Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems and methods

• US 9,656,146 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Niegowski, James A., Rauchholz, William F., Riley, Raymond W., Hoffer, Kevin W., Berner, William E., Schrock, Allan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GANESAN, SUNDHARA M
• Application Number:
  US14/724,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20150258377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• 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 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/00 Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• 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 2220/836 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 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0059 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 : Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 : Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• 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: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 : by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 : Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 : Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 : Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 : with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 : with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems include components for measuring or sensing athletic performance data and/or for storing and/or displaying desired information associated with the athletic performance to the user (or others). Such systems can allow users a wide variety of options in creating workouts, selecting and presenting media content during the athletic performance, etc., e.g., to help keep users entertained and motivated. In some instances, user feedback may be used, optionally in combination with objective data relating to a workout, to control features of the workout routine, to control the music or other media content selected and/or presented, and/or to control features of future workout routines and/or the presented media content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing, at a processor associated with a user device, access to first content to a first user as the first user is performing an activity;

receiving, at the processor, first athletic performance data from a sensor measuring athletic performance of the first user as the first user is performing the activity;

using the processor, determining that a performance parameter of the first user in performing the activity is less than a performance parameter corresponding to previous performances of the activity by the first user;

based on determining that the performance parameter of the first user in performing the activity is less than the performance parameter corresponding to previous performances of the activity by the first user and using the processor, altering a playback characteristic of the first content to increase the performance parameter of the first user in performing the activity;

storing the playback characteristic of the first content and the performance parameter specific to the playback characteristic of the first content; and

responsive to receiving a user display request, generating a display of the stored performance parameter specific to the playback characteristic of the first content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the altering the playback characteristic of the first content comprises one of speeding up or slowing down a first beat associated with the first content.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

comparing the first beat of the first content with a second beat of other content known to have a positive impact on the performance of the first user in performing the activity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the altering the playback characteristic of the first content comprises matching the first beat to the second beat.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content comprises a motivational song.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the altering the playback characteristic of the first content comprises matching a first cadence of the first content with a second cadence of the first user in performing the activity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the activity comprises running and step landing during the running establishes the second cadence.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the activity comprises cycling and foot presses during the cycling establishes the second cadence.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the activity comprises using an elliptical training machine and foot push-offs during the activity establishes the second cadence.

10. A method comprising:

providing, at a processor associated with a user device, playback of a first song to a first user as the first user is performing an activity;

receiving, at the processor, first athletic performance data from a sensor measuring athletic performance of the first user as the first user is performing the activity;

providing, at the processor, playback of a second song to the first user as the first user is continuing to perform the activity;

receiving, at the processor, second athletic performance data of the first user as the first user is continuing to perform the activity;

using the processor, analyzing the first athletic performance data and the second athletic performance data to determine that a performance parameter of the activity by the first user has decreased between the playback of the first song and the second song; and

based on determining that the performance parameter of the activity by the first user has decreased and using the processor, altering a first playback characteristic of the second song to match a second playback characteristic of the first song;

storing the second playback characteristic of the first song and the performance parameter specific to the playback characteristic of the first song; and

responsive to receiving a user display request, generating a display of the stored performance parameter specific to the second playback characteristic of the first song.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

using the processor, determining that the performance of the activity by the first user has increased after the altering the first playback characteristic of the second song.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first playback characteristic comprises a beat of the second song.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first athletic performance data and the second athletic performance data are received from a sensor located on footwear worn by the first user.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first playback characteristic is further altered to match a cadence of the first user in performing the activity.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a display; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to at least perform;

provide playback of first content to a first user as the first user is performing an activity;

receive first athletic performance data from a sensor measuring athletic performance of the first user as the first user is performing the activity;

determine that a performance parameter of the first user in performing the activity is less than a performance parameter corresponding to previous performances of the activity by the first user;

based on determining that the performance parameter of the first user in performing the activity is less than the performance parameter corresponding to previous performances of the activity by the first user, alter a playback characteristic of the first content to increase the performance parameter of the activity by the first user;

store the playback characteristic of the first content and the performance parameter specific to the playback characteristic of the first content; and

responsive to receiving a user display request, generating a display of the stored performance parameter specific to the playback characteristic of the first content.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first content comprises a motivational song.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the performance of the first user in performing the activity is less optimal than the previous performances of the activity by the first user when the first user performs the activity at a slower pace than during the previous performances of the activity.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the playback characteristic comprises a beat of the first content.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein data related to the previous performances of the activity by the first user is stored on a remote server.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor further performs:

communicate with the remote server to analyze the data related to the previous performances of the activity by the first user.