JP2011508615A - Cardiovascular mile - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for converting various athletic performance metrics / types into standard or common units of measure. For example, in one aspect, various types of athletic ability are converted into equivalent mileage. In another example, various types of athletic activities are converted into equivalent credits that can be used to earn rewards or other items. The conversion factor can be personalized based on athlete attributes such as height, weight, gender, and age.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this specification, U.S. Patent Application No. 61 / 012,410 filed 7 December 2007 and 3 March 2008. No. 61 / 033,355, a continuation-in-part of US Patent Application No. 61 / 033,355, which claims its benefits and priority.

Background Athletes or other active or health-oriented people often have their athletic ability, personal goals, benchmarks, or similar positions for one or more other athletes or other activities Track compared to people's motor skills. However, if, for example, two athletes have different forms of exercise capacity (for example, one athlete is running and the other athlete is performing resistance training, cycling, rowing, etc.) It may be difficult to compare athletic ability among people. For example, the runner may track performance based on distance traveled, such as miles traveled. The other prefers to exercise on cardio-type machines such as elliptical machines. However, the “distance” traveled while exercising on the elliptical machine does not correspond to the number of miles traveled by the runner, for example, one mile on the elliptical machine is not the same as one mile. Thus, some athletic performance monitoring systems offer some advantageous functions, but they also have some limitations. The present invention is provided to address several problems and to provide functions that were previously unavailable.

This overview is intended to provide a simplified form of some concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for converting various athletic performance metrics / types into standard units of measure. In one exemplary aspect, for example, certain exercises performed on a cardio-related machine or weight machine are converted into equivalent travel distances such as miles traveled.

  In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, various athletic performance metrics / types can be converted into units of measure that can be used to earn rewards or items. In one example, the unit of measurement may be the number of activity credits that can be used as currency for acquiring various items in the exercise monitoring system. Such items may include clothing items, personal devices (such as music players), gift cards, and the like.

  According to another aspect, a task, goal or competition may be created based on a common unit, regardless of the unit in which activities associated with the task, goal or competition are typically measured. When athletic performance data is received, the data can be converted to a common unit using a conversion factor. Thus, goals, challenges or competitions can be achieved using different equipment or activities. For example, certain competitions may be specified in mileage units. If a participant chooses weightlifting for a competition, the number of iterations can be converted to miles traveled to determine if the participant has finished the competition.

  According to another aspect, the conversion factor used to convert the first unit of athletic activity to the second unit may be determined based on the type of athletic activity performed. Alternatively or in addition, the conversion factor may be personalized based on personal attributes. For example, weight, height, gender, and age affect the number of calories burned or the amount of physical activity.

By way of example and not limitation, some aspects are shown in the accompanying figures. In the drawings, reference numerals indicate similar elements.
1 illustrates a system of one aspect. FIG. It is a figure which shows the node of 1 aspect. FIG. 1 illustrates a system in which multiple types of athletic activity can be tracked using a common unit in accordance with one or more aspects described herein. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for measuring athletic activity in common units according to one or more aspects set forth herein. FIG. 6 illustrates an example user interface that may be provided as part of an exercise device, according to various implementations of the invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of user equipment that can be used to interface with exercise equipment and record and transmit various data in accordance with one or more aspects set forth herein. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of user equipment that can be used to interface with exercise equipment and record and transmit various data in accordance with one or more aspects set forth herein. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of user equipment that can be used to interface with exercise equipment and record and transmit various data in accordance with one or more aspects set forth herein. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of user equipment that can be used to interface with exercise equipment and record and transmit various data in accordance with one or more aspects set forth herein. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a computing device that can access data stored on each device that can be a connection partner for each user device, according to one or more aspects described herein. FIG. 6 illustrates an example user interface that may prompt a user to send practice data from a music device to one or more sites according to one or more aspects described herein. FIG. 8 illustrates an example interface configured to track a user's athletic activity in a specified unit of measurement in accordance with one or more aspects described herein. FIG. 8 illustrates an example interface configured to track a user's athletic activity in a specified unit of measurement in accordance with one or more aspects described herein. Activity measured / recorded in a first unit according to one or more aspects shown herein is shown in a first manner, and activity measured / recorded in a second unit is shown in a second manner. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an interface for tracking daily athletic activity shown. FIG. 8 illustrates an example interface that displays further details of the amount of daily activity according to one or more aspects described herein. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an interface through which a user can select a display configuration according to one or more aspects described herein. FIG. 8 illustrates an example interface that displays only activity recorded / measured in cardiovascular miles according to one or more aspects described herein. FIG. 6 illustrates an example interface that displays only activities recorded / measured in actual mileage according to one or more aspects described herein. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an interface that allows a user to select various exercises for which practice data is to be displayed, according to one or more aspects described herein. Example goal tracking program interface that tracks the user's progress in reaching a goal, taking into account both actual mileage and cardiovascular mileage, according to one or more aspects described herein. FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an interface that provides a task menu according to one or more aspects described herein. It is a figure which shows the example of the interface which shows the progress of the several competitor team in a certain subject by several one aspect shown in this specification in several units. It is a figure which shows the example of the interface which makes the user select the other subject which should be displayed by the 1 or several aspect shown in this specification. It is a figure which shows the example of the interface which displays the progress of the several participant in a certain subject shown by several units by one or several aspects shown in this specification. FIG. 8 illustrates an example interface for selecting a training exercise according to one or more aspects described herein. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an interface through which a user can select various training programs according to one or more aspects described herein. FIG. 6 illustrates an example interface for tracking progress in a duathlon according to one or more aspects set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Aspects of methods and systems for tracking and comparing athletic performance are described. In the following, reference will be made in detail to the description of these embodiments shown in the drawings. Although each aspect is described in connection with these drawings, it is not intended that these aspects be limited to only the figures disclosed herein. Rather, it is intended to encompass all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of each of the foregoing embodiments set forth herein.

  Briefly, one aspect is a method and system for converting various athletic performance metrics / types into standard units of measure. For example, in one aspect, various types of athletic performance can be converted to equivalent mileage. As such, runners compare their athletic ability, measured in miles traveled, with a resistance training person whose athletic ability (eg lifted pounds) is converted to equivalent miles traveled. Also good. Thus, a myriad of athletic performance metrics (and athletes associated with those metrics) can be compared to each other or against a goal or benchmark by converting each athletic performance metric to a common unit.

  FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the system 100. In one aspect, the system 100 is a system that tracks and compares athletic performance. In various aspects, the system 100 may comprise multiple nodes. A node generally comprises any physical or logical entity for communicating information in the system 100, and is required for a given set of design parameters or performance constraints, hardware, software, or any combination thereof Can be implemented as Although only a limited number of nodes are shown in FIG. 1 for purposes of illustration, more or fewer nodes may be used for a given implementation.

  In various aspects, a node is a computer system, computer subsystem, computer, appliance, workstation, terminal, server, personal computer (PC), laptop, ultra laptop, handheld computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), Set Top Box (STB), Telephone, Mobile Phone, Cellular Phone, Handset, Wireless Access Point, Base Station (BS), Subscriber Station (SS), Mobile Subscriber Center (MSC), Radio Network Controller (RNC) ), Microprocessors, integrated circuits such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic circuits (PLDs), general purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and / or network processors, processors, interfaces, input / outputs (I / O) )apparatus Keyboard, mouse, display, printer, etc.), router, hub, gateway, bridge, switch, circuit, logic gate, register, semiconductor device, chip, transistor, or any other equipment, machine, tool, device, component, or It can be implemented with or as a combination of these. Each aspect is not limited to this description.

  In various aspects, a node may comprise or be implemented as software, software modules, applications, programs, subroutines, instruction sets, computing code, words, values, symbols, or combinations thereof. A node may be implemented according to a predefined computer language, style or syntax that instructs the processor to perform a function. Examples of computer languages may include C, C ++, Java, BASIC, Perl, Matlab, Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code, microcode for network processors, and the like. Each aspect is not limited to this description.

  Each node of system 100 may be arranged to exchange one or more types of information, such as media information and control information. Media information generally may refer to any data representing content for a user, such as image information, video information, graphical information, audio information, audio information, text information, numerical information, alphanumeric symbols, character symbols, and the like. Control information generally may refer to any data that represents a command, instruction or control word for an automated system. For example, the control information can be used to send media information to the system or instruct the node to process the media information in a certain way. Media information and control information may be exchanged between several different devices or networks.

  System 100 may include one or more nodes (such as nodes 110-130) arranged to exchange information via one or more wired and / or wireless communication media. Examples of wired communication media may include electrical wires, cables, printed circuit boards (PCBs), backplanes, switch fabrics, semiconductor materials, twisted pairs, coaxial cables, optical fibers, and the like. An example of a wireless communication medium may include a portion of the radio spectrum, such as a radio frequency (RF) spectrum. In such an implementation, each node of the system 100 exchanges information signals over a designated radio spectrum, such as one or more transmitters, receivers, transceivers, amplifiers, filters, control logic, antennas, etc. Suitable components and interfaces may be included.

  A communication medium may be connected to a node using an input / output (I / O) adapter. The I / O adapter may be arranged to operate using any technique suitable for controlling information signals between nodes using a desired set of communication protocols, services or operating procedures. The I / O adapter may also include a physical connector suitable for connecting the I / O adapter and a corresponding communication medium. Examples of I / O adapters can include network interfaces, network interface cards (NICs), line cards, disk controllers, video controllers, audio controllers, and the like.

  In various aspects, the communication system 100 can be a WiMAX network, a broadband wireless access (BWA) network, a WLAN, WMAN, a wireless broadband network (WWAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN), a code division multiple access (CDMA) network. , Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) network, time division synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA) network, time division multiple access (TDMA) network, extended TDMA (E-TDMA) network, pan-European digital mobile telephone (GSM) network, orthogonal frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) network, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) network, North American Digital Cellular (NADC) network, Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) network, Third Generation (3G) network, Fourth Generation (4G) network , Local area network (LAN), wide area Network (WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), internet, world wide web, cellular network, radio broadcast network, satellite network, and / or any other communications network configured to carry data Or may form part of such a network. Each aspect is not limited to this description.

  In one aspect, the system 100 can include a node 130. The node 130 may include, for example, a mobile device or a fixed device having a wireless function. A mobile device may comprise a universal device set that provides a connection to another wireless device, such as another mobile device or a stationary device. Examples of node 130 include computers, servers, workstations, notebook computers, handheld computers, telephones, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), combinations of cellular telephones and PDAs, and the like.

  Nodes 110-130 may have one or more wireless transceivers and wireless antennas. For example, in one aspect, each of the nodes 110-130 may have a plurality of transceivers and a plurality of antennas that exchange information signals via the wireless shared medium 160. For example, a channel 162, link, or connection may be formed using one or more frequency bands of the wireless shared medium 160 to send and receive packets 164. Each aspect is not limited to this description.

  FIG. 2 shows the node 110 of the communication system 100 more specifically. As shown in FIG. 2, the node exchanges components 140, modules 150, processors 210, memory 260, switches 220, transmitters 230, receivers 240, and antennas to exchange packets 164 via the wireless shared medium 160. Multiple elements such as 250 may be provided. Further, the transmitter 230 and the receiver 240 may be collectively referred to as a transceiver. Some elements may be implemented using, for example, one or more circuits, components, registers, processors, software subroutines, or any combination thereof. Although only a limited number of elements are shown in FIG. 2, it is understood that at node 110, any additional or fewer elements may be used as desired for a given implementation. Can do. Each aspect is not limited to this description.

  As described above, in one aspect, node 110 may include a processor 210. The processor 210 may be connected to the switch 220 and / or the transceiver (ie, transmitter 230 and receiver 240). The processor 210 may be a complex instruction set computer (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, a processor that implements a combination of instruction sets, or other processor devices, etc. May be implemented using any processor or logic circuit. For example, in one aspect, the processor 210 may be implemented as a general purpose processor. The processor 210 is a controller, microcontroller, embedded processor, digital signal processor (DSP), network processor, media processor, input / output (I / O) processor, media access control (MAC) processor, wireless baseband processor, field It can also be implemented as a dedicated processor, such as a programmable gate array (FPGA), programmable logic circuit (PLD), etc. Each aspect is not limited to this description.

  In one aspect, the processor 210 includes or can access the memory 260. Memory 260 may comprise any machine readable medium. Memory 260 may be implemented using any machine-readable or computer-readable medium capable of storing data, including both volatile and non-volatile memory. For example, memory 260 can be read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), double data rate DRAM (DDRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), static RAM (SRAM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, ferroelectric polymer memory, ovonic memory, polymer memory such as phase change or ferroelectric memory, It may include silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon type (SONOS) memory, magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of medium suitable for storing information. An integrated circuit or other medium in which part or all of the memory 260 may be included on the same integrated circuit as the processor 210, or part or all of the memory 260 is external to the integrated circuit of the processor 210 It is worth noting that it may be placed on a hard disk drive, for example. Each aspect is not limited to this description.

  When implemented at a node of system 100, node 110 may be arranged to exchange information between various nodes, such as node 120 and node 130, via a wired or wireless communication medium. Information may be exchanged via the wireless shared medium 160 as packets 164 comprising media information and / or control information, respectively. Packet 164 in this context may refer to any discrete set of information including units, frames, cells, segments, fragments, and the like. The packet can be of any size suitable for a given implementation. Each aspect is not limited to this description.

  In one aspect where the system 100 is a system for tracking and comparing athletic performance, the module 150 may include an athletic performance module. The athletic performance module of one aspect may communicate with one or more athletic performance sensors to collect information representative of the athletic performance of one or more athletes. The athletic performance module 150 may then convert each athlete's athletic performance into a common unit so that one or more athletes can be compared to each other, against individual goals, or against athletic performance benchmarks. In one aspect, the common unit can be the number of miles traveled. Alternatively or in addition, a common unit, such as the number of miles traveled, may be considered the number of credits. Thus, an equivalent mileage value may be considered as one credit, for example, a certain amount of cardiovascular movement (measured in some unit) is one mile (ie cardiovascular mile) mile)). The number of credits, as used herein, can generally refer to units used to track user activity by the athletic performance monitoring system. For example, the exercise monitoring system may include an online interactive site where users can track their athletic performance, performance, goals, rewards, challenges, competitions, events, etc. based on the amount of credit accumulated. Thus, the number of credits can be used to compare athletic performance between running activities and other cardiovascular training. Credit numbers can also be used to compare such activities among multiple users. The credit number, in one or more aspects, can be used in such an exercise monitoring system to purchase or earn rewards or unlock special features. Such rewards may include various wearable and non-wearable items including T-shirts, sweatshirts, wristbands, hats, headbands, shoes, music players, gift cards, and the like. The reward may also include virtual items for virtual entities such as avatars representing athletes in the exercise monitoring system.

  To track athletic performance, an active person or athlete may wear one or more athletic performance sensors. For example, an active person or athlete may wear a pedometer, an accelerometer including any shoe-mounted accelerometer assembly, a calorie monitor, a heart rate monitor, a GPS device, and the like. In one aspect, the athletic ability sensor may be included in clothing such as a pedometer or accelerometer built into the shoe. In addition, one or more of the athletic performance sensors communicate with a digital music player or other similar device or other data transfer-type device to transmit or relay data to the athletic performance module. You may memorize | store the data showing the athletic ability of the person or athlete who performs. Alternatively, the athletic ability sensor may send the athletic ability data directly or substantially directly to the athletic ability module. Furthermore, the athletic ability sensor may display the athletic ability of the active person or athlete, and then the active person or athlete may manually send data representing their athletic ability to the athletic ability module.

  Alternatively or in addition, an aspect of the athletic performance sensor may be coupled to an athletic performance device or machine. For example, one or more athletic ability sensors may be a step machine, elliptical machine, treadmill, resistance training (ie weight) machine, ergometer, exercise bike, climbing machine, or any other athletic ability device or machine Can be combined. The athletic performance sensor may detect, for example, the number of individual weight lifting iterations, climbed height, rowing mileage, etc., depending on the characteristics of the athletic performance equipment or machine. In one aspect, athletic performance sensors coupled to athletic performance equipment or machines can also be coupled to digital music players and the like provided by an active person or athlete. Thereafter, a digital music player or the like may store data representing the athletic ability of the active person or athlete in order to send or relay the data to the athletic ability module. Alternatively, an athletic performance sensor coupled to the athletic performance device or machine may send the athletic performance data directly or substantially directly to the athletic performance module. In addition, athletic ability sensors coupled to athletic performance equipment or machines display the athletic ability of the active person or athlete, and then the active person or athlete manually exercises data representing their athletic ability. It may be sent to the capability module.

  Thus, the athletic ability module may receive data representing the athletic ability of one or more active persons or athletes. However, the data may represent various types of athletic performance. For example, a runner may wear shoes that include an accelerometer or pedometer to track mileage, pace, average speed, and the like. The accelerometer or pedometer also sends athletic performance data to the digital music device for storage and transmission / relay to the athletic performance module. The second active person or athlete may perform resistance training (ie, weight lifting) on any number of resistance training machines to which one or more athletic performance sensors are coupled. The athletic performance sensor may detect total lift weight (ie, lift weight x number of iterations), maximum lift weight, lift speed / pace, delay between sets, and the like. Similarly, the resistance training machine also sends athletic performance data to digital music equipment for storage and transmission / relay to the athletic performance module. The athletic performance module may thereby receive data representing the number of miles traveled by the runner and the weight lifted by the resistance trainer. As described in more detail below, the system is from a cardio-type machine, such as an elliptical machine, rowing machine, stepper, or exercise bike, associated with a second active person performing cardiovascular exercise. Receiving athletic performance data may also be included.

  In one aspect, the athletic performance module then converts the received athletic performance data into a common unit. In one aspect, the athletic performance module converts the received athletic data into mileage, and more specifically, mileage (it is understood that this unit may be mileage). In the above example, the runner data originally represents the number of miles traveled. However, resistance trainer data represents total lift weight, maximum lift weight, lift speed / pace, delay between sets, etc. The athletic performance module may convert resistance trainer data into miles traveled in various ways. For example, the athletic performance module may include, for example, a database or look-up table that stores a predetermined conversion factor between the total weight lifted and the number of miles traveled. The database or lookup table may further contemplate other metrics, such as maximum lift weight, as described above. Alternatively, the athletic performance module may apply the data to one or more algorithms for calculating an equivalent mileage.

  The athletic performance module may further determine caloric usage or burned calories for each athletic performance, such as any cardiovascular exercise data performed on any of the various cardiovascular exercise machines shown herein. . Once caloric usage or calories burned, the database, look-up table, or algorithm can use the calorie usage based on one or more physical characteristics of the athlete (eg, age, weight, gender, heart rate, etc.) The amount or calories burned can be converted to miles traveled. Alternatively, the athletic ability module does not determine caloric usage or burned calories of the athletic ability (in one aspect, by transmission or relay from a digital music device) but at a later time the athletic ability to be converted into miles Calorie usage or burned calories may be received from the device or machine. For example, an ergometer or rowing machine may track the number of miles that an athlete has earned. However, an ergometer or rowing machine may also track calorie usage or calories burned corresponding to rowing miles. The athletic performance module may convert calorie usage or burned calories into mileage, instead of converting rowing mileage into mileage. Thus, in an athletic performance device or machine that originally calculates calorie usage or burned calories, the operation of the athletic performance module can be simplified. Although described with reference to one or a small number of athletic performance metrics, the athletic performance module is responsible for any number of athletic performance metrics when calculating, determining, or otherwise generating an equivalent mileage. It should be understood that it may be based.

  One or more active people and / or athletes, when their athletic ability is converted to a common unit, for example, miles traveled, each person's athletic ability is used as a mutual goal, or as an athletic performance benchmark. Can be compared. For example, an active person or athlete sets a personal goal of running 100 miles, but attempts to achieve an exercise equivalent to running 100 miles by performing various athletic activities. Similarly, an exercise benchmark can be proposed to run 25 miles per week. An active person or athlete can reach the benchmark by any form of athletic activity. Finally, after each athletic ability or activity has been converted to a common unit, in one aspect, mileage, multiple activists and athletes may participate in competitions, races, or other events. Such a competition, race, or other event is a U.S. patent entitled “INTERACTIVE AVATAR FOR SOCIAL NETWORK SERVICES” filed on November 26, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. It is generally described in application Ser. No. 12 / 324,140.

  Tracking and measuring athletic performance using a common unit allows assignments and competitions from a variety of different exercise machines or equipment. Tasks and competitions are generally described in U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 031,380 entitled “COLLECTION AND DISPLAY OF ATHLETIC INFORMATION” filed on February 14, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Are listed. In one example, a user issues a challenge that asks another user to accumulate 200 credits or miles traveled (ie, a common unit) by a certain date and time. Since the tasks use a common unit, the participants of the task can select their favorite activities or equipment. Thus, the first participant may perform a weight listing to achieve a 200 credit or mile goal and the second participant may use a rowing machine to meet the challenge. Another participant can choose to run, in which case no conversion is done for this participant. Specifically, activities performed (eg, rowing or barbell lifts) can be converted to a common unit to determine whether each participant has met and / or won the task. . Alternatively, a participant may choose to perform multiple types of activities to achieve a specified goal.

  In one aspect, a task may be created for multiple activities or devices. That is, the issue creator may specify that the participant or team of participants must perform multiple activities. The amount of each activity that must be performed to accomplish the task can be specified in common units so that task data can be more easily compared and evaluated. The amount of each activity required may be specified as an absolute amount, a ratio (eg, 10% activity 1, 25% activity 2, and 65% activity 3), etc. In another aspect, the task may require several different activities without individually specifying the exact type of activity or instrument that must be performed or used, respectively. In such cases, the type of activity performed by the participant may not be predictable, so the number of credits or miles traveled to facilitate the determination of whether the challenge has been met by the participant or team of participants. Common units can be used. In another aspect, the task may require a certain amount of activity at a location, regardless of the equipment used or the activity being performed. Thus, a common unit can be used to determine whether the amount of activity performed meets the goal or requirement of the task. FIG. 3 shows a system in which an athlete 301 uses a plurality of devices 305 to achieve a specified ability target. Specifically, the amount of activity performed in each of the devices 305 can be converted into a common unit such as the number of miles traveled and added to the progress tracking program 307. The progress tracking program 307 can be divided into a plurality of sections 309 corresponding to the amount of activity required for each of the plurality of devices 305. For example, each athlete is equivalent to 200 credits or miles traveled on elliptical machine 305a, 150 credits or miles traveled on rowing machine 305b, and 250 credits or miles traveled. There may be a case where it is required to perform a weight lifting activity 305c. Each section 309 may be filled according to the amount of progress for the corresponding activity.

  As mentioned above, the system allows conversion of various athletic performance metrics / types into standard units of measure. In one exemplary aspect, the standard unit of measure is mileage, most preferably mileage. The athletic performance system can determine the amount of common units associated with an athlete's activity by converting units or attributes (eg, calories burned) measured using a conversion factor. In one exemplary embodiment, the conversion factor is represented by equaling 100 burned calories to 1 mile or 1 mile credit. Therefore, if an athlete burns 400 calories during a weightlifting session or a cardio session on an elliptical machine, the athletic performance monitoring system converts the calories burned to 4 credits or 4 miles traveled. Provides a basis for comparison. Similarly, if an athlete burns 800 calories on a rowing machine, 800 calories are converted to 8 credits, miles traveled or other common units (ie 800 calories / 100 = 8 credits or 8 miles traveled). obtain. It is further understood that an exemplary conversion factor may have a metric component that provides 1 mileage credit for every 60 calories burned.

  According to additional or alternative aspects, the conversion factor may vary based on the athlete and / or attributes of the activity being performed. For example, heavier athletes can burn calories more easily than lighter people. Therefore, the number of calories burned by heavier athletes is converted to a common unit using a conversion factor that is larger than a lighter weight person (for example, 125 calories burned = 1 mile instead of 100 calories burned). obtain. Alternatively or in addition, the conversion factor may vary based on gender, age, equipment used, activity performed, heart rate, etc. According to another aspect, the user may specify his conversion factor to make assignments, goals and / or achievements more difficult or easier. The conversion factor can be calculated in various ways. For example, the conversion factor may be determined based on the average burned calories during a mile run for the test individual group. Rather than changing the conversion factor, the number of calories burned may be determined for each individual case so that the same conversion factor can be used for all athletes. For example, height, weight, gender, age or heart rate may be taken into account when measuring the number of calories burned by an athlete rather than when converting calories burned to miles traveled. The heart rate information may include a resting heart rate or a heart rate during practice during activity. In addition, when determining the conversion factor, data such as the average running calories of actual running can be taken into consideration.

  In at least one aspect, miles traveled or some other common unit may be converted to the amount of calories burned using a conversion factor. Thus, if an athlete runs 5 miles on a treadmill, the athletic performance monitoring system can convert 5 miles to the number of calories burned based on the conversion factor shown herein. Such a conversion is when the activity performed by one or more athletes is not measured in units of calories burned, and the athlete wants to know the approximate number of calories burned when he / she performed an activity. Can be used. Alternatively or in addition, other types of measurements may be converted using other conversion factors. For example, the number of weight lifting iterations may be converted into the number of calories burned or another common unit using a conversion factor. Similarly, the amount of time spent in step aerobic exercise may be converted to the number of calories burned, the number of activity credits, or the number of miles traveled using another conversion factor.

  FIG. 4 shows a method for converting the first measurement unit of athletic ability into the second measurement unit. At step 400, for example, the athletic performance monitoring system may determine the type of activity being performed by the athlete. The type of activity may include the type of equipment, the general category of activity (eg, aerobic or anaerobic), and the like. At step 405, the system may obtain activity data from one or more measurement devices. Measuring equipment may include sensors such as pedometers, accelerometers, heart rate monitors, distance sensors, and the like. At step 410, the system may determine a conversion factor to use based on the type of activity performed. For example, when the type of activity performed corresponds to weight lifting, a conversion factor that converts the number of iterations to a common unit is used, and for rowing machine activities, a conversion factor that converts the number of calories burned to a common unit is used. Can be used. At step 415, the system may determine the number of common units to be given to the athlete for the performed activity based on the conversion factor and the received activity data. Optionally, the number of common units to be provided may be adjusted by a correction factor in step 420. The correction factor can be used to adjust the number of common units to be given based on attributes such as gender, age, heart rate, weight, etc. Thus, the correction factor may provide a more personalized analysis of the user's motor skills. Alternatively, the correction factor may be combined with the conversion factor so that any necessary corrections are taken into account by the conversion factor.

  FIGS. 5 to 27 show exemplary embodiments of the present invention in which user activities on the gym equipment are converted into common units.

  When a user or athlete, such as a runner, collects information using the system and / or aspects of the present invention, one aspect of the user interface uses information associated with each physical activity of each athlete. And may provide additional mechanisms and functions for sharing. In one example, exercise information is displayed on user interface 500 and / or user interface 1200, as described in more detail below.

  For example, a user or athlete may attempt to perform walking, jogging, running, or other athletic activities using athletic performance equipment or machines (ie, exercise equipment). For example, the user or athlete may be a step machine, elliptical machine, treadmill, resistance training (ie weight) machine, ergometer, exercise bike, climbing machine, or any other athletic equipment or machine, and / or Or try to use a combination of these. As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the user or athlete may provide, among other things, a digital music player 203 that has the ability to monitor and store athletic performance data. In another aspect, the user or athlete may use a flash drive or other similar universal serial bus (USB) storage device, compact flash, memory stick, secure digital card, any other portable storage device, etc. Another storage device may be provided. As described in more detail below, the digital music player 203 or other storage device may be connected to the athletic equipment or machine via, for example, a wired connection or a wireless connection, in order to interact with the athletic equipment or machine. Can be combined. In addition, the digital music player 203 or other storage device may be coupled to athletic equipment or machines via a combination of wired and wireless connections. For example, a digital music player 203 or other storage device is coupled to an athletic performance device or machine via a wired connection, and a user or athlete can wirelessly use, for example, a remote control device or other similar wireless device. The connection may interact with or control the digital music player 203 or other storage device.

  In one aspect, athletic performance data may be generated by one or more athletic performance sensors located directly on or near the user or athlete, such as, for example, the surface or interior of a user or athlete's shoe. In another aspect, athletic performance data may be generated by one or more athletic performance sensors coupled to athletic performance equipment or machines. In another aspect, the athletic performance data is generated by one or more athletic performance sensors located directly at or near the user or athlete and is coupled to athletic performance equipment or machines. It can also be generated by a capability sensor.

  In one aspect, the user or athlete may provide, among other things, a digital music player 203 or other storage device that has the ability to monitor and store current athletic performance data. The digital music player 203 or other storage device may also store and provide previous athletic performance data. The digital music player 203 or other storage device can interact directly with the user interface 500 via a wired or wireless connection. For example, an athletic performance device or machine that includes a user interface 500 may further include an interface 540, which is a wireless transceiver or wired connector for bi-directional interface with a digital music player 203 or other storage device. Good.

  More specifically, individual athletic performance equipment or machines may measure or sense performance data for a user or athlete interacting with the athletic performance equipment. For example, the step machine may send weight, climbing speed (eg, vertical feet per minute), calories burned, heart rate, etc. to a digital music player 203 or other storage device coupled to the step machine as described above. Further, the digital music player 203 or other storage device may send previous athletic performance data or other stored athletic performance data to the athletic performance device or machine. In one aspect, current athletic performance data, previous or stored athletic performance data (eg, stored by digital music player 203 or other storage device), or a combination thereof is displayed by user interface 500. obtain. In one aspect, the user interface 500 may be an athletic equipment or machine coupled to the athletic equipment or machine that can be viewed and accessed by a user or athlete interacting with the athletic equipment or machine. More specifically, the user interface 500 may be a console that displays the athletic ability of the user or athlete in substantially real time. In addition, the user interface 500 console can also display a comparison of substantially real-time athletic performance data with previous or other stored athletic performance data.

  In one aspect, the user interface 500 console may include one or more portions. For example, the user interface 500 console may include a practice portion 510, a history portion 520, and a message portion 530. In addition, the user interface 500 may also include an interface 540 for coupling to a digital music player 203 or other storage device. In one aspect, the interface 540 can be a wired or wireless interface as described above. The practice portion 510 may include, for example, an input device for a user or athlete to enter practice goals or other practice parameters. For example, the input device can be a numeric keypad for the user or athlete to enter practice goals or other practice parameters. The user or athlete uses the input device to select a quick start (eg, a predetermined time at a predetermined intensity) or enter practice time, distance, calories burned, or any other practice program Can do. In addition, the practice portion 510 may also include a display on which the user or athlete may be shown their progress in a quick start, time, distance, burned calories, or any other practice program.

  The history portion 520 may interact with the digital music player 203 or other storage device via the interface 540 to retrieve historical data related to the user or athlete's past capabilities. For example, the history portion 520 may search for and display a user's or athlete's previous and best exercises on individual athletic equipment or machines. Specifically, the history portion 520 includes the user's or athlete's last and best practice time, distance, calories burned, equivalent distance (eg, “Cardiovascular Miles” or “Athletic Activity Credits”), and floor number (E.g., if the history portion is coupled to a stepping ability device or machine) may be retrieved and displayed. In addition, the history portion may also display the current athletic ability compared to the user's or athlete's previous exercise and previous best practice so that the user or athlete's current athletic ability is displayed. In another aspect, the user interface 500 may include at least one of previous or other stored athletic performance data associated with the user or athlete via a wired and / or wireless connection to another athletic performance database. Part can also be received. For example, user interface 500 may include the Internet or other web-based connection to send current and / or previous athletic performance data interactively.

  Equivalent distances, such as cardiovascular miles, can represent different types of athletic performance data converted to common units. For example, a runner may wear shoes that include sensors such as pedometers and accelerometers for tracking distance traveled, pace, average speed, and the like. The sensor may further send athletic performance data to the digital music player 203 or other storage device for storage and transmission / relay in the user interface 500. Alternatively, a user or athlete may perform resistance training (ie weight lifting) on any number of resistance training machines to which one or more athletic performance sensors are coupled. The athletic performance sensor may detect total lift weight (ie, lift weight x number of iterations), maximum lift weight, lift speed / pace, delay between sets, and the like. Similarly, the resistance training machine also sends athletic performance data to the digital music player 203 or other storage device for storage and transmission / relay in the user interface 500.

  In one aspect, the user interface 500 may then convert the received athletic performance data into a common unit. In one aspect, the athletic performance module may convert the received athletic performance data into mileage (in one aspect, miles). In the above example, the runner data originally represents the number of miles traveled. However, resistance trainer data represents total lifted weight, maximum lifted weight, lifting speed / pace, delay between sets, etc. User interface 1700 may convert resistance trainer data into mileage in a variety of ways. For example, the user interface 1700 may include, for example, a database or lookup table that stores a predetermined conversion factor between the total weight lifted and the number of miles traveled. The database or lookup table may further contemplate additional metrics such as maximum lift weight as described above. Alternatively, the athletic performance module may apply the data to one or more algorithms for calculating an equivalent mileage.

  The user interface 5500 can also determine calorie usage or burned calories for each exercise. After calorie usage or burned calories are determined, the database, lookup table, or algorithm is based on one or more physical characteristics of the user or athlete (eg, age, weight, gender, heart rate, etc.) Thus, the calorie consumption or burned calories can be converted into mileage. One or more physical characteristics may be provided by, for example, a digital music player 203, other storage device, or an internet or web connection of the user interface 500. Alternatively, the user interface does not determine athletic performance caloric usage or burned calories (in one aspect, transmission or relay from the digital music player 203, other storage device, or user interface 500 from the internet or web connection). Caloric usage or burned calories may be received from athletic equipment or machines for later conversion to mileage. For example, the ergometer may track the number of miles earned by the user's athlete. However, the ergometer may also track calorie usage or calories burned corresponding to the rowing mileage. The user interface 500 may convert calorie usage or burned calories rather than converting rowing miles into travel miles. Thus, the operation of the user interface 500 may be simplified with an athletic performance device or machine that originally calculates calorie usage or burned calories. Although described with reference to one or a small number of athletic performance metrics, the user interface 500 is based on a number of athletic performance metrics when calculating, determining, or otherwise generating an equivalent mileage. It should be understood that it may be. In one exemplary embodiment, the aforementioned conversion factor (100 burned calories = 1 mileage) can also be used here.

  When a user's or athlete's athletic ability is converted to a common unit, such as miles traveled, the user or athlete has his / her athletic ability, personal goals, athletic ability benchmarks, and / or previous athletic ability. You can compare. For example, a user or athlete may set a personal goal of running 100 miles, but perform a variety of athletic activities, including activities involving one or more athletic equipment or machines, equivalent to running 100 miles. Try to achieve by doing. Similarly, an exercise benchmark or intermediate goal can be proposed to run 25 miles per week. The user or athlete reaches this benchmark or intermediate goal by any form of athletic activity. Finally, after each athletic ability or activity has been converted to a common unit, in one aspect, mileage, multiple activists and athletes may participate in competitions, races, or other events. Such competitions, races, or other events are set forth herein, and are also incorporated herein by reference, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 031,380 filed Feb. 14, 2008. It is also described in the issue.

  Message portion 530 may display a message for a user or athlete. For example, the message portion 530 can prompt the user or athlete to synchronize their digital music player 203 or other storage device with the user interface 500 or 2300 to transfer athletic performance data. Further, the message portion may provide an indication as to how much current practice or athletic performance data is compared to the best practice or athletic performance data of the user or athlete. If the user or athlete is participating in a task, competition, etc., the message portion 530 may provide an indication regarding the user or athlete's progress or comparison with the top of the task or competition. In addition, message portion 530 may also provide a congratulatory message or other feedback if the user or athlete achieves a personal goal, benchmark, or intermediate goal.

  As further shown in FIGS. 6-9, the USB device 602 generally includes a housing 606 and a controller 608 housed in the housing 606. The general components and functions of the controller 608 relating to the exercise functions are similar to the digital music player 203 or other storage device described above. The housing 606 includes a connector 610, which is typically a standard USB connector with embedded leads 612 or contacts. As will be described in more detail below, the connector 610 may be a computer USB hub (FIG. 10) or a USB hub or other located on an athletic equipment or machine (shown schematically on the console shown in FIG. 5). It is adapted to be connected to the interface. The housing 606 has a first push button 614 that operates in conjunction with the first input of the controller 608 to control the wearable device 602 as needed. The housing 606 also has a second push button 616 that operates in conjunction with the second input of the controller 608 to control the wearable device 602 as needed. A display 618 of the controller 608 is accommodated in the front surface of the housing 606. As further shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, there is a protrusion 620 on the back of the housing 606. The protrusion 620 has a generally circular cross section and has an enlarged round tip. The protrusion 620 is adapted to be inserted into the receptacle or opening of the support 604.

  As further shown in FIG. 9, each component of the controller 608 is housed in and supported by the housing 606. The controller 608 includes various electrical components that allow the controller 608 and the device 602 to act as interface devices, in which case the device 602 communicates with, for example, a shoe-mounted sensor, exercise capability, and other time Information can be recorded and stored, and capability data can be uploaded to a remote location or website, as described in more detail below. The controller 608 can also interact with athletic equipment or machines for data recording as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the support 604 is generally in the form of a wristband having a central portion between the first end and the second end. Wristband 604 may include a first member and a second member that are integrally molded or interconnected together. The wristband is flexible to fit around the user's wrist. The wristband 604 has a receiving structure for connecting to the device 602. Support 604 includes a protective sleeve 622 proximate to the central portion for receiving connector 610. The protective sleeve 622 has a generally curved surface. The sleeve 622 may have an internal structure that helps secure the connector 610. The support 604 also has an opening 624 (FIG. 9) that is dimensioned to receive the protrusion 620 of the wearable device 602 at the central portion. Thus, when the wearable device 602 is connected to the wristband 604, the connector 610 is secured within the protective sleeve 622 and the protrusion 620 is received by the opening 624.

  As described above, in one configuration, wearable device assembly 600 is operatively connected to a sensor, such as attached to a shoe. Like the digital music player 203 or other storage device, the wearable device 602 receives data from sensors associated with the user's athletic ability. It will be appreciated that the user may wear equipment on the wrist while performing athletic activities. The user can then remove the wearable device 602 from the wristband 604 and connect the device 602 to a personal computer as shown in FIG. Upload to remote locations such as websites.

  In another configuration, the wearable device 602 can be used in conjunction with athletic equipment or machines, such as, for example, gym equipment. For example, gym equipment such as treadmills, spinning machines, elliptical machines, step machines, bicycles, and other weight equipment may have USB ports for additional functions. The user may remove the wearable device 602 from the wristband 604 and insert the device 602 into a gym equipment, such as a USB port or other interface located on the stepper console shown in FIG. A user performs an athletic activity and data associated with the activity is received by the USB device 602. The type of data that a USB device can receive is generally similar to the data reception described above for an operable connection between a digital music player 203 or other storage device and a gym equipment. When the athletic activity is complete, the user removes the USB device 602 from the gym equipment and again attaches the device to the wristband 604 or any other desired support. The user can then insert the USB device 602 into a personal computer where data from athletic activities associated with the gym equipment can be uploaded to a remote location, such as the aforementioned website. Further, an additional wired or wireless communication function can be incorporated into the device 602. In that case, cardiovascular exercise data can be transferred from the cardiovascular exercise device to the device 602. The device 602 can be connected to a computer where the data can be transferred to an interface for providing an equivalent mileage based on cardiovascular motion data using the conversion factors shown herein. it can. This data can then be displayed by the interface 1200 as described below.

  Although described with reference to two-way communication of athletic performance data, in another aspect, the digital music player 203, other storage device, and / or the Internet or web-based connection of the user interface 500 is an athletic performance device or One or more parameters of the machine can also be controlled. For example, the internet or web-based connection of the digital music player 203, other storage device, and / or the user interface 500 may be a practice level, duration, strength, pace, slope, target heart rate, resistance, or athletic performance device. Or any other parameter associated with the machine may be provided. In one aspect, the one or more parameters may reflect current athletic performance data and / or previous athletic performance data. Alternatively or in addition, the one or more parameters may reflect a performance training program or plan. In one or more configurations, the digital music player 203 or USB device 602 may be configured to convert athletic performance data from one unit to another. Accordingly, athletic performance data can be transmitted in a converted form to the athletic performance monitoring system.

  FIGS. 11-27 illustrate the collection and display of user or athlete capability data collected from the digital music player 203 or other storage device by the user interface 1200. In one aspect, athletic performance data is collected when the digital music player 203 is synchronized, for example, as shown in FIG. In another aspect, at least performance data associated with athletic performance equipment or machines (ie, gym equipment) may be sent and collected over a network, the Internet, or other wired or wireless connection. For example, an athletic performance device or machine may connect to a network and / or the Internet via a wired or wireless connection to send and receive athletic performance data associated with a user or athlete. Once the user or athlete data is collected, the user or athlete displays and interacts with athletic performance data as shown in the user interface 1200 of FIG. In one or more configurations, data from the device can be transmitted to the capability monitoring system via the intermediary device. For example, a plurality of exercise equipment may be connected to each other via a local area network, and only one of these machines may be connected to a wide area network such as the Internet. Thus, data from multiple devices can be sent to a remote monitoring system using a machine connected to a wide area network as an intermediary device.

  For example, FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate that the user interface 1200 may display details associated with exercise or other athletic performance. As shown, the details correspond to practice on elliptical machines. In particular, FIG. 13 shows that 30 minutes of elliptical machine practice is converted to equivalent mileage. When practice is converted to equivalent mileage (or other common units), along with actual mileage, for example as part of an interactive exercise training tool and / or interactive exercise training log Can be displayed. Such interactive exercise training tools and / or interactive exercise training logs are described in US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 032,018, filed Feb. 27, 2008, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. ing.

  More specifically, FIG. 14 shows a range of dates on which the user or athlete has completed running or other exercise. For dates when users or athletes have completed their exercises, at least in part, on one or more athletic equipment or machines, the athletic ability data may be different from actual running athletic ability data, for example. Shown with. For example, a date such as May 15 indicates a heart icon to indicate that the user interface 1200 displays an equivalent distance for each practice or athletic ability (ie, “cardiovascular miles”). Or it can be displayed with other similar identifications. FIG. 15 shows that the user interface 1200 may display exercise details, such as, for example, athletic equipment or machine type, equivalent distance, duration, calorie usage or burned calories.

  FIG. 16 shows that users or athletes can sort their practice or athletic ability based on whether the practice or athletic ability represents actual mileage or equivalent cardiovascular distance. Has been. For example, the user or athlete may select the user interface 1200 to display all running and cardiovascular distances, all running only, or only all cardiovascular distances. FIG. 17 shows a user interface 1200 that displays only equivalent cardiovascular distances or athletic performance. FIG. 18 shows a user interface 1200 that displays only the actual travel distance.

  FIG. 19 illustrates that a user or athlete may use the user interface 1200 to set goals, benchmarks, intermediate goals, and / or exercise training programs. For example, FIG. 20 shows that the user or athlete has set a goal of running 50 miles in 12 weeks. Further, FIG. 20 also shows the progress of the user or athlete. In one aspect, users or athletes may achieve their goals by running, other athletic activities, or combinations thereof. Thus, the user or athlete's progress is displayed as the sum of any actual mileage and any equivalent cardiovascular distance (or other common units such as athletic activity credits). Thus, users or athletes can achieve their goals using activities of various motor skills that may not be measured in the same manner (ie, the same units).

  In FIG. 21, a user or athlete utilizes the user interface 1200 and is generally described herein and in US patent application Ser. No. 12 / 031,380 filed on Feb. 14, 2008. It has been shown that you can participate in competitions, assignments, races, or other events. Specifically, a user or athlete may participate in a competition, challenge, race, or other event by completing a run, other athletic activity, or a combination thereof. Thus, each person's progress in a competition, assignment, race, or other event is the sum of any actual running and any other athletic ability measured in equivalent cardiovascular distance or other common units. It is determined. In addition, a competition, assignment, race, or other event may specify a running portion and a portion of athletic activity. For example, a 50 mile assignment may include an actual mileage of 25 miles and an equivalent cardiovascular distance of 25 miles.

  FIG. 23 shows that the user or athlete can select one or more tasks to participate. In one aspect, tasks are sorted by total distance (ie, including cardiovascular distance equivalent to actual mileage). 24 and 25 illustrate that the user interface 1200 may display the progress of one or more users or athletes participating in a competition, challenge, race, or other event. The progress of each user or athlete can be shown as a combination of the number of cardio miles equivalent to the actual mileage. For example, the progress of each user or athlete is shown in different colors, color schemes, to distinguish which part of the total distance traveled represents the actual distance traveled and the equivalent cardiovascular distance. It can be shown as a bar graph with a pattern or the like. Alternatively, a competition, challenge, race, or other event may include individual requirements for cardiovascular distance equivalent to actual mileage to separately display the user's or athlete's progress in each Good. In addition, the running ability of the user or athlete may be compared with each other's other athletic ability as measured, for example, by an equivalent cardiovascular distance.

  26 and 27, the user interface 1200 is an exercise training tool and / or exercise training log as described in US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 032,018, filed February 27, 2008. Has also been shown to work. For example, a user or athlete may select a training program for running a walk-to-run, 5 km, 10 km, half marathon, and / or marathon. Further, the user or athlete may perform training for a duathlon. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 27, the duathlon may include a cardiovascular distance component equivalent to the actual mileage. Alternatively, the user or athlete may complete the training program using any combination of actual mileage or equivalent cardiovascular distance based on exercise of other athletic abilities.

  In this specification, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of each aspect. However, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known operations and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure aspects. It can be understood that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of each aspect.

  It is also noted that references to “one aspect” or “an aspect” mean that an individual feature, structure, or characteristic indicated in connection with the aspect is included in at least one aspect. Deserve. Where the phrase “in one aspect” is used in various places in the specification, this does not necessarily all refer to the same aspect.

  Among aspects, according to any number of factors, such as desired calculation speed, power level, heat resistance, processing cycle budget, input data speed, output data speed, memory resources, data bus speed, and other performance constraints Some are implemented using a variable architecture. For example, an aspect may be implemented using software executed by a general purpose or special purpose processor. In another example, an aspect may be implemented as dedicated hardware, such as a circuit, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable logic circuit (PLD), or digital signal processor (DSP). In another example, an aspect may be implemented by any combination of programmed general purpose computer components and custom hardware components. Each aspect is not limited to this description.

  Some aspects are described using the expressions “coupled” and “connected” and their derivatives. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. For example, some embodiments may be described using the term “connected” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. In another example, some embodiments describe the use of the term “coupled” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. is there. However, the term “coupled” may mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other and may also cooperate or interact with each other. Each aspect is not limited to this description.

  Some aspects may be implemented using machine-readable media or products that, for example, when executed by a machine, may store instructions or a set of instructions that may cause the machine to perform methods and / or actions according to each aspect. There is also. Such machines include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, etc., and any hardware and / or software Can be implemented using any suitable combination of: The machine-readable medium or product may include any suitable type of memory unit, such as, for example, the example shown with reference to FIG. For example, the memory unit can be any memory device, memory product, memory medium, storage device, storage product, storage medium and / or storage unit, memory, removable or non-removable medium, erasable or non-erasable medium, writable Or rewritable medium, digital or analog medium, hard disk, floppy disk, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), write-once compact disk (CD-R), rewritable compact disk (CD-RW), optical disk, magnetic medium Various types of digital versatile discs (DVDs), tapes, cassettes, etc. may be included. The instructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. Instructions can be any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled, and / or interpreted, such as C, C ++, Java, BASIC, Perl, Matlab, Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code It can be implemented using any existing programming language. Each aspect is not limited to this description.

  Although several features of each aspect are shown herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of each aspect.

Claims (64)

Receiving first athletic performance data in a first unit of measurement from a first athletic equipment;
Receiving second athletic performance data in a second unit of measurement from a second athletic equipment; and converting the first athletic performance data and the second athletic performance data into third units, respectively. . The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether an exercise goal specified in a third unit is achieved based on the first athletic performance data and the second athletic performance data.   The method of claim 1, wherein the third unit is different from the first unit and the second unit.   2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first unit is calories burned and the third unit is miles traveled. Converting the first athletic ability data and the second athletic ability data into a third unit,
Determining a first conversion factor based on a first type of athletic activity associated with the first athletic performance data, and applying the first conversion factor to the first athletic performance data The method of claim 1 comprising:   6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first conversion factor is further determined based on an attribute of an individual performing the first type of athletic activity.   The method of claim 6, wherein the attribute comprises a resting heart rate.   7. The method of claim 6, wherein the attribute includes body weight. Determining a second conversion factor based on a second type of athletic activity associated with the second athletic performance data; and applying the second conversion factor to the second athletic performance data. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:   6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first type of athletic activity comprises elliptical machine activity.   6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first type of athletic activity includes cycling.   The first athletic ability data corresponds to the first participant in the competition, the second athletic ability data corresponds to the second participant in the competition, and the method determines the winner of the competition. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing the first athletic performance data and the second athletic performance data in a third unit.   The method of claim 1, wherein the first athletic performance data and the second athletic performance data are received at the athletic performance monitoring system from one or more remote athletic equipment.   14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more remote exercise devices include a heart rate monitor.   14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more remote exercise equipment includes a pedometer.   14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more remote exercise equipment includes an ergometer.   17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first athletic performance data is received at the athletic performance monitoring system from one or more remote athletic devices via an intermediary athletic device. Receiving first athletic performance data in a first unit;
Receiving second athletic performance data in a second unit different from the first unit; and the first athletic performance data and the second athletic performance data, respectively, A method comprising converting to a third unit corresponding to a type of funds that can be used to acquire one or more items in the athletic performance monitoring system, different from the second unit.   19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first unit corresponds to a bicycle riding exercise and the second unit corresponds to a bicycle mileage.   19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more items include exercise equipment.   The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more items include clothing.   The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more items include virtual items. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining whether an athletic goal specified in the third unit is achieved based on the first athletic performance data and the second athletic performance data.   24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first athletic performance data corresponds to an activity performed by a first user and the second athletic performance data corresponds to an activity performed by a second user.   The first athletic performance data corresponds to a first type of athletic activity, and the second athletic performance data corresponds to a second type of athletic activity different from the first type of athletic activity. 24. The method according to 24. Receiving a specification for creating an athletic task, wherein the specification includes a first requirement of a first athletic activity and a second requirement of a second athletic activity, the first requirement The second requirement is specified in a common unit, and at least one of the first athletic activity and the second athletic activity is not measured in a common unit; and a method comprising the step of creating the exercise task . Receiving the first athletic performance data corresponding to the first athletic activity in a first unit different from the common unit; and converting the first athletic performance data into the common unit. 26. The method according to 26. Receiving the second athletic performance data corresponding to the second athletic activity in a second unit different from the common unit; and converting the second athletic performance data into the common unit. 27. The method according to 27.   28. The method of claim 27, wherein the common unit corresponds to funds that can be used to obtain items from the athletic performance monitoring system.   30. The method of claim 29, wherein the specification is received at an athletic performance monitoring system.   28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first type of activity corresponds to elliptical machine activity and the second type of activity corresponds to boating machine activity.   28. The method of claim 27, wherein the exercise task is a duathlon. With a processor;
When executed, the device
Receive first athletic performance data from the first athletic equipment in the first unit of measurement,
Computer-readable instructions for causing second athletic performance data to be received in a second measurement unit from a second athletic equipment and converting the first athletic performance data and the second athletic performance data into third units, respectively. And a memory for storing the information. When the computer readable instructions are executed, the apparatus further causes the apparatus to determine whether the exercise goal specified in the third unit is achieved based on the first athletic performance data and the second athletic performance data.
34. Apparatus according to claim 33.   34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the third unit is different from the first unit and the second unit.   34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the first unit is burned calories and the third unit is miles traveled. Converting the first athletic ability data and the second athletic ability data into a third unit,
Determining a first conversion factor based on a first type of athletic activity associated with the first athletic performance data; and applying the first conversion factor to the first athletic performance data 34. The apparatus of claim 33, comprising: With a processor;
When executed, the device
Receiving a specification for creating an athletic task, wherein the specification includes a first requirement of a first athletic activity and a second requirement of a second athletic activity, the first requirement and The second requirement is specified in common units, at least one of the first athletic activity and the second athletic activity is not measured in common units, and stores computer readable instructions that cause the athletic task to be created A device comprising a memory. When the computer readable instructions are executed, the device further
Receiving second athletic ability data corresponding to a second athletic activity of a second unit different from the common unit, and converting the second athletic ability data into the common unit;
40. The apparatus of claim 38.   39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the common unit corresponds to funds that can be used to acquire items from the athletic performance monitoring system.   41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the specifications are received at an athletic performance monitoring system. With a processor;
When executed, the device
Receive the first athletic performance data in the first unit,
Receiving second athletic performance data in a second unit different from the first unit, and the first athletic performance data and the second athletic performance data, respectively, A device comprising a memory for storing computer readable instructions for converting into a third unit corresponding to a type of funds that can be used to acquire one or more items in the athletic performance monitoring system, different from the second unit.   43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first unit corresponds to the number of weight lifting iterations and the second unit corresponds to burned calories.   43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the one or more items include exercise equipment.   43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the one or more items include clothing.   43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the one or more items include virtual items. Receiving cardiovascular motion data in a first unit of measurement from the exercise equipment; and converting athletic performance data from the first unit of measurement to a second unit of measurement that is a distance traveled.   48. The method of claim 47, wherein the second unit of measure can be used to acquire items from the athletic performance monitoring system.   48. The method of claim 47, wherein the cardiovascular exercise data includes the number of burned calories and the step of converting athletic performance data is performed using a conversion factor of 100 burned calories = 1 mile.   48. The method of claim 47, wherein the exercise equipment comprises an elliptical machine.   48. The method of claim 47, wherein the exercise equipment comprises an exercise bike.   48. The method of claim 47, further comprising generating an athletic performance monitoring interface that displays the amount of first athletic activity in the first unit of measure and the amount of second athletic activity in the second unit of measurement.   53. The method of claim 52, wherein the interface can be configured to display only one of a first amount of motor activity in the first unit of measurement and a second amount of motor activity in the second unit of measurement.   54. The method of claim 52, wherein the amount of first athletic activity is displayed in a manner different from the amount of second athletic activity.   48. The method of claim 47, wherein the cardiovascular motion data is received from a music playback device via a music service provider. With a processor;
When executed, the device
Memory for storing computer-readable instructions for receiving cardiovascular motion data in a first unit of measurement from an exercise device and converting motor performance data from the first unit of measurement to a second unit of measurement that is a distance traveled A device comprising:   57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the cardiovascular exercise data includes the number of calories burned and the step of converting athletic performance data is performed using a conversion factor of 100 burned calories = 1 mileage.   57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the exercise equipment comprises an elliptical machine.   57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the exercise equipment comprises an exercise bike.   When the computer readable instructions are executed, the apparatus further generates a motor performance monitoring interface that displays on the device the amount of first motor activity in the first unit of measurement and the amount of second motor activity in the second unit of measurement. 57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein:   61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the interface can be configured to display only one of a first amount of athletic activity in the first unit of measure and a second amount of athletic activity in the second unit of measurement.   61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the first amount of athletic activity is displayed in a different manner than the amount of second athletic activity.   58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the user associated with the cardiovascular motion data is provided with a credit corresponding to the mileage value.   64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the credit is displayed at the athletic performance monitoring interface.

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