US 7,062,225 · Granted 2006-06-13
The Wireless Pedometer That Talks Back Your Fitness Stats
Imagine a step counter that doesn't just count steps—it wirelessly picks up motion data, calculates your speed and distance, and then tells you the results out loud through a speaker or even an MP3 player. This patent covers the whole system of how these parts talk to each other and deliver your workout numbers in real time.
The plain-English version
What it protects
What's protected here is a wireless pedometer system where a motion sensor sends signals to a processing engine inside the device, which then calculates athletic metrics like average speed and distance traveled and outputs those numbers as audio messages to the user. The claim covers the specific combination of: a wireless transceiver receiving motion data, a performance engine that converts that data into metrics, and an audio output mechanism—plus the method of using these components together to monitor athletic activity.
Why it matters
This patent bridges two fitness technologies that hadn't been tightly integrated before: real-time motion sensing with instant audio feedback. By combining wireless communication, on-device calculation, and voice output, it enabled pedometers to become interactive coaching devices rather than silent step counters. The inclusion of an MP3 player function also anticipated how fitness devices would eventually become multimedia personal training companions.
Real-world use
When you wear a fitness tracker that announces your distance or calories burned through a speaker as you exercise, you're using technology descended from this patent's core idea of motion data automatically triggering audio feedback.
Original USPTO abstract
A pedometer system and method of use are disclosed that assist a user in monitoring an athletic endeavor. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a pedometer housing component at least partially defining an enclosure. A local area wireless transceiver capable of receiving a signal from a motion sensor may be located within the enclosure. A performance engine may also be located within the enclosure and may be communicatively coupled to the local area wireless transceiver. In operation, the performance engine may utilize the signal from the motion sensor to generate a performance metric like average speed or distance traveled. The system may also include an output mechanism such as an audio device capable of presenting the performance metric to a user in an audible message. A device embodying the performance engine may also embody an audio file player such as an MP3 player.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 7,062,225
- Filing date
- 2004-08-12
- Grant date
- 2006-06-13
- Assignee
- Affinity Labs, Llc
- Inventor(s)
- WHITE RUSSELL W.
- CPC class
- A63B24/0021
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