Interactive use and athletic performance monitoring and reward method, system, and computer program product

• US 8,838,471 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Shum, Albert Y. S., Schrock, Allan M
• Primary Examiner(s): Bekerman, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/431,331
• Time in Patent Office: 4,151 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.1, 482/8
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/12 Healthy persons not otherwise provided for, e.g. subjects of a marketing survey
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0487 Special user inputs or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• 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 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• 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 24/0084 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 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 : Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 : During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0232 : Frequent usage rewards other than merchandise, cash or travel
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 : Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 : Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 : Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and system for monitoring and rewarding athletic performance and use of a product worn by a person, thereby motivating use of the product and promoting customer loyalty. The present invention includes and system and method for measuring, tracking, and recording use of the product, preferably related to the athletic performance of an athlete, using a portable, remote device; transferring that data from the remote device to a common location, such as an Internet web site service; calculating, assigning, and tracking rewards based on the level of use determined from the data; and allowing the user to redeem his or her rewards or compare his or her performance level with other athletes using other remote devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing, by a measurement device embedded in an article of clothing, a clothing identification code that identifies an article of clothing and a user identification code that distinguishes between users of the article of clothing, the clothing identification code and the user identification code being distinct from one another;

measuring, by the measurement device, activity information indicating performance of a physical activity, the activity information stored in association with the clothing identification code and the user identification code; and

transmitting, by the measurement device, the activity information, the clothing identification code, and the user identification code for updating product use reward information based on the activity information, the clothing identification code, and the user identification code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement device is permanently embedded in the article of clothing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the article of clothing is an article of footwear and wherein the measurement device is embedded in a sole structure of the article of footwear.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement device is removably attachable to the article of clothing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity information includes one or more selected from the group consisting of:

heart rate, steps taken, distance traveled, and rate of speed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identification code identifies a memory location in a memory to store the activity information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement device comprises a plurality of sensors.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving input selecting at least one of the plurality of sensors to use to measure the activity information.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, are configured to cause an apparatus to at least:

store, by a measurement device embedded in an article of clothing, a clothing identification code that identifies an article of clothing and a user identification code that distinguishes between users of the article of clothing, the clothing identification code and the user identification code being distinct from one another;

measure, by the measurement device, activity information indicating performance of a physical activity, the activity information stored in association with the clothing identification code and the user identification code wherein the apparatus is embedded in an article of clothing and stores an identification code of the article of clothing; and

transmit, by the measurement device, the activity information, the clothing identification code, and the user identification code for updating product use reward information based on the activity information, the clothing identification code, and the user identification code.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the apparatus to at least;

store, by a measurement device embedded in an article of clothing, a clothing identification code that identifies an article of clothing and a user identification code that distinguishes between users of the article of clothing, the clothing identification code and the user identification code being distinct from one another;

measure, by the measurement device, activity information indicating performance of a physical activity, the activity information stored in association with the clothing identification code and the user identification code wherein the apparatus is embedded in an article of clothing and the memory stores an identification code of the article of clothing; and

transmit, by the measurement device, the activity information, the clothing identification code, and the user identification code for updating product use reward information based on the activity information, the clothing identification code, and the user identification code.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is permanently embedded in the article of clothing.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the article of clothing is an article of footwear and wherein the apparatus is embedded in a sole structure of the article of footwear.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is removably attachable to the article of clothing.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the activity information includes one or more selected from the group consisting of:

heart rate, steps taken, distance traveled, and rate of speed.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user identification code identifies a memory location in a memory to store the activity information.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of sensors.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed, are configured to cause the apparatus to receive input selecting at least one of the plurality of sensors to use to measure the activity information.