Signature-based trick determination systems and methods for skateboarding and other activities of motion

Abstract

The invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for skateboarding (and other sporting activities) that monitor motion of a skateboard to identify tricks performed on it by a user. A system according to one aspect of the invention includes (i) a sensing device that is attached (or otherwise coupled) to the skateboard and that measures a physical characteristic of it, and (ii) a data processor that identifies the feat or trick (or other action) performed by or on the skateboard based, at least in part, on correspondence between physical characteristics of motion and / or of the environment measured by the sensing device(s) and a unique signature associated with each of one or more possible tricks.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application[0002]claims the benefit of filing of U.S. Application No. 61 / 514,773, filed Aug. 3, 2011, entitled “Signature-Based Trick Determination Systems and Methods for Skateboarding and Other Activities of Motion,”[0003]claims the benefit of filing of U.S. Patent Application No. 61 / 514,752, filed Aug. 3, 2011, entitled “Devices, Systems, and Methods for Games, Sports, Entertainment and Other Activities of Engagement,”[0004]is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of filing of PCT Application No. PCT / US11 / 46423, filed Aug. 3, 2011, and published as WO 2012 / 018914 on Feb. 9, 2012, entitled “Digital Data Processing Systems And Methods For Skateboarding and Other Social Sporting Activities,” which, itself claims the benefit of filing of co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 370,439, filed Aug. 3, 2010, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 371,161, filed Aug. 5, 2010, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]Further aspects of the invention provide a system, e.g., as described above, in which the sensing device communicates with such a remote data processor wirelessly, e.g., via Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, infrared or other wireless or wired transmission medium, or otherwise. The data processor can optionally log and / or display measurements received from the sensor(s), e.g., in addition tricks identified by it based on those measurements. An advantage of such logging is, for example, that it makes possible validating what tricks and other actions an operator indeed performed on the skateboard (or other object).

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, they can typically only display their feats to fellow enthusiasts who are in the same locale at the same time.

For example, a skateboarder who has perfected a multiple varial heel flip, is usually limited to proving his / her prowess to friends at the local park.

One of them might text or “tweet” news of the feat to others, but that is likely to dismissed as unbelievable, particularly, if the feat is extraordinary.

Some of that disbelief might be dispelled by posting of a video of the feat, but even that may be subject to skepticism.

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