Patent Description:
Participation in fitness activities, such as a competitive racing event, can be important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and individual well-being. Technology has resulted in the development of systems capable of monitoring information about the individuals engaged in these activities. For example, some competitive race events include chip timing systems that may monitor the location of a participant during the race. These systems, however, may be limited to only providing location and timing information at certain points along the race course. Moreover, these systems may not be capable of providing other performance information to the participant during the race, such as, pace, speed, and distance, for example. Fitness monitoring systems and methods are needed that provide accurate real-time information to participants of these activities. Providing racing participants with accurate real-time information and performance data can enable an athlete to better control his performance and adapt the performance over the course of the race in order to ideally spend the available resources. In addition, those that watch fitness activities may enjoy the excitement of the competition and may wish to monitor the performance of one or more participants. Monitoring the performance of a racing participant is not only useful from an entertainment perspective, but can, for example, provide a comparison of the physical performances of different participants. Moreover, monitored performance data may be used for supervising the physical condition of an athlete (e.g., by medical staff) in order to prevent injuries or other health threats. <CIT> discloses a personal athletic device worn by a runner during a race. A race course is provided with a plurality of mats along the race course. The mats have antennas and generate a magnetic field. The personal athletic device has a chip system having an RFID tag and a display. As the runner progress along the course, the RFID tag is triggered at each mat and race data is displayed on the device.

The underlying problem of the present invention is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention 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.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 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.

Embodiments of the present invention include a system <NUM> for monitoring the performance of one or more individuals during a fitness activity. As discussed below, the fitness activity includes a predetermined route (e.g., a race course) to be traversed by the participant during the fitness activity. In various embodiments, the present invention includes a system <NUM> for monitoring the performance of a participant (e.g., an athlete) <NUM> engaged in the fitness activity. With reference to <FIG>, the system includes a portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> used by the fitness activity participant <NUM> and adapted to determine and/or transmit real-time performance data associated with the participant during the fitness activity. The performance data may include location, pace, speed, distance, and other data associated with the participant's performance during the fitness activity. The portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> is in communication with a fitness activity server <NUM> over a network <NUM> and may communicate the performance data of the participant <NUM> to the server <NUM>. As will be appreciated, in an embodiment, the network <NUM> may be the internet, a Bluetooth network, GSM, WLAN, WAN, or other suitable communication network. In an alternate embodiment, the network may be a private network or intranet, such as, for example, a network dedicated to a particular fitness activity (e.g., the New York City Marathon). Other suitable communication networks may be used. In some embodiments, the performance data may be communicated and/or received after completion of the fitness activity.

The system <NUM> further includes a position beacon system <NUM> disposed at predetermined distances along the predetermined route. The position beacon system <NUM> is directly or indirectly in communication with the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> and/or the fitness activity server <NUM> and transmits a signal associated with its predetermined location along the route. In one embodiment, the signal includes time-stamped location information that indicates the location of the beacon system <NUM> and the time at which the signal was transmitted such that participant performance data (e.g., location, speed, pace, distance) may be precisely determined either alone or in conjunction with additional data. For example, the beacon signal information may be used in conjunction with GPS data acquired by the portable fitness device <NUM>. In one embodiment, after receiving the beacon signal, the system <NUM> modifies participant performance data based at least on the beacon signal information. In this manner, in one embodiment the monitoring system <NUM> may provide more accurate participant performance data during the fitness activity, including participant location, than which data may be provided by the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> alone.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may be a device such as, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a music file player (e.g. an MP3 player), a tablet computer, a laptop 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 device dedicated or non-dedicated to providing the monitoring methods described herein. The device may be supported by the participant <NUM> such that it may be easily used while engaged in the fitness activity. In one embodiment, the device may be mounted to the body of the participant <NUM>. For example, the device may be arm-mounted, chest-mounted, leg-mounted, or foot-mounted. In one embodiment, portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may be hand held.

In one embodiment, as shown, for example, in <FIG>, the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> comprises a global positioning system (GPS) equipped device. The system <NUM> may include GPS satellites <NUM> that continuously emit GPS signals <NUM> which may allow the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> to continuously determine its location, speed, pace, distance traveled, bearing, and similar performance data according to known techniques. As will be appreciated, the fitness monitoring device <NUM> includes the necessary GPS receiver/transmitter to receive and transmit participant performance data. The portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may continuously transmit performance data to the server <NUM> or other device (e.g., a spectator device, as described below), or may transmit at a predetermined interval for power saving purposes.

The portable fitness device <NUM> may also be adapted to measure or receive data regarding various performance parameters associated with the participant's performance during the fitness activity. As shown in <FIG>, in one embodiment the system <NUM> may include one or more additional sensors <NUM> and <NUM> for measuring performance parameters of the participant <NUM>. For example, the system <NUM> may include a heart rate sensor <NUM> for determining heart rate information during the fitness activity, and an accelerometer <NUM>. In one embodiment, the accelerometer <NUM> may be used in conjunction with a GPS-enabled portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> to determine the location of the participant <NUM> according to known techniques. For example, data provided by the accelerometer <NUM> may be used to provide a "dead reckoning" of the participant's location when the GPS signal is interrupted (e.g., due to the participant traversing the route under a bridge). The system <NUM> may include other sensors including, but not be limited to, a pedometer, pulsimeter, breath rate sensor, gyroscope, magnetometer, hydration sensor, thermometers, or other suitable sensors for detecting information that may be used to measure and/or calculate performance parameters. Each of the sensors of the system <NUM> may be in communication with the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> in a wireless and/or wireless connection and may provide performance data regarding the participant <NUM> during the fitness activity. In one embodiment, the performance data may be transmitted from the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> to the server <NUM> and/or another device (e.g., a spectator device, as described below) over the network <NUM>. In some embodiments the performance data is stored on the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>.

The fitness activity may include any fitness activity engaged in by the participant <NUM> and including the position beacon system <NUM>. In one embodiment, the fitness activity is a competitive fitness activity, including, but not limited to, a foot race, a bicycle race, a skiing or snowboarding race, or other fitness activity in which the physical location of the participant <NUM> changes as a function of time. The fitness activity may be of any desired length and may be a timed event. For example, the fitness activity may comprise an organized competitive running race such as the New York City Marathon, the Army Ten Miler in Washington, DC, or a <NUM> high school cross-country race. In an embodiment, the fitness activity may be a self-organized activity. For example, a participant may organize a fitness activity to be engaged in with one or more individuals, such as family, friends, or members of a social network. The social network may include Facebook® friends, LinkedIn® contacts, Twitter® followers, members of a athlete community on a fitness website, and the like. In one embodiment, the fitness activity includes a predetermined route to be traversed by one or more participants. The predetermined route may be provided by a race organizer, for example, as would be the case for a competitive running race like the New York City Marathon. In some embodiments, the predetermined route may comprise a route created and scheduled by the participant. For example, the predetermined route may be created and scheduled according to embodiments described in <CIT>, entitled "Methods and Computer Program Products for Providing Information About a User During a Physical Activity. " In one embodiment, the predetermined route may be created and scheduled, for example, to be a <NUM> race that takes place every Wednesday at the same location and time, and may be saved in the user's account on server <NUM>. The server <NUM> may store information related to the fitness activity, including the predetermined route of the fitness activity, which may be downloaded to the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>. In some embodiments, the fitness activity may comprise a vehicle race, such as, for example, a car or boat race.

With renewed reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment the position beacon system <NUM> includes a plurality of race mats <NUM>. Each mat <NUM> may be a substantially flat member disposed along the ground of the route of the fitness activity at a predetermined location. The mat <NUM> may include one or more antennae or transmitters <NUM> for transmitting unique location and timing information associated with the position of the particular mat <NUM>. The transmitters <NUM> are adapted to transmit the signal using known technologies including, but not limited to, RFID, Bluetooth, magnetic field, near field communication systems, or other suitable technologies adapted to provide a signal that includes time-stamped location information. In one embodiment, the transmitters <NUM> may include a receiver and be adapted to transmit and receive data. In one embodiment, the one or more transmitters <NUM> may be embedded in the mat <NUM> or may be disposed on the mat <NUM>. The mat <NUM> is preferably sized and shaped to accommodate the traversal of a plurality of participants <NUM> during the fitness activity. For example, the mat <NUM> may stretch across the width of a road used in a race course, and may have a substantially low height profile so as not to interfere with the gait of the race participants. During a fitness activity, each mat <NUM> transmits a signal that includes time-stamped location information. When the participant <NUM> is proximate to the mat <NUM> (e.g., as the participant <NUM> crosses over the mat), the signal is received by the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>. The portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may also receive location data from the GPS signal <NUM> from GPS satellites <NUM>. Based at least on the position beacon system <NUM> signal, the precise location of the participant may be determined.

With reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment, the position beacon system <NUM> includes a tower <NUM> and one or more transmitters <NUM> connected thereto that may be used in addition to, or instead of, mat <NUM>. The transmitters <NUM> may be provided in a side arrangement and/or an overhead arrangement, as shown, in order to transmit the signal such that it may be received either directly or indirectly at the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the position beacon system <NUM> may be positioned such that the signal is received by the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> when the participant is proximate to the system <NUM>. For example, the signal may be received when the participant <NUM> is on top of the mat <NUM>, next to the tower <NUM>, under the tower <NUM> or otherwise proximate to the system <NUM>. Other suitable embodiments of a position beacon system <NUM>, including systems that do not include a mat <NUM> or a tower <NUM> as an antenna support structure, may be used to transmit a unique time-stamped location signal to the participant <NUM> along the predetermined route of the fitness activity. In one embodiment, the position beacon system <NUM> may include light barrier or magnetic field technology.

As shown in <FIG>, the position beacon system <NUM> including a plurality of time-stamped location signal transmitters (such as, for example, on a plurality of mats <NUM> or other suitable position beacon support structures, such as, for example, towers <NUM>) are disposed at predetermined distances along a route <NUM> of the fitness activity (e.g., a race course). For a competitive race, for example, mats <NUM> may be placed at the race start line and finish line and at predetermined positions intermediate to the start line and finish line. By way of further example, in a marathon, mats <NUM> may be placed at each mile marker along the route <NUM> of the race, as shown schematically in <FIG>. Mats <NUM> may be provided at other locations including, but not limited to, aid stations, water stations, and race course landmarks. In one embodiment, the position beacon system <NUM> may be provided by a race organizer, for example, as may be the case for a competitive running race like the New York City Marathon. As shown in <FIG>, the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may receive a GPS signal <NUM> from GPS satellite <NUM>. The portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may directly or indirectly interact with the position beacon system <NUM> to receive location and/or timing data from the transmitter <NUM> and modify participant performance data accordingly to provide more accurate data.

In one embodiment, the position beacon system <NUM> may include a controller <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The controller <NUM> may be in communication with the mats <NUM> and may provide timing and other race data to the mats <NUM> for transmission to the participants <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may include an official race clock on which timing calculations may be based. In one embodiment, the controller <NUM> may be centrally located on the race course <NUM> so as to efficiently communicate with the mats <NUM>. In one embodiment, multiple controllers <NUM> may be used. The controller <NUM> may be administered by a race organizer, for example.

As shown in <FIG>, the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> and the position beacon system <NUM> are adapted to communicate to provide the fitness monitoring methods of the present invention. In one exemplary embodiment, the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> includes a GPS receiver <NUM> for receiving GPS signals <NUM> from satellites <NUM>. In some embodiments, receiver <NUM> may be a transceiver adapted to receive and transmit data. Using the GPS signal data, a processor <NUM> calculates participant performance data (e.g., location, speed, pace, and distance). The portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> then transmits participant performance data to server <NUM> and/or other devices within the monitoring system <NUM> over network <NUM>. For example, as will be appreciated, in embodiments in which the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> is a smartphone, this may be accomplished using, for example, a GSM module on the device. In one embodiment, portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may also include local receiver <NUM> for receiving data from the position beacon system <NUM>. In one embodiment, local receiver <NUM> may be a passive receiver. In some embodiments, local receiver <NUM> may comprise a transceiver adapted to receive and transmit data. In one exemplary embodiment, local receiver <NUM> may include an active or passive RFID tag capable of receiving a signal from the transmitter <NUM> of the mat <NUM> and transmitting data in reply to receiving the signal. In one embodiment, local receiver <NUM> may be included within GPS receiver <NUM>. In another embodiment, local receiver <NUM> is discrete from GPS receiver <NUM>. In one embodiment, as shown, for example, in <FIG>, local receiver <NUM> may be embodied in a race chip <NUM> discrete from portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>, but adapted to communicate with the device <NUM>. In this manner, the position beacon system <NUM> may indirectly communicate location and/or timing data to the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> (i.e., via the race chip <NUM>). In one embodiment, race chip <NUM> may be mounted on the shoe of the participant <NUM> or inside the shoe (e.g., within a cavity in the sole of the shoe), for example.

As shown in <FIG>, portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may further include the processor <NUM>, a visual and/or audible display <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a power supply <NUM> such as a battery <NUM> (which may be exchangeable or rechargeable), a user input <NUM>, and a speaker <NUM>. Processor <NUM> is generally a unit that processes or controls computer readable media steps and commands associated with operation of portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> and interaction between portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>, server <NUM>, and position beacon system <NUM>. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> components are operably connected to provide the functions and interactions necessary to provide the fitness monitoring methods described herein.

With continued reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment, mat <NUM> (or tower <NUM>) may further include a power supply <NUM>, such as a battery <NUM> (which may be exchangeable or rechargeable), for powering the transmitter <NUM>, and a processor <NUM> that processes or controls computer readable media steps and commands associated with operation of mat <NUM> and interaction between mat <NUM>, server <NUM>, and portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>. In one embodiment, position beacon system <NUM> may further include memory, display, and user input components as will be appreciated. One or more of the components of system <NUM> may be provided on controller <NUM> so as to simplify maintenance and operation of the plurality of mats <NUM>. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the mat <NUM> components are operably connected to provide the functions and interactions necessary to provide the fitness monitoring methods described herein.

The portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>, the position beacon system <NUM>, including the mat <NUM>, and the fitness activity server <NUM> are adapted to interact with one another to provide the fitness monitoring methods of the present invention. <FIG> is a process flowchart for a method <NUM> of monitoring the performance of a participant <NUM> in a fitness activity according to an embodiment of the present invention. Method <NUM> may include at least steps <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Embodiments of system <NUM>, as described herein, will be used to describe method <NUM>, but the method is not intended to be limited thereto. Step <NUM> includes receiving a GPS signal during the fitness activity at the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>. In step <NUM>, participant performance data, including one or more of the participant's current location, pace, speed, and distance traveled may be determined based upon the received GPS signal. In one embodiment, calculations may be performed by processor <NUM> on the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> according to known techniques for calculating location, speed, pace, and distance, for example, from time-stamped GPS signals. In another embodiment, some or all of the calculations may be performed on fitness activity server <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, a unique time-stamped location signal is transmitted from a transmitter <NUM> of a stationary position beacon system mat <NUM>. The signal may include the location of the mat <NUM> and the time at which the signal was transmitted. In step <NUM>, the time-stamped location signal is received by a local transceiver <NUM> supported by the participant <NUM>. The local transceiver <NUM> may be part of the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>, or may be a separate device in wireless communication with the beacon system transmitter <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, based on the time-stamped location data received from the stationary position beacon system mat <NUM>, the system <NUM> modifies the participant performance data. For example, due to error tolerances or communication difficulties with GPS satellites <NUM> (e.g., when the participant <NUM> traverses under a bridge) the participant location determined based on the GPS signal received by the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may be imprecise. Because the exact location of the stationary position beacon system mat <NUM> is known, this location information may be used to determine a more precise location of the participant <NUM>. In one embodiment, the location information received from the mat <NUM> may replace the location data determined based on the GPS signal alone. In another embodiment, the location data determined based on the GPS signal may be adjusted based on the location information received from the mat <NUM>. For example, an average of the two sets of coordinates may be used as the modified participant location data. Because the participant location information is correlated with the time it was received, based on the time-stamped location signal received from the mat <NUM>, other participant performance data including speed, pace, and distance travelled may be modified to provide more accurate data. Participant performance data previously determined during the fitness activity also may be updated accordingly.

In one embodiment, the updated participant performance data may be transmitted to server <NUM>. In one embodiment, the updated participant performance data may be displayed to the participant <NUM> on the display <NUM> of the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>. The data may be continuously displayed during the fitness activity and also may be displayed after the fitness activity has been completed. In one embodiment, calculations necessary to modify the participant performance data may be performed by processor <NUM> on the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> according to known techniques for calculating location, speed, pace, and distance, for example, from time-stamped GPS signals. In another embodiment, some or all of the calculations may be performed on fitness activity server <NUM>. These calculations may be performed during and/or after the fitness activity.

<FIG> is a process flowchart for a method <NUM> of monitoring the performance of a participant <NUM> engaged in a competitive race having a predetermined route <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. Method <NUM> may include at least steps <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Embodiments of system <NUM>, as described herein will be used to describe method <NUM>, but the method is not intended to be limited thereto. In step <NUM>, participant performance data, including the participant's current location, pace, speed, and distance traveled may be determined based upon a received GPS signal received by portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>. In one embodiment, calculations may be performed by processor <NUM> on the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> according to known techniques for calculating location, velocity, and bearing, for example, from time-stamped GPS signals. In another embodiment, some or all of the calculations may be performed on fitness activity server <NUM>. In step <NUM>, a unique time-stamped location signal is transmitted from a transmitter <NUM> of a stationary position beacon system mat <NUM>. The mat <NUM> is placed at a predetermined location along the route <NUM>. For example, a mat <NUM> may be placed at each mile marker of a marathon. The signal may include the location of the mat <NUM> and the time at which the signal was transmitted. In step <NUM>, the time-stamped location signal is received by a local transceiver <NUM> supported by the participant <NUM>. The local transceiver <NUM> may be part of the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>, or may be a separate device in wireless communication with the beacon system transmitter <NUM>. In step <NUM>, the participant performance data is modified based on the data received from the beacon system transmitter <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>, position beacon system <NUM>, and fitness activity server <NUM> may be used to provide corrected participant performance data to a spectator <NUM> (on a spectator device <NUM>, for example) who may be tracking the location of the participant <NUM> during the fitness activity. The spectator may include a coach, trainer, parent, supervisor, fan, aid station attendant, doctor, or other spectator of the fitness activity for which accurate participant location or other participant performance data may be useful. In one embodiment, another participant may be a "spectator" as they may wish to track the performance of the participant <NUM>. It will be understood that a spectator may not be physically viewing the participant or the race. The spectator device <NUM> may be any suitable device, including, but not limited, to those described with respect to the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM>. During the fitness activity, the system <NUM> may send an alert to the spectator <NUM> indicating that the participant is within a certain distance or time of reaching the spectator. During the fitness activity, the system may also send an alert to the participant <NUM> that the spectator <NUM> is within a certain distance or time of the participant. In this manner, embodiments of the present invention may provide real-time location awareness of the participant and/or spectator, and provide an enhanced participation or spectating experience of the fitness activity for individuals involved. For example, having been alerted that the participant they are tracking is approaching, an interested spectator may be informed to look for the participant and be ready to cheer on that individual or provide services (e.g., aid, water, equipment, etc.). Embodiments in which the location of the participant <NUM> is modified or corrected based on the location data from the position beacon system <NUM> may increase the likelihood of the participant and spectator being able to interact during the fitness activity. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may include the systems and methods, including the "Live Tracking" mobile application, described in co-owned <CIT>, entitled "Fitness Activity Monitoring Systems and Methods" filed concurrently herewith. As will be appreciated, a "Live Tracking" mobile application may be stored on or accessed by the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> and/or the spectator device <NUM> and may be used to track the location of the participant <NUM> and/or spectator <NUM> during the fitness activity in real-time. For example, the "Live Tracking" mobile application may be downloaded to the devices from a known mobile application market.

In embodiments of the present invention, the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may be used in conjunction with, or separate from, the position beacon system <NUM>. For example, in one embodiment, the location of the participant <NUM> may be determined based on the GPS signals received by the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> only. This location data may then be used for real-time tracking of the participant <NUM> during the fitness activity and/or to see the route traversed by the participant <NUM>, for example, when the participant is viewing a workout summary after a race. In one embodiment, the time-stamped location data transmitted by the race mat <NUM> may be the only data used to determine other participant performance data, such as pace, speed, and distance, for example. This performance data may be used, for example, to provide real-time performance data to the participant <NUM> and/or spectator <NUM>, and coaching feedback to the participant <NUM>. In other embodiments, as described above, corrected participant performance data may be determined using both the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> and the position beacon system <NUM>.

The server <NUM> may be, for example, a telecommunication server, a web server, or other similar types of database servers. In an embodiment, server <NUM> 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 <NUM> can be implemented on a single computing device.

In one embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the server <NUM> may include or be in communication with a fitness database <NUM> that may include an account of the participant <NUM> and/or spectator <NUM>. For example, the fitness database <NUM> may include data storage according to embodiments described in <CIT>, entitled "Methods and Computer Program Products for Providing Information About a User During a Physical Activity. " The server <NUM> may also include or be in communication with a social network database <NUM> related to the participant <NUM> and/or spectator <NUM>.

As will be appreciated, in an embodiment, the network <NUM> 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 network or intranet, such as, for example, a network dedicated to a particular fitness activity (e.g., the New York City Marathon). Other suitable communication networks may be used.

Alerts regarding the location of the participant <NUM> and/or spectator <NUM> may be sent to individuals, such as spectator <NUM>, based on one or more predetermined alert parameters. Because the location of the participant <NUM> may be corrected based on the location data from the position beacon system <NUM>, the alerts may be more accurate and the likelihood of the participant <NUM> and spectator <NUM> being able to interact during the fitness activity may be increased.

Alert parameters may be set by the participant <NUM> and/or the spectator <NUM> prior to or during the fitness activity. For example, in embodiments that include a "Live Tracking" mobile application, the application may provide an interface for defining the alert parameters. The alert parameters may be stored on the server <NUM> and accessed by the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> and/or spectator device <NUM> over the network <NUM> (e.g., when a monitoring application is initiated), or may be stored on the devices themselves.

In one embodiment, the alert parameter may be distance based. For example, the spectator <NUM> may be alerted when the participant <NUM> is within a certain distance of their present location (e.g., <NUM>). In one embodiment, the parameter may be time based and the spectator <NUM> may be alerted when the participant <NUM> is within a predetermined time of their present location. In one embodiment, this determination (i.e., estimated time of arrival) may be made based on the current location of the participant <NUM> and performance data received by the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> from one or more receivers or sensors. For example, the estimated time of arrival may be based on the current pace of the participant <NUM>. Because performance data, including the pace of the participant may be more accurately determined using data provided by mat <NUM>, the alerts provided may be more accurate and the likelihood of the participant <NUM> and spectator <NUM> being able to interact during the fitness activity may be increased.

The alerts provided to the participant <NUM> and/or the spectator <NUM> may be visual, audible, tactile, or any combination thereof. To provide these alerts, the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> and the spectator device <NUM> are adapted to convey information to the user in this manner. With reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment the portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> and the spectator device <NUM> include a display <NUM>, <NUM> and a speaker <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. To provide a tactile alert, the devices may include a vibrating element (not shown), for example, or other suitable tactile element.

A visual alert may visually indicate to the participant <NUM> and/or spectator <NUM> the other's location, as shown, for example, in <FIG>, and <FIG>. In one embodiment, the visual alert may include information about the fitness activity, such as, a map of the route of the fitness activity and may include one or more graphical symbols. The graphical symbols may provide specific location information and may provide an indication of the relative location between the participant and the spectator. In one embodiment, graphical symbols indicate the location of the participant <NUM> and the spectator <NUM> along the route. In one embodiment, for example, the visual alert may provide a precise location of where the spectator <NUM> is standing. In this manner, in some embodiments, the visual alert may include a detailed map (e.g., a Google satellite map) of the predetermined route of the fitness activity and the spectator's location superimposed on the map.

As the participant <NUM> continues to traverse the route, the graphical symbol may move accordingly in real-time on the display. In one embodiment, the depiction of the participant <NUM> and the spectator <NUM> may comprise a photo or avatar of the individual. The visual alert may include graphical symbols of landmarks along the course, such as, start line, finish line, mile markers, water stations, or streets and landmarks specific to a particular event (e.g., First Avenue and Lexington during the New York City Marathon). The graphical symbols, including photos and avatars, may be stored on server <NUM>, fitness database <NUM>, and/or social network database <NUM>, for example. As shown in <FIG>, the visual alert may include text indicating that the participant <NUM> (or spectator <NUM>) is approaching. For example, the text may indicate that "The spectator is approaching in <NUM> seconds," "The spectator is at mile marker <NUM>," "The participant is approaching in <NUM>," "The spectator is located on the east side of the race course at First Avenue and Lexington," or "The participant just crossed the finish line. " In one embodiment, the visual alert may include one or more advertisements related to the fitness activity or the location of the participant <NUM> or spectator <NUM>, for example.

An audible alert may audibly indicate to the participant <NUM> and/or spectator <NUM> that the other is approaching through device speaker <NUM>, <NUM> or headphones (not shown), for example. In one embodiment, the audible alert may include a standard message that "The spectator is at mile marker <NUM>" or "The participant is approaching in <NUM> seconds. " In one embodiment, the audible alert may be a customized, pre-recorded message. For example, spectator <NUM> may pre-record a message such as "Keep it up John! I'll see you in one mile!" which may provide additional motivation and encouragement to the participant. Alerts may be stored on the respective devices <NUM>, <NUM> or on server <NUM>.

A tactile alert may also indicate to the participant <NUM> and/or spectator <NUM> that the other is approaching. For example, a vibrating element of the spectator device <NUM> may vibrate when the participant <NUM> is within <NUM> or within a specific time (e.g., <NUM> seconds).

In one embodiment, visual, audible, and/or tactile alerts may be sent to the participant <NUM> and/or spectator <NUM> at predetermined intervals, locations, distances, or times that are unrelated to the location of the other. For example, an audible message may be sent to the participant <NUM> every <NUM> miles or <NUM> minutes of a race or when the participant or spectator arrives at a particular mile marker or landmark, for example.

In some embodiments in which portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> is not phone enabled, the device is adapted to transmit GPS data over the network <NUM>. For example, portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may comprise a GPS-enabled watch adapted to transmit over the network <NUM> (e.g., using a GSM module). In some embodiments, portable fitness monitoring device <NUM> may not include a built-in GPS receiver <NUM>. As such, participant performance data may be determined based solely on the time-stamped location data received by the device at each of the plurality of mats <NUM>. For example, after the fitness activity a participant may upload the time-stamped location data from the plurality of mats <NUM> and the participant's location, speed, and pace may be determined along the predetermined route. In some embodiments, the location data based only on the GPS signal <NUM> from the satellites <NUM> may be used to provide location information to the spectator <NUM>, and the performance data determined only using the position beacon system <NUM> data may be used to calculate participant performance data such as speed, pace, and distance.

In some embodiments, the methods described herein are adapted to be used with multiple participants <NUM>. As will be appreciated, data transmitted to server <NUM> may include identifying information unique to each particular participant <NUM> so that the data may be properly stored and/or manipulated on server <NUM>. In addition, a spectator <NUM> may track multiple participants <NUM>.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>) for monitoring the performance of a participant (<NUM>) engaged in a race having a predetermined route, the system comprising:
a stationary position beacon system (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of race mats (<NUM>) positioned at predetermined distances along the route,
wherein each race mat comprises at least one transmitter (<NUM>) which is configured to wirelessly transmit time-stamped location data associated with a position of the race mat;
a race controller (<NUM>) in communication with the plurality of race mats and configured to provide timing and other race data to the plurality of race mats for transmission to the participant; and
a portable fitness monitoring device (<NUM>) supported by the participant, wherein the time-stamped location data associated with the position of a particular race mat is received by the portable fitness monitoring device when the participant crosses over the race mat.