U.S. patent application number 13/858850 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-10 for exercise device audio cue system.
The applicant listed for this patent is ICON HEALTH & FITNESS, INC.. Invention is credited to Chase Brammer.
Application Number | 20130268101 13/858850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49292946 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130268101 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brammer; Chase |
October 10, 2013 |
Exercise Device Audio Cue System
Abstract
An exercise device that dynamically provides audio cues based on
an exerciser's current exercise route includes an accessing module
that accesses one or more audio cues that notify the exerciser of
one or more upcoming events, a location determining module that
determines the current location and bearing of the exerciser, and
an electronic processing module. The electronic processing module
determines at least a portion of the exerciser's anticipated route
based on the exerciser's current location and bearing and
determines which one or more audio cues to play based on the
exerciser's determined anticipated route. The exercise device
further includes a playback module that plays the determined audio
cues.
Inventors: |
Brammer; Chase; (Providence,
UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ICON HEALTH & FITNESS, INC. |
Logan |
UT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49292946 |
Appl. No.: |
13/858850 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61621676 |
Apr 9, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 24/0062 20130101;
G01S 19/19 20130101; G01C 21/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/91 |
International
Class: |
A63B 24/00 20060101
A63B024/00 |
Claims
1. An exercise device that dynamically provides audio cues based on
an exerciser's current exercise route, the exercise device
comprising: an accessing module that accesses one or more audio
cues that notify the exerciser of one or more upcoming events; a
location determining module that determines the current location
and bearing of the exerciser; an electronic processing module that
performs the following: determines at least a portion of the
exerciser's anticipated route based on the exerciser's current
location and bearing; and determines which one or more audio cues
to play based on the exerciser's determined anticipated route; and
a playback module that plays the determined audio cues.
2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the electronic
processing module calculates an anticipated increase or decrease in
exercise intensity for at least a portion of the determined
anticipated route.
3. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein the anticipated increase
or decrease is based on a geographical change in terrain.
4. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein an audio cue is played
at each substantial change in geographical terrain.
5. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein one or more of the audio
cues are played when the exerciser reaches a predefined distance
from one or more of the geographical changes in terrain.
6. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the audio cues comprise
prerecorded instructions.
7. The exercise device of claim 6, wherein the prerecorded
instructions are specific to different types of terrain
changes.
8. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the location determining
module that determines the current location and bearing of the
exerciser comprises a global positioning system (GPS) device.
9. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the electronic
processing module determines a plurality of anticipated routes and
determines which one or more audio cues to play to provide advice
to the exerciser on which anticipated route to take.
10. The exercise device of claim 9, wherein the advice is based on
an indication from the user indicating a desired difficulty for the
workout.
11. The exercise device of claim 9, wherein the advice provides
indications of which route would include certain geographical
features.
12. The exercise device of claim 9, wherein the advice provides
indications of which route would be the most or least
strenuous.
13. The exercise device of claim 9, wherein the advice indicates
one or more actions the exerciser is to currently perform to
prepare for an upcoming change in geographical terrain.
14. The exercise device of claim 9, wherein the advice is provided
according to a race performance management scheme.
15. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the electronic
processing module creates a workout for the exerciser based on the
route the exerciser is currently running.
16. An exercise device that dynamically provides audio cues based
on a predefined exercise route, the exercise device comprising: an
accessing module that accesses one or more audio cues that notify
the exerciser of one or more upcoming events; a location
determining module that determines the current location and bearing
of the exerciser; an electronic processing module that performs the
following: determines that the exerciser is exercising on a
predetermined route; and determines which one or more audio cues to
play based on the exerciser's predetermined route; and a playback
module that plays the determined audio cues.
17. The exercise device of claim 16, wherein audio cues are updated
if the user departs from the predetermined route.
18. The exercise device of claim 16, wherein the audio cues provide
an indication to the exerciser of which direction to go for a more
or less strenuous route.
19. The exercise device of claim 16, wherein the audio cues provide
an indication to the exerciser of when to hydrate, based on the
determined anticipated route.
20. A method for dynamically providing audio cues based on an
exerciser's current exercise route, the method comprising:
determining a current location and bearing of the exerciser;
determining at least a portion of the exerciser's anticipated route
based on the exerciser's current location and bearing including one
or more changes in geographical terrain; determining which one or
more audio cues to play based on the exerciser's determined
anticipated route at one or more of the determined changes in
geographical terrain along the anticipated route; and playing back
the determined audio cues when the exerciser has reached the one or
more determined changes in geographical terrain.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/621,676 filed Apr. 9, 2012.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to systems, methods, and
devices for exercise. More particularly, the disclosure relates to
an audio cue system that provides audio cues to alert exercisers of
various events based on their current route.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Audio playback devices are often used by exercisers during
their workouts. For example, MP3 players, smart phones and other
devices allow users to play music while they are exercising. These
audio playback devices allow users to create customized playlists
to play certain desired songs during their workouts. Exercisers
often include songs in these playlists to motivate themselves to
exercise harder. Some audio playback devices (such as smart phones)
also include global positioning system (GPS) features that can
track a user's pace, speed, distance, time and other parameters.
These GPS devices can track a user's route and provide the user
detailed information about their workout including pace, elevation
and other factors at each point along the route.
[0004] However, while audio devices allow music playback, and while
GPS devices allow users to track various workout parameters, none
of the devices provide audio cues in real time based on a current
route or a predefined route. Various exercise devices have been
developed that provide audio cues; however these audio cues are
provided based on the occurrence of static events. For instance,
U.S. Patent Publ. No. 2011/0307821 discloses an exercise device
that provides audio cues as feedback during a workout. As certain
predefined events occur, audio cues are played for the user.
Similarly, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0100520 plays an audio
cue to notify the exerciser of their earned exercise score. Other
exercise devices that provide audio cues to an exerciser based on
static, predefined events include U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,942, U.S.
Patent Publ. No. 2009/0260506, U.S. Patent Publ. No. 2010/0056341,
and U.S. Patent Publ. No. 2011/0143894.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one example embodiment of the disclosure, an exercise
device dynamically provides audio cues or cues based on an
exerciser's current exercise route. The exercise device includes an
accessing module that accesses one or more audio cues that notify
the exerciser of one or more upcoming events. The exercise device
also includes a location determining module that determines the
current location and bearing of the exerciser. Additionally, the
exercise device includes an electronic processing module. The
electronic processing module can determine at least a portion of
the exerciser's anticipated route based on the exerciser's current
location and bearing, and which one or more audio cues to play
based on the exerciser's determined anticipated route. The exercise
device also includes a playback module that plays the determined
audio cues.
[0006] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, an electronic processing module of the exercise
device calculates an anticipated increase or decrease in exercise
intensity for at least a portion of the determined anticipated
route.
[0007] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, the anticipated increase or decrease is based on a
geographical change in terrain.
[0008] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, an audio cue is played at each substantial change
in geographical terrain.
[0009] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, one or more of the audio cues are played when the
exerciser reaches a predefined distance from one or more of the
geographical changes in terrain.
[0010] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, the audio cues comprise prerecorded
instructions.
[0011] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, the prerecorded instructions are specific to
different types of terrain changes.
[0012] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, the location determining module that determines the
current location and bearing of the exerciser comprises a global
positioning system (GPS) device.
[0013] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, the electronic processing module determines a
plurality of anticipated routes and determines which one or more
audio cues to play to provide advice to the exerciser on which
anticipated route to take.
[0014] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, the advice provided by the audio cues is based on
an indication from the user indicating a desired difficulty for the
workout.
[0015] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, the advice provided by the audio cues provides
indications of which route would include certain geographical
features.
[0016] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, the advice provided by the audio cues provides
indications of which route would be the most or least
strenuous.
[0017] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, the advice provided by the audio cues indicates one
or more actions the exerciser is to currently perform to prepare
for an upcoming change in geographical terrain.
[0018] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, the advice provided by the audio cues is provided
according to a race performance management scheme.
[0019] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, the electronic processing module creates a workout
for the exerciser based on the route the exerciser is currently
running.
[0020] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, an exercise device dynamically provides audio cues
based on a predefined exercise route.
[0021] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, an exercise device includes an accessing module
that accesses one or more audio cues that notify the exerciser of
one or more upcoming events.
[0022] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, an exercise device includes a location determining
module that determines the current location and bearing of the
exerciser.
[0023] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, an exercise device includes an electronic
processing module that determines that the exerciser is exercising
on a predetermined route.
[0024] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, an exercise device includes an electronic
processing module that determines which one or more audio cues to
play based on the exerciser's predetermined route.
[0025] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, an exercise device includes a playback module that
plays the determined audio cues.
[0026] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, an exercise device includes audio cues that are
updated if the user departs from the predetermined route.
[0027] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, an exercise device provides audio cues that provide
an indication to the exerciser of which direction to go for a more
or less strenuous route.
[0028] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, an exercise device provides audio cues that provide
an indication to the exerciser of when to hydrate, based on the
determined anticipated route.
[0029] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, a method for dynamically providing audio cues based
on an exerciser's current exercise route is provided.
[0030] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, a method for dynamically providing audio cues based
on an exerciser's current exercise route includes determining a
current location and bearing of the exerciser.
[0031] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, a method for dynamically providing audio cues based
on an exerciser's current exercise route includes determining at
least a portion of the exerciser's anticipated route based on the
exerciser's current location and bearing including one or more
changes in geographical terrain.
[0032] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, a method for dynamically providing audio cues based
on an exerciser's current exercise route includes determining which
one or more audio cues to play based on the exerciser's determined
anticipated route at one or more of the determined changes in
geographical terrain along the anticipated route.
[0033] In another aspect that may be combined with any of the
aspects herein, a method for dynamically providing audio cues based
on an exerciser's current exercise route includes playing back the
determined audio cues when the exerciser has reached the one or
more determined changes in geographical terrain.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a user exercising using the exercise
device according to one example embodiment of the present
invention.
[0035] FIG. 2 is schematic diagram of the exercise system of FIG.
1.
[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates various determined anticipated paths for
an exerciser and corresponding audio cues for each path.
[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates a predetermined path for an exerciser and
corresponding audio cues for the predetermined path.
[0038] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a process for
dynamically provides audio cues based on an exerciser's current
exercise route.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods, and
devices for exercise. Depicted in FIG. 1 is a representation of one
illustrative embodiment which may incorporate the novel features of
the present invention, including various novel devices,
functionalities, hardware and software modules, and the like. As
shown, a runner 101 may be running with a global positioning system
(GPS) enabled device 103. The GPS-enabled device 103 may include
any type of portable device including a watch, a cell phone, an MP3
player or any other electronic device capable of detecting the
current position of the user 101. The GPS-enabled device 103 may
include speakers or earphone outputs. The user 101 may place the
earphones 102 in his or her ears so as to hear music, telephone
calls, radio stations or other information. The runner may be
running down a path 104. The path may be substantially anywhere on
earth and may be within or outside of GPS range.
[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the GPS-enabled device 103 may
include various modules for performing specified tasks. The
GPS-enabled device (or simply "exercise device" herein) may
dynamically provide audio cues based on an exerciser's current
exercise route. The exercise device may include an accessing module
115 that accesses one or more audio cues 106 that notify the
exerciser of one or more upcoming events. For example, as shown in
FIG. 3, a user 101 may be running, walking, cycling or otherwise
moving along a current path 104. The user 101 may be approaching an
intersection that allows various different paths of travel. For
instance, the user 101 may travel to the left on path 111A, to the
right on path 111C or may continue straight ahead on path 111B. As
the user is turning, or before the user turns, various audio cues
106 may be played to the user's earphones 102.
[0041] In one embodiment, if the GPS-enabled device 103 determines
that the user is turning to the left on path 111A (or has the
option to turn left), the GPS device may consult path data on path
111A to determine which type of terrain is down that path. Thus,
for instance, the GPS device 103 may determine path 111A leads to a
forest 110A that has rolling hills. The audio cue 106A may indicate
such to the user. The audio cue may indicate that there are trail
running routes in that direction, or that there are public paved or
dirt trails, or that there are picturesque views in that direction.
If the user continues down that path, new audio cues may be played
indicating which direction to go to find the trails, picturesque
spots or other desired locations. Accordingly, the audio cues may
lead the user 101 to a desired trail or location. The audio cues
106 may also provide current (or forecasted) weather information
for the determined path. Traffic information, population
information or other types of information may be presented in audio
cues to inform the user about the area. As will be understood,
substantially any type of information may be communicated over an
audio cue. The information may be pre-stored (in memory 105) or may
be generated or downloaded on-the-fly.
[0042] The location determining module 107 of the GPS-enabled
device 103 may alternatively determine that the user 101 has
decided to continue straight (on path 111B) or is currently at an
intersection or other decision point. As such, the electronic
processing module 108 may determine that audio cue 106B is to be
played. Audio cue 106B may provide indications of the upcoming
terrain. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the upcoming terrain on
path 111B is mountainous 110B. The audio cue 106B may indicate
various types of information including information about the
mountains including hill lengths, grades and whether good shoulders
are available on the roads. The audio cue 106B may indicate that
the route is more difficult than other routes (e.g. 111A or 111C)
or that an increased heart rate may be achieved or an increased
number of calories may be burned by choosing route 111B. As with
audio cue 106A on route 111A, audio cue 106B may indicate weather
information (current or forecasted) for the upcoming path. It may
also include indications of trail runs, scenic paths, stores,
restaurants or other notable locations. The audio cues may further
provide directional information indicating how to get to those
locations.
[0043] Still further, the location determining module 107 may
determine that the user 101 has decided to turn down path 11C. The
electronic processing module 108 may determine that audio cue 106C
is to be played. The audio cue 106C may indicate to the user 101
that route 111C includes an urban area 110C with subdivisions,
parks or similar landscape. The audio cue 106C may indicate that
this is a less strenuous route, or is a more walkable route, or
includes larger shoulders on the road, or includes paths through a
park or any other type of relevant information. These audio cues
may be played before, after or as the user is turning onto any
given route. The location determining module 107 continually
determines where the user 101 is and where the user is headed (i.e.
it determines the user's bearing).
[0044] The electronic processing module 108 may also determine when
other types of audio cues should be played. For example, if a
user's heart rate is too high, an audio cue may be played to slow
tempo, or to select a different route (e.g. with less hills) and
may indicate how to get there. The GPS device 103 may determine
that a user has been out in hot weather for a long time and may
indicate that the user 101 should take a drink or consume calories.
The device may also determine that a hill or section of hills is
coming up and that the user should fuel up now in order to be
prepared for the hilly section. The electronic processing module
108 may thus use location information, weather information, user
information (heart rate, age, body type, fitness level) and other
information to decide which audio cues to play and when to play
them.
[0045] Accordingly, the GPS-enabled exercise device 103 includes a
location determining module 107 that determines the current
location and bearing of the exerciser. The exercise device 103 also
includes an electronic processing module 108 that determines at
least a portion of the exerciser's anticipated route based on the
exerciser's current location and bearing. The electronic processing
module 108 may determine a user's anticipated route based on
multiple factors including the user's current bearing, the user's
current and recently past location, previous workout information,
common running paths or other information. The electronic
processing module 108 may, at least in some embodiments, determine
multiple anticipated routes and provide audio cues for each
possible route. Alternatively, the electronic processing module 108
may determine the anticipated route most likely to be chosen by the
user 101 and provide an audio cue 106 for that route. The
electronic processing module 108 may continually determine
anticipated routes while the user is running, walking or otherwise
moving. Then, based on the determined anticipated route, the
appropriate audio cue or cues are played by the playback module
109.
[0046] When determining anticipated routes, the electronic
processing module 108 of the exercise device 103 may calculate an
anticipated increase or decrease in exercise intensity for some of
the determined routes. The anticipated increase or decrease may be
based on a geographical change in terrain such as hills or changing
from asphalt to dirt. An audio cue may be played at each
substantial change in geographical terrain. This audio cue may
alert the user 101 that a geographical change is going to occur and
may provide a time frame within which the user will arrive at the
geographical change. Audio cues 106 may also be played when the
exerciser reaches a predefined distance from a geographical change
in terrain. This distance may be predefined or may be customized by
the user 101.
[0047] In some embodiments, audio cues 106 may be prerecorded
instructions. These prerecorded instructions may be specific to
different types of terrain changes. In other cases, the audio cues
may be sound clips, ring tones, or other user-specified audio
segments that indicate an instruction or otherwise provide
information to the user. In some cases, a user may indicate a
desired level of difficulty for his or her workout. The exercise
device 103 may provide advice accordingly using the audio cues. The
cues may lead the user along a more difficult route that includes,
for example, an increased number of hills. Similarly, the user may
indicate (during or before his or her workout) that he or she wants
a relatively easy route. The location determining module may then
determine the user's location and bearing and direct the user to
easier terrain. If the user indicated they wanted a running route
that had certain geographical features, the audio cues may be
played at appropriate times to direct the user in the appropriate
direction.
[0048] Audio cues may also indicate which route would be the most
or least strenuous. The advice provided by the audio cues 106 may
indicate various actions the exerciser is to currently perform to
prepare for an upcoming change in geographical terrain. For
example, the user may be instructed to drink water, consume food,
slow their current pace or perform some other action. This advice
may be provided to the user according to a race performance
management scheme. Such a race performance management scheme may
indicate certain heart rate thresholds, a certain pace per minute
or other performance metrics. Race performance management schemes
may be stored in memory 105 of the exercise device 103, and may be
taken into account by the electronic processing module 108 when
determining an anticipated route and when determining which audio
cues to play and when they are to be played. As such, the
electronic processing module 108 creates a workout for the
exerciser 101 based on the route the exerciser is currently
running.
[0049] Turning now to FIG. 4, an embodiment is illustrated in which
a user follows a predetermined route (route 111D). The
predetermined route may be a user's favorite route, or one of many
stored routes (stored in memory 105). The electronic processing
module 108 may communicate with the location determining module 107
to determine where the user is currently located along the
predetermined route, and which audio cues to play. Accordingly, as
shown in FIG. 4, the user may follow route 111D and the electronic
processing module 108 will determine that audio cue 106A is to be
played at a determined time. The audio cues may be played at any
time during the user's workout and may be played before potential
route changes (e.g. intersections), before or after certain
geographical changes (e.g. hills), before or after certain workout
milestones (e.g. five-mile mark) or at any other predetermined or
user-defined time. The exercise device 103 may update the audio
cues if the user departs from the predetermined route 111D. The
audio cues may also provide an indication to the exerciser of when
to hydrate, eat, slow down, speed up or otherwise monitor their run
based on the determined anticipated route
[0050] Attention is now directed to FIG. 5, which illustrates a
flow diagram of an exemplary method 150 that may be implemented to
dynamically provide audio cues based on an exerciser's current
exercise route. The method includes a step of initiating the
exercise device 152. The exercise device dynamically provides audio
cues 106 based on an exerciser's current exercise route (e.g. 111C)
by determining a current location and bearing of the exerciser
(step 154). The audio cues may provide hints to the user 101
indicating what the user should do at certain points along his or
her exercise route. The audio cues 106 may be played at any time
along the user's route and may be played at or near various changes
in geographical terrain.
[0051] In step 158, the electronic processing module 108 determines
which audio cues 106 to play based on the exerciser's determined
anticipated route (as determined in step 156). The user may be
notified at an intersection, for example, which route would result
in the most strenuous workout. The user may also be notified when
to fuel up or when to increase or decrease pace to prepare for
upcoming terrain. Once the appropriate audio cue is determined, the
playback module 109 of the exercise device 103 plays back the
determined audio cues (in step 160) when the exerciser has reached
the one or more determined changes in geographical terrain.
[0052] Accordingly, GPS-enabled exercise device 103 may determine
the user's current location, determine the user's anticipated
route, and play audio cues at appropriate times to notify the user
of upcoming events, terrain changes, or provide other information
useful to the user 101.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0053] In general, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to
exercise systems, devices, and methods that provide audio cues
based on an exerciser's current exercise route. The systems,
devices, and methods of the present disclosure allow an exerciser
to receive hints, directions, notifications or other audio cues
that assist the exerciser in choosing an optimal exercise
route.
[0054] When exercising on a trail or on an open road, a user has
many different options of where to go. The user may be exercising
in any of a variety of different manners including walking,
running, cycling, or otherwise moving down a path. The user may
come to an intersection or may be initially leaving on a run or may
be approaching a long hill or may come to some other point along an
exercise path where having information may be helpful. The systems
and devices disclosed herein may provide the user with an
indication of where to go for a more strenuous workout, or for a
less strenuous workout, or for hills, or forest terrain for trail
runs, or well-lit paths for late evening or early morning runs. The
audio cues may provide substantially any type of information to the
user during his or her workout.
[0055] The audio cues may be provided dynamically while the user is
exercising. The user's exercise device may be a GPS-enabled device
or some other device that can determine the user's current global
location. The GPS-enabled device may continually track the user's
movements along a path and notify the user of his or her current
speed, pace-per-minute, elevation and other data. Based on the
user's current position, recently run routes, or other information,
the GPS-enabled device may determine an anticipated route for the
user. The GPS device may thus determine that the user intends to
head straight or turn right or left, follow a current road or path,
or head in the direction of a known landmark or geographical
feature. Based on this anticipated route, the GPS device may
determine which audio cues should be played to the user.
[0056] These audio cues may be played over a speaker, earphones or
other means. The audio cues may indicate to the user that a long
hill is coming up and that the user should slow his or her pace, or
should drink extra water or fuel up before the hill. The audio cues
may also notify the user of forecasted weather, traffic conditions,
radio announcements or may provide other information that is
context-specific to the determined anticipated route. Accordingly,
if a user has chosen a certain route, the audio cues may be
tailored to events occurring along that path. These audio cues may
also be used to direct the user to a given route, or to a given
landmark or store or to keep the user on a course mapped out by the
user at home. Accordingly, appropriately-timed and -placed audio
cues may be played on a user's GPS-enabled device.
[0057] While embodiments of the invention have been described in
the context of a GPS watch, smart phone or MP3 player, it is
understood that the invention is not limited to any particular type
of exercise device. Accordingly, the term "exercise device" shall
refer broadly to any type of device that can track a user's
location and bearing. Moreover, while embodiments of the invention
have been described in the context of a runner running down a road,
it is understood that the invention is not limited to any
particular type of exercise, and that an exercise device as
described herein may be used during substantially any type of
exercise. Still further, the audio cues may be played back to the
user at substantially any time before, during or after the user has
exercised. The audio cues may be used to notify the user of
substantially any type of information, including information
relevant to the user's anticipated route. The audio cues may thus
provide an indication of positive steps the user may take to
improve the quality of their workout.
* * * * *