive signals during an athletic event, wherein the signals cause the device to automatically determine one or more measured times for a participant during the athletic event;

at least one processor; and

memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the device to;

detect multiple distinct electronic signals generated along a course associated with the athletic event during the athletic event, wherein the electronic signals are specific to the athletic event;

record the one or more measured times based on the detected multiple distinct electronic signals generated along the course;

in response to detecting at least one of the multiple distinct electronic signals;

determine a current geographic location of the athlete;

retrieve, based on the determined current geographic location of the athlete, predefined location information describing the geographic location, wherein the location information is defined prior to determining the current geographic location of the athlete; and

convey the predefined location information to the athlete.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver and wherein the detected electronic signals include radio frequency signals.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, cause the device to display a first measured split time for the athlete during the athletic event simultaneously with a first user-defined split time in response to detecting each of the multiple distinct electronic signals.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the device to further display a comparison between the first measured split time and the first user-defined split time, wherein the comparison includes a visual indication of whether the athlete is ahead of, behind or on-track relative to the first user-defined split time, wherein the visual indication is different from the first measured split time and the first user-defined split time.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the device to display an elapsed time for the athlete during the athletic event.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a bistable display, the bistable display being configured to perpetually display the elapsed time for the athlete at the conclusion of the athletic event.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further caused to transmit, through the transceiver during an athlete registration process for the athletic event, personal information specific to the athlete including payment information, the athlete registration process occurring prior to a start of the athletic event.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic signals are received from devices located along the course.

9. A method comprising:

detecting, by a wearable device during the athletic event, multiple distinct electronic signals generated along a course associated with an athletic event;

record, by the wearable device, one or more measured times based on the detected multiple distinct electronic signals generated along the course, wherein the electronic signals are specific to the athletic event;

in response to detecting at least one of the multiple distinct electronic signals;

determine, by the wearable device, a current geographic location of the athlete;

retrieve, by the wearable device and based on the determined current geographic location of the athlete, predefined location information describing the geographic location, wherein the location information is defined prior to determining the current geographic location of the athlete; and

convey the predefined location information to the athlete.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying a pace of the athlete during the athletic event.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising perpetually displaying, by a display coupled to a transceiver of the wearable device, an indication of the athlete'"'"'s performance at the conclusion of the timed event.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising perpetually displaying, by the display coupled to the transceiver, an elapsed time for the timed event at the conclusion of the timed event.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting, by the wearable device, an indication of the athlete'"'"'s performance to a remote system during the timed event.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, by the wearable device during the timed event, a motivational message for the athlete from a remote device upon detecting a signal generated along the course.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to:

detect multiple distinct electronic signals generated along a course associated with an athletic event;

record one or more measured times based on the detected multiple distinct electronic signals generated along the course, wherein the electronic signals are specific to the athletic event;

in response to detecting at least one of the multiple distinct electronic signals;

determine a current geographic location of the athlete;

retrieve, based on the determined current geographic location of the athlete, predefined location information describing the geographic location, wherein the location information is defined prior to determining the current geographic location of the athlete; and

convey the predefined location information to the athlete.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perpetually display an indication of the athlete'"'"'s performance at the conclusion of the timed event.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perpetually display an elapsed time for the timed event at the conclusion of the timed event.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to transmit an indication of the athlete'"'"'s performance to a remote system during the timed event.