US 7,254,516 · Granted 2007-08-07
How Nike's GPS Sports Watch Became the Blueprint for Modern Athlete Tracking
Nike patented a wearable system that uses GPS and multiple sensors to track an athlete's performance during running, cycling, or other sports. It feeds live data back to the athlete in real time—like your current speed or distance—and stores everything for later review so coaches and athletes can spot what's working and what needs improvement.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a multi-sensor athletic monitoring system that combines GPS data with other sensor inputs to collect, process, and deliver performance information to athletes during and after events. What's protected here is the specific method of using GPS alongside other sensors to provide both real-time coaching feedback during competition and post-event analysis data, as well as the pre-event route planning and goal-setting features that flow from that sensor fusion.
Why it matters
This patent arrived at a pivotal moment when wearable sports tech was transitioning from clunky devices to integrated ecosystems. By locking down the multi-sensor approach to real-time athletic feedback, Nike established a defensible position in the nascent market for GPS running watches and training platforms. The patent's breadth—covering planning, live feedback, and post-event analysis—meant competitors couldn't easily copy the full training loop without infringing.
Real-world use
When a runner starts a Nike training app on a GPS watch and sees their pace, distance, and heart rate update every few seconds, then reviews a detailed map and splits after finishing, they're using the exact system this patent protects.
Original USPTO abstract
Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 7,254,516
- Filing date
- 2004-12-17
- Grant date
- 2007-08-07
- Assignee
- Nike, Inc.
- Inventor(s)
- CASE, JR. CHARLES WHIPPLE, MARTIN JASON P.
- CPC class
- A63B24/0062
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