U.S. patent application number 16/703447 was filed with the patent office on 2020-04-09 for location-aware fitness monitoring methods, systems, and program products, and applications thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to adidas AG. The applicant listed for this patent is adidas AG. Invention is credited to Andrew Leonard Axelrod, Stephen John Black, Christian Dibenedetto, Alan Russell Lee, Mark Arthur Oleson, Jon H. Werner.
Application Number | 20200108305 16/703447 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44741143 |
Filed Date | 2020-04-09 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200108305 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Alan Russell ; et
al. |
April 9, 2020 |
Location-Aware Fitness Monitoring Methods, Systems, and Program
Products, and Applications Thereof
Abstract
Location-aware fitness monitoring program products, systems, and
methods, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In an embodiment,
a method for providing information about an athletic activity
includes the steps of displaying to a user via a computer
performance parameter information regarding an individual's
performance during the athletic activity as a function of time, and
displaying to the user via the computer the title of a music track
that was played for the individual by a portable fitness monitoring
device during the athletic activity, wherein the display of the
title of the music track occurs in response to the user specifying
via the computer a particular point in time during the athletic
activity.
Inventors: |
Lee; Alan Russell; (Montara,
CA) ; Axelrod; Andrew Leonard; (West Linn, OR)
; Black; Stephen John; (Portland, OR) ; Oleson;
Mark Arthur; (Portland, OR) ; Werner; Jon H.;
(Austin, TX) ; Dibenedetto; Christian; (North
Plains, OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
adidas AG |
Herzogenaurach |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
adidas AG
Herzogenaurach
DE
|
Family ID: |
44741143 |
Appl. No.: |
16/703447 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13417935 |
Mar 12, 2012 |
10518163 |
|
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16703447 |
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12836416 |
Jul 14, 2010 |
10039970 |
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13417935 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/0622 20130101;
A63B 2220/13 20130101; G06F 3/0482 20130101; G16H 20/30 20180101;
G06F 19/3481 20130101; G16H 40/63 20180101; A63B 71/0686 20130101;
A63B 2071/0694 20130101; A63B 2220/30 20130101; A63B 2220/40
20130101; G06F 3/048 20130101; A63B 2071/0661 20130101; A63B
2071/0625 20130101; A63B 2024/0068 20130101; A63B 2220/12 20130101;
A63B 2220/17 20130101; A63B 2220/62 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/06 20060101
A63B071/06; G16H 20/30 20060101 G16H020/30; G06F 3/048 20060101
G06F003/048; G06F 3/0482 20060101 G06F003/0482 |
Claims
1. A method for providing feedback to an athlete via a portable
fitness monitoring device comprising: calculating a plurality of
speed points from a plurality of time-stamped position points;
calculating an output speed based on at least some of the plurality
of speed points; determining that the output speed is outside of a
predetermined speed range; receiving acceleration data from an
accelerometer; determining that a recent speed change has occurred
based on the acceleration data; providing feedback to the athlete
via the portable fitness monitoring device, wherein the feedback is
provided in response to the determination that the output speed is
outside of the predetermined speed range, and in response to the
determination that the recent speed change has occurred.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving
the plurality of time-stamped position points, wherein the position
points describe a geographical route traversed by the athlete, and
wherein the plurality of time-stamped position points are received
from a GPS receiver.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the
plurality of speed points occurs while the athlete is traversing a
geographical route.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the
plurality of speed points comprises factoring in the distances
between consecutive pairs of time-stamped position points and
factoring in the time periods between consecutive pairs of
time-stamped position points.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
maintaining at least some of the plurality of speed points in a
speed buffer, wherein the step of calculating the output speed
based on at least some of the plurality of speed points comprises
calculating an output speed based on the plurality of speed points
in the speed buffer.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of discarding
the plurality of speed points in the speed buffer in response to
the determination that a recent speed change has occurred.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the acceleration data is a
plurality of acceleration points having magnitudes, and wherein the
determination that a recent speed change has occurred comprises
analyzing the differences in the magnitudes of the acceleration
points.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the acceleration data is an
acceleration signal having oscillations, and wherein the
determination that a recent speed change has occurred comprises
analyzing the changes in the oscillations of the acceleration
signal.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined speed range is
associated with a color, and wherein the feedback conveys the color
to the athlete, and wherein the predetermined speed range is
associated with a color, and wherein the feedback conveys a color
other than the color to the athlete.
10. A tangible computer program product comprising a non-transitory
computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded
thereon for enabling at least one processor to: cause the graphical
display via a computer of performance parameter information
regarding an individual's performance during an athletic activity,
wherein the graphical display comprises a line graph plotting one
of time and distance on the x-axis and data related to a
performance parameter on the y-axis; cause the graphical display
via the computer of an icon and a scrollbar located apart from the
icon, wherein the icon moves along the line graph in response to a
movement of the scrollbar in a direction parallel to the x-axis;
and cause the graphical display via the computer of information
about a music track played for the individual during a particular
point in time that has already occurred in the athletic activity,
wherein the program product is configured such that the graphical
display of the information about the music track occurs in response
to a user specifying via the computer any portion of the line
graph; wherein the user specifies via the computer the portion of
the line graph by dragging the scrollbar in a direction parallel to
the x-axis; wherein the graphical display of information about the
music track comprises highlighting the music track played for the
individual during the particular point in time selected by the user
from a plurality of music tracks that were played for the
individual during the athletic activity; and wherein each portion
of the line graph corresponds to different particular points in
time in the athletic activity.
11. The program product of claim 10, wherein the program product is
configured such that the user specifies the specific portion of the
line graph that corresponds to the particular point in time by
hovering a cursor over the specific portion of the line graph.
12. The program product of claim 10, wherein the line graph
corresponding to the first performance parameter is overlaid with a
line graph corresponding to a second performance parameter.
13. A method for providing information about an athletic activity
comprising: displaying to a user via a computer a first performance
parameter regarding an individual's performance during the athletic
activity; displaying to the user via the computer a playlist,
wherein the playlist comprises titles of a plurality of music
tracks that were played for the individual during the athletic
activity, including a first title of a music track; and displaying
to the user via the computer information related to the first
title, wherein the display of the information related to the first
title occurs in response to the user selecting the first title from
the playlist, wherein a second performance parameter is displayed
in a graphical display element appearing in a location close to the
first performance parameter associated with the selected first
title from the playlist, wherein the display of information
highlights the first title of the music track within the
playlist.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the display of the first
performance parameter comprises a line graph plotting data relating
to the first performance parameter.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the user selects the first
title from the playlist by hovering a cursor over a portion of the
playlist that corresponds to the first title.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the display of the first
performance parameter information comprises an illustration of the
geographical route the individual traversed during the athletic
activity.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the user selects the first
title from the playlist by hovering a cursor over a portion of the
playlist that corresponds to the first title.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the illustration of the
geographical route is overlaid on a map, and wherein the
illustration of the geographical route the individual traversed
comprises route segments, each route segment comprising a starting
point corresponding to a point on the geographical route where each
music track began and further comprising an end point corresponding
to a point on the geographical route where each music track
ended.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of music tracks
were played for the individual during the athletic activity by a
portable fitness monitoring device.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein graphical display element is
distinct from the playlist.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/417,935, filed Mar. 12, 2012, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/836,416, filed
Jul. 14, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,039,970. Both applications are
incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
[0002] This application is also related to commonly owned U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/836,421, filed Jul. 14, 2010, and
commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/836,401, filed
Jul. 14, 2010, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention generally relates to fitness
monitoring. More particularly, the present invention relates to
location-aware fitness monitoring methods, systems, and program
products, and applications thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Exercise is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and
individual well-being.
[0005] Accordingly, many individuals want to participate in an
exercise program. The most successful exercise programs are ones
tailored to a fitness level of an individual and aimed at assisting
the individual to achieve one or more specific fitness or exercise
goals.
[0006] Sports trainers, as well as other exercise and fitness
professionals, are available to assist individuals in developing
exercise programs appropriate for their individual fitness levels
and their specific fitness or exercise goals. Hiring such
professionals, however, can be expensive. Furthermore, the busy
schedules of many individuals make it difficult for these
individuals to set aside time to meet with an exercise and fitness
professional on a routine basis. Thus, many individuals forego
using the services of exercise and fitness professionals, and they
never achieve the benefits that can be obtained from an exercise
program tailored, for example, to one's fitness level.
[0007] Technology has resulted in the development of portable
devices that are capable of monitoring the performance of an
individual supporting a portable device during a workout. These
portable fitness monitoring devices may transmit and receive a
variety of information to and from remote server computers via
networks in order to assist the individual in their fitness or
exercise goals.
[0008] Satellite navigation systems, such as the GPS, GLONASS, and
Galileo systems, allow a device having a suitable receiver to
determine the device's geographical location within a few meters,
using time signals transmitted by radio from satellites. Portable
devices including satellite navigation system receivers may use
this information to measure or calculate the location, distance
traveled, and/or speed of the portable device as it moves.
[0009] What is needed are improved fitness monitoring methods,
systems, and program products for use with satellite navigation
system-enabled portable fitness monitoring devices that will allow
individuals to use satellite navigation system data, among other
things, to aid in the execution of athletic workouts, to aid in the
collection of athletic performance parameters, to more accurately
determine athletic performance parameters, to provide location
and/or movement based feedback, to better use data generated from
past performances to gauge their improvement, to create
visualizations of their past performances, and/or to stay
motivated.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for
providing information about an athletic activity, the method
including the steps of displaying to a user via a computer
performance parameter information regarding an individual's
performance during the athletic activity as a function of time, and
displaying to the user via the computer the title of a music track
that was played for the individual by a portable fitness monitoring
device during the athletic activity, wherein the display of the
title of the music track occurs in response to the user specifying
via the computer a particular point in time during the athletic
activity.
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a
tangible computer program product comprising a non-transitory
computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded
thereon for enabling at least one processor to cause the graphical
display via a computer of performance parameter information
regarding an individual's performance during the athletic activity
as a function of time, and cause the graphical display via a
computer of the title of a music track that was played for the
individual by a portable fitness monitoring device during the
athletic activity, wherein the program product is configured such
that the graphical display of the title of the music track occurs
in response to a user specifying via the computer a particular
point in time during the athletic activity.
[0012] Embodiments of the present invention further relate to a
method for providing information about an athletic activity, the
method including the steps of displaying to a user via a computer
performance parameter information regarding an individual's
performance during the athletic activity as a function of time,
displaying to the user via the computer a playlist, wherein the
playlist comprises titles of a plurality of music tracks that were
played for the individual by a portable fitness monitoring device
during the athletic activity, including a first title of a music
track, and displaying to the user via the computer information
related to the first title in a new graphical display element,
wherein the display of the information related to the first title
in the new graphical display element occurs in response to the user
selecting the first title from the playlist.
[0013] Further aspects, features, and advantages of the present
invention, as well as the structure and operation of the various
embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and
form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention
by way of example, and not by way of limitation, and, together with
the description, further serve to explain the principles of the
invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to
make and use the invention.
[0015] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an athlete engaged in an
activity according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is an illustration of an athlete engaged in an
activity according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of components of a portable
fitness monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of components of a portable
fitness monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a portable fitness monitoring
device communicating with a server according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a portable fitness monitoring
device communicating with a server according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 7 is an illustration of one athlete's portable fitness
monitoring device communicating with another athlete's portable
fitness monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an exemplary software
configuration of a server according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 9 is an exemplary graphical user interface (GUI) window
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a table that illustrates heart rate zone ranges
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 11 is a table that illustrates pace zone ranges
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 12 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 13 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 14 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 15 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 16 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 17 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 18 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 19 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 20 is an illustration of a portable fitness monitoring
device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an exemplary software
configuration of a portable fitness monitoring device according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] FIGS. 22A and 22B are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 23 is a flow chart outlining actions capable of being
initiated by software according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0038] FIGS. 24A-24D are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] FIGS. 25A-25D are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 26 is a flow chart outlining actions capable of being
initiated by software according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0041] FIG. 27 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] FIGS. 28A and 28B are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIGS. 29A-29C are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] FIGS. 30A-30D are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] FIGS. 31A and 31B are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] FIGS. 32A and 32B are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0047] FIGS. 33A-33D are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] FIGS. 34A and 34B are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0049] FIG. 35 is a flow chart outlining actions capable of being
initiated by software according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0050] FIG. 36 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 37 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 38 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] FIG. 39 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0054] FIG. 40 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0055] FIGS. 41A and 41B are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0056] FIGS. 42A and 42B are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0057] FIGS. 43A-43C are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0058] FIG. 44 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0059] FIG. 45 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0060] FIG. 46 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0061] FIGS. 47A and 47B are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0062] FIG. 48 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0063] FIG. 49 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0064] FIGS. 50A and 50B are exemplary GUI windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0065] FIG. 51 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0066] FIG. 52 is a flow chart outlining actions capable of being
initiated by software according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0067] FIG. 53 is a flow chart outlining actions capable of being
initiated by software according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0068] FIG. 54 is a flow chart outlining actions capable of being
initiated by software according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0069] FIG. 55 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0070] The present invention will now be described in detail with
reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings. References to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "an
example embodiment", etc., indicate that the embodiment described
may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but
every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular
feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are
not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a
particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in
connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within
the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature,
structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments
whether or not explicitly described.
[0071] To assist the reader, the Detailed Description has been
broken into various subsections, as follows: A. General Description
of Features of the Methods, Systems, and Program Products; B.
Portable Fitness Monitoring Devices and Server Systems; C.
Exemplary Pre-Activity Data Processing and Feedback Aspects; D.
Exemplary Data Processing and Feedback Aspects During an Activity;
E. Exemplary Post-Activity Data Processing and Feedback Aspects; F.
Other Features; and G. Conclusion.
A. General Description of Features of the Methods, Systems, and
Program Products
[0072] In general, the methods, systems, and program products of
the present invention may be used to provide fitness monitoring
services to athletes. In at least some embodiments of the present
invention, a portable fitness monitoring device and a computer
server system may interact with one another to provide the fitness
monitoring services.
[0073] In one embodiment, the athlete may utilize the portable
fitness monitoring device during a physical activity. In another
embodiment, the athlete may interact with the computer server
system before, during, and/or after the physical activity.
[0074] The portable fitness monitoring device may be adapted to
measure various performance parameters associated with the
athlete's physical activities, to provide feedback to the athlete
during the activities, to send information to the server system,
and/or to receive information from the server system. The server
system may be adapted to process performance information associated
with the athlete's activities, to provide feedback to the athlete
before, during, and/or after the physical activities, to send
information to the portable fitness monitoring device, and/or to
receive information from the portable fitness monitoring
device.
[0075] In one embodiment, portable fitness monitoring device and a
computer server system may interact with one another via a wireless
wide area network. In another embodiment, the server system may
present information to the athlete via the athlete's portable
fitness monitoring device. In a further embodiment, the server
system may present information to a user (who may or may not be the
athlete) via a remote computer (which may or may not be the
portable fitness monitoring device).
[0076] In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
athlete may interact with the portable fitness monitoring device
and the server system in various ways at various times as
follows.
[0077] First, prior to engaging in a physical activity, the athlete
may access a website provided by the server from a remotely located
personal computer. The athlete stationed at the remotely located
personal computer may use the website to plan and schedule a
prospective physical activity. Alternatively, the athlete may plan
and schedule a prospective physical activity by accessing the
website from the athlete's portable fitness monitoring device. In
one embodiment, the version of the accessible from the athlete's
portable fitness monitoring device may be simplified or otherwise
modified to optimize it for display on a relatively small
screen.
[0078] Next, the athlete may engage in the planned scheduled
activity while utilizing the portable fitness monitoring device.
Alternatively, the athlete may engage in an unplanned, unscheduled
activity. During the activity, the portable fitness monitoring
device may measure various performance parameters associated with
the athlete's physical activity and provide feedback to the athlete
during the activity. Some of the feedback provided to the athlete
during the activity may depend on information received from the
server before or during the activity. The portable fitness
monitoring device may also send information to the server about the
athlete's performance before, during, or after the activity.
[0079] Finally, after completing the activity, the athlete may
again access the website provided by the server from the remotely
located personal computer. The athlete stationed at the remotely
located personal computer may use the website to review and analyze
performance information associated with the activity.
Alternatively, the athlete may review and analyze performance
information associated with the activity by accessing the website
from the athlete's portable fitness monitoring device. In one
embodiment, the version of the accessible from the athlete's
portable fitness monitoring device may be simplified or otherwise
modified to optimize it for display on a relatively small
screen.
[0080] At various points before, during, or after the activity,
processors of the portable fitness monitoring device and/or the
server may receive, process, send and/or display a variety of data
relating to the athlete's performance.
[0081] Athletes who utilize embodiments of the present invention
may actively participate in a variety of physical activities
including, but not limited to, running, walking, biking, skating,
swimming, skiing, performing aerobic exercises, weight lifting, or
participating in various individual or team sports. Accordingly,
terms such as, for example, "athlete," "runner," and "individual"
may be referred to herein interchangeably, and may generally refer
to any person who conducts a physical activity in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention.
[0082] Furthermore, while the term "user" may include the athlete
who conducts a physical activity, the term "user" may also be used
herein to refer to a user other than the athlete conducting the
physical activities of interest. In other words, as described in
further detail below, other users in addition to the athlete-user,
such as coaches or friends, may be able to interact with the system
of the present invention.
[0083] More detailed examples of embodiments of the present
invention that may utilize a portable fitness monitoring device
and/or a computer server system to provide fitness monitoring
services to athletes are provided below.
B. Portable Fitness Monitoring Devices and Server Systems
[0084] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an athlete 100 engaged in
physical activity may be equipped with a portable fitness
monitoring device 102. The portable fitness monitoring device 102
may be worn, carried, or otherwise supported by the athlete 100
during the physical activity. The portable fitness monitoring
device 102 may be adapted to measure and/or calculate various
performance parameters associated with the athlete's 100 physical
activity, as explained in further detail below. The term
"performance parameters" may include both physical parameters and
physiological parameters associated with the athlete's 100 physical
activity. Physical parameters measured and/or calculated may
include, for example, time, location, distance, speed, pace, stride
count, stride length, stride rate, and/or elevation. Physiological
parameters measured and/or calculated may include, for example,
heart rate, respiration rate, blood oxygen level, blood flow,
hydration status, calories burned, muscle fatigue, and/or body
temperature.
[0085] In an embodiment, performance parameters may also include
mental or emotional parameters such as, for example, stress level
or motivation level. Mental and emotional parameters may be
measured and/or calculated directly or indirectly either through
posing questions to the athlete 100 or by measuring things such as,
for example, trunk angle or foot strike characteristics while
running.
[0086] The portable fitness monitoring device 102 may be a device
such as, for example, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant,
a music file player (e.g. and MP3 player), a tablet computer, an
intelligent article for wearing (e.g. a fitness monitoring garment,
wrist band, or watch), a dongle (e.g. a small hardware device that
is capable of physically coupling to a first electronic device
and/or wirelessly coupling to additional electronic devices), or
any other suitable dedicated or non-dedicated portable fitness
monitoring device 102. Suitable devices may include, for example,
the devices disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 11/892,023, titled "Sports Electronic Training System, and
Applications Thereof," and commonly owned U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/467,944, titled "Portable Fitness Monitoring Systems,
and Applications Thereof," each of which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
[0087] The portable fitness monitoring device 102 may include or
communicate with one or more sensors 104 for detecting information
used to measure and/or calculate performance parameters. In one
embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 itself may include a sensor
104. In other words, the sensor 104 may be integrally coupled to
and/or included within the same housing as the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. Such a sensor 104 may be, for example, a
sensor 104 for detecting information that may be used to measure
and/or calculate the athlete's 100 location, distance traveled,
and/or speed.
[0088] In another embodiment, sensors 104 may be physically
separate from the portable fitness monitoring device 102. In other
words, these sensors 104 may not be integrally coupled to or
included within the same housing as the portable fitness monitoring
device 102. In contrast, in such an embodiment, these sensors 104
may be in wired or wireless communication with the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, a
sensor 104 for detecting information that may be used to measure
and/or calculate the athlete's 100 heart rate is coupled to the
athlete's 100 chest, while a sensor 104 for detecting information
that may be used to measure and/or calculate the athlete's 100
distance traveled and/or speed is coupled to the athlete's 100
shoe.
[0089] Suitable sensors 104 may include, but not be limited to,
positioning system receivers (e.g. GPS receivers), accelerometers,
pedometers, pulsimeters, thermometers, or other sensors 104 for
detecting information that may be used to measure and/or calculate
performance parameters.
[0090] The portable fitness monitoring device 102 may include or
communicate with one or more portable output devices 106. The
portable output devices 106 may be adapted to convey information to
the athlete 100 in a variety of ways such as, for example,
visually, audibly, and/or tactilely (e.g. via a vibrating element),
either alone or in combination.
[0091] In some embodiments of the present invention, the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 itself may include output device 106.
In other words, the output device 106 may be integrally coupled to
and/or included within the same housing as the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. In other embodiments, the output device 106
may be physically separate from the portable fitness monitoring
device 102. In other words, the output device 106 may not be
integrally coupled to or included within the same housing as the
portable fitness monitoring device 102. In contrast, in such
embodiments, the output device 106 may be in wired or wireless
communication with the portable fitness monitoring device 102. In
still further embodiments, the portable fitness monitoring system
may include multiple portable output devices 106.
[0092] In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
1, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 itself may include a
visual display output device 106, while a separate audible output
device 106 (e.g. headphones or a speaker) may be in wired or
wireless communication with the portable fitness monitoring device
102.
[0093] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, while the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 itself does include a output
device 106, a separate output device 106 (e.g. a wrist band having
a visual display) may be in wireless communication with the
portable fitness monitoring device 102. In addition, a separate
audible output device 106 (e.g. headphones) may be in wired or
wireless communication with the portable fitness monitoring device
102.
[0094] In embodiments where a separate visual display output device
106 is provided, the separate visual display output device 106 may
take many different forms. For example, the separate portable
visual display output device 106 may be a wrist watch. As a further
example, in one embodiment, the separate portable visual display
output device 106 may be a wristband having one or more visual
displays, such as the devices disclosed in U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/467,948, titled "Portable Fitness Monitoring Systems
with Displays, and Applications Thereof," which is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety. The separate visual display
output device 106 may be capable of displaying, for example,
numerical performance parameter information or color-coded
performance zone related information, as described in further
detail below.
[0095] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of exemplary components of a
portable fitness monitoring device 102 according to an embodiment
of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 3, the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 may include a processor 120, a memory
122, user input controls 124, a positioning system receiver 126, a
wireless wide area network (WWAN) transceiver 128, a wireless
personal area network (WPAN) transceiver 130, a visual display 132,
an audio unit 134, and a computer input/output 136. These
components may be operatively connected to carry out the
functionality of the portable fitness monitoring device 102, as is
described in further detail below. In other embodiments, one or
more of these components may be omitted, or additional components
may be included. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 may not include a positioning system
receiver 126.
[0096] The processor 120 of the portable fitness processing device
102 may be adapted to implement application programs that are
stored in the memory 122, such as those described in further detail
below. For example, in one embodiment, the processor 120 may be
adapted to execute a workout routine. The processor 120 may also be
capable of implementing analog or digital signal processing
algorithms, such as, for example, those disclosed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/892,023, titled "Sports electronic training
system, and applications thereof," the disclosure of which has
previously been incorporated herein in its entirety. The processor
120 may be operatively connected to the memory 122, the user input
controls 124, the positioning system receiver 126, the WWAN
transceiver 128, the WPAN transceiver 130, the visual display 132,
the audio unit 134, and the computer input/output 136.
[0097] The memory 122 may be adapted to store application programs
used to implement aspects of the functionality of the portable
fitness monitoring system described herein. The memory 122 may also
be adapted to store other data and information, as described in
further detail below. For example, the memory 122 may be adapted to
store recorded performance parameter information, workout routines,
music tracks, and/or a playlist. The memory 122 may include both
read only memory and random access memory.
[0098] The user input controls 124 may be used by the athlete 100
to interact with the portable fitness monitoring device 102. In an
embodiment, user input controls 124 may include one or more
physical input buttons, switches, and/or keys. In one embodiment,
the user input controls 124 may include a track pad, scroll ball,
and/or touch screen input controls (e.g. virtual input buttons,
switches, and/or keys). In another embodiment, the user input
controls 124 may include capacitance switches. In a further
embodiment, the user input controls 124 may be voice-activated
controls. The function of each of these user input controls 124 may
be determined based on an operating mode of the portable fitness
monitoring device 102.
[0099] In one embodiment, some or all of the user input controls
124 may not be integrally coupled to and/or included within the
same housing as the portable fitness monitoring device 102 itself.
For example, some or all of the user input controls 124 may be part
of a separate visual display output device 106, such as a
wristband. Depending on how the portable fitness monitoring device
102 is supported by the athlete's 100 body during an activity,
locating some or all of the user input controls 124 on a wristband
may provide the athlete 100 with easier access to actuating the
user input controls 124. Commands entered via the user input
controls could be transmitted to the portable fitness monitoring
device 102 wirelessly, as described in further detail
elsewhere.
[0100] The visual display 132 may be a visual display output device
106 integrally coupled to the portable fitness monitoring device
102, as described above. The visual display 132 may be used to
visually display information to the athlete 100. In an embodiment,
the visual display screen 132 may be, for example, a liquid crystal
display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, or a organic
light-emitting diode (OLED) display. In another embodiment, a
single display screen may include both the visual display 132 and
the user input controls 124 in the form of touch screen input
controls.
[0101] As described in further detail above with reference to FIG.
2, in one embodiment, one or more additional output devices 106 may
not be integrally coupled to and/or included within the same
housing as the portable fitness monitoring device 102 itself. For
example, a separate visual display output device 106, such as those
described above, may be in wired or wireless communication with the
portable fitness monitoring device 102.
[0102] The audio unit 134 is used to process audio signals. The
audio unit 134 may convert, for example, digital audio signals into
amplified analog signals that can be used to drive an audible
output device 106 (e.g. headphones or a speaker) in wired or
wireless communication with the portable fitness monitoring device
102, as described above. The audio unit 134 may process a variety
of audio signals such as, for example, signals associated with
music tracks or verbal coaching and feedback.
[0103] The WPAN transceiver 130 may be capable of wireless
communication with components of the portable fitness monitoring
system supported by and/or in proximity to the athlete's 100 body.
In one embodiment, the WPAN transceiver 130 is a low-power
transceiver. The WPAN transceiver 130 may include an antenna, and
may operate in an unlicensed frequency band, such as 2.4 GHz. In
another embodiment, the WPAN transceiver may communicate using
known wireless protocols, including, but not limited to, ANT and
ANT+, by Dynastream Innovations, Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth
LET, or BlueRobin. Other known wireless communication protocols may
be used. In an embodiment, a WPAN receiver or a WPAN transmitter
capable of only unidirectional communication may be used in place
of the WPAN transceiver 130. In one embodiment, the WPAN
transceiver may be an infrared transceiver.
[0104] In one embodiment, the WPAN transceiver 130 may communicate
with sensors 104 of the portable fitness monitoring system. In
another embodiment, the WPAN transceiver 130 may communicate with
visual, audible, and/or tactile portable output devices 106. In a
further embodiment, a plurality of WPAN transceivers 130 may be
employed for communicating with various sensors 104 and/or output
devices 106.
[0105] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 may be capable of connecting
to an adapter that may supplement or replace the functionality of
the WPAN transceiver 130. Such an adapter may be necessary if, for
example, a particular sensor 104 or output device 106 is not
capable of communicating with the WPAN transceiver 130 (e.g. the
sensor 104 or output device 106 uses a different wireless
transmission protocol than the WPAN transceiver 130), or if the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 does not include a WPAN
transceiver 130. In one embodiment, the adapter may include a male
component for physically engaging a female component of the
portable fitness monitoring device 102, where the female component
is in communication with the processor 120 of the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. For example, in an embodiment, the adapter
may include a jack capable of plugging into an audio output jack of
the portable fitness monitoring device 102. Because a wide variety
of portable fitness monitoring devices 102 include similar audio
output jacks (e.g. a 3.5 mm TRS jacks), the same type of adapter
may advantageously be used with a variety of devices.
Alternatively, the adapter may be a memory card such as, for
example, a USB, mini USB, or SD card that is capable of being
plugged into a connection port of the portable fitness monitoring
device 102. Such memory cards may advantageously be used with a
variety of devices.
[0106] In one embodiment, the adapter may be capable of receiving a
data transmission encoded in accordance with a first data protocol
and capable of sending a data transmission encoded in accordance
with a second data protocol. Thus, the adapter may further
facilitate the exchange of data between multiple components that
otherwise may not be able to communicate in accordance with a
single data protocol.
[0107] In contrast with the WPAN transceiver 130, the WWAN
transceiver 128 may be a cellular transceiver that may be used to
send and receive, for example, voice cellular telephone signals.
The WAN transceiver 128 may also be used to exchange information
with a computer network such as, for example, the internet, as
described in further detail below. The WWAN transceiver 128 may
include an antenna.
[0108] The portable fitness monitoring device 102 may also include
a satellite-based positioning system receiver 126, such as a GPS-
or Galileo-compatible receiver. Suitable positioning system
receivers may include, for example, those disclosed in commonly
owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/759,289, titled
"Location-aware fitness training device, methods, and program
products that support real-time interactive communication and
automated route generation," which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety. In one embodiment, the positioning
system receiver 126 may function as a sensor 104 integrally coupled
to the portable fitness monitoring device 102, and may allow the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 to detect information that
may be used to measure and/or calculate GPS waypoints, time,
location, distance traveled, speed, and/or calories.
[0109] The computer input/output 136 may be any input/output device
or transceiver capable of wired or wireless communication with a
personal computer 114. In one embodiment, the computer input/output
136 may be a USB port capable of receiving a USB hardwire cable for
connecting the portable fitness monitoring device 102 to the
personal computer 114. Alternatively, the computer input/output 136
may be an audio jack or a memory card slot, as described above. In
some embodiments, a separate computer input/output 136 may not be
necessary if the portable fitness monitoring device 102 and the
computer 114 are capable of communicating wirelessly via, for
example, the WPAN transceiver 130 or the WWAN transceiver 128.
[0110] According to an embodiment of the present invention,
information may be communicated between the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 and one or more external elements. In
addition, the external elements themselves may communicate between
one another. As illustrated in FIG. 5, these external elements may
include, for example, a network 110, a computer server system 112,
and/or a personal computer 114.
[0111] In an embodiment, the network 110 may be the internet. The
internet is a worldwide collection of servers, routers, switches
and transmission lines that employ the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
to communicate data. In an alternate embodiment, the network may be
a private intranet.
[0112] In one embodiment, a user (who may or may not be the athlete
100) stationed at the personal computer 114 located remotely from
the server 112 may communicate with the server 112 via the network.
For example, as explained in further detail below, the user may use
a website provided by the server 112 to plan and schedule a
prospective physical activity to be conducted by the athlete 100
using the portable fitness monitoring device 102. After the
activity has been conducted, the user may also use the website
provided by the server 112 to review and analyze performance
information associated with the activity. Alternatively, as
described in further detail below, an athlete-user 100 may access
the website before and after the activity directly from their
portable fitness monitoring device 102. In one embodiment, the
version of the accessible from the athlete's portable fitness
monitoring device may be simplified or otherwise modified to
optimize it for display on a relatively small screen.
[0113] In another embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring
device 102 may communicate wirelessly with server 112 via the
network 110. Such communication may be achieved, for example, by
way of the WWAN transceiver 128 of the portable fitness monitoring
device 102 utilizing a wide area network. Alternatively,
communication may be achieved by way of the WPAN transceiver
130.
[0114] For example, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may
communicate with a WWAN communications system such as that employed
by mobile telephones. For example, a WWAN communication system may
include a plurality of geographically distributed communication
towers and base station systems. Communication towers may include
one or more antennae supporting long range two-way radio frequency
communication wireless devices, such as the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. The radio frequency communication between
antennae and the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may utilize
radio frequency signals conforming to any known or future developed
wireless protocol, for example, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, UMTS, LTE,
CDMA, AMPS, IEEE 802.x (e.g., IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX)), etc. The
information transmitted over-the-air by the base station systems
and the cellular communication towers to the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 may be further transmitted to or received
from one or more additional circuit-switched or packet-switched
communication networks, including, for example, the internet.
[0115] Wireless communication between the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 and the server 112 via the network 110 may
occur before, during, and/or after an athletic performance
conducted using the portable fitness monitoring device 102, as
explained in further detail below. Prior to the activity, the
server 112 may send, for example, activity goal or route
information to the portable fitness monitoring device 102. For
example, the server 112 may send one or more workout routines to
the portable fitness monitoring device 102. During the activity,
the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may send, for example,
real-time performance information to the server 112, and in
response the server 112 may send, for example, real-time feedback
to the portable fitness monitoring device 102. In one embodiment,
this communication during the activity may occur as a result of
and/or simultaneously with the execution of a workout routine by
the portable fitness monitoring device 102. After the activity, the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 may send, for example,
complete activity performance information to the server 112, and in
response the server 112 may send, for example, post-activity
analysis to the portable fitness monitoring device 102.
[0116] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 may communicate indirectly with the
server 112 through the personal computer 114. Communication between
the portable fitness monitoring device 102 and the personal
computer 114 may be achieved, for example, using wired, WPAN, or
WWAN communications.
[0117] As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the
art, wired communication between the portable fitness monitoring
device 102 and the personal computer 114 may be achieved, for
example, by placing the portable fitness monitoring device 102 in a
docking unit that is attached to the personal computer 114 using a
communications wire plugged into a communications port of the
personal computer 114.
[0118] In another embodiment, wired communication between the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 and the personal computer
114 may be achieved, for example, by connecting a cable between the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 and the computer 114. The
computer input/output 136 of the portable fitness monitoring device
102 and a communications port of the computer 114 may include USB
ports. The cable connecting the portable fitness monitoring device
102 and the computer 114 may be a USB cable with suitable USB plugs
including, but not limited to, USB-A or USB-B regular, mini, or
micro plugs. Alternatively, the cable may be a audio-jack-to-USB
cable.
[0119] Wired, WPAN, or WWAN communication between the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 and the personal computer 114 may
occur before and/or after an athletic performance is conducted
using the portable fitness monitoring device 102 if the athlete 100
is in relatively close proximity to the personal computer 114, as
explained in further detail below.
[0120] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, one athlete's 100
portable fitness monitoring device 102 may be capable of
communicating with another athlete's 100 portable fitness
monitoring device 102. Communication may occur directly between the
devices 102, or via a network 110. Such communication may occur
wirelessly or via a hardwire connection, as explained above.
[0121] According to embodiments of the fitness monitoring service
of the present invention, a wide variety of information may be
communicated between any of the personal fitness monitoring device
102, the personal computer 114, the network 110, and the server
112. Such information may include, for example, performance
parameters, training advice, training plans, workout routines,
calendar data, route information, music, videos, text, images,
voice communications, settings, software, and firmware, as
described in further detail below.
[0122] FIG. 8 is a diagram of an exemplary software configuration
of the server 112. The application software of server 112 includes
a number of different modules capable of providing fitness
monitoring services to athletes 100. In one embodiment of the
present invention, these modules include a start module 200, and
plan module 300, a schedule module 400, a track module 500, a
support module 600, a library module 700, a forum module 800, a
route module 1500, a coaching group module 1600, and an assessment
workout module 1700. Each module supports one or more graphical
user interfaces (GUIs) capable of being presented to athletes 100
at one or more portable fitness monitoring devices 102 and/or users
at remote personal computers 114. Embodiments of the present
invention may employ software modules such as, for example, those
disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/468,025, titled "Program Products, Methods, and Systems for
Providing Fitness Monitoring Services," which is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
[0123] The server 112 may be, for example, a telecommunication
server, a web server, or other similar types of database servers.
In an embodiment, server 112 may have multiple processors and
multiple shared or separate memory components such as, for example,
one or more computing devices incorporated in a clustered computing
environment or server farm. The computing process performed by the
clustered computing environment, or server farm, can be carried out
across multiple processors located at the same or different
locations. In an embodiment, server 112 can be implemented on a
single computing device.
[0124] As is known by those of skill in the art, a GUI may use a
combination of technologies and devices to provide a platform that
the athlete 100 or other user can interact with via the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 or the personal computer 114. A GUI
may offer, for example, graphical elements, visual indicators,
and/or text to represent information and actions available to the
athlete 100 or other user. Graphical elements may include, for
example, windows, menus, radio buttons, check boxes, and/or icons.
The athlete 100 or other user may use a physical input device, such
as a mouse, track pad, and/or scroll ball to control the position
of a cursor on their portable fitness monitoring device 102 or
personal computer 114 screen. Alternatively, the athlete 100 or
other user may use a touch screen, with or without a stylus, to
interact directly with what is displayed (rather than indirectly
via a cursor). Various touch screens such as, for example,
resistive or capacitive touch screens, may be employed.
[0125] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative or
additional modules and sub-modules may be implemented within the
server 112 in order to provide or extend the described or
additional functionalities. For example, the software configuration
of server 112 may include an operating system, which may be one of
the commercially available operating systems such as, for example,
Windows, UNIX, LINUX, Mac OSX, or AIX. The operating system may
also have an associated application programming interface through
which middleware and application programs may access the services
of the operating system. In addition, a hypertext transport
protocol (HTTP) server may run on top of the operating system. As
is well known in the art, HTTP server may communicate data over the
internet using HTTP.
[0126] As illustrated in many of the figures, the various software
modules of the fitness monitoring service of the present invention
may support GUIs through which an athlete 100 or other user can
interact with the fitness monitoring service using the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 and/or the personal computer 114. As
will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, in one embodiment
the GUIs may appear as web pages provided by the server 112 via a
website that may be accessible to the athlete 100 or other user
over the internet 110 using a web browser on their portable fitness
monitoring device 102 or their personal computer 114. In other
embodiments, the GUIs may be generated by a processor based only on
information stored on the portable fitness monitoring device 102 or
the personal computer 114, a CD-ROM, a memory card or other
removable media, a mobile phone, or other computer readable media
accessible locally. In embodiments of the present invention,
athletes 100 or other users can, among other things, use data
generated from past performances to gauge improvement, set goals
for the future, share performance data with others, and/receive
assistance in planning exercises at intensities appropriate for the
athlete's 100 current fitness level and goals.
C. Exemplary Pre-Activity Data Processing and Feedback Aspects
[0127] In some embodiments of the present invention, prior to
engaging in a physical activity, a user (who may or may not be the
athlete 100) may access a website provided by the server 112 from a
remotely located personal computer 114.
[0128] The term "personal computer" 114 is used herein to refer to
any type of computing device having one or more processors, a
network connection, and display that is capable of displaying a
website. Thus, a personal computer 114 may be, for example, a
desktop or laptop computer. In an embodiment, the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 itself may also serve as the personal
computer 114 - thus, for example, the personal computer may be a
mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a music file player
(e.g. an MP3 player), or a tablet computer.
[0129] In order to access the features of embodiments of the
present invention prior to engaging in a physical activity, a user
stationed at the remote personal computer 114 may login to the
server 112 via the internet 110. As is well known to those skilled
in the art, the login process, which may be controlled by a login
wizard run by start module 200, typically includes the entry by the
remote user of a login ID and password or other authentication
information to the server 112, which then authenticates the
identity of the user by reference to a user database or the like.
Embodiments of the fitness monitoring services of the present
invention may be offered to a plurality of athletes 100 or other
users forming a user community, may be restricted to users that
have been issued login IDs and passwords for accessing the server
112, and/or may further be offered in exchange for a subscription
fee.
[0130] Upon successful login, start module 200 may present a home
page, as illustrated in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 9, a menu bar 204
may be present near one of the edges of a GUI window of the present
invention. The menu bar 204 may include several icons or indicia
corresponding to the start 200, plan 300, schedule 400, track 500,
support 600, library 700, and forum 800 modules. In one embodiment,
the menu bar 204 may be present on every GUI page presented to the
user by the server 112. After logging in to the server 112, the
user may be able to navigate to areas of the website supported by
different modules by selecting their corresponding icons with, for
example, a cursor or a touch screen interface. Additional icons
corresponding to sub-modules or program wizards associated with a
particular module may pop up or otherwise be displayed to the user
if the user selects or hovers their cursor over a module icon.
[0131] In an embodiment, the user stationed at a remote personal
computer 114 may alternatively choose to interact with the server
112 via a software widget or mobile device web application. As is
known by those of skill in the art, a software widget is a software
application including portable code intended for one or more
different software platforms. The term "software widget" implies
that either the application, user interface, or both, may be
relatively simple and easy to use, as exemplified by a desk
accessory or an applet.
[0132] In one embodiment, the software widget may be a desktop
widget that is a specialized GUI widget intended to run on a
personal computer 114 desktop. In another embodiment, the software
widget may be a mobile widget that can operate on mobile devices
(e.g. smart phones). The widget may present a simplified version of
the user interfaces explained in further detail herein, and may
provide alternative means for the user to log in to the server 112.
The widget may allow the user to review summary information about
their past performance, and may allow the user to view, for
example, a calendar of upcoming workouts, as described in further
detail below.
[0133] From the home page, the user may be able to navigate to
different modules, sub-modules, or wizards by selecting their
corresponding icons from the menu bar 204 with the cursor. In one
embodiment, the user may be able to select an introductory
sub-module.
[0134] The introductory sub-module may be capable of displaying an
introductory page. The introductory page may contain general
information about the fitness monitoring system of the present
invention, including a brief description of the system, its
intended users, and the potential benefits available to athletes
100 and other users.
[0135] For example, the introductory page may contain information
about the planning, scheduling, and tracking capabilities of the
fitness monitoring system. In one embodiment of the present
invention, some aspects of the planning, scheduling, and tracking
functions may be tied to a color-coded zone system such as, for
example, the zone systems disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/467,944, titled "Portable Fitness
Monitoring Systems, and Applications Thereof," U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/467,948, titled "Portable Fitness
Monitoring Systems with Displays, and Applications Thereof," and
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/468,025, titled "Program
Products, Methods, and Systems for Providing Fitness Monitoring
Services," each of which have previously been incorporated herein
by reference in their entireties. In such an embodiment, the
color-coded zone system may be based on zones of parameters
including, but not limited to, heart rate, speed, pace, stride
rate, calories, respiration rate, blood oxygen level, blood flow,
hydration status, and/or body temperature. A graphical
representation and a brief description of such a color-coded system
may be provided on the introductory page and in personal settings.
In one embodiment of the present invention, prior planning and
scheduling a workout, the user may be given the option to select
which performance parameter to base their zones on (e.g. heart
rate, pace, speed, etc.).
[0136] In an embodiment of the present invention, the color of
certain graphical information provided by the server 112 via the
various GUIs presented may be dictated by detected or target
performance information. Various modules of the fitness monitoring
service of the present invention may be programmed with algorithms
for establishing one or more performance parameter ranges or
"zones." Each zone may be associated with a particular color. Zones
may be defined, for example, as ranges of percentages of an
athlete's 100 maximum speed or heart rate. Accordingly, each zone
may be associated with a particular level of effort.
[0137] FIG. 10 is an exemplary illustration of zone definitions
according to one embodiment of the present invention. An energy
zone, ranging from 65% to 75% of an athlete's 100 maximum heart
rate, is associated with the color blue. An endurance zone, ranging
from 75% to 85% of an athlete's 100 maximum heart rate, is
associated with the color green. A strength zone, ranging from 85%
to 90% of an athlete's 100 maximum heart rate, is associated with
the color yellow. Finally, a power zone, ranging from 90% to 95% of
an athlete's 100 maximum heart rate, is associated with the color
red. These ranges and color combinations are exemplary only;
numerous other ranges and/or colors could be used.
[0138] FIG. 11 is an exemplary illustration of zone definitions
according to another embodiment of the present invention. An energy
zone, ranging from a 12 minute per mile to a 10 minute per mile
pace, is associated with the color blue. An endurance zone, ranging
from a 10 minute per mile to an 8 minute per mile pace, is
associated with the color green. A strength zone, ranging from an 8
minute per mile to a 7 minute per mile pace, is associated with the
color yellow. Finally, a power zone, ranging from a 7 minute per
mile to a 6 minute per mile pace, is associated with the color red.
These ranges and color combinations are exemplary only; numerous
other ranges and/or colors could be used. The zones may instead be
based on other parameters such as, for example, speed.
[0139] In an embodiment, an additional zone (for example, a pink
zone) may also be provided that overlaps the ranges of the blue,
green, and yellow zones. The pink zone may primarily be used for
setting intensity goals for beginners. In a further embodiment, the
colors may change in character from relatively light or dim colors
to relatively dark or intense colors as values associated with the
zone colors increase from the lower to upper limits of the
zone.
[0140] The zones may be assigned based on predetermined fitness
goals. For example, in the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11, the
energy zone (blue) may be associated with a heart rate or pace
range, respectively, that allows an athlete 100 to build their
aerobic base. The endurance zone (green) may be associated with a
heart rate or pace range, respectively, that allows an athlete 100
to build cardiovascular strength and burn calories. The strength
zone (yellow) may be associated with a heart rate or pace range,
respectively that allows an athlete 100 to improve their aerobic
threshold, endurance, and metabolism. The power zone (red) may be
associated with a heart rate or pace range, respectively, that
allows an athlete 100 to improve their anaerobic threshold,
endurance, and metabolism.
[0141] For pre-activity planning purposes, the zones can be
presented to the user as an indication of the difficulty of a
particular workout. For monitoring and tracking purposes during and
after the activity, as described in further detail below, the zones
may be established for a particular athlete 100 based on, for
example, a maximum heart rate or a maximum speed.
[0142] In particular, an athlete's 100 maximum heart rate may not
change significantly with training, and it may be set by the
athlete's 100 genetics. An athlete's 100 maximum heart rate can be
provided to the fitness monitoring service of the present invention
in a number of ways, as described in further detail below. In
contrast, an athlete's 100 maximum speed may change significantly
with additional training.
[0143] As indicated above, in embodiments of the present invention,
the menu bar 204 may be present on every GUI page presented to the
user by the application software of server 112. Accordingly, at any
time, the user may be able to navigate to portions of the website
supported by different modules, sub-modules, or wizards by
selecting their corresponding icons from the menu bar 204 with, for
example, the cursor or a touch screen interface. In one embodiment,
the user may be able to select an icon corresponding to the plan
module 300 from the menu bar 204.
[0144] FIG. 12 is an exemplary GUI window that may be displayed by
the plan module 300. From the main plan module page, the user (who
may or may not be the athlete 100) may be able to select from one
of a plurality of icons corresponding to training plans. Additional
icons corresponding to training sub-plans may pop up or otherwise
be displayed to the user if the user selects a training plan icon
with the cursor or via a touch screen interface.
[0145] In one embodiment of the present invention, from the main
plan page, the plan module 300 may enable the user to select
training plan icons associated with various training plan
sub-modules, such as, for example, a Learn to Run sub-module, a Be
Fit sub-module, a Run a Race sub-module, a De-Stress sub-module, a
Lose Weight sub-module, and a Finish Faster sub-module. Training
plan sub-modules of embodiments of the present invention may
include features such as, for example, those disclosed in commonly
owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/468,025, titled "Program
Products, Methods, and Systems for Providing Fitness Monitoring
Services," which has previously incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety.
[0146] In an embodiment of the present invention, training plan
icons may be associated with various training plan sub-modules that
are sport specific. For example, training plan sub-modules designed
to provide training plans to athletes 100 who desire to train for
and/or maintain their conditioning for certain sports such as, for
example, soccer (i.e. football), American football, tennis, inline
skating, rugby, cycling, and/or basketball, may also be
provided.
[0147] Each plan module 300 sub-module may be associated with a
different training plan having a different intended athlete 100
audience and different goals. For example, in one embodiment of the
invention, the Run a Race sub-module may provide a plurality of
different plans depending on the distance of the race the athlete
100 is planning to participate in. Plans may be provided, for
example, for 5K, 10K, 1/2 marathon, and full marathon races. An
athlete 100 utilizing one of the Run a Race programs may be
encouraged to, for example, conduct interval or other speed work
training, take long runs and recovery runs, and generally build
their endurance and aerobic capacity so that they are able to
successfully complete their race.
[0148] FIG. 13 is an exemplary GUI window that may be displayed by
the plan module 300 Run a Race sub-module. Each plan sub-module
page may include a description of the plan, including its intended
athletic users 100 and its goals. Each plan sub-module page may
further include a level selector 314 and a plan preview 316. The
particular information displayed by the plan preview 316 may depend
on a level selected via the level selector 314.
[0149] Once a difficulty level for a prospective plan has been
selected via level selector 314, the particular training plan
sub-module provides the plan preview 316 for the plan. The plan
preview 316 may include a description of what to expect from the
plan, a description of the benefits of the plan, and/or a sample
schedule. The plan description may make reference to the particular
color-coded pace, speed, or heart rate zones that an athlete 100
may be prompted to exercise at as part of that plan.
[0150] After determining which plan best suits the athlete's 100
needs, the user may select an icon that enables plan module 300 to
launch a plan personalization wizard. The plan personalization
wizard may prompt the user to select a start date for their
training plan, so that the plan may be built forward from that
date. For users who select a race-oriented plan (such as those
provided by the Run a Race sub-module), personalization wizard may
prompt the user to select the day of the athlete's 100 race, so
that the plan may be built backward from the race date. The plan
personalization wizard may further prompt the user to give their
plan a name. In one embodiment, the wizard may provide a default
name. In this way, a user who wishes to schedule multiple training
plans may be able to distinguish one plan from another by the
plans' names.
[0151] In one embodiment, after the user finalizes their plan via
the personalization wizard, schedule module 400 may populate a GUI
calendar 402 with the user's plan (e.g. individual workouts of the
plan). In addition, at any other time when the user 100 is logged
in to the server 112, the user may be able to navigate to the GUI
calendar 402 by selecting the icon corresponding to the schedule
module 400 from the menu bar 204.
[0152] FIG. 14 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention containing the calendar 402
that may be displayed by the schedule module 400 for a user who has
selected a Finish Faster level 7 marathon race program. From the
calendar 402 page, the user may be able to view the individual
workouts of their training plan populated throughout the calendar
402.
[0153] The individual workouts populated into the calendar 402 may
be represented by a zone bar indicator 320. The zone bar indicator
320 may communicate several pieces of information. It may indicate
the number of intervals to be performed in a workout comprised of
training intervals. It may also indicate the relative intensities
of each interval to be performed, based on, for example, a target
heart rate, pace, or speed zone, as indicated by a color. The
calendar 402 may also indicate the duration of each workout
scheduled for each date. The GUI page containing the calendar 402
may also provide an indication of the number of workouts and/or
number of weeks remaining for the current plan.
[0154] In one embodiment, the user may be able to access a workout
list containing a listing of all workouts of their currently
selected plan by selecting an appropriate icon with, for example,
their cursor or a touch screen interface. The workout list is
another way of presenting the workout information populated on to
calendar 402.
[0155] In addition, a custom workout wizard may allow a user to add
workouts to their calendar 402 regardless of whether or not an
athlete 100 is currently participating in a scheduled plan program.
If an athlete 100 is participating in a scheduled plan program, the
custom workout feature may be used to supplement the plan with
additional workouts, remove workouts, or edit workouts as the user
desires.
[0156] The custom workout wizard may allow a user to build a
workout with a single zone, or a workout with a plurality of zone
intervals. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the custom
workout wizard may present a GUI page that allows the user to build
a custom workout one interval at a time in a graphical manner. The
GUI page may include an interval builder bar 404 that in some ways
resembles a zone bar indicator 320. After selecting an particular
segment of the interval builder bar 404 with, for example, a
cursor, the user may assign a zone intensity color and a interval
duration to the segment using drop-down menus.
[0157] For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 15, the user has so
far constructed an interval builder bar 404 that includes a series
of 30 second red zone (dark grey shading) and green zone (black
shading) intervals. Such a pattern would allow the athlete 100 to
conduct 30 second red zone sprints. In addition, the interval
builder bar 404 includes five minute blue zone intervals
(cross-hatched shading) at the start and finish. These blue zone
intervals may serve as warm up and cool down periods, and the user
may enable them by checking an appropriate checkbox. By selecting a
particular interval builder bar 404 segment, such as segment 406,
the GUI page may display details about the particular segment in a
interval details box 408. For example, interval details box 408
indicates that segment 406 is a 30 second red zone interval. The
user could modify segment 406 by adjusting the zone and duration
options in interval details box 408. For example, interval details
box 408 indicates that segment 406 is a 30 second red zone
interval. The user could modify segment 406 by adjusting the zone
and duration options in interval details box 408.
[0158] In one embodiment, the zone interval times may be
predetermined periods of time (e.g. 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5
minutes). In another embodiment, the user may be able to adjust or
program the zone interval time periods.
[0159] In addition, the user may be able to name the custom workout
and provide notes regarding its goal or purpose, and may save the
custom workout for future use and population in calendar 402.
[0160] In one embodiment of the present invention, as outlined
above in FIG. 8, the application software of server 112 may be
configured to include a route module 1500. The route module 1500
may be capable of generating routes for the athlete 100 to follow
during a fitness activity, storing routes within a route database
for subsequent access, and downloading the routes to portable
fitness monitoring devices 102. The route module 1500 may also
include additional features, such as those disclosed in commonly
owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/759,289, titled
"Location-aware fitness training device, methods, and program
products that support real-time interactive communication and
automated route generation," which has previously been incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
[0161] In an embodiment, the route module 1500 may include a route
wizard that is capable of guiding a user (who may or may not be the
athlete 100) through a step-by-step process for generating routes
having desired parameters and attributes. Route module 1500 may
have access to a locally or remotely stored map database that
stores street and/or trail information in association with at least
latitude and longitude information, and possibly elevation
information. Thus, given at least one terminal point (e.g., a
starting point), route module 1500 may be able to construct one or
more routes having a desired length, elevation profile, and other
parameters and attributes. In one embodiment, the user may be able
to build a new route from scratch or search for an existing route
within a route database.
[0162] If the user opts to build a new route from scratch, the user
may first be prompted to designate an approximate starting point of
the route by, for example, entering a street address, ZIP code, or
a particular point-of-interest. Next, the user may be prompted to
enter a desired overall length of the route, specified either by
distance or by time, if these parameters are not already specified
for a particular workout of a training plan. If time is utilized to
specify the length of the route, a desired or historical average
pace may be necessary so that a route distance can be computed. In
addition, the user may also be prompted to enter optional route
attributes such as, for example, a desired elevation profile of the
route or a desired pattern of the route (e.g. linear, loop, etc.).
Once the user has entered all required parameters and any optional
route attributes, the route module 1500 may build one or more
routes conforming as closely as possible to the route parameters
and route attributes entered. The presentation of such routes by a
route wizard is described in further detail below.
[0163] If the user opts to search for an existing route within a
route database, the user may be permitted to specify a location of
the route by, for example, city name, ZIP code, or
point-of-interest. The user may further be prompted to enter
optional route attributes such as, for example, a desired elevation
profile of the route, a desired pattern of the route, desired
safety characterization of the route, and/or a desired route
difficulty rating. In one embodiment, the route difficulty rating
may be assigned to the route based on one or more of route length,
elevation changes over the route, and altitude of the route.
[0164] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the route wizard may
present a navigable geographical map populated with graphical
indications of locations for which preexisting routes are stored
within the route database. In the depicted embodiment, the map
includes a graphical representation 1502 of a geographical area,
for example, a political, cultural, or regional boundary. Within
the geographical representation 1502, the route wizard may present
a number of indicia 1504 identifying geographic locations of one or
more pre-existing routes for which route database stores route
data. In response to the user hovering over one of indicia 1504
utilizing, for example, a cursor, the route wizard may display in a
pop-up window route maps 1506 of the routes in the geographic
location corresponding to the selected indicia 1504. If the user
visually identifies one or more routes of interest at a particular
geographical location through visual inspection of indicia 1504
and/or the route maps 1506 displayed within windows, the user may
select that geographical location by clicking on the associated
indicia 1504. In this manner, a GUI window and its associated
functionality provide the user with a graphical and intuitive way
of viewing and selecting route locations of interest.
[0165] Once a particular route is chosen by the user, the route may
be associated with one or more workouts of the training plan
scheduled on the calendar. In one embodiment, the route may be
transformed into a sequence of turn-by-turn instructions and
transmitted to the portable fitness monitoring device 102 prior to
the activity. In an embodiment, the route may be transmitted to the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 as part of--or
simultaneously with--a workout routine.
[0166] As indicated above, the menu bar 204 may include an icon
corresponding to the support module 600 of the application
software.
[0167] The support module 600 may include help and settings
sub-modules. The help sub-module may present GUI pages that contain
general information about the fitness monitoring system of the
present invention, including a brief description of the system, its
intended users, and the potential benefits available to those
users. The help sub-module may provide a description of the various
functions of the interactive website supported by the software and
the underlying modules, sub-modules, and wizards.
[0168] The settings sub-module of the support software module 600
may be capable of displaying GUI windows for collecting, storing,
and/or reviewing personal settings, workout settings, device
settings, and/or privacy settings.
[0169] FIG. 17 is an exemplary GUI window that may be generated by
the settings sub-module for collecting personal settings
information. Personal settings information may include, for
example, name, address, email address, password, gender, birth
date, and/or address information. This information may be used to
associate a specific athlete 100 with a particular user account. In
an embodiment, some of this information may be used to tailor
aspects of the portable fitness monitoring system to the athlete
100, or to provide messages, product offers, and/or other items of
interest to the athlete 100.
[0170] FIG. 18 is an exemplary GUI window that may be displayed by
the settings sub-module for collecting coaching settings
information. Coaching settings may include an option to select, for
example, heart rate- or pace-based feedback and coaching. The
coaching settings display may include a chart 410 detailing the
athlete's 100 current zone ranges for a given parameter.
[0171] In addition, a user may access the coaching settings feature
to adjust their zone ranges if they feel that the current zone
ranges are not ideal. For example, in one embodiment, a user could
manually enter new zone ranges. In another embodiment, as
illustrated in FIG. 18, the GUI of the coaching settings page may
ask the athlete 100 how they feel. The athlete 100 may indicate,
for example via selector bar 412, that the zones feel too easy,
easy, good, hard, or too hard. The coaching settings page may
provide guidance to the athlete 100 to help the athlete 100
properly answer the question. For example, the coaching settings
page may indicate that the "too hard" option should be selected if
the athlete has to sprint to reach the green zone. In response to
the athlete's selection, the system of the present invention may
adjust the athlete's 100 performance zone ranges appropriately. In
an embodiment, the zone adjustments may be made in response to a
series of questions that seek to determine an appropriate intensity
level for the athlete 100.
[0172] The settings sub module may also allow an athlete 100 to
enter workout settings information. Workout settings information
may include preferences such as preferred distance units (miles vs.
kilometers), height units (feet and inches vs. meters and
centimeters), weight units (pounds vs. kilograms), time format (12
hour clock vs. 24 hour clock), and a preferred week start date
(e.g. Sunday or Monday). Workout settings information may also
include fitness profile information such as the athlete's 100
weight, height, gender, and maximum heart rate (if known). In one
embodiment, the athlete 100 may be periodically prompted by the
system to update their fitness profile information.
[0173] FIG. 19 is an exemplary GUI window that may be displayed by
the settings sub-module for collecting device settings information.
Device settings information may include settings for any peripheral
devices the athlete 100 has and is using in conjunction with the
system of the present invention. These devices may include, for
example, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 which may take
the form of, for example, a mobile phone, a dedicated portable
fitness monitoring device, a non-dedicated portable fitness
monitoring device, a sports mode-enabled MP3 player, a
sports-enabled dongle, a sports watch, a display device, and
sensors (e.g. pedometers or heart rate sensors). The user may
indicate which, if any, devices the athlete 100 may use during
workouts.
[0174] For example, via the settings page, the user may be able to
adjust audio feedback options provided by the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 during a workout, as described in further
detail below. In one embodiment, the user may select audio feedback
with different types or styles of voices such as, for example,
voices of different gendered speakers, voices with different
accents, voices in different languages, voices from celebrities or
fictional characters, and voices of different tones (e.g.
supportive, calming, energizing, or stern). In another embodiment,
the user may select specific performance parameter measurements to
be recited via audio feedback during the workout. For example, a
user may choose to have elapsed time, calories burned, and distance
traveled so far announced to the athlete 100 at regular intervals,
on demand, or at predetermined times/locations throughout the
workout.
D. Exemplary Data Processing and Feedback Aspects During an
Activity
[0175] In one embodiment of the system of the present invention, an
athlete 100 may interact with a portable fitness monitoring device
102, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, just prior to and/or
during a fitness activity.
[0176] FIG. 20 is an illustration of a portable fitness monitoring
device 102 in the form of a mobile phone. In an embodiment of the
present invention, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 in
the form of a mobile phone may include at least a processor 120, a
memory 122, user input controls 124, a positioning system receiver
126, a wireless wide area network (WWAN) transceiver 128, a visual
display 132, and an audio unit 134, such as those illustrated in
FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring device
102 in the form of a mobile phone may include each of the
components indicated in FIG. 3. A visual display 132 in the form of
a LCD screen, and user input controls 124 in the form of a physical
keyboard and a scroll ball, are illustrated in FIG. 20. An enlarged
version of the LCD screen display 132 has been illustrated on the
right side of FIG. 20. In an embodiment, a content banner 138 may
be present at an edge of the display 132. The content banner may
provide, for example, advertisements, rewards, weather information,
achievements, or statistics of other information about users of the
fitness monitoring service.
[0177] FIG. 21 is a diagram of an exemplary software configuration
of the application software of the portable fitness monitoring
device 102. As indicated above, the memory 122 of the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 may be adapted to store application
programs used to implement aspects of the functionality of the
portable fitness monitoring system described herein. Thus, the
application software may be stored, for example, in the memory 122
of the portable fitness monitoring device. Alternatively, those of
skill in the art will understand that all or part of the software
may be stored on the server 112 and accessed over the network 110
and run remotely as a mobile web application.
[0178] This application software includes a number of different
software modules capable of providing fitness monitoring services
to athletes 100 using portable fitness monitoring devices 102. In
one embodiment of the present invention, these modules include a
start module 1000, a go module 1100, a track module 1200, an
explore module 1300, a settings module 1400, and a positioning
system smoothing sub module 1800. Each module may support one or
more GUIs capable of being presented to an athlete 100 using the
portable fitness monitoring device 102. Embodiments of the present
invention may employ additional portable fitness monitoring device
102 software features such as, for example, those disclosed in
commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/892,023, titled
"Sports Electronic Training System, and Applications Thereof,"
which has previously been incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
[0179] As described above with respect to display via the personal
computer 114, a GUI may offer, for example, graphical elements,
visual indicators, and/or text to represent information and actions
available to the athlete 100. The athlete 100 may use a physical
input device, such as keyboard or scroll ball to interact with the
GUI of the portable fitness monitoring device 102. Alternatively,
the athlete 100 may use a touch screen to interact directly with
what is displayed. Various touch screens such as, for example,
resistive or capacitive touch screens, may be employed.
[0180] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative or
additional software modules and sub-modules may be implemented in
order to provide or extend the described or additional
functionalities to the athlete 100 using the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. For example, the software configuration of
software stored on a portable fitness monitoring device 102 may
include a portable device operating system, which may be one of the
commercially available mobile phone operating systems such as, for
example, BlackBerry OS, iPhone OS, Windows Mobile, Symbian, LINUX,
WebOS, or Android. The portable device operating system may also
have an associated application programming interface through which
middleware and application programs may access the services of the
operating system.
[0181] The various modules of the fitness monitoring service of the
present invention may support GUIs through which an athlete 100 can
interact with the fitness monitoring service using the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 just prior to and/or during an
activity. As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, in
one embodiment the GUIs may be supported by a mobile device web
application being run on the portable fitness monitoring device
102. In another embodiment, the GUIs may appear as web pages
provided by the server 112 via a website that may be accessible to
the user over the internet 110 using a web browser on their
portable fitness monitoring device 102.
[0182] In order to access the features of embodiments of the
present invention just prior to or during a physical activity, the
athlete 100 using the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may
power on their portable fitness monitoring device 102 if it is not
already in a powered up state. In some embodiments, it may be
necessary for the athlete 100 to manipulate user input controls 124
to enter a portable fitness monitoring mode to access the
application software.
[0183] The first time the fitness monitoring application is
launched, the start module 1000 may prompt the athlete 100 to
select a preferred language. Next, or immediately upon subsequent
launches of the application, the start module 1000 may prompt the
athlete 100 to enter a password to proceed. The first time the
application is launched, the start module 1000 may prompt the
athlete 100 to select a password.
[0184] Upon entering the correct password, a GUI supported by the
start module 1000 may ask the athlete 100 if they would like to
link their portable fitness monitoring device 102 to a web account
previously set up via the server 112 or if they would like to
proceed as an un-linked guest.
[0185] If the athlete 100 indicates via activation of the user
input controls 124 that the athlete 100 would like to link to a web
account, the start module 1000 may present a GUI login wizard
wherein the athlete 100 is able to log into and link to their web
account. Upon linking to the web account, settings previously
established using the personal computer 114 and the server 112 via
the support module 600 may be transferred to or synced with the
portable fitness monitoring device 102. Such settings may include,
for example: workout settings information such as preferred
distance units (miles vs. kilometers), height units (feet and
inches vs. meters and centimeters), weight units (pounds vs.
kilograms), time format (12 hour clock vs. 24 hour clock), and a
preferred week start date (e.g. Sunday or Monday); fitness profile
information such as the user's weight, height, and maximum heart
rate (if known); heart rate, pace, or other custom workout interval
setting information; audio feedback option information; and/or
performance parameter feedback option information.
[0186] If the athlete 100 indicates via activation of the user
input controls 124 that the athlete 100 does not have or does not
want to link to a web account, the start module 1000 may present a
login wizard where in the athlete 100 is able to enter information
such as, for example, preferred unit preferences, personal
information such as the athlete's 100 age, height, weight, and sex,
and/or the athlete's 100 desired voice training options. This
information may be necessary for conducting an "assessment workout"
for a guest athlete 100, as described in further detail below.
[0187] After the athlete 100 chooses to link to a web account or to
continue as a guest, the start module 1000 may present a home page
GUI, as illustrated in FIG. 22A. During subsequent launches of the
software application, the home page may be presented to the athlete
100 immediately upon launch. As shown in FIG. 22A, a header 1002
may be present near one of the edges of a GUI window of the present
invention. In one embodiment, the header 1002 may be present on
every GUI page presented to the athlete 100 by software accessible
by the portable fitness monitoring device 102.
[0188] The home page may also include several icons or indicia
corresponding to the go 1100, track 1200, explore 1300, and
settings 1400 modules. In one embodiment, the header 1002 may also
provide a drop-down list including icons or indicia corresponding
to the go 1100, track 1200, explore 1300, and settings 1400
modules. After launching the application software, the athlete 100
may cause different GUI pages to be provided by different modules
by selecting their corresponding icons using user input controls
124. Additional icons corresponding to sub-modules or program
wizards associated with a particular module may pop up or otherwise
be displayed to the athlete 100 if the athlete 100 selects or
hovers over a module icon with a cursor.
[0189] The settings module 1400 may offer functionalities similar
to those described above with respect to the support module 600 of
the application software of the server 112.
[0190] The go module 1100 may include a workout selection
sub-module and a workout recording sub-module. In one embodiment,
when the athlete 100 selects the icon corresponding to the go
module 1100 on the home page, the go module initiates the workout
selection sub-module.
[0191] FIG. 22B is an exemplary GUI window that may be provided by
the workout selection sub-module. This GUI window may display plan
workouts and custom workouts available to the athlete 100, as well
as a free workout option and an assessment workout option, which
are described in further detail below. In one embodiment, some
indication will be given to the athlete 100 that they are scheduled
to perform one or more of the listed plan or custom workouts on a
given day. For example, as shown in FIG. 22B, indicators 1102 may
appear by certain plan or custom workouts to indicate that the
athlete 100 is scheduled to perform that plan or custom workout
today.
[0192] As previously described, a user (who may or may not be the
athlete 100) stationed at a remotely located personal computer 114
may use a website to plan and schedule a prospective physical
activity. As illustrated in FIGS. 12-16, the user may utilize the
plan module 300 and schedule module 400 to plan and schedule one or
more prospective physical activities. For example, the user may
select a training plan comprised of individual workouts, which may
be saved and scheduled on a calendar 402 on the server 112. The
user may also create, save, and optionally schedule custom workouts
on the server 112. Alternatively, an athlete-user 100 may plan and
schedule planned workouts and/or create, save, and schedule custom
workouts by accessing the website directly from their portable
fitness monitoring device 102. In one embodiment, the version of
the accessible from the athlete's portable fitness monitoring
device may be simplified or otherwise modified to optimize it for
display on a relatively small screen.
[0193] In an embodiment, upon initiation of the workout selection
sub-module via the portable fitness monitoring device 102, the list
of available plan workouts and custom workouts may be updated by
syncing to training plan, plan workout, and custom workout data
available on the server 112. In other words, the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 and the server 112 may communicate training
plan, plan workout, and custom workout data via the network 110,
for example, using the WWAN transceiver 128 of the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. In one embodiment, plan workout and custom
workout data, such as plan or custom workout routines, may be
stored in the memory 122 of the portable fitness monitoring device
102.
[0194] FIG. 23 illustrates a sequences of actions that the workout
selection sub-module may initiate after an icon corresponding to
the go module 1100 is selected from the home page, according to one
embodiment of the present invention. First, at step 1104, the
available plans and custom workout routines may be updated by
syncing to server 112. Next, at step 1106, the various workout
routine types (e.g. plan workouts, custom workouts, a free workout,
and an assessment workout) may be presented to the athlete 100 via
the display 132 of the portable fitness monitoring device 102. The
athlete 100 may then select one of the workout types using the user
input controls 124. Finally, at steps 1108-1114, the athlete 100
may be prompted to chose their desired settings for a variety of
different options including coaching options, satellite positioning
system options, live tracking options, and/or music options, which
are described in further detail below.
[0195] FIGS. 24A-24D are exemplary GUI windows that may be
displayed by the workout selection sub-module 1110 when the athlete
selects a particular training plan. In FIG. 24A, the athlete 100
has highlighted and may select the "Speedster Plan" training plan
using the user input controls 124 of the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. Prior to the activity and prior to any
syncing, the Speedster Plan may have been created and scheduled by
a user using the server plan module 300 and the server schedule
module 400 via a remote computer 114, as described above.
[0196] FIG. 24B is an exemplary GUI window that may be displayed by
the workout selection sub-module 1110 after the athlete 100 selects
the Speedster Plan. FIG. 24B lists several individual workout
routines in the Speedster Plan. In an embodiment, only individual
workouts scheduled for the present day may be listed. In another
embodiment, past and/or future individual workouts may also be
listed. In some embodiments, some indication will be given to the
athlete 100 that they are to perform one or more of the listed plan
or custom workouts today. For example, as shown in FIG. 24B, an
indicator 1102 may appear next to a particular plan workout.
[0197] FIG. 24C is an exemplary GUI window that may be displayed by
the workout selection sub-module after the athlete 100 selects a
particular individual workout routine from the Speedster Plan. As
shown in FIGS. 24B and 24C, each individual workout routine may be
represented by a zone bar indicator 320, similar to that discussed
above with respect to the server schedule module 400. The zone bar
indicator 320 may communicate several pieces of information. It may
indicate the number of intervals to be performed in a workout
routine comprised of training intervals. It may also indicate the
relative intensities of each interval to be performed, based on,
for example, a target pace, speed, or heart rate zone, as indicated
by a color. The GUI window may also indicate the duration the
individual workout routine. Specifically, as can be seen in FIG.
24C, the selected workout routine consists of alternating blue zone
and yellow zone intervals and is 40 minutes in length.
[0198] The exemplary GUI window shown in FIG. 24C may also include
buttons, switches, drop-down menus, or other GUI elements for
selecting voice coaching, satellite positioning system, and live
tracking options.
[0199] Voice coaching generally refers to verbal instructions,
feedback, or encouragement provide audibly to the athlete 100
during the activity, as described in further detail below. A
workout selection sub-module may allow the athlete 100 to determine
the level of voice coaching they would like to receive - if any.
For example, in one embodiment, the athlete 100 may select between
no coaching, passive coaching, or active coaching.
[0200] "No coaching" may refer to a situation where voice coaching
is entirely absent or silenced during the activity.
[0201] "Passive coaching" may refer to a situation where the
athlete 100 receives voice coaching only at the beginning of a new
training interval. For example, an athlete 100 who is to begin a
green zone training interval may receive coaching that states
"increase your intensity to reach the green zone." If the training
plan workout calls for the athlete 100 to begin a yellow zone
interval after the green zone interval, at the beginning of the
yellow zone interval athlete 100 may receive coaching that states
"You have completed a green zone interval. Increase your intensity
to enter the yellow zone."
[0202] "Active coaching" may refer to a situation where in addition
to (or instead of) receiving voice coaching at the beginning of a
new training interval, the athlete 100 receives reactive voice
coaching throughout the interval. Specifically, the voice coaching
may be responsive to performance information detected by sensors
104 of the portable fitness monitoring device 102. Thus, for
example, feedback may be based on information detected by a heart
rate monitor for a workout routine comprised of heart rate-based
zones, or feedback may be based on information detected by a
positioning system receiver 126 used to calculate speed or pace for
a workout routine comprised of speed-based or pace-based zones. For
example, if the athlete 100 should be in the middle of their first
green zone interval but is only maintaining a blue zone intensity,
the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may announce "your
intensity is only at a blue zone level, increase your intensity to
enter the green zone."
[0203] Workout selection sub-module may also allow the athlete 100
to determine the whether the positioning system receiver 126, such
as a GPS receiver, should be enabled or disabled. In one
embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 includes a
GPS receiver that may be used to determine that athlete's 100
location, distance traveled, speed, and pace at various locations
as the athlete 100 traverses a route. In other embodiments, a GPS
receiver may not be present. Even if a GPS receiver is present, the
athlete 100 may chose to disable it because, for example, the
athlete 100 intends to workout indoors, workout on stationary
equipment, or because the portable fitness device 102 is low on
power. In an embodiment, the athlete 100 may also be able to enable
or disable other sensors such as heart rate monitors or
accelerometer-based sensors.
[0204] Workout selection sub-module may further allow the athlete
100 to determine whether live tracking should be enabled or
disabled. "Live tracking" refers to the ability of a remote user
other than the athlete 100 to track the athlete's 100 location in
real time during the activity. As explained in further detail
elsewhere, in an embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring device
102 may be able to wirelessly communicate location-based
information to the server 112 via the network 110 in real-time via
the WWAN 128 or WPAN 130 transceiver. Thus, users with access to
this data on the server 112 (either stationed at a remote computer
114 or carrying a portable fitness monitoring device 102) may be
able to view one or more athlete's 100 locations, for example,
superimposed on a map. Some athlete's 100 may chose to disable live
tracking, for example, because of privacy concerns.
[0205] FIG. 24D is an exemplary GUI window that may be provided by
the workout selection sub-module of the application software after
the athlete 100 has selected voice coaching, satellite positioning
system, and/or live tracking options. This GUI window may present
music options, which may include selecting no music, selecting from
various pre-set playlists of music tracks, or selecting an option
to shuffle or randomly play music tracks. In an embodiment, the
athlete 100 may be able to select a playlist based on one or more
paces, speeds, stride rates, or heart rates associated with the
playlist or the tracks that makeup the playlist. In one embodiment,
individual music tracks and/or playlists may be stored on the
server 112 or a remote personal computer 114 and downloaded to the
portable fitness monitoring device 102. In an embodiment, the
individual music tracks and/or playlists may be simultaneously
downloaded to the portable fitness monitoring device 102 with one
or more individual workout routines of a training plan.
[0206] After the athlete 100 desiring to partake in a training plan
workout has made their selections regarding any available options
in response to prompts from the workout selection sub-module, the
workout recording sub-module of the go module 1100 may initiate
execution of the plan workout routine and begin recording.
[0207] As indicated above, however, an athlete 100 may not desire
to partake in a training plan workout and may instead prefer to
engage in a custom workout. As previously described, a user
stationed at a remotely located personal computer 114 may use a
website to build a custom workout. Alternatively, the athlete 100
may access the website directly from their portable fitness
monitoring device 102 to build a custom workout. The steps for
selecting a custom workout routine and choosing the appropriate
options are similar to those outlined with respect to FIGS. 23 and
24A-24D. FIGS. 25A-25D illustrate a series of exemplary GUI windows
that may be displayed by the workout selection sub-module when the
athlete selects custom workout routine. After the athlete 100
desiring to partake in a custom workout has made their selections
regarding any available options in response to prompts from the
workout selection sub-module, the workout recording sub-module of
the go module 1100 may initiate the execution of a custom workout
routine and begin recording.
[0208] If, however, the athlete 100 not desire to partake in either
a training plan workout or a custom workout, they may choose to
engage in a free workout. A "free workout" may refer to a situation
where no plan or custom performance goals are provided and, thus,
where voice coaching is entirely absent during the activity.
Because voice coaching is entirely absent, voice coaching options
are not presented prior to beginning a free workout. After the
athlete desiring to partake in a free workout has made their
selections regarding any available options in response to prompts
from the workout selection sub-module, the workout recording
sub-module of the go module 1100 may initiate the free workout and
begin recording.
[0209] In one embodiment of the present invention, instead of
selecting a training plan, custom, or free workout when presented
with the option via a GUI window such as that depicted in FIG. 22B,
the athlete 100 may be able to select an "assessment workout." An
assessment workout may be used by the fitness monitoring system to
assess the relative fitness level of the athlete 100, and/or to
establish or modify the athlete's 100 performance zones for one or
more parameters (e.g. pace, speed, or heart rate zones), as
disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/467,948, titled "Portable Fitness Monitoring Systems with
Displays, and Applications Thereof," which has previously been
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0210] As illustrated in FIG. 26, in an embodiment, the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 may provide instructions for
conducting the assessment workout to the athlete 100, may begin the
assessment workout, may monitor the athlete's 100 performance, and
may end the assessment workout.
[0211] For example, during an assessment workout, the athlete 100
may be prompted to, for example, run as fast as possible for two
minutes. The portable fitness monitoring device 102 would then be
capable of measuring or estimating the athlete's 100 maximum heart
rate or maximum speed based on the actual heart rate or speeds
detected during the assessment exercise.
[0212] Alternatively, the assessment workout may prompt the athlete
100 to, for example, run at certain percentages of their maximum
speed for set periods of time, as subjectively estimated by the
athlete 100. For example, the assessment workout may prompt the
athlete 100 to try to consistently run at 50%, 75%, and 100% of
their maximum speed for consecutive 1 minute periods.
[0213] This information, in turn, could be used alone or in
combination with personal information, such as the athlete's 100
age, height, weight, and/or sex, to establish or modify the
athlete's 100 performance zones for one or more parameters. FIG. 27
is an exemplary GUI window that may be provided by the workout
selection sub-module of the go module 1100 after the athlete 100
has conducted their assessment workout and pace, speed, and/or
heart rate performance zones have been established or modified. In
an embodiment, different zone ranges may be provided for different
activities, such as running or biking.
[0214] In one embodiment of the present invention, assessment
workout performance information may be sent to the server 112,
which also may have access to personal information such as the
athlete's 100 age, height, weight, and/or sex, for processing and
calculation of the performance zones. In another embodiment, such
processing may be done by a processor of the portable fitness
monitoring device 102.
[0215] After the athlete 100 desiring to partake in a training
plan, custom, free, or assessment workout has made their selections
regarding any available options in response to prompts from the
workout selection sub-module, the workout recording sub-module of
the go module 1100 may initiate the workout and begin
recording.
[0216] Prior to beginning a training plan, custom, free, or
assessment workout, the athlete 100 may position the portable
fitness monitoring device 102. The portable fitness monitoring
device 102 may be worn, carried, or otherwise supported by the
athlete 100 during the physical activity. The portable fitness
monitoring device 102 may also attach to a piece of exercise
equipment such as a road bike traveling on a bike path or a
stationary bike in the gym. If necessary, one or more sensors 104
not integrally connected to or included within the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 that communicate with the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 may also need to be worn, carried, or
otherwise supported by the athlete 100.
[0217] FIGS. 28A, 28B, 29A-29C, and 30A-30D are exemplary GUI
windows that may be displayed by the workout recording application
software sub-module after the athlete 100 has chosen to begin a
workout according to various embodiments of the present
invention.
[0218] FIGS. 28A and 28B are exemplary GUI windows that may be
displayed by the workout recording sub-module executing a workout
routine when the athlete 100 is conducting a planned or custom
workout that includes color-coded speed-based zone intervals.
During a workout, the athlete 100 may toggle between screens
corresponding to FIGS. 28A and 28B by manipulating the appropriate
user input controls 124. In an embodiment, the screens
corresponding to FIGS. 28A and/or 28B may automatically appear at a
particular time (e.g. the screen corresponding to FIG. 28B may
appear when the athlete 100 is in the proper zone).
[0219] As shown in FIGS. 28A and 28B and as described above, a
header 1002 may be present near one of the edges of a GUI windows.
In addition, message section 1116 may also be present. In FIGS. 28A
and 28B, the message section 1116 presents the track name and
artist name corresponding to the music track the athlete 100 is
currently listening to. In other embodiments, the message section
1116 may present coaching, encouragement, or other messages
provided by the portable fitness monitoring service software, or
provided by a coach or friend in real time, for example, via a text
message.
[0220] Because FIGS. 28A and 28B are representative of a situation
where the workout routine includes color-coded zone intervals, a
progress bar 1118 may be displayed. The progress bar 1118 may be
similar to the zone bar indicator 320 that may be associated with a
particular workout routine, as described above. In addition to
displaying the various color-coded zone intervals of the present
workout, the progress bar 1118 may also include a moving progress
mark 1120 indicative of where the athlete 100 presently is in their
zone-based workout. For example, the progress mark 1120 in FIG. 28A
indicates that the athlete presently is in the third color-coded
zone interval of their workout, which may be a blue zone. The
progress mark 1120 may move along the progress bar 1118 as the
athlete progresses through the workout and as the workout routine
is executed. In addition, a cumulative workout total such as, for
example, total workout time or total workout distance maybe
displayed. In FIG. 28A, a total workout time of 16 minutes and 1
second is displayed.
[0221] Furthermore, because FIGS. 28A and 28B are representative of
a situation where the athlete 100 is conducting a workout that
includes at least one color-coded zone goal, a dynamic target bar
1122 may be displayed. The dynamic target bar 1122 may include a
left portion and a right portion. The right portion may correspond
to the present color-coded zone goal for the athlete 100, based on
the current workout routine. The left portion may correspond to the
athlete's 100 presently detected and/or measured performance
information, as it relates to the present workout routine
color-coded zone goal. For example, in FIG. 28A, the right portion
of the dynamic target bar 1122 may display a speed range of 7.0
miles per hour to 6.0 miles per hour, which may correspond to a
blue zone. The left portion of the dynamic target bar 1122 may
display a current athlete 100 speed of 8.2 miles per hour, which
may correspond to a yellow zone. Because the athlete 100 is
currently exercising at a higher intensity (e.g. yellow vs. blue)
that their current workout routine calls for, the dynamic target
bar 1122 may provide an indication to the athlete 100 that they
need to decrease their intensity. For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 28A, the left portion of the dynamic target bar 1122 may be
raised above the right portion, and may include a down arrow
indicating that the athlete 100 should decrease their
intensity.
[0222] As described in further detail elsewhere, various
color-coded zone-based systems may be employed and zones may be
based on a variety of other parameters besides speed. In addition,
if the athlete 100 has selected active coaching via the workout
selection sub-module of the go-module 1100, the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 may provide audible feedback to complement or
replace the visual feedback provided by the dynamic target bar
1122. For example, in the situation described above and depicted in
FIG. 28A, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may announce
"your intensity is at a yellow zone level, decrease your intensity
to enter the blue zone."
[0223] As indicated above, during execution of a workout routine,
the athlete 100 may toggle between screens corresponding to FIGS.
28A and 28B by manipulating the appropriate user input controls
124. In contrast to the GUI of FIG. 28A, the GUI of FIG. 28B
presents summary numerical information for multiple performance
parameters, but does not include either a progress bar 1118 or a
dynamic target bar 1122. For example, in FIG. 28B, elapsed time,
total calories burned, total distance traversed, and average speed
are presented.
[0224] While FIG. 28A illustrates a dynamic target bar 1122 in a
situation where the athlete's 100 intensity is too high, similar
GUI elements may be presented by workout recording sub-module of
the go module 1100 to indicate that the athlete's 100 intensity is
either correct or too low. For example, FIGS. 29A-29C illustrate
dynamic target bars 1122 in situations where the athlete's pace is
too low, too high, and correct, respectively. Each of FIGS. 29A-29C
indicate that the target pace range is between seven and eight
minutes per mile, which may correspond to a green zone. Thus, the
right portion of the dynamic target bars 1122 may be green. In FIG.
29A the left portion of the dynamic target bar 1122 may be blue to
represent a slow pace, in FIG. 29B the left portion of the dynamic
target bar 1122 may be yellow to represent a fast pace, and in FIG.
29C the left portion of the dynamic target bar 1122 may be green to
represent a correct pace.
[0225] FIGS. 30A and 30B are exemplary GUI windows that may be
provided by the workout recording software application sub-module
when the athlete 100 is conducting a planned or custom workout that
includes at least one color-coded zone goal, but when the planned
or custom workout routine does not include a series of color-coded
pace-based zone intervals. The GUI windows of FIGS. 30A and 30B are
similar to those of FIG. 28A in that both include similar dynamic
target bars 1122, though those of FIGS. 30A and 30B relate to pace
while those of FIG. 28A relate to speed. Unlike FIG. 28A, which
includes a multi-colored, multi-interval progress bar 1118, FIGS.
30A and 30B include a progress bar 1118 capable of providing
different information.
[0226] For example, in FIG. 30A, the progress bar 1118 may include
a black region that will advance from left to right across the
progress bar 1118 that represents the athlete's 100 elapsed time in
progress to achieving a total time goal. As illustrated in FIG.
30A, a stopwatch icon to the left of the progress bar 1118 may
indicate the to athlete 100 that elapsed time is the variable
tracked by the progress bar 1118. On the other hand, in FIG. 30B,
the progress bar 1118 may include a black region that will advance
from left to right across the progress bar 1118 that represents the
athlete's 100 distance traversed in progress to achieving a total
distance goal. As illustrated in FIG. 30B, a road icon to the left
of the progress bar 1118 may indicate the to athlete 100 that
distance traversed is the variable tracked by the progress bar
1118. In both the embodiments of FIGS. 30A and 30B, a total elapsed
time of 16 minutes and 48 seconds is displayed.
[0227] FIGS. 30C and 30D are exemplary GUI windows that may be
provided by the workout recording sub-module when the athlete 100
is conducting a planned or custom workout that includes a goal that
is not a color-coded zone goal. For example, in the embodiment of
FIG. 30C the athlete's 100 goal may be a time goal of 1 hour and 30
minutes. In this embodiment, a stopwatch icon to the left of the
progress bar 1118 may indicate the to athlete 100 that elapsed time
is the variable tracked by the progress bar 1118. As another
example, in the embodiment of FIG. 30D the athlete's 100 goal may
be a distance goal of 8 miles. In this embodiment, a road icon to
the left of the progress bar 1118 may indicate the to athlete 100
that distance traversed is the variable tracked by the progress bar
1118. FIG. 30D also indicates that the athlete 100 has presently
traversed a distance of 2.24 miles.
[0228] In some embodiments of the present invention, if an athlete
100 is conducting a free workout, as described above, similar GUI
interfaces as those depicted in FIGS. 28A, 28B, 29A-29C, and
30A-30D may still be displayed. In other embodiments, an athlete
100 is conducting a free workout, such GUI interfaces may not be
displayed.
[0229] As indicated above, a header 1002 may be present near one of
the edges of a GUI window of the present invention. In an
embodiment, while the athlete 100 is conducting and recording a
workout, the header 1002 may include a map icon 1124 and/or a music
icon 1126, as illustrated in FIGS. 31A and 32A.
[0230] During a workout, the athlete 100 may desire to obtain an
indication of their present location with respect to a map. Upon
actuating the map icon 1124 illustrated in FIG. 31A using the user
input controls 124, the workout recording sub-module of the go
module 1100 may present a GUI window such as that illustrated in
FIG. 31B, which includes a visual indication of the present
location of the athlete 100 on a map. Location information for the
athlete 100 may be based in part on location signals received by
the positioning system receiver 126 (e.g. a GPS receiver) of the
portable fitness monitoring device 102.
[0231] During the workout, the athlete 100 may also desire to view
the presently selected music playlist and/or select a different
music track. Upon actuating the music icon 1126 illustrated in FIG.
32A using the user input controls 124, the workout recording
sub-module of the go module 1100 may present a GUI window such as
that illustrated in FIG. 32B, which includes an interface for
viewing the presently selected music playlist and/or selecting a
different music track, such as those interfaces known by those of
skill in the art.
[0232] In an embodiment of the present invention, throughout the
course of the workout, the athlete 100 may be able to pause the
workout to temporarily cease performance parameter information
recording. The athlete 100 may also be able to end the workout
before the goal(s) of the workout have been entirely met.
[0233] While the visual and tactile interaction with the system of
the present invention has been described above primarily in the
context of the display screen 132 and user input controls 124 of
the portable fitness monitoring device 102, in an embodiment, at
least some of the visual and tactile interaction between the
athlete 100 and the system may occur via a wristband or wrist
watch, such as those described above with reference to FIG. 2.
[0234] For example, a wristband may be capable of displaying
performance parameter information in a graphical or numerical way
or color-coded performance zone related information. In one
embodiment, the wristband may be capable of displaying performance
parameter information in a graphical or numerical way such as, for
example, a numerical heart rate number on a seven-segment LCD
display. In another embodiment, a color emitted by the wristband
that corresponds to a particular pace, speed, or heart rate zone
may change in character in response to changes in the measured
pace, speed, or heart rate occurring within the zone. It may also
be possible to use the wristband to receive alerts, control music
functions, or to pause workout recording. Other visual and tactile
interactions between the athlete 100 and the system of the present
invention using a wristband or wristwatch may be possible, such as
those interactions disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/467,948, titled "Portable Fitness
Monitoring Systems with Displays and Applications Thereof," which
has previously been incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
[0235] In one embodiment, the athlete 100 may use the user input
controls 124 of the portable fitness monitoring device 102 or the
user input controls 124 of the wristband to annotate a location on
their route as the athlete 100 is traversing the route. For
example, when the athlete 100 actuates a particular button, the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 may annotate the data record
associated with a GPS waypoint associated with the athlete's 100
location at the time of the actuation. In another embodiment, the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 may be capable of receiving
input from a microphone so that the athlete 100 may audibly
annotate a location on their route as the athlete 100 is traversing
the route. Such annotations may be useful, for example, for logging
the location of points of interest or experiences. For example, the
athlete 100 may record voice annotations such as "there's a water
fountain here" or "this point in the hill is challenging." In a
further embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may
be capable of receiving input from a keyboard or taking a photo or
a video clip to annotate a location on their route as the athlete
100 is traversing the route.
[0236] When the athlete 100 completes the workout or chooses to end
the workout early, the workout recording sub-module of the go
module 1100 may prompt the athlete 100 to save or discard the
recorded performance information associated with the workout. If
the athlete 100 decides to save their recorded performance
information, a summary of their performance may be displayed.
[0237] FIG. 33A is an exemplary GUI window that may be displayed by
the workout recording software application sub-module to provide
summary information immediately post-workout. For example, FIG. 33A
indicates that the athlete 100 conducted the workout for 17 minutes
and 20 seconds, traveled 3 miles, burned 378 calories, and
maintained an average pace of 6 minutes and 49 seconds per
mile.
[0238] In an embodiment of the present invention, the athlete 100
may choose to conduct a workout without the use of a positioning
system receiver. In other embodiments of the present invention, the
athlete 100 may choose to conduct a workout without the use of
other portable sensors 104 such as a portable heart rate monitor or
a portable pedometer. In embodiments where certain information has
not been recorded by portable sensors 104 but the athlete 100 is
still able to record or otherwise calculate these parameters via
alternative means, the workout recording sub-module may prompt the
athlete 100 to enter the missing information to complete the
workout summary information. For example, an athlete 100 may chose
to run indoors on a treadmill without using a GPS receiver or other
portable sensors capable of providing time, distance, pace, heart
rate, and/or calorie information. However, if the treadmill itself
provides measured, calculated, or estimate values for these
parameters that are displayed to the athlete 100, the athlete 100
may manually enter them into the portable fitness monitoring device
102. In another embodiment, the measured, calculated, or estimate
values may automatically be transmitted to the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. Measured, calculated, or estimate values for
at least one type of parameter may be necessary if the athlete 100
is executing a workout routine that is based upon one or more
color-coded zones based upon that parameter. For example, if the
athlete 100 is conducting a pace zone based workout while running
on a treadmill, the treadmill (or a sensor worn by the athlete100)
must be capable of providing feedback regarding the athlete's 100
pace.
[0239] After reviewing summary information (either provided by the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 or manually entered by the
athlete 100), the athlete 100 may be provided with several other
options by the portable fitness monitoring device 102. In one
embodiment, as illustrated by FIG. 33B, the athlete 100 may be
asked to rate the workout that they just completed, as described in
further detail below. For example, the athlete 100 may be able to
assign a subjective rating to the workout on a one to five star
scale, with more stars corresponding to a better rating.
[0240] In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 33C and 33D,
the athlete 100 may be able to associate one or more notes with the
workout they just completed, as described in further detail below.
For example, the athlete 100 may be able to select from one or more
default note options, such as those listed in FIG. 33C.
Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 33D, the athlete 100 may be
able to enter their own custom note for the workout using the
appropriate user interface controls 124 of the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. In yet another embodiment, the athlete 100
may be able to associate a photo or a video clip with the workout
they just completed.
[0241] In one embodiment of the present invention, the athlete 100
may be able to associate a particular activity type with the record
of the workout. For example, the athlete 100 may be able to
indicate that he had just engaged in, for example, walking,
running, cycling, cross-country skiing, inline skating. For planned
workouts for particular types of activities, the type of activity
may automatically be associated with the record of the workout.
However, because free workouts may not be associated with a
particular type of activity ahead of time, it may be necessary for
the athlete 100 to make the association. Association of a
particular activity type with the record of the workout may
advantageously allow for more precise data analysis, feedback, and
coaching based on the particular type of activity.
[0242] In a further embodiment, the athlete 100 may be able to
associate a particular pair of shoes that the athlete 100 wore
during the workout with the record of the workout. In one
embodiment, after an appropriate prompt from the track module 1200
software application module, the athlete 100 may manually associate
a particular pair of shoes with the workout using the user
interface controls 124 of the portable fitness monitoring device
102. In another embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring device
102 may be able to automatically detect which pair of shoes were
being worn during the activity by detecting the presence of an
identifier in one or both of the shoes, such as a specific radio
frequency identification (RFID) chip in one or both of the
shoes.
[0243] As is known by those of skill in the art, passive RFID
systems work by employing a reader and a chip. A scanning antenna
of the reader emits radio-frequency signals in a relatively short
range. These radio-frequency signals communicate with the RFID chip
and provide the chip with the energy to engage in the
communication. When an RFID chip passes through the field of the
scanning antenna of the reader, the chip detects the activation
signal from the antenna, wakes up, and it transmits the information
stored on the chip to be picked up by the reader. Thus, in the
context of embodiments of the present invention, a RFID chip in a
particular shoe or pair of shoes may be able to communicate
information with a nearby portable fitness monitoring device
102.
[0244] As described in further detail below, at a later time, a
listing of each pair of shoes the athlete 100 has associated with
one or more workouts, along with a cumulative distance that the
athlete 100 has traversed while wearing each pair of shoes, may be
presented. Athletes 100 may advantageously use this information to
determine when a particular pair may need to be replaced, or to
determine how particular pairs of shoes have affected the athlete's
100 performance.
[0245] After reviewing summary information and after annotating the
workout record with any additional information, as described above,
the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may either save the
complete workout record locally or transmit it to the server 112,
as described in further detail elsewhere.
[0246] In one embodiment, upon successful upload of a complete
workout record to the server 112, the portable fitness monitoring
device 102 may prompt the athlete 100 to view more detailed
analytical information about the athlete's 100 performance during
the workout. As illustrated in FIG. 34A, the workout recording
sub-module of the go module 1100 may present a GUI window that
provides encouragement or other feedback to the athlete 100 along
with the option to review the detailed analytical information. If
the athlete 100 opts to review the detailed analytical information,
they may be presented with a GUI window similar to that depicted in
FIG. 34B by track module 1200, as described in further detail
below.
[0247] The various steps taken by the workout recording sub-module
of the go module 1100 of the application software of one embodiment
of the present invention may be summarized by the flow chart of
FIG. 35. At step 1128, the workout recording sub-module initiates
recording of performance information by the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. At step 1130, the workout recording
sub-module initiates saving of the performance information by the
portable fitness monitoring device 102. At step 1132, the workout
recording sub-module presents a performance information summary to
the athlete 100. At steps 1134-1138, the workout recording
sub-module presents rating, note, and shoe tracking options to the
athlete 100. At step 1140, the workout recording sub-module
initiates the sending of the workout performance information to the
server 112. Finally, at step 1142, the workout recording sub-module
initiates the receiving of the detailed analytical information
about the workout from the server 112.
E. Exemplary Post-Activity Data Processing and Feedback Aspects
[0248] In some embodiments of the present invention, after the
athlete 100 has engaged in a physical activity, a user (who may or
may not be the athlete 100) may access a website provided by the
server 112 from a remotely located personal computer 114 to review
detailed analytical information about the athlete's 100 activity.
As previously explained, the personal computer 114 may be, for
example, a desktop, laptop, or tablet computer.
[0249] However, as described above, in an embodiment, the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 itself may also serve as the personal
computer 114. Thus, for example, the athlete 100 maybe able to
review detailed analytical information about the activity from the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 itself after the athlete 100
has engaged in a physical activity. While the description that
follows primarily describes the presentation of detailed analytical
information in the context of presentation from the server 112 to a
user stationed at a personal computer 114 such as a desktop,
laptop, or tablet computer, information may also be presented via
the portable fitness monitoring device 102 itself to the athlete
100. Thus, while figures of exemplary GUIs suitable at least for
display on a personal computer 114 such as a desktop computer are
provided, these figures are supplemented with exemplary GUIs
suitable at least for display on a portable fitness monitoring
device 102.
[0250] As explained above with reference to FIG. 8, the application
software of the server 112 may include a number of different
modules capable of providing fitness monitoring services to
athletes 100. In one embodiment of the present invention, these
modules include a track module 500. The track module 500 allows the
users to review and analyze an athlete's 100 past performance data.
After completing a workout and uploading performance data to the
server 112, the athlete 100 may log in to the server 112 to review
and analyze their past performance data.
[0251] In one embodiment, for each completed workout routine, a
workout journal page may list the date the workout was completed,
the name of the workout, and one or more performance details about
the workout. For example, the workout journal page may list the
elapsed time of the workout, the calories burned during the
workout, the distance covered during the workout, the athlete's 100
average heart rate during the workout, the athlete's 100 average
pace during the workout, the athlete's 100 average stride rate
during the workout, a subjective athlete 100 rating of the workout
and/or route, an automatic computer rating of the workout and/or
route,the type of activity the athlete 100 conducted, and any other
notes the athlete 100 wishes to record. The particular information
displayed on the workout journal page may be set by the system or
customized by the user.
[0252] As described above with reference to FIG. 33B, the
subjective rating may be assigned by the athlete 100 immediately
after the workout is completed, or at a later time. In one
embodiment, the athlete 100 may rate a workout on a one to five
star scale, with a one star workout being a poor workout and a five
star workout being an excellent workout. In one embodiment, the
athlete 100 rating may be entirely subjective. Alternatively, the
rating may be assigned by track module 500 objectively, based on
various recorded performance parameters from the workout,
historical athlete 100 performance, and/or user settings and
options. For example, an objective route difficulty rating may be
assigned to the workout based on one or more of route length,
elevation changes over the route, altitude of the route,
temperature during the athletic performance, humidity during the
athletic performance, wind speed during the athletic performance,
and wind direction during the athletic performance.
[0253] The athlete 100 notes may also be assigned by the athlete
100 immediately after the workout is complete, as described above
with reference to FIGS. 33C and 33D, or at a later time. Athlete
100 notes may include, for example, explanations of a rating
assigned to the workout, or other subjective or objective
observations about the workout, the athlete's 100 condition, the
environment the workout was conducted in, or the route
traversed.
[0254] In addition to (or in place of) being able to review and
analyze past performance data via the workout journal page, the
user may be able to select an icon capable of initiating a history
sub-module. The history sub-module of the application software may
be capable of displaying a variety of GUI windows to the user such
as, for example, those shown in FIGS. 36-40.
[0255] FIG. 36 is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention that may be presented by the
history sub-module. History pages may include a dashboard 510, a
primary display 512, and a sidebar 514. The dashboard 510 may
provide icons that are correlated to particular performance
parameters. Each icon itself may provide information about the
performance parameters, and selecting a specific icon with a cursor
may alter the information displayed by the primary display 512. The
sidebar 514 may provide additional information, icons, and/or
options.
[0256] The information displayed on the history pages may be for a
single workout or for a plurality of workouts falling within a
particular date range. Information may be displayed on a yearly,
monthly, weekly, or daily basis. The data range selected by the
user may affect the information displayed by the dashboard 510
icons, the information displayed on the primary display 512, as
well as the content of the sidebar 514.
[0257] The dashboard 510 shown in FIG. 36 includes display icons
for time, calories, distance, heart rate, pace, and stride rate. In
an embodiment, a display icon for total elevational ascent may also
be provided. The numerical information provided with the dashboard
510 icons corresponds to data associated with workouts from the
date range selected. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 36, for
the selected period of Jul. 27, 2008, through Aug. 16, 2008, the
user's total workout time was 52 hours, 52 minutes, and 16 seconds.
This value may also be provided in cumulative and/or average form
over the selected time period.
[0258] While the information provided by the dashboard 510 icons
may remain the same for a given date range, the information
displayed by the primary display 512 may change depending on which
dashboard 510 icon the user has selected. For example, in FIG. 36,
because the user has selected the heart rate icon in the dashboard
510, the history sub-module 504 displays heart rate information in
the primary display 512.
[0259] While FIG. 36 shows the information displayed by the primary
display 512 in the form of bar graphs, other suitable graphical
displays such as, for example, line graphs, pie graphs, race course
representations, animations, or videos may be provided in addition
to or in place of the bar graphs. Moreover, although only heart
rate graphs have been illustrated by FIG. 36, any performance
parameters listed in the dashboard 510 may be graphically displayed
in the primary display 512. For example, FIG. 37 illustrates an
exemplary history page where pace information is displayed in the
primary display 512 in bar graph form.
[0260] As shown in FIG. 36, when daily heart rate information is
displayed in the primary display 512 in bar graph form, the heart
rate information may be conveyed based on the color-coded heart
rate zone system described above with respect to FIG. 10. When
daily, weekly, or monthly pace, stride rate, or other parameter
information is displayed in the primary display 512 in bar graph
form, this information may or may not be conveyed based on a
color-coded zone system corresponding to these other
parameters.
[0261] As shown in FIG. 37, while only pace information is
displayed in the primary display 512 in bar graph form, other
performance parameter information may be overlaid in bar graph
form. For example, a heart rate bar graph may be overlaid or placed
next to of the pace based graph so that both parameters could be
compared.
[0262] In one embodiment, an athlete 100 who wishes to obtain even
more specific information about a period of time displayed within
the primary display 512 may select the bar or other indicium
representing the appropriate time period with their cursor (e.g. by
clicking on the bar or other indicium). For example, if the user
viewing the daily GUI window of FIG. 36 wanted to obtain more
specific information about workouts conducted on Aug. 9, 2008, the
user 100 could select the bar representing that day, which may
result in the history sub-module displaying the daily GUI window
shown in FIG. 38.
[0263] The history display shown in FIG. 38 is similar to the
display shown in FIG. 36 in that the dashboard 510, primary display
512, and sidebar 514 are still present. However, FIG. 38 differs
from FIG. 36 in that information provided in both the dashboard 510
and the primary display 512 is only associated with a single
workout day. Additional functionality may also provided by the
sidebar 514.
[0264] Similarly, the history display shown in FIG. 39 is similar
to the display shown in FIG. 38, except that FIG. 39 illustrates an
exemplary history page where pace information is displayed instead
of heart rate information.
[0265] In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
38, the history sub-module may provide a feedback 518 section in
the sidebar 514. The feedback section may provide feedback from
coaches, friends, or other users authorized to provide feedback to
the athlete 100. All users of the system of the present invention
having similar accounts through server 112 may be authorized to
provide feedback to the athlete 100. Alternatively, only users of
the system that are specifically authorized by the athlete 100 may
provide feedback to the athlete 100. In an embodiment, users who
are linked to the athlete 100 via a social networking site may also
provide feedback to the athlete 100. Feedback may be provided
through a GUI provided by sever 112, via email, via text message,
via voice mail, or by any other suitable means known in the art.
Feedback may be listed sequentially in the order that the feedback
was posted, much like comments associated with a blog entry or
other web article, as is known by those of skill in the art.
[0266] The history sub-module may also provide a notes section in
the sidebar 514. The notes section may provide a section for a user
rating and user notes. These ratings and notes may be similar to
those described above with reference to FIGS. 33B-D and 35.
[0267] The history sub-module may provide a route tools section in
the sidebar 514 that may be managed by a route tools software
application sub-module, as described in further detail below.
[0268] In another embodiment of the present invention, the history
sub-module may further provide a playlist section in the sidebar
514. If the athlete 100 conducted a workout while listening to
music on a music-enabled portable fitness monitoring device 102,
the playlist section may provide a listing of the musical audio
tracks that the athlete 100 listened to during their workout.
[0269] In an embodiment, a particular play list may be associated
with a particular route plan or workout routine so that the play
list may be downloaded to the portable fitness monitoring device
102 simultaneously with the route plan and/or workout routine.
Accordingly, the athlete 100 may be able to easily execute the same
(or substantially the same) workout routine and/or traverse the
same route while listening to the same play list. The athlete 100
could also fine tune their play list until the athlete 100 felt
that the play list provided appropriate entertainment, motivation,
or other benefits during the physical activity.
[0270] In one embodiment, the performance information to be
displayed in the primary display 512, based on the selected
dashboard 510 icon, may be displayed on a line graph whose x-axis
is either time or distance based, and whose y-axis is correlated to
the value of the measured performance parameter. For example, as
shown in FIG. 38, a line graph charts heart rate information as a
function of time during the workout. In FIG. 39, a line graph
charts pace information as a function of time during the
workout.
[0271] Average lines may also be plotted parallel to the x-axis
across the graphs. For example, in FIG. 38, an average heart rate
line representing the athlete's 100 average heart rate of 155 beats
per minute during the workout is plotted across the graph.
[0272] A user interested in viewing instantaneous performance
statistics over the course of the workout may be able to select and
drag a scrollbar 516 with a cursor along the x-axis. As the user
drags the scrollbar 516 across the x-axis, an icon may travel along
the line graph plotted for the performance parameter of interest.
In addition, a pop-up window displaying additional instantaneous
performance data may appear and move across the screen along with
the moving icon. FIG. 40 is an illustration of an icon and pop-up
window containing instantaneous performance parameter information
being moved across a GUI screen by means of a scrollbar 516.
[0273] In an embodiment, the user may be able to manually correct
any recorded parameters that they know are inaccurate. Inaccuracies
may be due to, for example, errors with the sensors 104 employed by
the portable fitness monitoring device 102 used by the athlete 100.
A user may correct, for example, the distance the athlete 100
traveled during a workout. The user may know the exact distance of
a route routinely traveled and wish to update a distance
inaccurately recorded by a distance sensor 104.
[0274] In another embodiment, when a parameter, such as distance,
is corrected, the system may recalibrate the recorded and stored
data. For example, when the distance traversed for a particular
activity is corrected, the distance data and corresponding distance
graph for that activity is corrected. In addition, data and
graphical displays that depend on the distance data, such as pace
data and graphical displays, are also corrected.
[0275] In a further embodiment, when a parameter, such as distance,
is corrected, this corrected data may be transmitted to the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 the next time the device is
in communication with the network 112 so that the portable fitness
monitoring device's 102 distance monitoring capability can be
recalibrated, if necessary.
[0276] While these tracking features have been described primarily
in the context of presentation from the server 112 to a user
stationed at a personal computer 114 such as a desktop, laptop, or
tablet computer, in an embodiment of the present invention, GUIs
providing information and functionalities similar to those provided
by the GUIs depicted in FIGS. 36-40 may be provided to the athlete
100 via the portable fitness monitoring device 102, such as a smart
phone.
[0277] For example, FIG. 41A is an illustration of a home page GUI
displayed via the portable fitness monitoring device 102, where the
athlete 100 has highlighted an icon corresponding to the track
module 1200 application software module. The track module 1200 may
include a workout history sub-module, an achievements sub-module,
and a shoes sub-module. As explained in further detail below,
certain aspects of the workout history sub-module of the track
module 1200 of the portable fitness monitoring device may be
similar to aspects of the history sub-module of the track module
500 of the server 112, as described above.
[0278] After the athlete selects the icon corresponding to the
track module 1200, the track module 1200 my present the athlete 100
with the option of receiving additional information regarding
workout histories, achievements, or shoes, as illustrated in FIG.
41B. When the athlete 100 indicates that they would like to receive
additional information regarding workout histories, the workout
history sub-module may present a GUI such as the exemplary GUI
window shown in FIG. 42A.
[0279] FIG. 42A lists several individual workouts accessible in the
workout history of the portable fitness monitoring device 102. In
an embodiment, only individual workouts recorded in the last week
are listed. In another embodiment, only individual workouts
recorded in the last month are listed. The workout list may provide
only limited statistical details about each individual workout. As
shown in FIG. 42A, an individual workout comprised of color coded
zone intervals may be represented by a zone bar indicator 320,
similar to that discussed above. The GUI window may also indicate
the duration of each individual workout and the date that it was
conducted. In an embodiment, the GUI of FIG. 42A may be similar to
the workout journal page that may be provided by the server 112 to
a user stationed at a personal computer 114, as described
above.
[0280] FIG. 42B is an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention that may be displayed when the
athlete 100 selects an individual workout from the workout list of
FIG. 42A. This GUI window may provide, for example, summary workout
information and a route rating as described above with respect to
FIG. 34B. As illustrated in FIG. 42B, a drop down menu may be
provided that allows the athlete 100 to request additional
information regarding charts, routes, and other notes.
[0281] If the athlete 100 requests additional information regarding
other notes, information that the athlete 100 entered in response
to the prompts described above at steps 1136 and 1138 of FIG. 35
regarding general notes and shoes may be provided.
[0282] FIGS. 43A-43C illustrate an exemplary GUI window according
to an embodiment of the present invention that may be displayed
when the athlete 100 requests additional information regarding
charts. The workout history sub-module of the track module 1200
application software module may display a window including a
variety of different charts, statistics, and/or other graphics.
Coaching notes may also be included. As the athlete 100 scrolls
down the screen, the images illustrated in FIGS. 43A-43C may be
presented. In one embodiment, graphs similar to those illustrated
in FIGS. 36-40 may be presented. In another embodiment, the graphs
and charts presented may convey information similar to that
conveyed by the graphs of FIGS. 36-40, but the graphs and charts
may be relatively less complex and more suitable for a smaller
display screen of a portable fitness monitoring device 102.
[0283] Returning to the presentation of information from the server
112 to a user stationed at a personal computer 114 such as a
desktop or laptop computer, in an embodiment of the present
invention, graphical representations of the routes traversed by the
athlete 100 during individual workouts may be presented to the
user. As described above, the history sub-module of the track
module 500 of the server 112 may be capable of presenting a route
tools section in a sidebar 514 that may be managed by a route tools
sub-module.
[0284] In one embodiment, the route tools sub-module may allow the
user 100 to associate specific routes with a workout when the
workout involved the traversal of a particular geographic pathway.
In one embodiment, the route tools sub-module may employ a
web-based mapping service application, such as, for example, the
Google Maps application provided by Google, Inc. of Mountain View,
Calif. The mapping service application may utilize an application
programming interface that allows the mapping service application,
such as Google Maps, to be embedded into the GUI windows of the
present invention.
[0285] In one embodiment, the route tools sub-module may enable the
user to recreate the path traversed by the athlete 100 during the
workout by clicking, and/or dragging and dropping landmarks and
paths over a street map using a cursor. The approximate area of the
route may be found by, for example, entering a street address, a
well-known landmark, or a zip code into the mapping service
application interface. Alternatively, in an embodiment, as
illustrated in FIG. 44, the athlete 100 could conduct their workout
using a GPS-enabled portable fitness monitoring device 102 capable
of recording their geographic way points along the route traversed.
Either during traversal of the route or after the route has been
completed, the GPS data could then be uploaded to the server 112
and associated with other performance monitoring information
collected during traversal of the route. Thus, the route tools
sub-module could automatically reconstruct the path traversed by
the athlete 100. In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 44, an
route details box 552 may provide summary information about the
route such as, for example, distance, rating, creation date,
location, comments, notes, and/or other relevant information.
[0286] In one embodiment, a user interested in viewing
instantaneous performance statistics throughout the workout may be
able to select and drag a scrollbar 542 with their cursor along the
x-axis. As the user drags the scrollbar 542 across the x-axis, an
icon 570 may travel along the route path plotted. In addition, a
pop-up window displaying additional instantaneous performance data
may appear and move across the screen along with the moving icon
570. FIG. 45 is an illustration of an icon 570 and pop-up window
containing instantaneous performance parameter information being
moved across a GUI screen by means of a scrollbar 542. Thus,
scrollbar 542 may function in a similar way to scrollbar 516
described above. In an embodiment, the scrollbar 542 and/or the
icon 570 may take the form of an active figure, such as a runner.
In one embodiment, the user may be able to customize the images
used for the scrollbar 542 and/or the icon 570 such as, for
example, replacing the default icon with a personal avatar or other
desired image.
[0287] As illustrated in FIG. 46, in another embodiment, the user
may be provided with a route view in which multiple performance
parameters are concurrently graphically presented in a banded
format along a route path. Like the embodiments of FIGS. 44 and 45,
the user's route path may be overlaid on a map, and performance
parameters may be associated with particular points along the
route. In contrast the embodiments of FIGS. 44 and 45, however, the
route path may comprise a plurality of bands, each of which
represents a performance parameter quantified at the GPS waypoints
recorded along the route.
[0288] In an embodiment, the value of the respective performance
parameter may be charted along route path utilizing color shade
variation to represent the instantaneous quantity of the
performance parameter at each point along the route. Thus, in FIG.
46, the different hatching applied to each of the inner band 544,
middle band 546, and outer band 548 represents a different color
and a varying spacing between the hatches represents the display of
the colors at varying levels of intensity along the route path,
depending upon the value of the parameters at each point along the
path. The value associated with each shade of color is generally
graphically represented in an accompanying legend 550.
[0289] In one embodiment, instantaneous performance parameter data
at any point along the route path is presented in response to
hovering over the point with a cursor, or in response to the user
actuating a scrollbar, such as scrollbar 542 described above with
respect to FIG. 45.
[0290] A user may be able to manually add markers to locations
along the route path. In one embodiment, after the user adds two
markers at two different locations along the route path, the user
may be able to "lock" the markers. When markers are locked,
actuating the scrollbar 542 may cause synchronized movement of the
markers. "Synchronized movement" may refer to a situation where
each of the markers advances a set number of GPS waypoints in
response to a particular actuation of the scrollbar 542. In this
manner, the user may be able to graphically and intuitively define
an interval over which performance parameter information may be
viewed. For example, a pop-up window displaying performance
information corresponding to the interval defined by the two
markers may appear and move across the screen along with the
scrollbar 542.
[0291] In one embodiment of the present invention, the route map
may display the location of annotations provided by the athlete 100
during the route, as previously described. Various icons or symbols
corresponding to the locations of the annotations may be selected
by the user. In the case of audio annotations, the user may click
on or otherwise select an icon corresponding to the location of the
audio annotation to play the audio annotation back to the user.
Likewise, for photo- or video-based annotations, the user may click
on or otherwise select the appropriate icon to play the video clip
or display the photo.
[0292] In another embodiment, in addition to or instead of allowing
athletes 100 to annotate a route during the activity, the user may
be able to add annotations to the route while reviewing it after
the activity has been completed. Based on the user's knowledge of
the route, the user may add annotations corresponding to the
locations of, for example, drinking fountains, bathrooms, or other
interesting features along the route. These annotations may consist
of text, symbols, audio recordings, video clips, and/or photos.
[0293] In an embodiment, the user may be able to manually correct
any recorded GPS data that they know is inaccurate. Inaccuracies
may be due to, for example, GPS receiver timing, positional, and
/or other errors, such as those disclosed in commonly owned U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/569,492, titled "Program Products,
Methods, and Systems for Providing Location-Aware Fitness
Monitoring Services," which is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety.
[0294] In embodiments where a predetermined route was assigned to
the workout prior to undertaking the activity, as described above
with reference to FIG. 16, the route module 1500 may have had
access to an elevation database to obtain elevation corresponding
to a particular route. This information may be used to supply
elevation information for the route when conducting post-workout
analysis. Accordingly, the elevation information supplied by the
route module 1500 may be able to assist or replace any elevation
information provided by positioning system receiver 126 of the
portable fitness monitoring device 102. Thus, in the case of a GPS
system, if less than four GPS satellites are acquired, or if the
GPS receiver is not designed to process elevation information, the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 can still determine
elevation-dependent route and performance data regarding a route
traversed by athlete 100. Even if the route module 1500 did not
have had access to an elevation database prior to the workout, such
a database may be accessed after the workout to supply the
necessary information.
[0295] In another embodiment, the route tools sub-module of the
application software may allow the athlete 100 to create, store,
share, and find route plans of interest. The route plan, which may
or may not be associated with a particular workout routine, may be
created or selected that specifies a particular route for the
athlete 100 to travel. In an embodiment, the route plan may be
downloaded to the portable fitness monitoring device 102. Athletes
100 may use route plans they themselves have created and stored on
the sever 112. In one embodiment, other users may post and share
route plans with others via the server 112. Thus, a plurality of
users 100 may be able to create, store, share, find, edit, rate,
and comment on route plans of interest.
[0296] In one embodiment, the user may save and name a route or
route plan using the route tools sub-module. In the embodiment of
FIG. 44, as shown in the sidebar 514, the user has named and saved
a plurality of routes or route plans to the server 112. In the
event that a particular route or route plan has not been
automatically assigned to a given workout record, the user may wish
to select a route or route plan with the cursor to associate with
their workout.
[0297] Saved routes or route plans may be displayed in primary
display 512 if the user selects an appropriate icon. Route details
such as the route name, distance, and location may be provided in a
route details box 552 GUI pop-up window. The user may also be able
to assign a subjective rating and include notes about the route.
These features may be analogous to the user rating and user notes
features described above.
[0298] While these route-related features have been described
primarily in the context of presentation from the server 112 to a
user stationed at a personal computer 114 such as a desktop or
laptop computer, in an embodiment of the present invention, GUIs
providing information and functionalities similar to those provided
by the GUIs depicted in FIGS. 44-46 may be provided to the athlete
100 via the portable fitness monitoring device 102.
[0299] For example, FIG. 47A is an exemplary GUI window according
to an embodiment of the present invention that may be displayed
when the athlete 100 carrying a portable fitness monitoring device
102 selects an individual workout from a workout list, such as that
depicted in FIG. 42A. As illustrated in FIG. 47A, a drop down menu
may be provided that allows the athlete 100 to request additional
information regarding routes.
[0300] FIG. 47B illustrates an exemplary GUI window according to an
embodiment of the present invention that may be displayed when the
athlete 100 requests additional information regarding routes. The
workout history sub-module of the track module 1200 may display a
window including a depiction of the route traversed by the athlete
100 during the workout.
[0301] In one embodiment, a route map similar to that illustrated
in FIG. 44 may be presented. In another embodiment, route map
presented may convey information similar to that conveyed by the
route map of FIG. 44, but the route map may be relatively less
complex and more suitable for a smaller display screen of a
portable fitness monitoring device 102.
[0302] In one embodiment, athletes 100 using portable fitness
monitoring devices 102 may share routes directly between their
devices 102 (i.e. not via the route selection feature of the
website, as described above). For example, one athlete 100 may send
a route to another athlete 100 via a text message or email message,
regardless of the athletes' 100 locations. Alternatively, if the
athletes 100 and their portable fitness monitoring devices 102 are
in close proximity to one another, they may be able to share routes
via WPAN transceivers and/or infrared transmission systems. Thus,
an athlete 100 may share a favorite route with a friend.
[0303] Other route-related functionalities may be supported by the
application software of the server 112 for use with the portable
fitness monitoring services of the present invention. For example,
in an embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may be
able to guide the athlete 100 along a route, based on the route
plan and, for example, the athlete's 100 current position based on
GPS readings. For example, as the athlete 100 is traversing a
route, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may audibly or
visually command the athlete 100 to "turn right in 10 meters" or
"turn right on Main St."
[0304] In another embodiment, the route-related functionalities of
the server 112 may be utilized to support the "live tracking"
options described above. "Live tracking" refers to the ability of a
remote user other than the athlete 100 to track the athlete's 100
location in substantially real time during the activity. As
explained in further detail elsewhere, in an embodiment, the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 may be able to wirelessly
communicate location-based information to the server 112 via the
network 110 in real-time via the WWAN 128 or WPAN 130 transceiver.
Thus, users with access to this data on the server 112 may be able
to view the athlete's 100 location, for example, superimposed on a
map. In an embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 48, a plurality of
athletes 100 competing in a race and each utilizing GPS-enabled
portable fitness monitoring devices 102 may be tracked in
substantially real-time and their positions (554, 556, 558, 560,
and 562) may be superimposed over a route on a map. Users may be
able to hover over or otherwise select an icon associated with a
particular athlete, such as icon 554, and display an information
box 564 that displays current performance parameter information for
that athlete 100.
[0305] Returning to the presentation of information from the server
112 to a user stationed at a personal computer 114 such as a
desktop, laptop, or tablet computer, in an embodiment of the
present invention, summary information about the athlete's 100
workouts and training program may be presented to the user.
[0306] More specifically, the track module 500 of the application
software of the server 112 may provide a front page sub-module.
FIG. 49 is an exemplary GUI window that may be displayed by the
front page sub-module to a user stationed at a personal computer
114. The front page GUI may include plan tracker 532, lifetime
stats 534, last workout 536, next workout 538, and coach talk 540
sections. In an embodiment, the contents of the front page may be
customized and reordered similarly to customizable web portals such
as, for example, the iGoogle web portal.
[0307] The lifetime stats section 534 may provide text and/or icons
that are correlated to particular cumulative or average lifetime
performance parameters. In this way information displayed by the
lifetime stats section 534 on the front page may be somewhat
similar to information displayed by the dashboard 510 of the other
history pages. The particular information displayed in the lifetime
stats section 534 may be set by the system or customized by the
user. Various information may be added or removed by the user as
desired.
[0308] In an embodiment, the last workout section 536 displays
stats for the last workout completed by the athlete 100, and the
next workout section 538 displays information about upcoming
planned workouts. The information provided by the lifetime stats
534, last workout 536, and next workout 538 sections may be similar
to information provided to the user by other modules and
sub-modules, but may conveniently be provided on a single page. The
coach talk section 540 may provide motivation, point out a
particular area of focus, or otherwise provide guidance to the
athlete 100 related to the ultimate goal of their particular plan
or workout.
[0309] In one embodiment, the front page includes a plan tracker
532 section. The plan tracker 532 may graphically display an
athlete's 100 planned workouts, the number of planned workouts
completed, and the number of planned workouts remaining to be
completed. For example, as shown in FIG. 49, the plan tracker 532
could include a series of icons or hash marks that are each
representative of an individual workout. Completed, and uncompleted
workouts maybe differentiated by color-coding, shading, or other
visual indicia. The plan tracker 532 may provide indication(s)
about whether the athlete 100 is meeting the specified goals for
the completed workouts.
[0310] The particular information displayed in the plan tracker 532
section may be set by the system or customized by the user. Various
information may be added or removed by the user as desired. An
athlete 100 engaged in multiple plans simultaneously (e.g. a
running based plan and a non-running based plan) may choose to
display multiple plan trackers 532 at once. In an embodiment, other
trackers may be provided that display information similarly to the
plan tracker 532. For example, an athlete 100 with a goal to lose
weight may chose to display a weight tracker that tracks their
progress towards a weight loss goal.
[0311] While these workout summary features have been described
primarily in the context of presentation from the server 112 to a
user stationed at a personal computer 114 such as a desktop,
laptop, or tablet computer, in an embodiment of the present
invention, GUIs providing information and functionalities similar
to those provided by the GUIs depicted in FIG. 49 may be provided
to the athlete 100 via the portable fitness monitoring device 102.
In another embodiment, rewards awards, achievements, and/or
advertisements may also be provided.
[0312] As explained above, the track module 1200 of the application
software may include an achievements sub-module. As explained in
further detail below, certain aspects of the achievements
sub-module of the track module 1200 of the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 may be similar to aspects of the front page
sub-module of the track module 500 of the server 112, as described
above.
[0313] As explained above, in one embodiment, the track module 1200
may present the athlete 100 with the option of receiving additional
information regarding workout histories, achievements, or shoes, as
illustrated in FIG. 50A. When the athlete 100 indicates that they
would like to receive additional information regarding
achievements, the workout history sub-module may present a GUI such
as the exemplary GUI window shown in FIG. 50B.
[0314] In one embodiment, summary information similar to that
illustrated in FIG. 49 may be presented at the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. In another embodiment, summary information
presented may convey information similar to that conveyed by the
FIG. 49, but the summary information may be relatively less complex
and more suitable for a smaller display screen of a portable
fitness monitoring device 102. As illustrated in FIG. 50B, in one
embodiment, the a display similar to the lifetime stats section 534
discussed above may be presented on the portable fitness monitoring
device 102.
[0315] As explained above, the track module 1200 may further
include a shoes sub-module. Using this sub-module, the athlete 100
may be able to associate a particular pair of shoes that the
athlete 100 wore during the workout with the workout.
[0316] In one embodiment, after an appropriate prompt from the
track module 1200, the athlete 100 may manually associate a
particular pair of shoes with the workout using the user interface
controls 124 of the portable fitness monitoring device 102. In
another embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may
be able to automatically detect which pair of shoes were being worn
during the activity by detecting the presence of a specific
identifier, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip in
one or both of the shoes, as described in further detail above.
[0317] In an embodiment where the athlete 100 manually enters
information about their shoes into the system, the athlete 100 may
be prompted to enter the shoe brand and style. Options for brand
names and styles may be provided in a drop-down menu. The athlete
100 may further be prompted to enter a nickname for the pair of
shoes, and may be asked to estimate how many miles (or kilometers)
they have already covered while wearing the shoes. In another
embodiment, this information may be detected automatically.
[0318] At a later time, a listing of each pair of shoes the athlete
100 has associated with one or more workouts, along with a
cumulative distance that the athlete 100 has traversed while
wearing each pair of shoes, may be presented. Athletes 100 may
advantageously use this information to determine when a particular
pair may need to be replaced, or to determine how particular pairs
of shoes have affected the athlete's 100 performance.
[0319] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the athlete
100 logs a predetermined number of miles (or kilometers) in a pair
of shoes, the server 112 may send a message to the athlete 10 to
suggest that the athlete 100 purchase a replacement pair of shoes.
The message may provide information about the effects of wear on
the performance of shoes. The message may be, for example, a text
message, an email, or post to the athlete's social networking site
page. The message may also suggest a particular pair of shoes to
the athlete. In an embodiment, the message may provide a link to an
online retailer's website where the athlete 100 could purchase the
suggested pair of shoes, and may provide the athlete with a coupon
toward the purchase of the new pair of shoes.
F. Other Features
[0320] According to some embodiments of the present invention,
users may interact with the portable fitness monitoring device 102
and/or the computer server 112 system before, during, and/or after
the physical activity in various other ways while utilizing the
fitness monitoring services of the present invention.
[0321] As explained above, in one embodiment, the application
software of the server 112 includes a library module 700 and a
forum module 800. Accordingly, the menu bar 204 of certain GUI
windows may include several icons or indicia corresponding to the
library 700 and forum 800 modules. While the description that
follows primarily describes the presentation of library and forum
information in the context of presentation from the server 112 to a
user stationed at a personal computer 114 such as a desktop,
laptop, or tablet computer, information may also be presented via
the portable fitness monitoring device 102 itself to the athlete
100.
[0322] The library module 700 may be capable of displaying GUI
windows for photos, illustrations, videos and articles. The photos,
illustrations, videos and articles may provide the athlete 100 with
additional resources for planning, preparing for, and executing
their workouts.
[0323] The library module 700 may include a videos section that
provides short animations and/or videos teaching the athlete 100
proper stretching, warm-up, cool-down, and other exercising
techniques. The athlete 100 may select a video icon with a cursor
to display the video. A pop-up window may appear in response to the
athlete 100 selecting a particular video. The pop-up window may
include the animation and/or video, a suggested number of
repetitions or time period for the activity, and other notes or
comments about the activity. Additionally or alternatively, the
pop-up window may include a photo, illustration, or other image
that relates to the activity.
[0324] In an embodiment, the athlete 100 may be able to download
videos from the server 112 to a portable fitness monitoring device
102 having a video screen so that they may be viewed remotely. This
may allow the athlete 100 to view instructions regarding preparing
for or executing their workouts at the site of their workout prior
to or during their exercise routine.
[0325] The library module 700 may include an articles section that
provides articles information the athlete 100 about various health
and fitness topics. Articles may focus on topics such as strength
training, cardiovascular exercise, biking, running, inline skating,
golfing, or a variety of other topics. The articles may not all
relate directly to fitness activities. For example, some articles
may be related to diet and nutrition.
[0326] The forum module 800 may be capable of displaying GUI
windows for user forums. In one embodiment, the forum module 800
may employ a social networking application, such as, for example,
Facebook or Twitter. The social networking application may utilize
an application programming interface that allows the social
networking application, such as Facebook or Twitter, to be embedded
into the GUI windows of the present invention. In another
embodiment, the social networking site provides a feed that can be
transmitted and displayed via the GUI windows of the present
invention.
[0327] The forum page may be a place where users can exchange
updates regarding their fitness planning and progress using the
system of the present invention. Users may also exchange
information regarding the website, the particular training
equipment and devices they are using, the athletic events or races
they are participating in, and information giving and/or requesting
coaching or other advice.
[0328] While library and forum have been described primarily in the
context of presentation from the server 112 to a user stationed at
a personal computer 114 such as a desktop, laptop, or tablet
computer, in an embodiment of the present invention, GUIs providing
information and functionalities similar to those provided by at a
personal computer 114 may be provided to the athlete 100 via the
portable fitness monitoring device 102. For example, the explore
module 1300 of the application software of the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 may be capable of providing such
features.
[0329] As described in detail above, a user stationed at the
remotely located personal computer 114 may be able to use a website
to plan and schedule a prospective physical activity. In one
embodiment of the present invention, the website may enable a user
who is a coach to provide training information, guidance, and/or
feedback to one or more athletes 100.
[0330] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the application software of server
112 may include a coaching group module 1600. Among other things,
the coaching group module 1600 may support one or more GUIs that
are capable of being presented to coaches and/or athletes 100 at
personal computers 114 and/or portable fitness monitoring devices
102.
[0331] Coaches and/or athletes 100 may be able to utilize certain
features supported by the coaching group module 1600 by accessing a
fitness monitoring service website provided by the server 112, as
described in detail elsewhere. Upon accessing the website, a coach
and/or athlete may login to an account of the fitness monitoring
service provided by the server 112.
[0332] In one embodiment of the present invention, a user-coach may
have previously created and logged into a stand-alone coaching
account. The stand-alone coaching account may enable the user-coach
to utilize certain coaching features, as described in further
detail below, but may not allow the user-coach to utilize one or
more of the fitness monitoring features described above (e.g. the
user-coach may not be able to monitor and analyze their own fitness
and workouts using the stand-alone coaching account).
[0333] In another embodiment, upon accessing the website, the
user-coach may log into their general account that allows the
user-coach to utilize one or more of the fitness monitoring
features described above (e.g. the user-coach may be able to
monitor and analyze their own fitness and workouts using the
general account). In this case, while logged into their general
account, the user-coach may be able to create a coaching account
that is part of their general account. For example, in an
embodiment, a menu bar 204, such as that depicted in FIG. 9, may
include an icon or indicum corresponding to the coaching group
module 1600. Upon selecting this icon or indicum, the user-coach
may be prompted to create a coaching account.
[0334] Once the user-coach has logged into their coaching account,
the coaching group module 1600 of the application software may
present the user-coach with a GUI that allows the user-coach to
create coaching group. A coaching group may be a group of linked
accounts of the fitness monitoring service where one user - the
coach - is responsible for providing training information,
guidance, and/or feedback to one or more other users - the athletes
100. Athletes 100 in a coaching group may conduct activities using
portable fitness monitoring devices 102 that are capable of
communicating information with a sever 112 that provides fitness
monitoring services, as described above. Features of the coaching
group may implemented and provided by a website, as described in
further detail below.
[0335] When creating the coaching group, the coach may be prompted
to determine certain parameters for the group. For example, in one
embodiment, the coach may name the coaching group and provide a
brief description of the goals for members of the group. In another
embodiment, the coach may limit members of the group to, for
example, members who live in a certain geographical area, belong to
a certain athletic club or sports team, are in a certain age range,
or have certain other common interests or characteristics.
[0336] When the coach creates a coaching group, the menu bar 204
may be updated to include an icon corresponding to the coaching
group. The coach may then select the coaching group icon to access
certain features of the coaching group described below.
[0337] In one embodiment, athletes 100 may join the coaching group
after receiving an invitation, such as an invitation from the coach
or from an existing member-athlete 100 of the coaching group. In
another embodiment, the coaching group module 1600 may provide a
search feature on the website so that athletes 100 may search for a
coaching group that they may like to join. The coach may be able to
control the ability of athletes 100 to search for and find their
coaching group by deciding whether to publish their coaching group
to the general user community of the fitness monitoring
service.
[0338] When an athlete 100 joins a coaching group (after requesting
to join the group and/or after accepting an invitation to join the
group), the athlete's 100 general fitness monitoring account may be
linked to the coach's coaching account. If the athlete 100 does not
already have a fitness monitoring account, the athlete may be
prompted to open one. Once the coach's and athlete's 100 accounts
are linked, a menu bar 204 that may be displayed as part of the GUI
of the athlete's account may be updated to include an icon
corresponding to the coaching group. The athlete 100 may then
select the coaching group icon to access certain features of the
coaching group described below.
[0339] At any time after the coach's and athlete's 100 accounts are
linked, the coach may be able to remove an athlete 100 from the
coaching group, thus un-linking their accounts. Similarly, at any
time the athlete 100 maybe able to quit the coaching group, thus
un-linking the athlete's and coach's accounts.
[0340] The coach may select the coaching group icon to access
certain features of the coaching group described below. FIG. 51 is
an exemplary GUI window that may be displayed to the coach by the
coaching group module 1600. This GUI window may display a coaching
dashboard that includes a variety of information about the coaching
group, its members, and their performance.
[0341] As shown in FIG. 51, the coaching dashboard may include a
header 1602 and a member information section 1604. The header 1602
may include a coaching group name and description. For example, the
group "Watertown Walkers" may have a stated goal of getting people
of the city of Watertown to walk more instead of driving. The
header 1602 may also include a total stats line that provides
cumulative statistical totals for all members of the coaching
group. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 51, the Watertown
Walkers have collectively been active for a total of 5 days, 23
hours, and 37 seconds, have burned 30,184 calories, have covered
2,349 kilometers, and have conducted a total of 39 individual
workouts. In this way, the statistical group information provided
by the header 1602 may be similar to the achievement information
provided to an individual athlete 100, as described above with
respect to FIGS. 49 and 50.
[0342] The member information section 1604 may include a table that
lists the names of the member-athletes 100 in rows and provides
categories for scheduling and/or performance information associated
with the athletes 100 in columns. For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 51, for a given athlete 100, the table may provide the
athlete's 100 name, a snapshot 1606 of their performance for the
current week, information regarding the last workout the athlete
completed, and information about the next workout that the athlete
100 has scheduled.
[0343] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 51, the snapshot
1606 may list the number of workouts the athlete 100 has completed
and the number of calories the athlete 100 has burned in the
current week. In other embodiments, weekly totals or averages for
other performance information categories, such as those described
below, may be provided by the snapshot 1606. For example, in an
embodiment, the athlete's 100 average pace, speed, or heart rate
for the current week may be provided.
[0344] Information regarding the last workout the athlete completed
may include the name or type of workout completed (e.g. plan
workout, custom workout, free workout, or assessment workout), the
date the workout was completed, and/or the total workout time. A
zone bar indicator 320, such as those described above and those
depicted in FIG. 51, may also be provided. Other information
regarding the last workout provided by the coaching group module
1600 may also include, for example, the elapsed time of the
workout, the calories the athlete 100 burned during the workout,
the distance traveled during the workout, the athlete's 100 average
heart rate during the workout, the athlete's average pace during
the workout, the athlete's 100 average stride rate during the
workout, and the degree of the athlete's 100 elevational ascent
during the workout. Each time the coach accesses the coaching
dashboard, the dashboard may sync with the member-athlete's 100
accounts so that all of the data provided in the member information
section 1604 is up to date.
[0345] In one embodiment of the present invention, a feedback
column 1608 may provided a place where icons may be displayed to
indicate that the athlete 100 or the coach has provided notes or
other feedback about a workout. For example, as illustrated by FIG.
51, a note icon 1610 may indicate that the athlete 100 has provided
a note for the workout, as described above with reference to FIGS.
33C, 33D. As further illustrated by FIG. 51, a feedback icon 1612
may indicate that the coach has provided feedback regarding the
workout. The feedback associated with the feedback icon 1612 may
be, for example, a congratulatory or critical comment on the
athlete's 100 performance during the workout. In an embodiment, the
coach may provide feedback to the athlete by, for example, a text
message, an email message, or post to the athlete's 100 social
networking site page, and a feedback icon 1612 may appear on the
dashboard in the feedback column 1608 in response to this.
[0346] The member information section 1604 table may also include
information about the next workout that the athlete 100 has
scheduled. Information regarding the next workout the athlete 100
has scheduled may include the name or type of workout to be
completed (e.g. plan workout, custom workout, free workout, or
assessment workout), the date the workout is scheduled to be
completed, and/or the total estimated workout time. A zone bar
indicator 320, such as those described above and those depicted in
FIG. 51, may also be provided.
[0347] In one embodiment, in response to the coach clicking on one
of the various graphical elements of the dashboard, the coaching
group module 1600 may provide the coach with a GUI that includes
more detailed information about an individual athlete's 100
workout, such as a GUI similar to those capable of being provided
by the history sub-module of the track module 500, as depicted in
FIGS. 36-40. In this way, the coach may review and analyze the
athlete's workout performance in greater detail. In an embodiment,
the athlete 100 may adjust their coaching group setting so that the
coach has limited access to certain portions of their athletic
performance data.
[0348] In another embodiment, in response to the coach clicking on,
for example, the athlete's 100 name or an icon corresponding to the
athlete's 100 next scheduled workout, the coaching group module
1600 may provide the coach with a GUI that includes a calendar 402
of the athlete's 100 scheduled workouts, such as a GUI similar to
those capable of being provided by the schedule module 400, as
depicted in FIG. 14.
[0349] With regard to the planning and scheduling aspects of the
coaching group features of embodiments of the present invention, a
coach may have different levels of involvement in the providing
workouts for the member-athletes 100.
[0350] In one embodiment, the coach may have the authority to
select a training plan and schedule the plan workouts of the
training plan on the athlete's 100 calendar, as described above
with respect to FIGS. 12-14. In another embodiment of the present
invention, the coach may have the authority to build, select,
and/or schedule custom workouts on the athlete's 100 calendar, as
described above with respect to FIG. 14.
[0351] Workout routines associated with the scheduled workouts may
be sent to the athlete's 100 portable fitness monitoring device 102
prior to the athlete 100 engaging in the workout, as described
above.
[0352] As a specific example of an embodiment of the present
invention, an athlete 100 may be granted access to a general
account with the fitness monitoring service described above. Among
other things, the fitness monitoring service may be capable of
maintaining a schedule of workouts for the athlete 100 to complete
in association with the account. This may be accomplished, for
example using the plan module 300 and schedule module 400 software
application modules, as described above.
[0353] The athlete 100 may chose to join a coaching group that was
set up by a coach in the coaches own account utilizing the coaching
group module. Once the coach and athlete's 100 accounts are linked,
the coach may be able to provide a new workout for the athlete 100.
When the system receives that new workout from the coach, the new
workout may be added to the schedule of the athlete's 100 workouts.
Then, at the appropriate time, a workout routine corresponding to
the new workout may be sent to the athlete's 100 portable fitness
monitoring device 102, such as a mobile phone. After the athlete
100 completes the workout, the portable fitness monitoring device
102 may send athletic performance information associated with the
workout back to the server 112 for additional processing.
[0354] In one embodiment, the coach may be able to provide the new
workout for the athlete 100 by interacting with a GUI that includes
a graphical representation of the athlete's 100 schedule of
workouts, such as a workout calendar 402. The coach may associate
the new workout with particular day on the athlete's 100 calendar.
For example, in an embodiment, the coach may select an icon
corresponding to a custom workout from a GUI sidebar 514 and drag
the custom workout icon to another icon representing a particular
day on the calendar 402. The system thus schedules the new workout
on the athlete's 100 calendar for the athlete 100 to complete at a
later date.
[0355] As described in detail above, the new workout may have a
performance parameter target such as, for example, a target time,
distance, speed, pace, and/or heart rate. The workout may consist
of a series of intervals each having a target intensity, such a
target speed, pace, and/or heart rate. In an embodiment, as
described above, the target intensity may be a range of intensities
or a zone, such as the color-coded zones described above with
reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
[0356] As described in detail above, in one embodiment of the
present invention, the fitness monitoring system may utilize an
"assessment workout" to assess the relative fitness level of the
athlete 100, and/or to establish or modify the athlete's 100
performance zones for one or more parameters. This feature may be
enabled by the go module 1100 of the portable fitness monitoring
device and/or the support module 600 of the server 112.
[0357] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the application software of server
112 may include an assessment workout module 1700. Among other
things, the assessment workout module 1700 may be capable of
generating workout routines for athletes 100 who have not yet
created an account with the fitness monitoring service.
[0358] An athlete 100 who possesses a portable fitness monitoring
device 102, such as a mobile phone, may be interested in testing
out fitness monitoring services, such as those described according
to embodiments of the present invention. However, the athlete 100
may be reluctant to sign up for an account with the fitness
monitoring service via a website. In an embodiment of the present
invention, an athlete 100 with a compatible portable fitness
monitoring device 102, such as a mobile phone, may be able to test
out the portable fitness monitoring service by utilizing their
portable fitness monitoring device 102 and providing the fitness
monitoring service with minimal information, but without initially
creating an account with the fitness monitoring service.
[0359] In one embodiment, the athlete 100 may power on their
portable fitness monitoring device 102 if it is not already in a
powered on state. In some embodiments, it may be necessary for the
athlete 100 to manipulate user input controls 124 to enter a
portable fitness monitoring mode to access the application
software. In other embodiments, it may be necessary for the athlete
100 to download the application software.
[0360] Upon launch of the portable fitness monitoring application,
the start module 1000 may prompt the athlete 100 and determine
whether the athlete 100 wishes to proceed as a guest who does not
have an account with the fitness monitoring service. If the athlete
100 indicates via activation of the user input controls 124 that
the athlete 100 does not have and/or does not want to create an
account with the fitness monitoring service, the start module 1000
may present a personal information wizard that may allow the
athlete 100 to enter personal information such as, for example, the
athlete's 100 age, the athlete's 100 gender, the athlete's 100
weight, and/or the athlete's 100 height. As explained in further
detail above, the personal information wizard may also allow the
athlete 100 to enter preferred unit preferences and/or preferred
voice training options.
[0361] As described above with respect to FIG. 26, in an
embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may provide
the athlete 100 with instructions for conducting the assessment
workout, may begin the assessment workout, may monitor the
athlete's 100 performance, and may end the assessment workout.
[0362] For example, verbal or visual instructions may be provided
to the athlete 100 that tell the athlete 100 to run as fast as
possible for two minutes. During the two minute activity, the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 may measure and record
performance information associated with the athlete 100 such as,
for example, the athlete's 100 heart rate and/or speed. In an
embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may measure
and record the athlete's 100 maximum heart rate and/or maximum
speed during the activity.
[0363] Alternatively, the assessment workout may prompt the athlete
100 to, for example, run at certain percentages of their maximum
speed for set periods of time, as subjectively estimated by the
athlete 100. For example, the assessment workout may prompt the
athlete 100 to try to consistently run at 50%, 75%, and 100% of
their maximum speed for consecutive 1 minute periods. During this
three minute activity, the portable fitness monitoring device 102
may measure and record performance information associated with the
athlete 100 such as, for example, the athlete's 100 heart rate
and/or speed.
[0364] Upon completion of the specified activity, the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 may transmit the performance
information to the fitness monitoring service server 112, as
described in further detail elsewhere. Either before, along with,
or after the transmission of the performance information from the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 to the server, the athlete's
100 personal information may also be transmitted to the server
112.
[0365] The assessment workout module 1700 of the application
software of server 112 may be capable of initiating several related
actions, as briefly outlined in the flow chart of FIG. 52. At step
1702, the server 112 may receive the personal information
associated with an athlete 100 from the portable fitness monitoring
device 102. Before, along with, or after step 1702, at step 1704,
the server 112 may also receive the performance information
associated with the athlete 100 from the portable fitness
monitoring device 102. Next, at step 1706, the workout module 1700
may generate a workout routine based on the personal information
and the performance information. Finally, at step 1708, the server
112 may send the workout routine to the portable fitness monitoring
device 102.
[0366] The workout module 1700 may be able to generate a workout
routine using one of a variety of algorithms. In one embodiment,
one or more of the athlete's 100 age, gender, weight, and/or height
may be factored in to increase or decrease the difficulty of the
workout routine. In another embodiment, the athlete's 100 heart
rate, pace, and/or speed information may be factored in to increase
or decrease the difficulty of the workout routine. In some
embodiments, look-up tables or performance parameter indices may be
consulted.
[0367] Other factors may also go into the generation of a workout
routine. In one embodiment, the weather forecast for the region
where the athlete is located or otherwise desires to conduct a
workout could be factored in. For example, if the forecast calls
for very hot weather, the intensity of the workout generated may be
lowered. In another embodiment, the athlete could indicate that
they are training for an upcoming event, such as a specific race.
Accordingly, the characteristics of the race route (e.g. distance,
elevation, difficulty, etc.) could be factored in to the generation
of the workout routine.
[0368] In yet another embodiment, to encourage the athlete 100 to
continue using the fitness monitoring in the future, along with the
workout routine, the athlete 100 may be provided with specific
training tips and/or contact information for local trainers or
coaches in the athlete's 100 area.
[0369] The workout routine may include one or more of a number of
different goals, as described with respect to plan and custom
workouts elsewhere. For example, the workout module 1700 may be
able to generate a workout routine that includes a target time or a
target distance. The workout module 1700 may also be able to
generate a workout routine that includes a plurality of intervals,
where each interval has an intensity goal. The workout module 1700
may further be able to generate a workout routine where the
intensity goal is, for example, heart rate, distance, pace, or
speed based.
[0370] In an embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring device 102
and the server 112 may communicate information via a wireless
network, as described above. For example, in one embodiment, the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 is adapted to transmit
personal and performance information and to receive the workout
routine using a wireless transceiver, as described above.
[0371] In a further embodiment, the workout module 1700 may be
capable of generating a workout based on the user's present
location and/or the weather conditions or forecast associated with
the user's present or desired location. Location-based information
may be determined based on position information derived from a
positioning system receiver 126 of the portable fitness monitoring
device 102, as described above.
[0372] In some embodiments, the workout module 1700 may generate
multiple workout routines for an athlete 100 based on a single
assessment workout.
[0373] As described in detail above, in one embodiment of the
present invention, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may
include or communicate with one or more sensors 104 for detecting
information used to measure and/or calculate performance
parameters. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 itself may include a sensor 104.
[0374] In one embodiment, a positioning system receiver 126, such
as that illustrated in FIG. 3, may function as a sensor 104
integrally coupled to the portable fitness monitoring device 102,
and may allow the portable fitness monitoring device 102 to
detecting information that may be used to measure and/or calculate
location, distance traveled, speed, and/or pace. The positioning
system receiver 126 may be, for example, a GPS- or
Galileo-compatible receiver.
[0375] As the portable fitness monitoring device 102 including the
positioning system receiver 126 is supported by the athlete 100
during an activity, the positioning system receiver 126 may receive
positioning system signals from positioning system satellites,
where each positioning system signal may contain a timestamp. From
these positioning system signals, the processor 120 of the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 may compute a series of time-stamped
position points. These time-stamped position points may be subject
to at least two types of error, namely, timing error and positional
error.
[0376] Timing error may be induced by a low performance processor
driving the positioning system receiver 126 that does not have
sufficient cycles to dedicate to positioning system signal
processing. Alternatively or additionally, timing error may be
inserted by the use of, for example, assisted GPS (A-GPS), which
requires round trip communication over a wireless network to
validate a GPS reading, or by local filtering performed by the
positioning system receiver 126 and/or the processor 120.
[0377] Additional positional error may also be caused by the
inherent positional error of commercial (as opposed to military)
positioning system signals, which, in the case of GPS, is typically
between 3-5 meters. Consequently, when the sampling rate of the
positioning system signal causes more than one sample to be taken
during time interval required for the athlete 100 to traverse the
positional error distance, a "zigzag" positional route may be
reported even if a relatively straight path was followed. This
distance error may negatively impact any average or instantaneous
speed or pace computations that depend on a correct reporting of
distance traversed.
[0378] Accordingly, positioning system-based speed or pace
calculations may be prone to these and other errors. In embodiments
of the present invention that rely on positioning system-based
speed or pace calculations to provide real-time coaching and/or
feedback, as described above, these errors can adversely affect the
accuracy of the coaching and/or feedback. For example, some
embodiments may provide feedback when the athlete 100 has fallen
outside of a desired speed or pace zone. If the portable fitness
monitoring device can not accurately detect changes in speed or
pace, this feedback may be inaccurate.
[0379] As illustrated in FIG. 21, the application software of the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 may include a positioning
system smoothing module 1800. Among other things, the positioning
system smoothing module 1800 may be capable of increasing the
accuracy of positioning system-based speed or pace detection and,
therefore, the accuracy of the real-time coaching and/or
feedback.
[0380] In one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning
system smoothing module 1800 may employ a buffer system to increase
the accuracy of positioning system-based speed or pace detection
and, therefore, the accuracy of the real-time coaching and/or
feedback.
[0381] For example, the portable fitness processing device 102
software may continually add GPS waypoints to the memory 122, and
the processor 120 may continually calculate speed points based on
the elapsed time and measured distance between consecutive
waypoints. The software may then save a predetermined number of
speed points in a speed buffer, and may compare the values in the
speed buffer to determine a weighted average speed.
[0382] Weighting factors may take into account how recently a value
was added to the buffer, and may assign a greater weight to more
recent values. Weighting factors may also consider how much a
recent value deviates from the current average.
[0383] Data may be added to the buffer as it is recorded, and the
buffer may build up until it reaches a predetermined size. When the
buffer becomes full, it may begin discarding the oldest data point
each time a new data point is added.
[0384] In an embodiment, these weighted average speeds may be the
speeds that are displayed to the athlete 100 while the athlete 100
is using the portable fitness monitoring device 102, that are
wirelessly transmitted to the server 112, and that are used for
feedback and coaching.
[0385] A variety of methods may be employed to best determine
accurate weighted average speeds. Those methods may include, for
example, a standard average method, a cumulative sum method, a
cluster average method, a time weighted average method, an inverse
speed delta weighted average method, an acceleration adjusted
instant speed method, or combinations of one or more of these
methods.
[0386] Standard average methods may involve calculating mean speeds
between two or more consecutive speed points. Cumulative sum
methods may involve determining a cumulative sum of the deviation
from a target value, such as the sum of all the differences in
speed from a particular speed reference point. The reference point
could be, for example, the running standard average of speed
values. As ongoing cumulative sum values are determined, they may
be analyzed by an algorithm to determine if a possible change in
speed is valid or not. If the speed change is valid, it is factored
in and used to provide feedback and coaching. If the speed change
is not valid, it is ignored. Cluster average methods are similar to
standard average methods, but instead of averaging only consecutive
speed points within the moving buffer, speed points that occurred
further apart in time are compared.
[0387] Time weighted average methods may take into account how
recently a speed value was added to the buffer, and may assign a
greater weight to more recent speed values. A weighting coefficient
can be determined by various means. For example, in an inverse
speed delta weighted average method, the weighting coefficient may
have the effect of weighting particular speed points less the
further they are away from a particular reference value.
[0388] Acceleration adjusted instant speed methods may involve
adjusting speed point values based on known real-life human
acceleration capabilities. In other words, the point to point
difference in instantaneous speed may be limited by a maximum known
acceleration. For example, the method may assume a maximum human
runner's acceleration to be 1.0 miles per hour per second. Thus,
the system would limit a recorded and/or output speed change of 10
miles per hour to a period of 10 seconds.
[0389] In one embodiment, the positioning system smoothing module
1800 may employ a combination of the inverse speed delta weighted
average and acceleration adjusted instant speed methods. For
example, instantaneous calculated speeds may first be adjusted
using an acceleration adjustment formula, and then they resulting
values may be feed into an inverse speed delta weighted average
formula.
[0390] In another embodiment of the present invention, the GPS
smoothing module 1800 may employ an additional method to increase
the accuracy of GPS-based speed and pace detection and, therefore,
the accuracy of the real-time coaching and/or feedback.
[0391] In the above described scenario, there may be significant
lag time in reporting an updated speed of the athlete 100 in real
time during the activity. For example, an athlete 100 may be
running at a speed of eight miles per hour when the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 informs the athlete 100 that their
workout routine calls for them to enter a new performance zone
interval that will bring their speed up to ten miles per hour.
Assuming the athlete 100 quickly accelerates to ten miles per hour,
a significant amount of time may pass before the weighted average
speed settles in around ten miles per hour, because it may be
weighted down with a plurality of eight mile per hour data points
in the buffer.
[0392] As a result, if an incorrect speed is output to the athlete
100 and the athlete 100 recognizes this, the athlete 100 may lose
confidence in the accuracy of the system. Alternatively, the
athlete 100 may attempt to speed up even more in response to
observing a speed that appears too low, even if the athlete 100 has
in reality already achieved the proper speed. Similarly, the
portable fitness monitoring software may provide an additional
coach prompt for the athlete 100 to speed up when the athlete 100
has in reality already achieved the proper speed.
[0393] In one embodiment, in an attempt to remedy these issues, the
buffer may periodically discard all of its data points in response
to an anticipated change in speed by the athlete 100. For example,
if the portable fitness monitoring device 102 informs the athlete
100 that their workout routine calls for them to enter a new
performance zone interval, the GPS smoothing module 1800 may cause
the buffer to discard all of its data points so that the new
weighted average speed is not affected by values that are known to
be outdated. In other words, the portable fitness monitoring device
102 may be capable of adjusting the buffer based on known or
anticipated speed changes, based on the device's knowledge of the
workout routine.
[0394] In one embodiment of the present invention, the GPS
smoothing module 1800 may employ an yet another additional method
to increase the accuracy of GPS-based speed and pace detection and,
therefore, the accuracy of the real-time coaching and/or feedback,
as outlined in FIG. 53.
[0395] At step 1802, a plurality of speed points may be calculated
from a plurality of time-stamped position points. At step 1804, an
output speed may be calculated based on at least some of the
plurality of speed points. At step 1806, a determination may be
made that the output speed is outside of a predetermined speed
range. At step 1808, acceleration data may be received from an
accelerometer. At step 1810, a determination may be made that a
recent speed change has occurred based on the acceleration data.
Finally, at step 1812, feedback may be provided to the athlete 100
via the portable fitness monitoring device 102. In an embodiment,
the feedback may be provided in response to the determination that
the output speed is outside of the predetermined speed range, and
in response to the determination that the recent speed change has
occurred. In one embodiment, these steps need not be performed in
the order listed.
[0396] The plurality of time-stamped position points may be, for
example, GPS position points collected by the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 at the athlete 100 engages in an activity and
traverses a route, as described above. In an embodiment, the
processor 120 of the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may
receive the plurality of time-stamped position points for further
processing.
[0397] A plurality of speed points may be calculated from the
plurality of time-stamped position points. In some embodiments, as
described above, speed point calculation may involve factoring in
the distances between consecutive pairs of time-stamped position
points and factoring in the time periods between consecutive pairs
of time-stamped position points.
[0398] An output speed may be calculated based on at least some of
the plurality of speed points. In one embodiment, the output speed
may be calculated averaging two or more of the plurality of speed
points. As described above, weighted or other averaging may be
employed. In another embodiment, also as described above, the
positioning system smoothing module 1800 may maintain at least some
of the plurality of speed points in a speed buffer. In such an
embodiment, the step of calculating the output speed include
calculating an output speed based only on the plurality of speed
points in the speed buffer. As explained above, the speed buffer
may be useful for conducting averaging to determine an output
speed.
[0399] In an embodiment, an accelerometer may be contained within a
housing of the portable fitness monitoring device. For example, the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 may be a mobile phone having
both a GPS receiver and an accelerometer contained within the
mobile phone housing. In another embodiment, the accelerometer may
be physically separate from the portable fitness monitoring device
102 and may communicate wirelessly with it, as described above.
[0400] A determination that a recent speed change has occurred may
be based on acceleration data provided by the accelerometer. The
accelerometer data may provide acceleration data in response to
movements of the portable fitness monitoring device 102 and/or the
athlete's 100 body during an activity. In an embodiment, certain
changes in the accelerometer signal may generally suggest that the
athlete 100 has changed speeds.
[0401] In one embodiment, the acceleration data may take the form
of a plurality of acceleration points having varying magnitudes.
For example, the accelerometer may be periodically sampled and may
provide consecutive data points registering 1 G, 1 G, and 2 Gs. In
this case, the determination that a recent speed change has
occurred may include analyzing the differences in the magnitudes of
the acceleration points. For example, it may be determined that a
speed change did not occur between the 1 G and 1 G data points, but
that a speed change did occur between the 1 G and 2 Gs data
points.
[0402] In another embodiment, the acceleration data may take the
form of an acceleration signal having oscillations. For example, an
accelerometer signal may have a generally sinusoidal output that
corresponds to a repetitive motion, such as running. In this case,
the determination that a recent speed change has occurred may
include analyzing the changes in the oscillations of the
acceleration signal. For example, changes in the amplitude or
frequency of the sinusoidal output may suggest that a speed change
has occurred.
[0403] In an embodiment of the present invention where a speed
buffer is used, the positioning system smoothing module may
initiate discarding the plurality of speed points in the speed
buffer in response to the determination that a recent speed change
has occurred, based on the accelerometer data. For example, if the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 detects a recent speed
change via the accelerometer, the positioning system smoothing
module 1800 may cause the speed buffer to discard all of its speed
points so that a new output speed calculation is not affected by
values that are likely to correspond to a speed the athlete 100 is
no longer maintaining. In other words, the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 may be capable of adjusting the speed buffer
based on the accelerometer data. This may increase the accuracy of
positioning system-based speed detection and, therefore, the
accuracy of the real-time coaching and/or feedback.
[0404] Feedback may be provided in response to the determination
that the output speed is outside of the predetermined speed range,
and in response to the determination that the recent speed change
has occurred (via the accelerometer). As described in detail
throughout the specification, feedback may include, for example,
audio, visual, and/or tactile feedback. Feedback may be generated
as part of a planned or custom workout routine that the portable
fitness monitoring device 102 is executing. Feedback may inform the
athlete 100 that they have fallen below or risen above a desired
intensity level for a particular portion of a workout.
[0405] In an embodiment, the predetermined speed range may be
associated with a color-coded intensity zone, as described above
with respect to the color-coded zone system depicted in FIGS. 10
and 11. In such an embodiment, the feedback may audibly or visually
convey a color to the athlete in accordance with the color-coded
zone system.
[0406] For example, an athlete 100 may be engaged in an activity
utilizing a portable fitness monitoring device 102 executing a
workout routine. The workout routine may presently call for the
athlete to maintain a speed corresponding to the green zone (i.e.
the predetermined speed range corresponds to the green zone). If
the portable fitness monitoring device 102 determines that the
output speed is below the green zone speed range and further
determines that a recent speed change has occurred based on the
accelerometer data, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may
announce "your intensity is only at a blue zone level, increase
your intensity to enter the green zone."
[0407] In certain situations, determining that a recent speed
change has occurred based on accelerometer data may increase the
accuracy of positioning system-based speed detection and,
therefore, the accuracy of the real-time coaching and/or feedback,
as compared to a situation where such information is not
considered.
[0408] For example, in the situation described above where the
workout routine presently calls for the athlete to maintain a speed
corresponding to the green zone, the green zone may range from
seven to eight miles per hour. As the athlete 100 is conducting the
activity, the output speed derived from the positioning system
data, which may suffer from some degree of inaccuracy, may indicate
that the athlete's 100 speed has fallen to 6.5 miles per hour. In
this case, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 would
normally provide a feedback prompt to speed up, such as "your
intensity is only at a blue zone level, increase your intensity to
enter the green zone." However, in a situation where the feedback
additionally depends on a determination that a recent speed change
has occurred based on accelerometer data, unless such a
determination is made, the feedback may be withheld. For example,
the accelerometer data may indicate a relatively steady pattern of
acceleration that indicates that the athlete 100 has not recently
changed speeds. Of course, if the accelerometer data indicated that
a recent speed change had occurred, the feedback would still be
provided.
[0409] Thus, the various embodiments described above with respect
to the positioning system smoothing module may increase the
accuracy of positioning system-based speed detection and,
therefore, the accuracy of the real-time coaching and/or
feedback.
[0410] In another embodiment of the present invention, one or more
of the various smoothing methods described may be used and may
result in a series of speed and/or pace output values. Sometimes
the output values may vary once every second or two, but only by
small amounts. For example, pace output values of, for example,
8:57, 9:03, 9:01, 8:55, 9:02, 9:04, 9:06, and 8:59 may be
calculated. If these individual values were displayed to the
athlete 100 during an activity, the athlete may become distracted
by having their attention drawn to constantly varying values that
essentially reflect static performance.
[0411] In an embodiment, to minimize the potential for such
distraction, a minimum deviation may be calculated and employed. If
the difference between consecutive calculated output values is less
than the minimum deviation value, the value actually displayed to
the athlete 100 will not change. For example, with regard to the
pace-based example provided above, if a minimum deviation of 8
seconds is used, after the first pace output value of 8:57 is
displayed, the display would continue to output 8:57 even as values
of 9:03, 9:01, 8:55, 9:02, and 9:04 are received, because each of
these values is less that 8 seconds different from 8:57. However,
when the value of 9:06 is received, 9:06 would be displayed because
it is greater than 8 seconds different from 8:57. From this point
on, 9:06 would be displayed until another value greater than 8
seconds different from 9:06 is received. This has the effect of
removing micro variations from the pace output without changing the
overall macro changes.
[0412] Using such a system, however, it would be possible for the
display to remain constant for a long stretch of time if received
values continually remain within the minimum deviation. An athlete
100 observing such a display may begin to assume that the display
is frozen or that the device is otherwise not working. Accordingly,
it may be desirable to limit the maximum duration of a content
display. In an embodiment, a cap may be placed such that the
display must be allowed to change after a given period of time,
such as, for example, eight seconds. Thus regardless of the degree
of deviation or lack thereof from the reference point, a new
received value may be displayed after eight seconds.
[0413] In one embodiment of the present invention, acceleration
data may be used to predict speed data in the event that a GPS
signal is lost in the middle of an athlete's 100 activity. For
example, as described above, prior to the point that a GPS signal
is lost, the GPS data may have been used to determine the output
speed. Rather than reporting the output speed as zero once the GPS
signal is lost, the device may look to the accelerometer data.
[0414] For example, during the GPS outage, if the accelerometer
data shows a relatively steady pattern that indicates that the
athlete 100 has not recently changed speeds, the device may
continue to report a consistent output speed until the GPS signal
is restored again. On the other hand, during the GPS outage, if the
accelerometer data shows a steadily increasing or decreasing
pattern that indicates that the athlete 100 was in the course of
speeding up or slowing down, the device may continue to report a
steadily increasing or decreasing speed until the GPS signal is
restored again.
[0415] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
positioning system receiver 126 of the portable fitness monitoring
device 102 may advantageously be used to trigger certain
functionalities, as is described in further detail below.
[0416] With reference to FIG. 54, in one embodiment, at step 1902,
a portable fitness monitoring application may be launched on the
portable fitness monitoring device 102. Next, at step 1904,
position data may be received from a satellite positioning system
receiver 126 of the portable fitness monitoring device 102. Then,
at step 1906, the application may determine that the position data
indicates that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 is
moving. At step 1908, an activity may be initiated in response to
the determination that the portable fitness monitoring device 102
is moving. Next, at step 1910, the application may determine that
the position data indicates that the portable fitness monitoring
device 102 is not moving. Finally, at step 1912, the activity may
end in response to the determination that the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 is not moving.
[0417] Such features may be employed by a portable fitness
monitoring device 102, for example, in the form of a mobile phone.
The portable fitness monitoring application may be an application
having features such as those described above with reference to
FIG. 21. For example, the application may execute workout routines
a portable fitness monitoring device 102 supported by an athlete
100 while an athlete 100 engages in an activity.
[0418] Position data, such as a plurality of position points, may
be received from a satellite positioning system receiver 126 of the
portable fitness monitoring device 102, as described above. For
example, a GPS receiver of the portable fitness monitoring device
102 may provide a plurality of time-stamped GPS position points to
the processor 120 of the portable fitness monitoring device
102.
[0419] Eventually, after the athlete 100 decides to begin their
activity (e.g. running, biking, inline skating, skiing, golfing,
etc.) and begins moving, the application may determine that the
position points indicate that the portable fitness monitoring
device 102 is moving. Such a determination may not always be
straightforward due to inherent GPS errors and uncertainties, such
as those described above.
[0420] In one embodiment, this determination may be based on a
determination that the distance between two consecutive position
points exceeds a predetermined threshold. For example, the
application may determine that two consecutive GPS position points
indicate that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 (and thus
the athlete 100) is moving because the locations associated with
the position points are more than five meters apart.
[0421] In another embodiment, the determination that the position
points indicate that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 is
moving may be based on a determination that the distance between
two consecutive position points exceeds a predetermined threshold
for at least a predetermined period of time. For example, the
application may determine that two consecutive GPS position points
indicate that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 (and thus
the athlete 100) is moving because the locations associated with
the position points are more than five meters apart for several
consecutive sets of position points for five seconds.
[0422] In a further embodiment, the determination that the position
points indicate that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 is
moving may be based on a determination that a series of a minimum
number of position points are each at least a minimum distance from
a starting point. If the minimum number of position points and the
minimum distance are large enough, it would be highly likely that
the athlete 100 is moving if this test is met. However, making
these values too large increases the lag time in making the
movement determination.
[0423] In one embodiment, the determination that the position
points indicate that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 is
moving may be based on a determination that similar to that just
described, but modified to reflect a known position point
uncertainty. Specifically, if the uncertainty of a particular
position point is known or can be calculated and expressed as a
function of distance, the minimum distance described above can be
modified as a function of the uncertainty. In other words, position
points associated with high uncertainties will be less likely to be
relied upon.
[0424] In another embodiment, the determination that the position
points indicate that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 is
moving may be based on a determination that a minimum number of
position points are ever increasing in distance from the starting
point (i.e. a concentric circle method). This method advantageously
does not require the athlete 100 to have covered a minimum
distance, but alone in a noisy signal environment the test may be
difficult to satisfy. In an embodiment, an accelerometer signal may
be used to reduce the minimum number of position point required.
Specifically, if the accelerometer signal indicates a change in
speed, as described above, the concentric circle test may only need
to employ a reduce number of position points to make a
determination.
[0425] In a further embodiment, the determination that the position
points indicate that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 is
moving may be based on a combination of the concentric circle
method and one of the minimum distance methods described above.
Specifically, the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may first
employ the concentric circle method, while still collecting and
analyzing data according to the minimum distance method in
parallel. If the concentric circle method is satisfied, the athlete
100 is considered to be moving. If the concentric circle test
fails, the device falls back on the minimum distance method to
determine whether the athlete 100 is moving.
[0426] In one embodiment, the concentric circle test may be
modified by analyzing bearings (i.e. directional headings).
Specifically, as each new position point is received, a bearing
from the starting point to the new point may be calculated. The
test is not satisfied if the bearing for a new point differs from
any previous bearing by a set number of degrees, such as, for
example, 90 degrees.
[0427] In another embodiment, position points may be collected in a
set and analyzed by known statistical methods to determine the
randomness of the position points. For example, the randomness of
the latitudes of the points, the longitudes of the points, or both
may be analyzed.
[0428] An activity may be initiated by the application in response
to the determination that the portable fitness monitoring device
102 is moving.
[0429] In one embodiment the activity may be the execution of a
workout routine, such that the portable fitness monitoring device
102 may begin to execute a workout routine in response to the
determination that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 is
moving. Workout routines are described in detail throughout the
specification. For example, in one embodiment, the workout routine
may include a plurality of intervals, where each interval has an
intensity goal. The intensity goal may be, for example, a target
heart rate range, a target speed range, or a target pace range. As
described above, the target performance parameter intensity goal
ranges may be associated with a color-coded zone system. Thus,
embodiments of the present invention may advantageously be used to
trigger the initiation of workouts without requiring the athlete
100 to take an affirmative action beyond initiating motion, such
as, for example, actuating a button on the portable fitness
monitoring device 102.
[0430] In another embodiment the activity may be the playback of
music, such that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 may
begin to playback music in response to the determination that the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 is moving. In one
embodiment, the playback of music may not begin until an additional
determination is made that workout routine execution has begun.
Music playback is described in detail above.
[0431] For example, in one embodiment, the music played back to the
athlete 100 during the activity may be associated with a playlist.
Once music playback is initiated, the application may consult a
playlist, which may indicate a group of music tracks to be played
and the order they should be played in. The music tracks and/or a
playlist file corresponding to the playlist may be save in the
memory 122 of the portable fitness monitoring device.
Alternatively, the music tracks and/or a playlist file
corresponding to the playlist may be remotely accessible, for
example, via a wireless network. In an embodiment, the music tracks
and/or a playlist file may be downloaded to the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 along with a workout routine. Thus,
embodiments of the present invention may advantageously be used to
trigger the playing of a playlist without requiring the athlete 100
to take an affirmative action beyond initiating motion, such as,
for example, actuating a button on the portable fitness monitoring
device 102.
[0432] Eventually, after the athlete 100 decides to end their
activity (e.g. running, biking, inline skating, golfing, etc.) and
ceases moving, the application may determine that the position
points indicate that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 is
not moving. The determination that the portable fitness monitoring
device 102 is not moving may be made in a variety of ways similar
to those described above with respect to determining that the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 is moving.
[0433] In one embodiment, this determination may be based on a
determination that the distance between two consecutive position
points is less than a predetermined threshold. For example, the
application may determine that two consecutive GPS position points
indicate that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 (and thus
the athlete 100) is not moving because the locations associated
with the position points are less than five meters apart.
[0434] In another embodiment, the determination that the position
points indicate that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 is
not moving may be based on a determination that the distance
between two consecutive position points is less than a
predetermined threshold for at least a predetermined period of
time. For example, the application may determine that two
consecutive GPS position points indicate that the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 (and thus the athlete 100) is not moving
because the locations associated with the position points are less
than five meters apart for several consecutive sets of position
points for five seconds.
[0435] In a further embodiment, the determination that the position
points indicate that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 is
not moving may be based on first determining speed points. If the
speed points suggest that the speed has dropped below a
predetermined level, for example one mile per hour, the athlete 100
may be considered to be stopped.
[0436] In an embodiment, an accelerometer signal may be used to
that the portable fitness monitoring device 102 is not moving.
Specifically, if the accelerometer signal indicates a change in
speed, as described above (i.e. that the speed has dropped to
zero), it may be assumed that the athlete 100 is no longer
moving.
[0437] Regardless of whether the activity is the execution of a
workout routine or the playback of music, the activity may be ended
by the application in response to the determination that the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 is not moving. Thus,
embodiments of the present invention may advantageously be used to
end the execution of a workout routine and/or end the playback of
music without requiring the athlete 100 to take an affirmative
action beyond ceasing motion, such as actuating a button on the
portable fitness monitoring device 102. In an embodiment, the
system may pause music in response to a stop in motion and then
restart it when the user is moving again. When the user us finally
stopped, the system may stop the music and the workout routine.
[0438] As described above with respect to the GUIs provided to a
user at a personal computer 114 via the server 112, in an
embodiment of the present invention, the history sub-module of the
track module 500 may provide a playlist section in a sidebar 514.
If the athlete 100 conducted a workout while listening to music on
a music-enabled portable fitness monitoring device 102, the
playlist section may provide a listing of the musical audio tracks
that the athlete 100 listened to during their workout. In an
embodiment, the musical audio tracks that the athlete 100 listened
to during their workout may be correlated to performance
information collected during the workout.
[0439] As described above, a portable fitness monitoring device 102
may be supported by an athlete 100 during a workout. The portable
fitness monitoring device 102 may be associated with one or more
sensors 104 that are capable of detecting information used to
measure and/or calculate performance parameters, such as location,
distance covered, speed, pace, and/or heart rate. The portable
fitness monitoring device 102 may include an audio unit 134. In one
embodiment, the audio unit 134 may be responsible for managing the
storage and playback of music tracks, which may involve the use of
a playlist. Other music track and/or playlist features may also be
included, such as those disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/857,862, titled "Location-aware fitness
training device, methods, and program products that support
real-time interactive communication and automated route
generation," which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
[0440] When the portable fitness monitoring device 102 detects,
measures, and/or calculates parameter information, including the
locations of time-stamped position points encountered by the
athlete 100 while traversing a route (e.g. via a positioning system
receiver 126), instantaneous performance parameters may be
correlated with the position points encountered at roughly the same
time the performance parameters were collected. This correlated
performance parameter information may be transmitted to the server
112, for example, via the WWAN 128 or WPAN 130 transceiver in
substantially real-time during the workout or after the workout has
been completed, as described in detail above.
[0441] In another embodiment, a music track that was played for the
athlete 100 may be correlated with the position points encountered
and/or performance parameter information collected at roughly the
same time that the music track was played for the athlete 100 by
the portable fitness monitoring device 102. In this way, the system
of the present invention may advantageously be able to provide the
athlete 100 with information regarding the relationship between the
music they listened to and their performance during the
workout.
[0442] In one embodiment of the present invention, the history
sub-module of the track module 500 may initiate the display of a
GUI window that includes performance parameter information
regarding an athlete's 100 performance during a workout as a
function of time. The GUI window may also include the title of a
music track that was played for the athlete 100 by a portable
fitness monitoring device 102 during the workout. In an embodiment,
the display of the title of a music track may occur in response to
a user specifying a particular point in time during the
workout.
[0443] For example, as described above and as illustrated in FIGS.
38 and 39, performance information for one or more performance
parameters may be displayed in the primary display 512 of a GUI
window on a line graph whose x-axis is either time or distance
based, and whose y-axis is correlated to the value of the measured
performance parameter. For example, in FIGS. 38 and 39, a line
graph charts heart rate and pace information, respectively, as a
function of time during the workout.
[0444] As illustrated in FIG. 40, a user interested in viewing
instantaneous performance statistics throughout the athlete's 100
workout may be able to select and drag a scrollbar 516 with their
cursor along the x-axis. As the user drags the scrollbar 516 across
the x-axis, an icon may travel along the line graph plotted for the
performance parameter of interest. In addition, a pop-up window
displaying additional instantaneous performance data may appear and
move across the screen along with the moving icon. In addition to
the information displayed in FIG. 40, in an embodiment, as the user
drags the scrollbar 516 across the x-axis, the title of a music
track that was played for the athlete 100 by the portable fitness
monitoring device 102 at a particular point in time may be
displayed. This may be possible because, as described above, a
music track that was played for the athlete 100 may be correlated
with the position points encountered and/or performance parameter
information collected at roughly the same time that the music track
was played for the athlete 100 by the portable fitness monitoring
device 102.
[0445] In another embodiment, the user may be able to specify the
particular point in time during the workout for which they would
like the corresponding music track title to be displayed by other
mechanisms besides the scrollbar. For example, in an embodiment,
the user may be able to specify the particular point in time during
the workout for which they would like the corresponding music track
title to be displayed by hovering their cursor directly over a
portion of the line graph that corresponds to the particular point
in time.
[0446] In one embodiment, the athlete 100 could conduct their
workout using a GPS-enabled portable fitness monitoring device 102
capable of recording their geographic position points along the
geographical route traversed. Either during traversal of the route
or after the route has been completed, the GPS data could then be
uploaded to the server 112 and associated with other performance
monitoring information collected and/or music played during
traversal of the route. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 44 and
described above, an illustration of the athlete's 100 geographical
route may be displayed to a user at a computer 114.
[0447] As illustrated in FIG. 45, a user interested in viewing
instantaneous performance statistics throughout the workout may be
able to select and drag a scrollbar 542 with their cursor along the
bottom of the screen. As the user drags the scrollbar 542 across
the bottom of the screen, an icon may travel along the geographical
route path plotted. In addition, a pop-up window displaying
additional instantaneous performance data may appear and move
across the screen along with the moving icon. In addition to the
information displayed in FIG. 45, in an embodiment, as the user
drags the scrollbar 542 across the bottom of the screen, the title
of a music track that was played for the athlete 100 by the
portable fitness monitoring device 102 at a particular point along
the route may be displayed. This may be possible because, as
described above, a music track that was played for the athlete 100
may be correlated with the position points encountered and/or
performance parameter information collected at roughly the same
time that the music track was played for the athlete 100 by the
portable fitness monitoring device 102.
[0448] In another embodiment, the user may be able to specify the
particular point along the route during the workout for which they
would like the corresponding music track title to be displayed with
respect to the geographical route path by other mechanisms besides
the scrollbar. For example, in an embodiment, the user may be able
to specify the particular point along the route during the workout
for which they would like the corresponding music track title to be
displayed by hovering their cursor directly over a portion of the
illustration of the geographical route path that corresponds to the
particular point along the route. In another embodiment, the system
may play a designated highly motivational song based ont rack
characteristics (e.g. when the user encounters an uphill
section).
[0449] In an embodiment, the illustration of the geographical route
may also be overlaid on a map, as described above with respect to
FIG. 44. In other embodiments, in response to the user specifying a
particular point in time during the workout, the name of a band or
artist associated with the music track may also be displayed along
with the title of the music track.
[0450] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 55, when a user
hovers their cursor over a particular song on a playlist, a pop-up
balloon 572 may appear near a highlighted portion of the route 574
that corresponds to the segment of the route that the athlete 100
was traversing while listening to the particular song (in the
illustrated case, Song #2). As further illustrated, the pop-up
balloon 572 indicates that Song #2 was played from the 4:01 to 6:18
time periods of the activity, which correspond to the 0.20-0.63
mile segments of the activity (i.e. route portion 574).
[0451] While the above described embodiments relating to the
display of music track title information relied on display
correlated to heart rate or position information, the displays may
alternatively be correlated to any other performance parameter such
as, for example, speed or pace. Furthermore, while the display was
discussed as being with respect to time, the display may also be
with respect to distance.
[0452] In addition to providing feedback regarding a particular
music track that was played at a particular time and/or location
during a workout, the playlist section may provide a listing of the
musical audio tracks that the athlete 100 listened to during their
workout.
[0453] In one embodiment, based on the correlation between music
tracks played and performance information collected during a
workout, the server 112 software may be able to analyze the music
tracks played to determine how the athlete's 100 performance
related to particular songs. For example, the software could
determine which songs corresponded to the athlete's 100 highest
heart rate, pace, and/or speed. In an embodiment, a listing of
music tracks available to the athlete 100 could be provided in
order based on which tracks were associated with the highest heart
rates, paces, or speeds, and/or the music tracks could be grouped
into various categories.
[0454] In another embodiment, based on this information, the server
112 software may be able to assist in the creation of suitable
playlists for particular workouts. For example, as described above,
in some embodiments, a playlist and/or the music tracks listed by
the playlist may be transmitted to the portable fitness monitoring
device 102 along with a workout routine. If a workout routine
includes a series of heart rate, speed, or pace-based intervals
with varying intensities, it may be advantageous to provide the
athlete 100 with an accompanying playlist that provides music
tracks that have, in the past, been shown to correlate well with
given intensities for the athlete 100. For example, if the software
has previously determined that three particular music tracks are
associated with paces of around seven minutes per mile for a
particular athlete 100 and that athlete is scheduled to engage in a
workout that calls for a yellow zone interval where the yellow zone
corresponds to paces of six to eight minutes per mile, then it may
be advantageous to provide the athlete 100 with a playlist that
indicates that these three music tracks should be played during the
athlete's 100 yellow zone interval.
G. Conclusion
[0455] Various aspects of the present invention, or any parts or
functions thereof, may be implemented using hardware, software,
firmware, tangible computer readable or computer usable storage
media having instructions stored thereon, or a combination thereof
and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other
processing systems.
[0456] Program products, methods, and systems for providing fitness
monitoring services of the present invention can include any
software application executed by one or more computing devices. A
computing device can be any type of computing device having one or
more processors. For example, a computing device can be a
workstation, mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital
assistant, tablet computer, or laptop), computer, server, compute
cluster, server farm, game console, set-top box, kiosk, embedded
system, a gym machine, a retail system or other device having at
least one processor and memory. Embodiments of the present
invention may be software executed by a processor, firmware,
hardware or any combination thereof in a computing device.
[0457] In this document, terms such as "computer program medium"
and "computer-usable medium" may be used to generally refer to
media such as a removable storage unit or a hard disk installed in
hard disk drive. Computer program medium and computer-usable medium
may also refer to memories, such as a main memory or a secondary
memory, which can be memory semiconductors (e.g., DRAMs, etc.).
These computer program products provide software to computer
systems of the present invention.
[0458] Computer programs (also called computer control logic) may
be stored on main memory and/or secondary memory. Computer programs
may also be received via a communications interface. Such computer
programs, when executed, may enable computer systems of the present
invention to implement embodiments described herein. Where
embodiments are implemented using software, the software can be
stored on a computer program product and loaded into a computer
system using, for example, a removable storage drive, an interface,
a hard drive, and/or communications interface.
[0459] Based on the description herein, a person skilled in the
relevant art will recognize that the computer programs, when
executed, can enable one or more processors to implement processes
described above, such as the steps in the methods illustrated by
the figures. In an embodiment, the one or more processors can be
part of a computing device incorporated in a clustered computing
environment or server farm. Further, in an embodiment, the
computing process performed by the clustered computing environment
may be carried out across multiple processors located at the same
or different locations.
[0460] Software of the present invention may be stored on any
computer-usable medium. Such software, when executed in one or more
data processing device, causes the data processing device to
operate as described herein. Embodiments of the invention employ
any computer-usable or -readable medium, known now or in the
future. Examples of computer-usable mediums include, but are not
limited to, primary storage devices (e.g., any type of random
access or read only memory), secondary storage devices (e.g., hard
drives, floppy disks, CD ROMS, ZIP disks, tapes, magnetic storage
devices, optical storage devices, MEMS, nanotechnological storage
devices, memory cards or other removable storage devices, etc.),
and communication mediums (e.g., wired and wireless communications
networks, local area networks, wide area networks, intranets,
etc.).
[0461] Embodiments have been described above with the aid of
functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of
specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of
these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined
herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries
can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships
thereof are appropriately performed.
[0462] While many of the exemplary embodiments discussed above make
reference to a color-coded heart rate zone-based system,
color-coded zone systems based on zones of other parameters
including, but not limited to, speed, pace, stride rate, calories,
respiration rate, blood oxygen level, blood flow, hydration status,
or body temperature may also be employed. The present invention is
therefore not to be limited to only heart rate based zone
systems.
[0463] Furthermore, while many of the exemplary embodiments
discussed above make reference to a color-coded heart rate
zone-based system where the zones may be defined as ranges of
percentages of an athlete's maximum heart rate, heart rate zones
may be defined based on other parameters as well.
[0464] The present invention has been described above by way of
exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the present invention should
not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments,
but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims
and their equivalences.
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