Interactive athletic equipment system

• US 8,882,639 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tchao, Michael, Robinette, Christopher A., Nims, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): GINSBERG, OREN ISAAC
• Application Number:
  US14/082,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20140074266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482901-902, 434/247, 434/255, 700 91- 92, 705 2- 3
• US Class Current: 482/8
• 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 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• 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 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Systems and techniques for the collection and display of athletic information. Athletic data relating to a single person or group of people is collected at a central location, and subsequently displayed at a desired remote location so that the person or people can review and critique their performance. In addition, athletic data for multiple persons can be collected at a central location, and subsequently displayed to a user at a desired remote location, so that the user can compare his or her athletic activities to others.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an athletic performance module configured to measure athletic activity of a user, wherein the user is associated with a first group of users performing athletic activities at a first location; and

a challenge module configured to;

receive information specifying a challenge, wherein the challenge includes a competition between the first group of users and a second group of users performing athletic activities at a second location different from the first location;

determine an amount of athletic activity performed by the user using the athletic performance module;

aggregate the amount of athletic activity performed by the user with an amount of athletic activity performed by other users of the first group of users; and

determine whether the challenge has been met by the first group of users based on the amount of athletic activity performed by the user and the amount of athletic activity performed by the other users of the first group of users.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge is received from another user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge is defined in terms of a common unit used for multiple types of athletic activities.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge is specified in terms of a unit in which the athletic activity is measured.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge includes a competition between a first athletic training facility and a second athletic training facility.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first and second athletic training facilities correspond to an athletic training facility provider.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge includes a competition between a first athletic training facility provider and a second athletic training facility provider.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first athletic training facility provider includes multiple athletic training facilities.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the athletic performance module comprises a user interface and is further configured to display a representation of the user'"'"'s progress towards completion of the challenge in the user interface.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first location is a first athletic training facility and the second location is a second athletic training facility different from the first athletic training facility.

11. A method comprising:

receiving information specifying a challenge, wherein the challenge includes a competition between a first group of users performing athletic activities at a first location and a second group of users performing athletic activities at a second location different from the first location, wherein a user is associated with the first group of users;

determining an amount of athletic activity performed by the user using an athletic performance device;

aggregating the amount of athletic activity performed by the user with an amount of athletic activity performed by other users of the first group of users; and

determining whether the challenge has been met by the first group of users based on the amount of athletic activity performed using the athletic performance device by the user and the amount of athletic activity performed by the other users of the first group of users.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the challenge is received from another user.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the challenge is defined in terms of a common unit used for multiple types of athletic activities.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the challenge is specified in terms of a unit in which the athletic activity is measured.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the challenge includes a competition between a first athletic training facility and a second athletic training facility.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second athletic training facilities correspond to an athletic training facility provider.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the challenge includes a competition between a first athletic training facility provider and a second athletic training facility provider.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first athletic training facility provider includes multiple athletic training facilities.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

displaying, on a user interface of the athletic performance device, a representation of the user'"'"'s progress towards completion of the challenge.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the first location is a first athletic training facility and the second location is a second athletic training facility different from the first athletic training facility.