`
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`US 20060136173Al
`
`c19) United States
`02) Patent Application Publication
`(10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0136173 Al
`Jun. 22, 2006
`Case, JR. et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54) MULTI-SENSOR MONITORING OF
`ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
`
`(75) Inventors: Charles Whipple Case JR., Lake
`Oswego, OR (US); Jason P. Martin,
`Portland, OR (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`BANNER & WITCOFF
`1001 G STREET N W
`SUITE 1100
`WASHINGTON, DC 20001 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Nike, Inc., Beaverton, OR
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`11/014,241
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Dec. 17, 2004
`
`100\
`
`110
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`G06F 15/00
`(2006.01)
`G06F 11/30
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl .
`
`
`.............................................................. 702/182
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods,
`many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning
`satellite ("GPS") data, provide data and information to
`athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an
`athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route
`information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre(cid:173)
`event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such
`systems and methods optionally may provide real time
`information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g.,
`to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and
`information collected by such systems and methods may
`assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers,
`e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving
`foture perfomiances.
`
`-
`
`r-11"
`
`Portable/Wearable
`......
`Display
`
`/102
`
`104\
`
`/106
`
`108\
`
`Physiological Monitor -
`Heart Rate, Blood
`Pressure, Pulse, Body
`Temperature, etc.
`
`Speed/Distance
`Monitor
`Accelerometer,
`Altimeter, Compass,
`Stopwatch, etc.
`
`-+
`
`Global Positioning
`Monitor
`
`Other Peripherals -
`AudioNideo Player,
`Cell Phone Link, Data
`Transmitter/Receiver,
`etc.
`
`'
`
`!
`
`v112
`
`114
`
`-
`
`Personal Computer
`
`Personal
`- Computer Display
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1038 Page 1
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`

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`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1038 Page 2
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`IPR2020-01192
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`

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`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1038 Page 5
`
`

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`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1038 Page 6
`
`

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`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1038 Page 7
`
`

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`
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`

`

`US 2006/0136173 Al
`
`Jun.22,2006
`
`I
`
`MULTI-SENSOR MONITORING OF ATHLETIC
`PERFORMANCE
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] The invention relates generally to athletic perfor(cid:173)
`mance monitoring systems and methods. As least some
`examples of athletic performance monitoring systems and
`methods according to the invention utilize global position(cid:173)
`ing satellite data ("GPS data") to provide data and infonna(cid:173)
`tion to the athlete and/or to equipment used by the athlete,
`optionally before, during, and/or after an athletic perfor(cid:173)
`mance ( e.g., an athletic event, practice, workouts, training
`sessions, etc.).
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0002] Increasing awareness of health benefits derived
`from physical exercise and participation in athletic events
`has spawned an increase in the numbers of individuals
`engaged in these activities. Many individuals train or work
`out in clubs or indoor gyms using exercise equipment that
`include various sensors for measuring physical and/ or physi(cid:173)
`ological parameters associated with the user's workout. For
`example, treadmills, elliptical trainers, stair steppers, sta(cid:173)
`tionary bicycles, and the like often provide electronic
`devices that measure or estimate various physical and/or
`physiological parameters associated with a workout or train(cid:173)
`ing exercise, such as the distance traveled, the elapsed time
`of the exercise, the altitude climbed, the inclination level, the
`movement rate (e.g., miles per hour, etc.), the heart rate, the
`power expended, the calories burned, the rate of calories
`burned, etc. In some gyms or clubs, data relating to an
`individual's workout may be transmitted automatically from
`the exercise equipment directly to a computer system and
`stored. Athletes, their trainers, and/or their coaches may gain
`access to this data, e.g., for post-workout analysis, to gauge
`progress or improvement, to develop future workout rou(cid:173)
`tines or plans, etc.
`[0003] Some athletic workouts,
`training routines, or
`events simply do not lend themselves to the use of indoor
`gyms and/or stationary exercise equipment of the type
`described above. For example, long distance runners (e.g.,
`marathoners), cyclists, triathletes, and the like typically
`cover long distances during each workout, and they must
`train over a variety of different terrains and conditions. Such
`athletes also may quickly become bored when using station(cid:173)
`ary, indoor exercise equipment for the length of time
`required to prepare for the events in which they compete.
`Moreover, some individuals simply prefer being outdoors
`and working out outdoors as compared to the confinements
`of an indoor gym or club. Working out individually and
`outdoors additionally has advantages over use of indoor
`facilities in that an individual outdoor workout typically will
`not require club or gym memberships and their associated
`membership fees, thereby eliminating at least some of the
`expense involved in keeping fit and participating in athletic
`events.
`[0004] While monitors and sensors are available to collect
`data relating to athletic performance and to provide real time
`data to athletes as their performance is taking place, such
`monitors and sensors
`typically have
`limitations. For
`example, accelerometers and other pedometer-based speed
`and distance monitors for use when walking or running have
`
`accuracy issues, particularly when used at speeds and/or
`over terrains or under other conditions that differ from their
`initial calibration conditions. Some sensors, such as accel(cid:173)
`erometers and barometric pressure sensors, tend to drift from
`their calibration or "zero" point over time, thereby limiting
`their accuracy and/or requiring frequent recalibration. Such
`portable devices typically also do not store data and do not
`correlate their measured data to other measured physical
`and/or physiological parameters associated with the perfor(cid:173)
`mance. For example, conventionally available portable
`devices typically do not correlate the measured heart rate,
`altitude, speed, calories burned, and the like to one another
`and/or to the elapsed time and/or distance into the perfor(cid:173)
`mance, and such conventional systems do not store a large
`volume of data for later analysis or use. Thus, these con(cid:173)
`ventional portable exercise monitors do not allow for exten(cid:173)
`sive post-exercise analysis and data processing.
`[0005] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for portable
`athletic performance monitoring systems and methods that
`correlate measured physical and/or physiological data asso(cid:173)
`ciated with an athletic performance to other data collected
`during the performance including the elapsed time and/or
`distance in the performance. There also is a need in the art
`for systems and methods that will automatically store data
`associated with an athletic perfonnance and make it avail(cid:173)
`able to athletes, their coaches, and/or their trainers for
`post-performance analysis. There also is a need in the art for
`improved athletic performance monitoring systems and
`methods that will allow athletes to better use data generated
`from past performances, e.g., to gauge improvement or
`change, to set goals for the future, and/or to devise plans
`and/or strategies for upcoming events.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`[0006] The following presents a general sununary of
`aspects of the invention in order to provide a basic under(cid:173)
`standing of at least some of its aspects. This summary is not
`an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to
`identify key or critical elements of the invention and/or to
`delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary
`merely presents some concepts of the invention in a general
`form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided
`below.
`
`[0007] Aspects of this invention relate to athletic perfor(cid:173)
`mance monitoring systems and methods, many of which
`utilize, in some mam1er, global positioning satellite ("GPS")
`data. In some examples of systems and methods according
`to the invention, GPS data may be used to calibrate other
`athletic performance monitoring devices, such as speedom(cid:173)
`eters, speed meters, pedometers, altimeters, odometers,
`barometric pressure sensors, compass or direction sensors,
`and the like. Some example systems and methods according
`to aspects of the invention will collect and store data
`generated by both a GPS system and a non-GPS system
`during an athletic performance and then use the non-GPS
`data to provide infonnation and feedback to the athlete
`during the performance and/or to fill in holes in the data
`when GPS reception is not available at the athlete's location.
`Still other systems and methods that collect and store data
`generated by both GPS and non-GPS systems will utilize the
`non-GPS data to provide real time feedback to the athlete
`during the performance and optionally both GPS and non(cid:173)
`GPS data for post-performance analysis.
`
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`US 2006/0136173 Al
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`Jun.22,2006
`
`2
`
`[0008] GPS information also may be collected and used in
`at least some example aspects of the invention to produce
`data relating the route(s) covered by the athlete during
`athletic performances. For example, systems and methods
`according to at least some examples of the invention may
`rely on GPS data to determine whether a route covered
`during an athletic performance corresponds to a route cov(cid:173)
`ered during one or more previous athletic performances. As
`another example, systems and methods according to
`examples of the invention may rely on GPS data ( as well as
`potentially other data) as an aid in assigning a "route
`difficulty rating" to a route used during an athletic perfor(cid:173)
`mance, e.g., at least in part based on: route length; elevation
`changes; altitude; temperature; humidity; wind speed; wind
`direction; and the like. Yet additional examples of systems
`and methods according to the invention may rely on GPS
`data ( optionally at an athlete's new location), map data,
`and/or data relating to one or more past athletic perfor(cid:173)
`mances to suggest a new route for future athletic perfor(cid:173)
`mances, e.g., at the new location.
`
`[0009] GPS data and/or optionally other data may be used
`for other purposes in athletic performance monitoring sys(cid:173)
`tems and methods according to at least some examples of the
`invention. For example, GPS data and/or other performance
`data may be used to control an audio, video, and/or printed
`information display device during an athletic performance.
`The GPS and/or other perfomiance data, optionally com(cid:173)
`bined with route information, may be used as an aid to
`generate time goals for use by the athlete during an athletic
`performance.
`
`[0010] Still additional aspects of the invention relate to the
`use of GPS and/or other data collected to provide informa(cid:173)
`tion and feedback to the athlete and/or analyze the athletic
`performance both during the performance and after it has
`concluded. For example, systems and methods according to
`at least some examples of the invention may generate
`displays illustrating at least some data collected via the
`altitude measuring system, the other physical and/or physi(cid:173)
`ological performance monitors, and/or the GPS system.
`Optionally, the information will be displayed on a map or
`other representation of the route such that the physical
`and/or physiological data is correlated to the athlete's time,
`distance, and/or location along a route. In still other
`examples, the displayed information may be used along with
`and/or as part of a virtual or animated "play back" of the
`athlete's performance.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0011] A more complete understanding of the present
`invention and certain advantages thereof may be acquired by
`referring to the following description along with the accom(cid:173)
`panying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate
`like features, and wherein:
`
`[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagran1 of an
`example system according to the invention;
`
`[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates an example two-dimensional
`graphical display tliat may be used in displaying athletic
`performance data collected by systems and methods accord(cid:173)
`ing to examples of the invention;
`
`[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates an example display including
`map data and two-dimensional graphical data that may be
`
`used in displaying athletic perfonnance data collected by
`systems and methods according to examples of the inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`
`[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates an example three-dimensional
`display including topographical information that may be
`used in displaying athletic perfonnance data collected by
`systems and methods according to examples of the inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`
`[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates an example three-dimensional
`display including topographical map data and information
`that may be used in displaying athletic performance data
`collected by systems and methods according to examples of
`the invention;
`
`[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates an example three-dimensional
`display including topographical information that may be
`used in displaying athletic performance data collected by
`systems and methods according to examples of the inven(cid:173)
`tion, e.g., for displaying perfonnance data in a "playback"
`format; and
`
`[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagran1 of a com(cid:173)
`puter system that may be used in analyzing and processing
`athletic perfomiance data in systems and methods according
`to examples of this invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0019] In the following description of various example
`embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the
`accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in
`which are shown by way of illustration various exan1ple
`devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of the
`invention may be practiced, and various examples of the
`manner in which data may be processed and/or displayed in
`examples of the invention. It is to be understood that other
`specific arrangements of parts, example devices, systems,
`and environments may be utilized, different analyses and
`displays may be generated, and structural and functional
`modifications may be made without departing from the
`scope of the present invention.
`
`[0020] To assist the reader, this specification is broken into
`various subsections, as follows: Terms; General Description
`of Athletic Performance Monitoring Systems and Methods
`According to Examples of the Invention; Specific Examples
`of the Invention; and Conclusion.
`
`A. Tem1s
`
`[0021] The following terms are used in this specification,
`and unless otherwise noted or clear from the context, these
`terms have the meanings provided below.
`
`[0022] "Performance" or "athletic perfomiance" means
`any type of physical exertion or activity. Such activities
`include, but are not necessarily limited to: workout routines;
`training exercises; time trials; formal competitions; informal
`workouts; etc. The terms "athletic event" or "event" may be
`used synonymously with "athletic performance" or "perfor(cid:173)
`mance" in this specification.
`
`[0023] "Physical data" relating to an athlete's perfor(cid:173)
`mance corresponds to any data associated with or relating to
`any measurable characteristic relating to the perfonnance.
`Such physical data includes, but is not limited to: physi(cid:173)
`ological data ( described in more detail below); elapsed time;
`
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`

`

`US 2006/0136173 Al
`
`Jun.22,2006
`
`3
`
`time of day; distance covered; number of steps taken; speed;
`acceleration; angular velocity; angular acceleration; altitude;
`barometric pressure; gyroscope generated data; heading or
`directional data; ambient temperature data; ambient humid(cid:173)
`ity data; wind direction data; wind speed data; etc.
`
`[0024] "Physiological data" relating to an athlete's per(cid:173)
`formance corresponds to any data associated with or relating
`to any measurable characteristic relating to the athlete's
`person or body. Such physiological data includes, but is not
`limited to: heart rate; pulse rate; calories burned; calorie
`bum rate; METs; body weight; body temperature; blood
`pressure; electrocardiogram data; etc.
`
`B. General Description of Athletic Perfonnance Monitoring
`Systems and Methods According to Examples of the Inven(cid:173)
`tion
`
`[0025] In general, aspects of this invention relate to ath(cid:173)
`letic performance monitoring systems and methods that
`include various features or functions. Some more specific
`example aspects of the invention relate to athletic perfor(cid:173)
`mance monitoring systems that utilize, in some manner,
`global positioning satellite ("GPS") data. In one example,
`aspects of the invention relate to athletic perfonmmce moni(cid:173)
`toring systems that include: (a) a global positioning satellite
`receiver that obtains data relating to a series of time-stan1ped
`position points; (b) a first athletic performance monitor that
`measures physical data relating to an athlete's performance;
`and ( c) means for generating calibration data for the first
`athletic perfonnance monitor based on data obtained via the
`global positioning satellite receiver. As examples. the global
`positioning satellite data may be used to calibrate athletic
`performance monitoring devices such as: speedometers,
`pedometers, altimeters, odometers, barometric pressure sen(cid:173)
`sors, compass or direction sensors, and the like. The cali(cid:173)
`bration data may be provided, in at least some instances, as
`one or more "correction factors" that may be applied to a
`measured parameter, optionally where the specific correc(cid:173)
`tion factor to be used is selected based on one or more of the
`other measured parameters during the athletic perfom1ance.
`
`[0026] Another example aspect of the invention relates to
`athletic performance monitoring systems that include: (a) a
`global positioning satellite receiver that obtains data relating
`to a series of time-stamped position points; (b) a first athletic
`performance monitor that provides data relating to at least
`one of a speed or a distance moved by an athlete during an
`athletic performance; ( c) a second athletic performance
`monitor that provides data relating to a direction in which
`the athlete moves during the athletic performance; and ( d)
`means for storing data relating to the athletic perfonnance,
`wherein the means for storing stores data collected via the
`first and second athletic performance monitors when global
`positioning satellite reception is not available.
`
`[0027] Further examples of this invention relate to other
`athletic performance monitoring systems that utilize GPS
`data. Another more specific example of the invention relates
`to athletic performance monitoring systems that include: (a)
`a global positioning satellite receiver that obtains data
`relating to a series of time-stamped position points; (b) a first
`athletic performance monitor that provides data relating to at
`least one of a speed or a distance moved by an athlete during
`an athletic perfomiance; ( c) means for storing data relating
`to the athletic performance collected via the global position(cid:173)
`ing satellite receiver and the first athletic performance
`
`monitor; ( d) means for displaying information associated
`with the athletic perfonnance during the performance using
`data collected via the first athletic performance monitor and
`not using data collected via the global positioning satellite
`receiver; and ( e) means for analyzing and displaying infor(cid:173)
`mation associated with the athletic performance when the
`performance is no longer taking place, wherein the means
`for analyzing and displaying information uses at least data
`collected via the global positioning satellite receiver.
`
`[0028] GPS infonnation and/or map data may be used in
`at least some example aspects of the invention to collect data
`relating to the route(s) covered by the athlete during an
`athletic performance. One example relates to athletic per(cid:173)
`formance monitoring systems that include: ( a) a global
`positioning satellite receiver that obtains data relating to a
`series of time-stamped position points encountered during
`an athletic performance; and (b) means for determining
`whether a route covered during the athletic performance
`corresponds to a route covered during a previous athletic
`performance. As another example, athletic performance
`monitoring systems according to at least some examples of
`the invention may include: (a) a global positioning satellite
`receiver that obtains data relating to a series of time-stamped
`position points encountered during an athletic perfonnance;
`and (b) means for assiguing a route difficulty rating to a
`route used during the athletic performance, at least in part
`based on at least one of: route length; elevation changes over
`the route; altitude of the route; temperature during the
`athletic performance; humidity during the athletic perfor(cid:173)
`mance; wind speed during the athletic perfomiance; and
`wind direction during the athletic performance. Yet another
`example athletic performance monitoring system may
`include: (a) a global positioning satellite receiver that
`obtains data relating to a series of time-stamped position
`points encountered during an athletic performance; (b)
`means for storing data associated with one or more routes
`utilized by an athlete during a plurality of athletic perfor(cid:173)
`mances; and ( c) means for suggesting a new route for a
`future athletic performance, wherein the means for suggest(cid:173)
`ing the new route detennines the new route, at least in part,
`by comparing data associated with the new route's location
`with the stored data associated with the routes utilized by the
`athlete during at least some of the stored plurality of athletic
`perfonnances.
`
`[0029] GPS data may be used for still other purposes in
`athletic performance monitoring systems according to at
`least some examples of the invention. For example, such
`systems may include: (a) a global positioning satellite
`receiver that obtains data relating to a series of time-stamped
`position points encountered during an athletic perfom1ance;
`(b) means for controlling an audio, video, or other display
`device during the athletic perfomiance based, at least in part,
`on data obtained via the global positioning satellite receiver;
`and, optionally, ( c) an audio, video, or other device for
`providing audio, video, printed, or other information to an
`athlete during the athletic performance.
`
`[0030] Still additional athletic perfonnance monitoring
`systems according to at least some examples of the invention
`may include: (a) an altitude measuring system that obtains
`data relating to an altitude at an athlete's location as an
`athletic performance is taking place; (b) a first athletic
`perfomiance monitor that provides data relating to at least
`one of a speed or a distance moved by the athlete; ( c) a
`
`IPR2020-01192
`Apple EX1038 Page 11
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`Jun.22,2006
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`4
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`second athletic performance monitor that provides physi(cid:173)
`ological data relating to the athlete's performance ( e.g., heart
`rate; pulse rate; blood pressure; and/or body temperature);
`(d) means for storing data relating to the athlete's perfor(cid:173)
`mance, wherein the means for storing stores at least some
`data collected via the altitude measuring system, the first
`athletic performance monitor, and the second athletic per(cid:173)
`formance monitor; and ( e) means for displaying at least
`some data collected via the altitude measuring system, the
`first athletic performance monitor, and the second athletic
`performance monitor in a time or distance correlated man(cid:173)
`ner.
`
`[ 0031] Additional example aspects of the invention relate
`to systems that analyze and/or process data collected during
`an athletic performance. Examples of such systems may
`include: (a) means for receiving input data relating to an
`athletic performance; and (b) means for displaying informa(cid:173)
`tion relating to the athletic perfonnance, wherein the infor(cid:173)
`mation displayed correlates at least one physical character(cid:173)
`istic of the athletic performance to time, distance, or location
`along a route used during the athletic performance, and
`wherein the information displayed correlates at least one
`physiological characteristic of the athletic perfonnance to
`time, distance, or location along the route used during the
`athletic performance. Another example of such systems may
`include: (a) means for receiving input data relating to a route
`to be used during an upcoming athletic event, wherein the
`input data includes information for producing an actual or
`animated view of the route; (b) means for receiving input
`data relating to an athletic performance during the athletic
`event; and ( c) means for simultaneously displaying infor(cid:173)
`mation from the input data relating to the route and from the
`input data relating to the athletic perfonnance so as to
`provide data play back of the athletic performance during
`the athletic event over the route of the athletic event.
`
`[0032] Still additional example aspects of the invention
`may relate to use of athletic performance monitoring sys(cid:173)
`tems according to the invention to assist the athlete's par(cid:173)
`ticipation in the event. Such systems may include, for
`example: (a) means for receiving input data relating to a
`route to be used during an athletic event, wherein the input
`data includes at least distance and route difficulty data
`relating to the route; (b) means for receiving input data
`relating to a target time or timing goal for all or a portion of
`the athletic event; and ( c) means for calculating plural time
`goals along the route or for portions of the route using the
`input data relating to the route and the input data relating to
`the target time or timing goal so that the athlete will meet the
`input target time or timing goal for the athletic event if the
`time goals are met.
`
`[0033] Still additional aspects of the invention relate to
`methods for monitoring athletic performance, e.g., using
`various athletic performance monitoring systems including
`those described above (and the more specific systems
`described below in more detail). Additional aspects of the
`invention relate to computer-readable media including com(cid:173)
`puter-executable instructions stored thereon for operating
`the various systems and performing the various methods
`described above.
`
`[0034] Specific examples of the invention are described in
`more detail below. The reader should understand that these
`
`specific examples are set forth merely to illustrate examples
`of the invention. and they should not be construed as
`limiting the invention.
`
`C. Specific Examples of the Invention
`
`[0035] The various figures in this application illustrate
`athletic performance monitoring systems and methods
`according to various examples of this invention.
`
`[0036] 1. General Description
`
`[0037] Aspects of this invention relate to systems and
`methods that athletes and/or their trainers or coaches may
`use to prepare for. monitor, and/or evaluate athletic perfor(cid:173)
`mances. At least some systems and methods according to
`examples of the invention utilize global positioning satellite
`("GPS") data in some manner to provide data and informa(cid:173)
`tion to athletes, their trainers, their coaches, and/or to
`equipment used by athletes before, during, and/or after an
`athletic perforniance.
`
`[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 that may
`be used to collect data and provide information to athletes,
`their trainers, and/or coaches, before, during, and/or after an
`athletic performance. Such systems 100 may include both
`hardware that may be worn or carried by the athlete and/or
`his/her equipment during the athletic performance ( e.g., to
`collect data relating to the athletic performance), and soft(cid:173)
`ware, optionally that runs on a personal computer 112, that
`may be used, for example, to prepare for upcoming perfor(cid:173)
`mances and/or to analyze past performances. Various fea(cid:173)
`tures of such performance monitoring systems and methods
`are described in more detail below.
`
`[0039] Systems 100 and methods according to examples
`of the invention may include one or more devices that collect
`data relating to and/or during the athletic performance. As
`examples, systems 100 and methods according to the inven(cid:173)
`tion may include one or more physiological monitors 102
`that monitor one or more physiological characteristics asso(cid:173)
`ciated with the athlete's performance. Any suitable or
`desired physiological monitor 102 may be used without
`departing from the invention, such as a heart rate monitor, a
`pulse monitor, a blood pressure mo