Monitoring and tracking athletic activity

• US 8,533,620 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoffman, Michael T., Crankson, Kwamina, Nims, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/855,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20110197157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 715/772, 715/771, 715/733
• US Class Current: 715/772
• 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 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• 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 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• 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 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 : Motion sensors
• 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 2225/20 : 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 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 : Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 : heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 : P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0697 : Reservation devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 : with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 : Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 : External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 : the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 : Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

Tracking and monitoring athletic activity offers individuals with additional motivation to continue such behavior. An individual may track his or her athletic activity by completing goals. These goals may be represented by real-world objects such as food items, landmarks, buildings, statues, other physical structures, toys and the like. Each object may correspond to an athletic activity goal and require an amount of athletic activity to complete the goal. For example, a donut goal object may correspond to an athletic activity goal of burning 350 calories. The user may progress from goal object to goal object. Goal objects may increase in difficulty (e.g., amount of athletic activity required) and might only be available for selection upon completing an immediately previous goal object, a number of goal objects, an amount of athletic activity and the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a display of an athletic activity tracking and monitoring interface comprising a plurality of virtual objects corresponding to a plurality of athletic activity goals, wherein each of the plurality of virtual objects is differently shaped from the others, wherein each of the plurality of virtual objects are configured to reflect a user'"'"'s progress toward a corresponding goal based on a changing appearance of the respective virtual object;

receiving a user selection of a first virtual object corresponding to a first athletic activity goal;

receiving data indicating an amount of athletic activity performed by a user; and

modifying a visual appearance of the first virtual object in accordance with a progress made by the user in completing the first athletic activity goal, wherein the progress made by the user is defined by the amount of athletic activity performed by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of virtual objects other than the first virtual object is locked from selection until the first athletic activity goal has been completed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of virtual objects includes virtual objects of a first type and virtual objects of a second type, wherein the first type of virtual object corresponds to a first type of athletic activity goal and the second type of virtual object corresponds to a second type of athletic activity goal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first type of virtual object corresponds to edible items and wherein the first type of athletic activity goal corresponds to burning calories.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second type of virtual object corresponds to a physical structure and wherein the second type of athletic activity goal corresponds to at least one of:

distance traveled and steps taken.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying a visual appearance of the first virtual object includes filling in a first portion of the first virtual object with at least one color and displaying a second portion of the first virtual object in an outline form.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a progress bar having a distinct section for each of the plurality of virtual objects, wherein an image of a second virtual object of the plurality of virtual objects is hidden in the progress bar.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising revealing the image of the second virtual object in the progress bar upon the user completing the first athletic activity goal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first athletic activity goal includes an athletic activity challenge between the user and another user.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to;

generate a display of an athletic activity tracking and monitoring interface comprising a plurality of virtual objects corresponding to a plurality of athletic activity goals, wherein each of the plurality of virtual objects are differently shaped from one another, wherein each of the plurality of virtual objects are configured to reflect a user'"'"'s progress toward a corresponding goal based on a changing appearance of the respective virtual object;

receive a user selection of a first virtual object corresponding to a first athletic activity goal;

receive data indicating an amount of athletic activity performed by a user; and

modify a visual appearance of the first virtual object in accordance with a progress made by the user in completing the first athletic activity goal, wherein the progress made by the user is defined by the amount of athletic activity performed by the user.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein modifying a visual appearance of the first virtual object includes filling in a first portion of the first virtual object with at least one color and displaying a second portion of the first virtual object in an outline form.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further causing the apparatus to display a progress bar having a distinct section for each of the plurality of virtual objects, wherein an image of a second virtual object of the plurality of virtual objects is hidden in the progress bar.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to reveal the image of the second virtual object in the progress bar upon the user completing the first athletic activity goal.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first athletic activity goal includes an athletic activity challenge between the user and another user.

15. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to:

generate a display of an athletic activity tracking and monitoring interface comprising a plurality of virtual objects corresponding to a plurality of athletic activity goals, wherein each of the plurality of virtual objects are differently shaped from one another, wherein each of the plurality of virtual objects are configured to reflect a user'"'"'s progress toward a corresponding goal based on a changing appearance of the respective virtual object;

receive a user selection of a first virtual object corresponding to a first athletic activity goal;

receive data indicating an amount of athletic activity performed by a user; and

modify a visual appearance of the first virtual object in accordance with a progress made by the user in completing the first athletic activity goal, wherein the progress made by the user is defined by the amount of athletic activity performed by the user.

16. The one or more computer readable media of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of virtual objects other than the first virtual object is locked from selection until the first athletic activity goal has been completed, and wherein each of the plurality of virtual objects represents a different real-world object.

17. The one or more computer readable media of claim 15, wherein the plurality of virtual objects includes virtual objects of a first type and virtual objects of a second type, wherein the first type of virtual object corresponds to a first type of athletic activity goal and the second type of virtual object corresponds to a second type of athletic activity goal.

18. The one or more computer readable media of claim 17, wherein a shape of the first type of virtual object corresponds to an edible real-world item and wherein the first type of athletic activity goal corresponds to burning calories.

19. The one or more computer readable media of claim 18, wherein the second type of virtual object corresponds to a physical structure and wherein the second type of athletic activity goal corresponds to at least one of:

distance traveled and steps taken.

20. The one or more computer readable media of claim 19, wherein the plurality of virtual objects represents physical structures of varying size, wherein the size of the physical structure corresponds to at least one of:

a distance and a number of steps required to complete the first athletic activity goal.