System and method for preventing collisions between a user and an approaching vehicle

Abstract

To provide intelligent electronic footwear with controller automated features, methods for making / using such footwear, and control systems for executing automated features of intelligent electronic footwear.SOLUTION: Intelligent electronic footwear includes an upper and a sole structure. A collision threat warning system, a detection tag, a wireless communications device, and a footwear controller are all mounted to the sole structure / upper. The detection tag receives a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module and responsively transmits a response signal to the transmitter-detector module. The footwear controller receives, through the wireless communications device, a pedestrian collision warning signal generated by a remote computing node responsive to the response signal. Responsively, the footwear controller transmits a command signal to the collision threat warning system to generate a visible, audible, and / or tactile alert warning the user of impending collision with a vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (Reference to related applications) This application is an international (PCT) application for U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 220,410, which is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 114,646, filed on 14 December 2018, U.S. Patent No. 10,172,409B1, filed on 28 August 2018, and claims the benefits and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 678,796, filed on 31 May 2018.

[0002] (Technical field) This disclosure generally relates to wearable electronic devices. More specifically, aspects of this disclosure relate to systems, methods, and devices for enabling the automated configuration of intelligent electronic footwear and clothing. [Background technology]

[0003] Footwear products, such as shoes, boots, slippers, sandals, and equivalents, generally consist of two main elements: an upper for securing the footwear to the user's foot and a sole structure for providing a supportive base for the foot. The upper can be made from a variety of materials—including textiles, foams, polymers, natural leather, and synthetic leather—which are sewn together or glued together to form a shell or harness that securely receives the foot. In the case of sandals and slippers, the upper may have an open toe or heel structure, or may be broadly limited to a series of straps that extend over the instep and, in some designs, around the ankle. Conversely, boot and shoe designs incorporate a full upper with a closed toe or heel structure and an ankle opening through a rear quarter section that provides access to the inside of the footwear, facilitating the foot's entry into and exit from the upper. Laces or straps may be used to secure the foot within the upper.

[0004] The sole structure is generally attached to the lower part of the upper and positioned between the user's foot and the ground. In many footwear products, including sports shoes, the sole structure is a layered structure that generally incorporates an insole for added comfort, a midsole for shock absorption, and an outsole that contacts the surface. The insole, which may be partially or entirely located within the upper, is a thin, compressible material that provides a contact surface for the underside of the user's foot. In contrast, the midsole is attached beneath the insole and forms the middle layer of the sole structure. In addition to dampening ground reaction forces, the midsole can help control foot movement and provide stability. Attached to the underside of the midsole is the outsole, which forms the contact area of ​​the footwear and is usually made of durable and abrasion-resistant material, including a configuration to improve traction. [Overview of the project]

[0005] Intelligent electronic footwear with accompanying control logic to enable automated footwear capabilities, methods for manufacturing and using such footwear, and control systems for providing automated configurations of intelligent electronic footwear are presented herein. As an example, an Adaptive Apparel and Footwear (IoAAF) system is presented that wirelessly communicates with an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) to provide communication between the IES and a vehicle, i.e., footwear-vehicle (F2V) communication, or communication between the IES and an intelligent transport system, i.e., footwear-infrastructure (F2I) communication. In a typical implementation, the IES includes a detection tag, such as a radio frequency (RF) transponder, that receives an incoming prompt signal. The prompt signal may be broadcast by a transmitter-detector module attached to a stationary structure such as a building, utility pole, or traffic signal pole, or to a moving structure such as an ASE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Level 3, 4, or 5 autonomous vehicle. The IES detection tag responds to this incoming signal, which may have RF power having a first frequency, by retransmitting the incoming signal as a transparent output signal having, for example, RF power having a second frequency. The transponder may include a frequency filter that restricts the incoming signal to having a first frequency, a frequency converter that converts the incoming signal into a transparent output signal, and an amplifier that amplifies the output signal based on the incoming signal. Using an RF transmitter-detector module mounted on the vehicle or structure to sweep the opposing or surrounding area for the response signal output by the IES transponder facilitates pedestrian collision avoidance by providing advance warning before visual recognition.

[0006] By placing detection tags on IESs and automating communication between the IES detection tags and complementary transmitter-detectors mounted on vehicles, street poles, etc., a networked IoAAF system eliminates the need for direct line-of-sight detection, enabling connected parties to "see ahead" of impending collisions and providing "awareness" that will occur before the IES approaches the vehicle. In practice, the IoAAF system architecture helps eliminate false negatives caused by standard sensor hardware that cannot effectively monitor pedestrians hidden behind blind spots or other visual obstacles. Collision avoidance can be further enhanced by automating audible, visual, and / or tactile warnings to pedestrians via the IES, or by altering pedestrian flow through modulation of crosswalk signal timing. In addition to enabling pedestrian safety recognition, the disclosed IoAAF system can be used, for example, in manufacturing facilities to prevent robot-mediated injuries to assembly line workers; in storage facilities to prevent collisions between workers and forklifts or automated guided vehicles (AGVs); or in road construction sites to protect construction workers from passing vehicles.

[0007] For F2V and F2I applications, IoAAF systems can automate communication with smart footwear / clothing to perform pedestrian collision threat assessments based on a vast amount of available data. For example, an F2I system may perform a line-of-sight pedestrian collision threat assessment between a moving object and an IES user by aggregating, fusion, and analyzing IES-generated user dynamics data (e.g., location, speed, trajectory, acceleration / deceleration), user behavior data (e.g., hysterical behavior at a specific corner of an intersection, hysterical behavior at a typical intersection, hysterical behavior under current ambient conditions), environmental data (e.g., red light intersections versus green light intersections, housing settings versus urban design, adverse weather conditions versus optimal driving conditions), and crowdsourced data (dynamics and behavior of other pedestrians near an IES user wearing intelligent footwear / apparel). Interoperable component communication is typically wireless and bidirectional, with data being fed to or from infrastructure components via an ad-hoc network, for example, using dedicated short-range communication (DSRC). The traffic management and supervision system can use IES, infrastructure, and vehicle data to set variable speed limits and adjust traffic signal phase and timing.

[0008] To enable wireless communication between the IES and a remote computing node, the IES may piggyback on a communication session established by the user's smartphone, handheld computing device, or other portable electronic device with wireless communication capabilities. Alternatively, the IES may operate as a standalone device with a resident wireless communication device packaged within the shoe structure. Other peripheral hardware may include a resident controller, shortwave antenna, rechargeable battery, resident memory, SIM card, etc., all of which are housed inside the shoe structure. The IES may include a human-machine interface (HMI) that allows the user to interact with the footwear and / or the IoAAF system. For example, one or more electroactive polymer (EAP) sensors may be woven into or formed as such a patch that is mounted on the shoe structure and is operable to receive user input that allows the user to control the operating mode of the IES. Similarly, any incidental operations for performing automated footwear configuration may be performed locally via the IES controller, or offboard in a distributed computing manner for execution by a smartphone, handheld computing device, IoAAF system, or any combination thereof.

[0009] As a further option, the execution of any one or more desired footwear configurations may first require user security authentication via an IES controller and / or IoAAF system server computer. For example, an array of sensors distributed within the shoe structure may communicate with the IES controller to perform biometric verification, such as verifying the user's weight (e.g., via pressure sensors), shoe size (e.g., via electronic adaptive reaction lacing (EARL)), toe-fingerprints (e.g., via optical fingerprint sensors), and gait profile, or other appropriate method. As an extension of this concept, when attempting to execute an automated configuration, any of the aforementioned sensing devices may be used as binary (on / off) switches to verify that the IES is actually on the user's foot.

[0010] Providing wireless data exchange to facilitate the execution of automated configurations may require IESs to be registered with an IoAAF system. For example, a user may record the IES serial number in the IoAAF system, which then issues a verification key to a personal account, e.g., a "digital locker" operating on the user's smartphone, tablet, PC, or laptop, to provide additional authentication. Registration may be completed manually, e.g., through the user, or digitally, e.g., via a barcode on the shoe or a near-field communication tag. A unique virtual shoe may be assigned to the IES and stored in the digital locker, and each virtual shoe may be supported by blockchain security technology designed to guarantee uniqueness and authenticity, such as cryptographic hashing, reliable timestamps, and correlated transaction data. While the disclosures are described in relation to footwear products as representative applications for the novel concepts presented herein, many of the options and configurations may also be applicable to other wearable clothing, including garments, headgear, eyewear, wristwear, neckwear, legwear, and equivalents. It is also envisioned that the configurations of the disclosures may be implemented as part of an augmented reality (AR) device or system that is operable to superimpose data, notifications, and other visual displays in order to perform any of the techniques and options presented above and below.

[0011] Aspects of this disclosure are directed toward networked control systems and associated logic for performing automated footwear configurations. For example, an intelligent electronic shoe system is provided, comprising an upper that attaches to the user's foot and a sole structure attached to the upper and supporting the user's foot thereon. The sole structure includes an outsole defining the bottommost ground engagement surface of the footwear. The IES system also includes a collision threat warning system, a detection tag, and a wireless communication device, all of which are attached to the sole structure and / or upper. The collision threat warning system generates a visible output, an audible output, and / or a tactile output in response to an electronic command signal. The detection tag receives one or more prompt signals from a transmitter-detector module and transmits one or more response signals to the transmitter-detector module in response to the received prompt signals. A footwear controller, which may reside in or away from the footwear, is programmed to receive pedestrian collision warning signals generated in response to response signals from the IES detection tag from a remote computing node via a wireless communication device. In response to a received pedestrian collision warning signal, the footwear controller automatically sends one or more command signals to the collision threat warning system to generate predetermined visual, audible, and / or tactile warnings designed to alert the user to an imminent collision with a vehicle.

[0012] Additional aspects of this disclosure are directed to methods for manufacturing and using any of the systems and devices of the disclosure. One example is a method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe. This representative method, in any order and in any combination of the configurations and options of the above or below disclosures, includes: receiving a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module via a detection tag attached to the sole structure and / or upper of the IES; transmitting a response signal to the transmitter-detector module via the detection tag in response to the reception of the prompt signal; receiving a pedestrian collision warning signal generated by a remote computing node in response to the response signal from the detection tag via a resident footwear controller via a wireless communication device, both attached to the sole structure and / or upper; and transmitting a command signal to a collision threat warning system attached to the sole structure and / or upper in response to the received pedestrian collision warning signal via the resident footwear controller to generate a predetermined visible, audible, and / or tactile warning configured to alert the user of an impending collision with a vehicle.

[0013] In any of the systems, methods, and devices of the disclosure, the detection tag may include an RF transponder mounted on the sole structure and / or upper. In this case, the prompt signal has a first RF power having a first frequency, while the response signal has a second RF power having a second frequency distinct from the first frequency. For RF transponder applications, the prompt signal may include an embedded dataset, which the detection tag transmits back to the transmitter-detector module in the response signal. The RF transponder may include an RF antenna connected to a frequency filter. In this case, the frequency filter is configured to reject signals having an RF power having a first frequency distinct from the first frequency. In at least some alternative configurations, the detection tag includes an EAP sensor comprising a dielectric EAP element mounted on the sole structure and / or upper. In this case, the prompt signal is an electric field that induces a physical state change in the dielectric EAP element, and the response signal is generated by a user reversing the physical state change of the dielectric EAP element.

[0014] In any of the disclosed systems, methods, and devices, the footwear controller may be further programmed to transmit user location data and user dynamics data to a remote computing node via a wireless communication device. The remote computing node then transmits a pedestrian collision threat value based on the fusion of the user location data and user dynamics data, which the footwear controller receives. This pedestrian collision threat value predicts the user's intrusion into vehicle locations and predicted vehicle routes. The footwear controller may transmit behavioral data from the remote computing node that indicates the user's historical behavior. In this case, the pedestrian collision threat value is based on the fusion of the user location data and user dynamics data with the behavioral data. The calculation of the pedestrian collision threat value may further be based on the fusion of the behavioral data, user location data, and user dynamics data with crowdsourced data indicating the behavior of multiple individuals in close proximity to the user. As a further option, the pedestrian collision threat value may be based on the fusion of the behavioral data, user location data, user dynamics data, and crowdsourced data with environmental data indicating the user's surrounding environment.

[0015] In any of the disclosed systems, methods, and devices, the user may carry a portable electronic device such as a smartphone or tablet computer. In this case, a wireless communication device may be configured to wirelessly connect to the portable electronic device and thereby wirelessly communicate with a remote computing node. In some applications, the remote computing node is a vehicle parking controller. The foot controller may be programmed to transmit user location data, user dynamics data, and / or user departure data to the vehicle parking controller via the wireless communication device. For other applications, the remote computing node may be a central control unit of an intelligent traffic management system. In this case, the foot controller may be programmed to transmit user location data, user dynamics data, and / or user behavior data to the central control unit via the wireless communication device.

[0016] For any of the disclosed systems, methods, and devices, the collision threat warning system includes a haptic transducer attached to the sole structure and / or upper of the IES. In this example, the command signal causes the haptic transducer to generate a predetermined haptic alert designed to warn the user of an impending collision with a motor vehicle. The collision threat warning system may additionally or alternatively include an audio component attached to the sole structure and / or upper. In this case, the command signal causes the audio component to generate a predetermined audible alert configured to warn the user of an impending collision. Optionally, the collision threat warning system may include a lighting element attached to the sole structure and / or upper. The command signal causes the lighting element to generate a predetermined visual alert that warns the user of an impending collision with a motor vehicle.

[0017] For any of the disclosed systems, methods, and devices, the IES may include a pressure sensor attached to the sole structure and configured to detect the presence of a foot inside the upper. In this example, the command signal may be transmitted to the collision threat warning system further in response to the detection of the presence of a foot in the upper. The IES may also include a shoelace attached to the upper, and a lace motor attached to the inner side of the sole structure. This lace motor is selectively actuatable by the footwear controller to transition the shoelace between a tensioned state and an untensioned state. The footwear controller may communicate with the lace motor to determine whether the shoelace is in the tensioned state or the untensioned state. In this case, the command signal may be transmitted to the collision threat warning system further in response to the shoelace being in the tensioned state.

[0018] The above summary is not intended to represent all embodiments or all aspects of the present disclosure. Rather, the foregoing summary merely provides an illustration of some of the novel concepts and configurations described herein. The above configurations and advantages, as well as other configurations and attendant advantages of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrated examples and representative modes for carrying out the present disclosure when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. Furthermore, this disclosure expressly includes every and all combinations and subcombinations of the elements and configurations presented above and below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a representative intelligent electronic shoe with controller-automated footwear configuration in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0020] [Figure 2] 2 is a partially schematic bottom view of the representative intelligent electronic shoe of FIG. 1.

[0021] [Figure 3] 3 is a partially schematic perspective view of a representative user wearing the pair of intelligent electronic shoes of FIGS. 1 and 2 during wireless data exchange with a representative IES system for executing one or more automated footwear configurations.

[0022] [Figure 4] 4 is an elevational perspective view of a plurality of representative users wearing the pair of intelligent electronic shoes of FIGS. 1 and 2 during wireless data exchange with a representative intelligent traffic management system for executing one or more automated footwear configurations.

[0023] [Figure 5]This is a flowchart for an automated footwear configuration protocol that may correspond to memory-stored instructions, executed by a resident or remotely controlled logic circuit configuration, programmable controller, or other computer-based device or network of devices, according to the disclosed concept. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] This disclosure is described in detail herein, with several representative embodiments shown as examples in the drawings, according to various modifications and alternative forms. However, it should be understood that novel aspects of this disclosure are not limited to the specific forms illustrated in the drawings listed above. Rather, this disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, combinations, subcombinations, permutations, groupings, and alternatives that fall within the scope of this disclosure as encompassed in the appended claims.

[0025] This disclosure is susceptible to many different forms of embodiment. Representative embodiments of this disclosure are shown in the drawings and described in detail herein, with the understanding that these representative examples are provided not as limitations on the broader aspects of the disclosure, but as illustrations of the principles of the disclosure. To achieve this objective, elements and limitations described in the Abstract, Technical Field, Background, Abstract and Detailed Description sections, but not expressly stated in the claims, should not be incorporated into the claims, individually or collectively, by implication, inference, or otherwise.

[0026] For the purposes of this detailed description, unless otherwise specifically denied, singular forms include plural forms, and vice versa. The words “and” and “or” are both conjugate and non-conjugate, the words “any” and “all” both mean “any and all,” and the words “including,” “comprising,” and “having” mean “including without limitation,” respectively. Furthermore, approximate words such as “about,” “almost,” “substantially,” “approximately,” and equivalent expressions are used herein to mean, for example, “at,” “near,” or “nearly at,” or “within 0-5% of,” or “within acceptable manufacturing tolerances.” It can be used to mean tolerances) or any logical combination thereof. Finally, directional adjectives and adverbs such as fore, aft, medial, lateral, proximal, distal, vertical, horizontal, front, back, left, right, etc., may be relative to footwear products when worn on the user's foot, for example, operably oriented with respect to the ground engagement portion of the sole structure located on a flat surface.

[0027] Next, referring to the drawings, similar reference numbers refer to similar configurations throughout several figures, and Figure 1 shows a typical footwear product, generally indicated by reference number 10, which is referred to herein as athletic shoes or “sneakers” for illustrative purposes. The illustrated footwear 10, also referred herein as “intelligent electronic shoe” or simply “IES,” is merely an exemplary use in which novel embodiments and configurations of this disclosure may be implemented. In a similar vein, the implementation of this concept in wearable electronic devices worn on the human foot should also be understood as a typical use of the concept disclosed herein. Thus, it will be understood that embodiments and configurations of this disclosure may be integrated into other footwear designs and incorporated into any logically related type of wearable electronic device worn on any part of the body. As used herein, the terms “shoe” and “footwear,” including their permutations, may be used interchangeably and synonymously to refer to any related type of clothing worn on the foot. Finally, the configurations shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale and are provided purely for educational purposes. Therefore, specific dimensions and relative dimensions shown in the drawings should not be interpreted as limiting.

[0028] A typical footwear product 10 is generally depicted in Figures 1 and 2 as a bipartite structure, mainly consisting of a sole structure 14 that forms the base and an upper 12 that supports the foot. For ease of reference, the footwear 10 is shown in Figure 2 as having three anatomical regions, namely the forefoot region R FF , midfoot area R MF , and the hindfoot (heel) region R HF It may be divided into the following: The footwear 10 is the lateral segment S, which is the distal half of the shoe 10 that is furthest from the sagittal plane of the human body along the vertical plane. LA(lateral segment), and the medial segment S, which is the proximal half of the shoe 10 closest to the sagittal plane of the human body ME (medial segment). According to the recognized anatomical classification, the forefoot region R FF is located at the front portion of the footwear 10, generally corresponding to the phalanges (toe portion), metatarsal bones, and their interconnecting joints. The forefoot region R FF and the hindfoot region RHF have a midfoot region RMF therebetween, and the midfoot region RMF generally corresponds to the cuneiform bones, navicular bone, and cuboid bone (i.e., the arch region of the foot). In contrast, the heel region R HF is located at the rear portion of the footwear 10, generally corresponding to the talus and calcaneus. The lateral segment S of the footwear 10 LA and the medial segment S ME both extend through all three anatomical regions R FF , R MF , R HF , each corresponding to the respective transverse side of the footwear 10. Although only a single shoe 10 for the user's left foot is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a substantially identical counterpart in mirror image for the user's right foot may be provided as shown in FIG. 3. As can be appreciated, the shape, size, material composition, and manufacturing method of the shoe 10 may be modified, individually or collectively, to be practically adapted to any conventional or non-conventional application.

[0029] Referring again to Figure 1, the upper 12 is depicted as having a closed toe and heel configuration, which is broadly defined by three mutually adjacent sections: a toe box 12A that covers and protects the toes; a vamp 12B located behind the toe box 12A and extending around the lace eyelets 16 and tongue 18; and a quarter 12C located behind the tongue 12B and including the rear and side portions of the rear upper 12 that covers the heel. The upper 12 portion of the footwear 10 may be manufactured from any one or a combination of various materials such as woven fabrics, foams, polymers, natural leathers, and synthetic leathers, which are sewn together, glued together, or welded together to form an internal space for comfortably receiving the foot. The individual material elements of the upper 12 may be selected and arranged relative to the footwear 10 to impart desired properties such as durability, breathability, abrasion resistance, flexibility, and comfort. An ankle opening 15 in the rear quarter 12C of the upper 12 provides access to the inside of the shoe 10. The girth of the upper 12 may be modified using shoelaces 20, straps, buckles, or other conventional mechanisms to more stably hold the foot inside the shoe 10 and to facilitate the entry and removal of the foot into and out of the upper 12. The shoelaces 20 may be threaded through a series of eyelets in the upper 12, and the tongue 18 may extend between the laces 20 and the internal gap of the upper 12.

[0030] The sole structure 14 is connected to the upper 12 and the support surface on which the user stands (for example, the sidewalk G shown in Figure 3). S1It is rigidly fixed to the upper 12 so as to extend between the upper and the foot. In practice, the sole structure 14 functions as an intermediate support platform that separates the user's foot from the ground. In addition to damping ground reaction forces and providing cushioning to the foot, the sole structure 14 in Figures 1 and 2 may provide traction, provide stability, and help restrict various foot movements such as involuntary foot inversion and abduction. In the illustrated example, the sole structure 14 is manufactured as a sandwich structure comprising a top insole 22, a middle midsole 24, and a bottom outsole 26. The insole 22 is shown partially positioned within an internal cavity of the footwear 10, firmly fixed to the lower part of the upper 12 so that the insole 22 is positioned adjacent to the plantar surface of the foot. Below the insole 22 is the midsole 24, which incorporates one or more materials or embedded elements that enhance the comfort, performance, and / or ground reaction force damping properties of the footwear 10. These elements and materials may include, individually or in any combination, polymer foam materials such as polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), filler materials, decelerators, air-filled bladder, plates, durability elements, or motion control members. An outsole 26, which may not be present in some configurations of the footwear 10, is fixed to the lower surface of the midsole 24. The outsole 26 may be formed from a rubber material that provides a durable and abrasion-resistant surface for engagement with the ground. In addition, the outsole 26 may be textured to increase traction (i.e., friction) between the footwear 10 and the support surface located beneath it.

[0031] Figure 3 is a partially schematic illustration of an exemplary IES data network and communication system, generally referred to as reference number 30, for providing wireless data exchange to perform one or more automated footwear configurations for a pair of intelligent electronic shoes 10 worn by a user or client 13. While the illustration shows a single user 13 communicating with a single vehicle 32 through the IES system 30, it is assumed that any number of users may communicate with any number of vehicles or other remote computing nodes appropriately equipped for wireless information and data exchange. One or both IES 10 in Figure 3 are communicatively coupled to a remote host system 34 or cloud computing system 36 via a wireless communication network 38. Wireless data exchange between the IES 10 and the IES system 30 may be performed directly in a configuration in which the IES 10 is equipped as a standalone device, or indirectly by pairing and piggybacking the IES 10 to a smartphone 40, smartwatch 42, wireless fidelity (WiFi) node, or other suitable device. In this regard, IES10 may communicate directly with the vehicle 32, for example, via a short-range wireless communication device (e.g., a Bluetooth® unit or a Near Field Communication (NFC) transceiver), a dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) component, a wireless antenna, etc. Only selected components of IES10 and IES system 30 are shown and described in detail herein. Nevertheless, the systems and devices discussed herein may include, for example, a number of additional and alternative configurations, as well as other available hardware and well-known peripheral components, to perform the various methods and functions disclosed herein.

[0032] Continuing to refer to Figure 3, the host system 34 may be implemented as a high-speed server computing device or mainframe computer capable of handling bulk data processing, resource planning, and transaction processing. For example, the host system 34 may operate as a host in a client-server interface to perform all necessary data exchange and communication with one or more "third-party" servers to complete a particular transaction. On the other hand, the cloud computing system 36 may operate as middleware for IoT (Internet of Things), WoT (Web of Things), IoAAF (Internet of Adaptive Apparel and Footwear), and / or M2M (machine-to-machine) services, connecting various heterogeneous electronic devices to a service-oriented architecture (SOA) via a data network. As an example, the cloud computing system 36 may be implemented as a middleware node that dynamically deploys heterogeneous devices, multiplexes data from each of these devices, and provides different functions for routing the data through reconfigurable processing logic for processing and forwarding to one or more destination applications. Network 38 may be any available type of network, including a combination of public distributed computing networks (e.g., the Internet) and secure private networks (e.g., local area networks, wide area networks, virtual private networks). It may also include wireless and wired transmission systems (e.g., satellite, cellular networks, terrestrial networks, etc.). In at least some embodiments, most, if not all, of the data transaction functions performed by IES10 may be performed over a wireless network, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a cellular data network, in order to ensure the freedom of movement of users 11 and IES10.

[0033] The footwear 10 is equipped with various embedded electronic hardware to operate as a hands-free, rechargeable, and intelligent wearable electronic device. The various electronic components of the IES 10 are controlled by one or more electronic controller devices, such as a resident footwear controller 44 (Figure 2) packaged inside the sole structure 14 of the footwear 10. The footwear controller 44 may include any one or various combinations of one or more of the following suitable integrated circuit devices: logic circuits, dedicated control modules, electronic control units, processors, application-specific integrated circuits, or resident, remote, or a combination of both. As an example, the footwear controller 44 may include multiple microprocessors, including a master processor, a slave processor, and secondary or parallel processors. The footwear controller 44 may include any combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware located inside and / or outside the shoe structure of the IES 10, configured to communicate and / or control the transfer of data between the IES 10 and buses, computers, processors, devices, services, and / or networks when used herein. The footwear controller 44 is generally operable to execute any or all of the various computer program products, software, applications, algorithms, methods, and / or other processes disclosed herein. Routines may be executed in real time, continuously, systematically, sporadically, and / or at regular intervals, for example, every 100 microseconds, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 100 milliseconds during the continuous use or operation of the footwear controller 44.

[0034] The footwear controller 44 may include, or communicate with, resident or remote memory devices, such as a resident footwear memory 46 packaged inside the sole structure 14 of the footwear 10. The resident footwear memory 46 may include semiconductor memory, including volatile memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM) or multiple RAMs) and non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM) or EEPROM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory, etc. Long-range communication capability with remote network devices may be provided via one or more of the following: a cellular network chipset / component, a satellite service chipset / component, or a wireless modem or chipset / component, all of which are collectively represented by reference number 48 in Figure 2. Short-range wireless connectivity may be provided via a BLUETOOTH® transceiver, radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, NFC device, DSRC component, or wireless antenna, all of which are collectively represented by reference number 50. A resident power source, such as a lithium-ion battery 52 with plug-in or cable-free (inductive or resonant) rechargeable capability, may be embedded within the upper 12 or sole structure 14 of the footwear 10. Wireless communication may be further facilitated through the implementation of a Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE), Category (CAT) M1 or CAT-NB1 wireless interface. The various communication devices described above may be configured to exchange data between devices as part of systematic or periodic beacon messages broadcast in footwear-to-vehicle (F2V) information exchange, footwear-to-all (F2X) information exchange, e.g., between footwear infrastructure (F2I), between footwear-to-pedestrian (F2P), or between footwear (F2F).

[0035] The location and movement of the user 11 in the IES10 may be tracked via a location tracking device 54 which may be located inside the sole structure 14 or the upper 12. The location can be determined via a satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS), WiFi, or other suitable navigation system. In one example, the GPS system may monitor the location of a person, vehicle, or other target object on Earth using a group of cooperating orbiting GPS satellites that communicate with a suitable GPS transceiver, thereby generating a series of data points time-stamped in real time. In addition to providing data on the absolute latitude and absolute longitudinal position coordinates of a GPS receiver supported by the target object, the data provided via the GPS system may be adapted and used to provide information on the elapsed time during the performance of a specified operation, the total distance traveled, height or altitude at a particular location, altitude changes within a specified time window, direction of movement, speed of movement, and equivalents. The aforementioned set of GPS data may be used by the resident footwear controller 44 to estimate the user 11's predicted route. GPS system data may be used, individually or collectively, to supplement and optionally calibrate accelerometer-based or other pedometer-based speed and distance data. To achieve this purpose, information collected by GPS satellite systems may be used to generate correction factors and / or calibration parameters for use by IES10 to help ensure accurate sensor data, and thus optimal system operation.

[0036] Even without a GPS receiver, the IES10 can determine its location and movement information through collaboration with the cellular system via a process known as "trilateration." The towers and base stations of the cellular system communicate radio signals and are located within the cell network. A cellular device like the IES10 may have a low-power transmitter for communicating with the nearest tower, base station, router, or access point. As a user moves with the IES10, for example, from one cell to another, the base station monitors the strength of the transmitter's signal. As the IES10 moves towards the edge of one cell, the transmitter's signal strength decreases with respect to the current tower. Simultaneously, base stations in the approaching cell detect an increase in signal strength. As the user moves into a new cell, the tower forwards the signal from one cell to the next. The resident footwear controller 44 can determine the location of the IES10 based on measurements of the transmitter signal, such as the angle of approach to the (multiple) cell towers, the time it takes for each individual signal to travel to multiple towers, and the respective signal strengths when each signal reaches its corresponding tower. According to another aspect of this concept, one or more motion sensing devices may be incorporated into the shoe structure to determine the dynamic motion (e.g., translation, rotation, velocity, acceleration, etc.) of the IES10 relative to established data or references (e.g., position, spatial orientation, reaction, force, velocity, acceleration, electrical contact, etc.) around or along one or more axes.

[0037] Referring collectively to Figures 1 and 2, the footwear product 10 may include a resident lighting system 56 comprising one or more lighting devices controlled by a footwear controller 44 to selectively illuminate the shoe structure and the surrounding area. Different types of lighting devices may be utilized by the lighting system 56, including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), electroluminescent panels (ELPs), compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), high-intensity discharge lamps, flexible or non-flexible organic LED displays, flat-panel liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and other available types of lighting elements. Any number of lighting devices may be positioned in any part of the shoe 10. As shown, a first lighting device 58 is packaged inside the sole structure 14, located within the midfoot region (RMF) of the footwear 10. The first lighting device 58 is positioned immediately adjacent to a window 60 (Figure 1) that seals a frame hole extending through the surrounding wall of the sole structure 14 on the lateral side of the shoe 10. The lighting device 58 may be operated in an illuminated or "on" state, a non-illuminated or "off" state, a range of illumination intensities (e.g., low, medium, and high light output), various colors, and / or various illumination patterns. With this configuration, the first lighting device 58 selectively illuminates a portion of the upper 12, a portion of the sole 14, and a portion of the ground GS1 adjacent to the IES 10.

[0038] Next, referring to the flowchart in Figure 4, an improved method or control strategy for performing an automated configuration, such as the footwear configuration illustrated in Figure 3, for a wearable electronic device like the IES10 in Figures 1 and 2, is generally described by reference no. 100 in accordance with aspects of this disclosure. Some or all of the operations illustrated in Figure 5 and described in more detail below may be stored, for example, in main memory, auxiliary memory, or remote memory, and may represent algorithms corresponding to processor-executable instructions that may be executed, for example, by a resident or remote controller, a central processing unit (CPU), a control logic circuit, or other module or device, in order to perform any or all of the above-mentioned or above-mentioned or below-mentioned functions related to the concepts of the disclosure. It should be recognized that the execution order of the illustrated operation blocks may be changed, additional blocks may be added, and some of the described blocks may be modified, combined, or deleted.

[0039] Method 100 is initiated in terminal block 101 by a processor-executable instruction for a programmable controller or control module or a similar suitable processor such as the resident footwear controller 44 in Figure 2, to invoke an initialization procedure for a protocol governing the operation of a wearable electronic device such as the IES 10 in Figure 1. This routine may be invoked and executed, for example, in real time, continuously, systematically, sporadically, and / or at regular intervals, etc., while the intelligent electronic shoes 10 are in use. Referring to the IES data network and communication system 30 architecture in Figure 3 as a typical implementation of the methodology shown in Figure 5, the initialization procedure in block 101 may be initiated automatically whenever user 11 approaches a road or road intersection 13, whenever user 11 approaches or is approached by a vehicle 32, or whenever user 11 is in a detectable proximity to a moving transmitter-detector module 70 (e.g., mounted on vehicle 32) or a stationary transmitter-detector module 72 (e.g., mounted on a pedestrian crossing signal post 74). Using a portable electronic device such as a smartphone 40 or smartwatch 42, user 11 may launch a dedicated mobile application or web-based applet to cooperate with a traffic system controller (represented by a remote host system 34) via an IoAAF middleware node (represented by a cloud computing system 36, for example) to monitor user 11, for example as part of a pedestrian collision avoidance procedure. The example illustrated in Figure 3 depicts a single pedestrian—a female runner—avoiding injuries resulting from an accident with a single autonomous vehicle—an SAE Level 3, 4, or 5 autonomous vehicle—at an intersection on a city road. However, the IES system 30 is envisioned to monitor and protect any number and type of users, and any number and type of vehicles or objects operating in any logically related environment.

[0040] To enhance security, interaction between IES10 and IES system 30 can be enabled by an authentication process in a predetermined process block 103. Authentication may be performed by a primary or secondary source that verifies the proper activation of the wearable electronic device and / or the valid identity of the device's user. After manual input of user identification information, such as a password, PIN number, credit card number, personal information, biometric data, or predetermined key sequence, the user may be enabled to access a personal account, for example, a "digital locker" that operates on the user's smartphone 40 using the NIKE+® Connect software application and is registered with the IoAAF middleware node. Thus, data exchange can be enabled, for example, by a combination of a secret PIN number (e.g., a 6-digit or 8-digit code) and personal identification input (e.g., mother's maiden name, social security number, etc.), or by a combination of a password (e.g., created by user 11) and a corresponding PIN number (e.g., issued by host system 34), or by a combination of a secret PIN number and credit card input. Additionally or alternatively, barcodes, RFID tags, or NFC tags may be engraved on or attached to the IES10 shoe structure and configured to communicate a security authentication code to the IES system 30. Other established authentication and security technologies, including blockchain cryptography, can be used to prevent unauthorized access to user accounts, for example, to minimize the impact of unauthorized access to user accounts or to prevent unauthorized access to personal information or funds accessible through user accounts.

[0041] As an alternative or supplementary option to manually entering identification information in a predetermined process block 103, user 11 security authentication may be automated by the resident footwear controller 44. In a non-limiting example, a pressure sensor 62, which may have the properties of a binary contact sensor switch, may be attached to the footwear 10 (for example, embedded in the midsole 24 of the sole structure 14). This pressure sensor 62 detects a calibrated minimum load on the insole 22, thereby establishing the presence of a foot in the upper 12. Any future automated configuration of IES 10 may first require the controller 44 to confirm that the footwear 10 is in use, via a command prompt to the binary pressure sensor 62, before sending a command signal to initiate automated operation. Although only a single sensor is illustrated in Figure 2, it is envisioned that IES 10 may include a distributed array of sensors, including pressure sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, and / or shoe dynamics sensors, packaged at discrete locations throughout the shoe structure. In the same vein, foot presence detection (FPS) may be determined through a variety of available sensing techniques, including capacitance, magnetism, and the like. Additional information relating to foot presence detection can be found, for example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2 to Steven H. Walker, et al., the full texts of both of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0042] In addition to functioning as a binary (on / off) switch, the pressure sensor 62 may take the form of a multimodal sensor configuration (e.g., a polyurethane capacitive biofeedback sensor) that detects any of various biometric parameters, such as the magnitude of the pressure applied by the foot within the upper 12, and outputs one or more signals indicating them. These sensor signals are sent from the pressure sensor 62 to the resident footwear controller 44, where the received data is aggregated, filtered, and processed to calculate the current user's weight. The current user's weight, calculated for the individual currently using the IES 10, is compared to a previously validated user weight stored in memory (e.g., authenticated against a registered user of an existing personal account). In doing so, the footwear controller 44 can determine whether the current user's weight is equal to or within a predetermined threshold range of validated user weights. Once the current user is authenticated as a validated user, the resident footwear controller 44 can send command signals to one or more subsystems within the footwear 10 to automate their configuration.

[0043] Automated security authentication of a user may be achieved through other available techniques as part of a predefined process block 103, which includes cross-referencing characteristics of the current user's foot with previously verified characteristics of the authenticated user's foot. For example, a typical IES10 is shown in Figure 2, assembled with an electric lacing system that utilizes a lace motor (M) 64 attached to the footwear 10 and selectively operable to move the shoelaces 20 back and forth between an untensioned (loose) state and one or more tensioned (tightened) states. The lace motor 64 may have the properties of a bidirectional DC electric worm gear motor, housed within the sole structure 14 and controlled by a resident footwear controller 44. The lace motor 64 may be activated via a manually activated switch built into the shoe structure or via soft key activation through an app on the user's smartphone 40 or smartwatch 42. Control commands may include, but are not limited to, incremental tightening, incremental loosening, open / fully loosening, memory of "preferred" tension, and tension recall / recovery. Additional information relating to electric shoelace tensioning systems can be found, for example, in Patent Document 3, the entire text of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0044] The motor control of the lace motor 64 may be automated via the resident footwear controller 44 in response to a sensor signal from a pressure sensor 62 indicating, for example, that the foot is positioned inside the upper 12. For example, to better hold the foot in response to dynamic user movements, the shoelace tension may be actively modulated through the controlled operation of the lace motor 64 by the controller 44 during use of the IES 10. In at least some embodiments, an H-bridge mechanism is utilized to measure the motor current, and the measured current is provided as input to the footwear controller 44. The resident footwear memory 46 stores a lookup table having a list of calibrated currents, each known to correspond to a specific lace tension position. By checking the measured motor current against the calibrated currents recorded in the lookup table, the footwear controller 44 may determine the current tension position of the shoelace 20. The functions described above, as well as any other logically relevant options or configurations disclosed herein, may be applied to alternative types of wearable clothing, including garments, headgear, eyewear, wristwear, neckwear, legwear, underwear, and equivalents. Furthermore, the race motor 64 may be configured to automate the tightening and loosening of straps, latches, cables, and other commercially available mechanisms for securing the shoes.

[0045] Similar to the pressure sensor 62 described above, the lace motor 64 may be doubled as a binary (on / off) switch to effectively enable and disable the automated configuration of the IES 10. That is, the resident footwear controller 44 may communicate with the lace motor 64 before executing the automated configuration to determine whether the shoelaces 20 are in a tensioned or untensioned state. If the latter, all automated configurations may be disabled by the resident footwear controller 44, for example, to prevent accidental activation of the automated configuration when the IES 10 is not in use. Conversely, after determining that the laces 20 are in a tensioned state, the footwear controller 44 is made capable of sending automated command signals.

[0046] During the operation of the lace motor 64, the shoelace 20 may be positioned at any one of several discrete tensioning positions to accommodate users with feet of different circumferences or different tension preferences. A lace sensor, which may be built into the lace motor 64 or packaged within the sole structure 14 or upper 12, may be used to detect the current tensioning position of the lace 20 for a given user. Alternatively, the lace position may be determined using real-time tracking of the position of the output shaft of the bidirectional electric lace motor 64 (e.g., a worm gear) or the position of a designated section of the lace 20 (e.g., a lace spool mated with the motor's worm gear). After the lace 20 has been tensioned, the resident footwear controller 44 communicates with the lace motor 64 and / or the lace sensor to identify the current tensioning position of the lace 20 for the current user. This current tensioning position is compared to a previously verified and stored lace tensioning position (e.g., authenticated by a registered user of an existing personal account). Through this comparison, the footwear controller 44 can determine whether the current tensioning position is equal to or within a predetermined threshold range of verified tensioning positions. After authenticating the current user as a verified user, the resident footwear controller 44 may send command signals to one or more subsystems within the footwear 10 to automate their configuration.

[0047] After the completion of the authentication procedure described in a predetermined process block 103, the method 100 in Figure 5 proceeds to an input / output block 105 which has processor-executable instructions to retrieve enough data to track the movement of wearable electronic devices and remote computing nodes moving relative to each other. According to an example illustrated in Figure 3, the IES 10 may receive location data from a remote host system 34 and / or a cloud computing system 36 indicating the current location and speed of the user 11 and the vehicle 32, either directly or through collaborative operation with a smartphone 40 or smartwatch 42. Additionally or alternatively, the user's movement may also be tracked through a dedicated mobile app or route planning app running on the user's smartphone 40. The location and movement of the IES 10, and thus the user 11, may also be determined, for example, through a satellite-based GPS navigation system transceiver embedded in the upper 12 or sole structure 14. A back-office intermediate server, such as a cloud computing system 36 acting as a middleware node, tracks the location and movement of the vehicle 32 in real time, for example, through an onboard transmission device or through an app on the driver's personal computing device.

[0048] Another technique for determining the user's location and associated dynamics utilizes a detection tag 78, supported by the user 11, which communicates with transmitter-detector modules 70, 72 attached to a nearby structure or nearby moving object. According to typical applications presented in Figures 1 and 3, the detection tag 78 is embodied as a passive or active radio frequency (RF) transponder attached to the outer surface of the sole structure 14. The RF transponder 78 in Figure 1 includes an omnidirectional (Type I) RF antenna coil 80, manufactured from a conductive material and molded to transmit and receive signals in the form of electromagnetic radiation waves. An RF frequency filter 82, which may have the properties of a lumped-element Butterworth filter, is electrically connected to the RF antenna 80 and designed for bandpass operation so as to pass only signals that have RF power with a calibrated (first) frequency or are within a calibrated (first) frequency range. Alternatively, the frequency filter 82 may provide a band-erasing function that attenuates and rejects the passage of all signals with RF power having frequencies or frequencies within any one or more undesirable frequency bands, i.e., frequencies outside the calibrated (first) frequency range. To protect the components and improve performance as an RF transponder, an optional dielectric cover 84 is placed over the RF antenna 80, the frequency filter 82, and the associated detection tag electronics. Signal exchange may be routed through a system packet interface (SPI) interface and general-purpose input / output (GPIO). Frequency and phase-tunable signal outputs may be provided through a phase-locked loop (PLL) or direct digital combiner (DDS) combiner, a harmonic mixer, and a PLL or DDS combiner-based local oscillator.

[0049] When user 11 approaches the road intersection 13 in Figure 3, the detection tag 78 (Figure 1) is triggered by a frequency-swept prompt signal S emitted at regular intervals by a mobile transmitter-detector module 70, which may be packaged close to the front end of the vehicle 32, or by a stationary transmitter-detector module 72, which may be suspended from a pedestrian crossing signal pole 74, a building wall, or a similar suitable stationary structure.P Or it receives a "ping". For applications where the detection tag 78 consists of a passive RF transponder, the transmitter-detector modules 70, 72 receive a prompt signal S in a repetitive or substantially continuous manner. P It may broadcast. Conversely, regarding the implementation of an active RF transponder, the incoming prompt signal S P This may be emitted in a repetitive or substantially continuous manner in response to a call back signal broadcast by the detection tag 78. Prompt signal S P This is an electromagnetic field wave having a predetermined (first) RF power level with a standardized (first) downlink frequency. In addition, the prompt signal S P It includes an embedded dataset containing encoded unique information (e.g., transmitter ID, call code, timestamp, etc.). The data can be superimposed on a carrier wave swept within a narrowband system to help reduce the bandwidth overhead that some implementations may create. The detection tag 78 broadcasts, and module 70 prompts a signal S P It should be noted that the reverse situation—receiving and resending—is also possible.

[0050] This prompt signal S P After receiving the signal S, the detection tag 78 detects the signal S P The response signal S is processed responsively and then output. R The signal is then retransmitted back to the transmitter-detector modules 70 and 72. Response signal S R This is an electromagnetic field wave having a distinguishable (second) RF power with a complementary (second) uplink frequency separate from the first frequency. The detection tag 78 is detected by the incoming prompt signal S (for example, by frequency multiplication of the incoming signal). P An RF frequency converter modulates the signal S, and the transmitter-detector modules 70 and 72 receive the signal S. R Before sending, the incoming prompt signal S P Based on this, the response signal S RThe RF signal amplifier may be provided to enhance the signal. To help ensure that the transmitter-detector modules 70, 72 recognize the detection tag 78, a response signal S R It echoes back at least a portion of the SP embedded data of the prompt signal to the transmitter-detector modules 70, 72. To minimize onboard power usage, the detection tag 78 may operate in two modes, namely idle mode and active mode. When idling, the detection tag 78 is generally in a dormant state and therefore does not draw power from the resident power supply 52 or offboard power supply. In comparison, when active, the detection tag 78 temporarily draws power from the resident power supply 52 or receives the incoming prompt signal S P Power is supplied by [this]. Therefore, the detection tag 78 does not transmit a transparent output signal unless an incoming signal with RF power of a predetermined frequency is received and until it is received.

[0051] The intelligent electronic shoe 10 in Figures 1-3 may utilize alternative means for exchanging data with the IES system 30 and the automobile 32 as part of performing pedestrian collision threat assessment. Instead of using an RF transponder, the detection tag 78 may be manufactured using one or more electroactive polymer (EAP) sensors, each of which has a separate dielectric EAP element attached to the sole structure 14 or upper 12. According to this example, the incoming prompt signal S P This is an electric field that generates a current with a voltage sufficient to induce a physical change of state (e.g., arcing or expansion) in the implanted dielectric EAP element. Through the normal use of IES10, the user 11 unknowingly reverses the physical change of state of the EAP sensor by, for example, flattening or compressing the dielectric EAP element at its feet. In doing so, the EAP sensor generates a current, which is responded to by IES10 as a signal S RIt is also conceivable that IES10 may be made capable of communicating directly with the vehicle 32, for example, through a device-to-device wireless ad-hoc network (WANET), rather than redirecting all data through, for example, the IES system 30 or other existing (multiple) wireless access points.

[0052] Referring again to Figure 5, Method 100 is a response signal S indicating that the driver may enter or block the road in a manner that could cause a car accident. R The system continues processing block 107 using processor-executable instructions for transmitting or receiving a pedestrian collision warning signal, which are generated in response to the transmission. In basic use, regardless of secondary variables, a pedestrian collision warning signal is automatically broadcast via the IES system 30 whenever user 11 approaches intersection 13 at the same time as vehicle 32. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the wireless transmitter node 86 of the IES system 30 may broadcast a pedestrian collision warning signal to a first user 11A wearing an IES 10 who is approaching and is expected to cross road intersection 13A at the same time as a moving vehicle 32A is expected to cross intersection 13A. A second user 11B wearing an IES 10 and approaching intersection 13A at the same time as vehicle 32A may also receive a pedestrian collision warning signal, even if they are visually obstructed from each other by buildings. A pair of IES 10s may be registered to a user 11C with a visual, physical, or mental disability. A pedestrian collision warning signal may be transmitted to a third user 11C because it is highly likely that this individual may unknowingly enter the intersection 13A while vehicle 32A is passing through. The warning signal may be transmitted to multiple users 11A, 11B, 11C and any potentially threatening vehicle 32A so that each party can take corrective measures to prevent an accidental collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle.

[0053] For more sophisticated multimodal applications, the IES system 30 receives data from various sensing devices, for example, using optical detection, radar, laser, ultrasonic, optical, infrared, attenuated mass, smart materials, or other suitable techniques for object detection and tracking. As illustrated in the example, the IES system 30 may include one or more digital cameras, one or more range sensors, one or more velocity sensors, one or more dynamic sensors, and any required filtering, classification, fusion, and analysis hardware and software for processing raw sensor data, or receive sensor signals from them. Each sensor generates an electrical signal that indicates the characteristics or state of a target object, typically as an estimate with a corresponding standard deviation. While the operating characteristics of these sensors are generally complementary, some sensors are more reliable than others in estimating specific parameters. Most sensors have different operating ranges and coverage areas, and can detect different parameters within their operating ranges. Furthermore, the performance of many sensor technologies can be affected by different environmental conditions. As a result, sensors generally present parametric variances, where their operational overlaps offer opportunities for sensory fusion.

[0054] A dedicated control module or appropriately programmed processor aggregates and preprocesses a set of sensor-based data, fuses the aggregated data, and analyzes the fused data together with relevant crowdsource data and behavioral data of each target object under evaluation to estimate whether the target object is statistically likely to enter the predicted path of the vehicle. In the input / output block 109, for example, the resident footwear controller 44 collects and transmits to the IES system 30 (1) location data indicating the real-time location of the IES 10 and thus the user 11, (2) dynamics data indicating the real-time speed, acceleration / deceleration, and heading of the IES 10 and thus the user 11, and (3) behavioral data indicating the historical behavior of the user 11 while wearing the IES 10. Such historical data may include the historical trends of a given user at a particular intersection or a particular geographical location, the historical trends of a given user in a general urban or rural environment, the historical trends of a given user under various weather conditions, the historical trends of a given user in a particular dynamic scenario, etc. The IES controller 44 is expected to collect and transmit other types of data, including predictive route data that shows the estimated route of user 11 based on available current and historical information.

[0055] In a predefined process block 111, method 100 in Figure 5 applies a sensor fusion module to aggregated raw sensor data, thereby proceeding to processor-executable instructions for a resident or remote controller to determine the likelihood of a target object intrusion into the predicted route and location of a vehicle. For example, the IES system 30 conditions the data received from the resident footwear controller 44 to correlate the received sensor data to ensure overlap with a single common “reference” time frame, coordinate system, set of standard measurements, etc. As soon as the received sensor data is sufficiently conditioned to ensure alignment across relevant metrics, the IES system 30 may execute a data-related protocol that classifies each respective portion of the sensor data and then correlates the relevant portions of the sensor data based on any complementary classification. The IES system 30 may then execute a sensor fusion procedure for the conditioned and classified data together with the route plan data of the target object and the vehicle in question. Sensor fusion may be represented as a computational framework for the aggregation, analysis, and integration of data originating from heterogeneous or homogeneous sources (e.g., multiple distinct sensor types as described above). For illustrative purposes, sensor fusion may be embodied as a dedicated software device that intelligently combines data from several sensors, compensates for the defects of individual sensors, and calculates fully accurate and understandable positional and orientation information.

[0056] After sensor fusion is complete, the IES system 30 calculates a pedestrian collision threat value. This collision threat value predicts a monitored target object that is more likely to cause an adverse event than not. In the illustrated example, the pedestrian collision threat value may predict the intrusion of user 11 in a manner that at least partially interferes with the predicted route of target vehicle 32, when the predicted route of target vehicle 32 is related to the target vehicle's current (real-time) location. This pedestrian collision threat value may be based on a fusion of user location data, user dynamics data, and user behavior data. Optionally, the pedestrian collision threat value may incorporate a fusion of behavior data, user location data, and user dynamics data with crowdsourced data and environmental data. Environmental data may consist of information indicating the user's surrounding environment, such as current weather conditions, current vehicle traffic conditions, current pedestrian traffic conditions, and equivalent conditions. In comparison, crowdsourced data may consist of information indicating the location, movement, and / or behavior of multiple individuals in close proximity to the user. The remote computing nodes that receive the aforementioned data may include a remote host system 34, a cloud computing system 36, a permanent parking controller 76 of the vehicle 32, or a combination of these distributed computing systems. Alternatively, the footwear controller 44 may transmit some or all of the aforementioned data to the central control unit of the intelligent traffic management system via wireless communication devices 48, 50.

[0057] Method 100 in Figure 5 proceeds to a decision block 113 to determine whether the pedestrian collision threat value is greater than a calibrated threshold. The calibrated threshold may be determined through empirical testing that provides sufficient quantitative data to establish a statistically significant minimum confidence percentage (e.g., 80%) below which the calculated collision threat value is not definitive or a collision event will not occur. In response to the determination that the pedestrian collision threat value is not greater than the calibrated threshold (block 113=NO), Method 100 may return to the terminal block 101 and operate in a continuous loop, or it may proceed to the terminal block 117 and terminate temporarily. Conversely, after determining that the pedestrian collision threat value is actually greater than the calibrated threshold (block 113=YES), Method 100 proceeds to a processing block 115, where one or more corrective measures are taken to avoid a collision between the user and the vehicle. For example, non-limitingly, the wireless transmitter node 86 may transmit a pedestrian collision imminent notification to the vehicle controller 76, which may immediately respond by issuing a brake command signal or a set of brake command signals to the vehicle braking system to perform braking maneuvers, which may, for example, bring the vehicle to a complete stop or reduce the speed to a calculated value that facilitates evasive steering maneuvers. Additionally or alternatively, the vehicle 32 may perform other autonomous vehicle functions, such as controlling the vehicle steering, managing the operation of the vehicle's transmission, controlling the engine throttle, and other automated driving functions. After the corrective measures performed in process block 115 are completed, method 100 proceeds to terminal block 117 and terminates temporarily.

[0058] In addition to facilitating the automation of one or more vehicle actions designed to mitigate or prevent vehicle-pedestrian collisions, Method 100 may accompany and facilitate the automation of one or more IES functions designed to mitigate or prevent vehicle-pedestrian collisions in process block 115. For example, a first command signal may be sent to a first IES subsystem to perform a first automated configuration AF1 of an intelligent electronic shoe. According to the example in Figure 3, the resident footwear controller 44 receives a pedestrian collision threat value output in block 111, establishes in block 113 that the threat value is greater than a threshold, and takes precautionary action in block 115. The resident footwear controller 44 responds to this decision automatically (i.e., without any user or external system prompting) by sending a command signal to the resident lighting system 56 to activate the lighting device 58, thereby generating a predetermined light output. The selected color and / or pattern is detectable by the user 11, optionally by the driver of the vehicle 32, and is sufficiently conspicuous to warn of an impending collision. As a non-limiting example, the resident lighting system 56 may output a flashing bright red light pattern, and the use of this particular color and pattern may be restricted to warn the user of a potential hazard. The light output of the IES 10 may be coordinated with the light output of the forward-facing headlamps of the vehicle 32 to further facilitate notifying the user 11 of an anticipated vehicle collision.

[0059] It is assumed that any of the connected wearable electronic devices in the disclosure may automate additional or alternative configurations as part of the methodology 100 shown in Figure 5. In response to a positive decision in the decision block 113, the footwear controller 44 may automatically send a second command signal to a second subsystem to perform a second automated configuration AF2 of the wearable electronic device. As a non-limiting example, the IES 10 in Figure 2 is shown to include a tactile transducer 66 that operatively communicates with the insole 22 and is housed inside the sole structure 14. To warn the user 11 of the pedestrian collision threat assessment, the resident footwear controller 44 issues a command signal to the tactile transducer 66 to generate a tactile cue (e.g., a perceptible vibration force or a series of vibration pulses) that is transmitted from the midsole 24 through the insole 22 to the user's foot. The intensity and / or pulse pattern output by the tactile transducer 66 as part of method 100 may be limited to warning the user of an expected hazard.

[0060] An optional third automated configuration AF3 may include activating a lace motor 64 as a haptic force feedback device selectively activated by a footwear controller 44 to rapidly tension or release the shoelaces 20. Similarly, IES10 may operate in conjunction with a smartphone 40 (e.g., LED camera light or tuned flash of an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) actuator) or an active clothing element (e.g., tuned activation of a thermal or haptic device incorporated into a shirt or shorts). Another option is to utilize haptic feedback to provide the user with turn-by-turn instructions (e.g., the left or right foot may vibrate with increased intensity and / or in a pulse pattern designated to indicate a left or right turn). In the same vein, haptic feedback can similarly be used to guide the user along a pre-selected route or to warn the user of taking a particular route (e.g., one deemed unsafe). Additional information relating to footwear and clothing with tactile feedback can be found, for example, in Patent Document 4 to Ernest Kim, which in whole is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0061] Optionally, the IES10 may include an audio system, as shown in Figure 1, by a miniaturized audio speaker 68 mounted on the rear quarter 12C of the upper 12. The resident footwear controller 44, after confirming that the pedestrian collision threat value is greater than a calibrated threshold, automatically sends a command signal to the audio system speaker 68 to generate a predetermined audio output. For example, the audio system speaker 68 may shout "WARNING!" or "STOP!" at an amplified sound level. Alternatively, the footwear controller 44 may command the lace motor 64 to repeatedly tighten / loosen the shoelaces 20, for example, as a signal / cue for an oncoming vehicle. Inter-footwear infrastructure communication may be enabled (and coordinated) to allow the IES10 to communicate with a networked "smart city" controller, which may then modulate street lighting or traffic signal changes to improve pedestrian or runner safety. Conversely, the "Smart City" controller may communicate with the IES10 to warn the user when a pedestrian approaches a crosswalk with a "Do Not Walk" sign, which indicates that pedestrians must yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles.

[0062] In some embodiments, aspects of this disclosure may be implemented through a computer executable program of instructions, such as a program module, which is generally called a software application or application program, executed by one of the controllers or variations of the controller described herein. The software may, in non-limiting examples, include routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform specific tasks or implement specific data types. The software may form an interface that enables the computer to respond according to a source of input. The software may work in conjunction with other code segments to initiate various tasks in response to data received in relation to a source of incoming data. The software may be stored in any of various memory media, such as CD-ROMs, magnetic disks, bubble memory, and semiconductor memory (e.g., various types of RAM or ROM).

[0063] Furthermore, embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented in various computer systems and computer network configurations, including multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and equivalents. In addition, embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented in a distributed computing environment in which tasks are performed by remote processing devices linked over a communication network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may reside in both local and remote computer storage media, including memory storage devices. Accordingly, embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented in computer systems or other processing systems in relation to various hardware, software, or combinations thereof.

[0064] Any method described herein may include machine-readable instructions for execution by (a) a processor, (b) a controller, and / or (c) any other suitable processing device. Any algorithm, software, protocol, or method disclosed herein may be embodied as software stored on a tangible medium, such as flash memory, CD-ROM, floppy disk, hard drive, digital versatile disk (DVD), or other memory device. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the entire algorithm and / or parts thereof may be executed by a device other than a controller and / or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware in a manner that is available (e.g., implemented by application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable logic devices (FPLDs), discrete logic, etc.). Furthermore, while specific algorithms are described with reference to the flowcharts provided herein, it will readily understand that many other methods for implementing exemplary machine-readable instructions may be used as alternatives.

[0065] The following exemplary configurations and settings are not intended to represent any embodiment or aspect of the Disclosure. Rather, many of the configurations and advantages of the Disclosure will be more readily apparent from the representative examples below. In this regard, each of the Systems, Methods, Devices, Protocols, etc. of the Disclosure may, alone or in any combination, include any configurations, options, and alternatives described herein with respect to other embodiments, unless expressly disallowed or logically prohibited.

[0066] Aspects of this disclosure are directed to an intelligent electronic shoe system for a 1-foot user. The IES system includes an upper configured to be attached to the user's foot and a sole structure attached to the upper and configured to support the user's foot thereon. The sole structure has an outsole defining the ground engagement portion of the IES. An optical system attached to the sole structure and / or upper is configured to generate light in response to a command signal. A wireless communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote computing node. The IES system includes a resident or remote footwear controller operationally connected to the wireless communication device and the lighting system. The footwear controller is configured to receive one or more location datasets indicating the user's location and the node location of the remote computing node. The footwear controller determines whether the user location is in the vicinity of a given location or node location. In response that the user location is in the vicinity of a given location or node location, the controller transmits a command signal to the optical system to generate a given light output.

[0067] For any of the disclosed IES systems, the footwear controller may be further configured to transmit a second command signal to the control system of a remote computing node to generate an audible or visual output, for example, in response to the user location being in the vicinity of a given location / node location. The remote computing node may be a vehicle having a vehicle headlamp system. In this case, the visual output may include illumination, flashing, and / or enhancement of the light output of the vehicle headlamp system. The audible output of the vehicle may include activation and / or modulation of the audible output of the vehicle's horn system. The footwear controller may be further configured to coordinate the light output of the vehicle headlamp system with a given light output of the IES light system.

[0068] For any of the disclosed IES systems, the wireless communication device of the IES system is wirelessly connected to a portable electronic device and thereby further configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote computing node. The IES system may include a haptic transducer attached to the sole structure and / or upper. The footwear controller may generate a haptic cue by sending a third command signal to the haptic transducer in response, for example, that the user's location is in the vicinity of a given location / node location. Alternatively, the IES system may include an audio system attached to the sole structure and / or upper. The footwear controller may generate a predetermined audio output by sending a fourth command signal to the audio system in response, for example, that the user's location is in the vicinity of a given location / node location.

[0069] In any of the disclosed IES systems, the remote computing node may be a security system, in which case the footwear controller may send an on / off command signal to the security system in response to, for example, the user location being in the vicinity of a designated location or node location. Optionally, the remote computing node may be a home automation system, in which case the footwear controller may send a fifth command signal to the home automation system, for example, when the user location is in the vicinity of a designated location or node location, to lock or unlock a door, turn an interior light on or off, and / or raise or lower the temperature of a thermostat.

[0070] For any of the disclosed IES systems, a given location may include a geofence defined by a footwear controller. A command signal to activate the optical system may be sent after detection of a remote computing node that breaches the geofence. The IES system may further include a pressure sensor attached to the sole structure or upper, the pressure sensor being configured to detect the presence (or absence) of a foot within the upper. In this example, the command signal to activate the IES optical system is sent, at least in part, in response to the presence of a detected foot within the upper. The pressure sensor may additionally (or alternatively) be configured to detect the user's weight. In this case, the footwear controller receives a sensor signal from the pressure sensor indicating the user's detected weight, determines whether the detected weight is within a predetermined range of verified user weights stored in memory, and only sends a command signal to the IES optical system if the detected weight is within the predetermined range of verified user weights.

[0071] In any of the disclosed IES systems, the shoelaces are attached to the upper, and the lace motor is attached inside the sole structure and configured to selectively transition the shoelaces between a tensioned state and an untensioned state. The footwear controller may communicate with the lace motor to determine whether the shoelaces are tensioned or untensioned. A command signal to activate the IES optical system is further transmitted in response to the shoelaces being tensioned. For some applications, the tensioned state includes a plurality of discrete tensioned positions. The IES system may include a lace sensor that detects the current of the discrete tensioned positions for the user. In this case, the footwear controller may receive a sensor signal from the lace sensor indicating the current discrete tensioned position for the user. From this data, the controller may determine whether the current discrete tensioned position corresponds to a verified lace tensioned position stored in memory. An activation command signal for the IES optical system may be transmitted in response to the current discrete tensioned position corresponding to a verified lace tensioned position.

[0072] For any of the disclosed IES systems, the remote computing node may include an optical sensor operable to detect a predetermined optical output of the IES optical system. This optical output may include a personalized color and / or flashing pattern configured to verify the user to the remote computing node. In at least some embodiments, the wireless communication device of the IES system includes a BLE, CAT-M1, and / or CAT-NB1 wireless interface. The IES system may also include a barcode, an RFID tag, and / or an NFC tag attached to the sole structure / upper, each of which is configured to communicate a security authentication code to the remote computing node.

[0073] Additional aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for manufacturing footwear products for a user's foot. The method includes the steps of: providing an upper configured to receive and attach a user's foot; providing a sole structure configured to support a user's foot thereon, the sole structure having an outsole defining a ground engagement portion; attaching the sole structure to the upper; attaching an optical system to the sole structure and / or upper, the optical system configured to generate light in response to command signals; attaching a wireless communication device to the sole structure and / or upper, the wireless communication device configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote computing node; and attaching a resident controller to the sole structure and / or upper, the resident controller operationally connected to the wireless communication device and the optical system. The resident controller is configured to receive location data indicating the user's location, receive location data indicating the location of a remote computing node, determine whether the user's location is in the vicinity of a given location or node location, and in response that the user is in the vicinity of a given location / node, transmit a command signal to the optical system to generate a given optical output.

[0074] Other aspects of this disclosure are directed to a method for performing an automated configuration of an intelligent electronic shoe. The IES includes an upper of an open or closed structure for attachment to a user's foot, a sole structure attached to the upper and defining a ground engagement surface, and an optical system operable to generate light in response to an electronic command signal. The method includes receiving location data indicating the user's location and location data indicating the location of a remote computing node via a wireless communication device by a resident footwear controller. The method also includes determining via the footwear controller whether the user's location is in a predetermined location or in the vicinity of a node's location. In response that the user's location is in the vicinity of a predetermined location / node's location, the footwear controller automatically transmits a command signal to the optical system to generate a predetermined optical output.

[0075] In either of the methods of disclosure, the footwear controller may generate an audible or visual output in further response that the user's location is in the vicinity of a given location / node location by transmitting a second command signal to the control system of the remote computing node. In some applications, the remote computing node is a vehicle with a vehicle headlamp system, in which case the visual output includes illumination, flashing, and / or enhancement of the light output of the vehicle's headlamp system. Optionally, the footwear controller may coordinate the light output of the vehicle's headlamp system with a given light output of the IES's light system. The commanded audible output of the vehicle may include activation and / or modulation of the audible output of the vehicle's horn system.

[0076] In any of the methods of disclosure, the wireless communication device may be configured to wirelessly connect to the user's portable electronic device and thereby wirelessly communicate with a remote computing node. As yet another option, the IES may include a haptic transducer attached to the sole structure and / or upper, in which case the footwear controller may automatically send a third command signal to the haptic transducer in response to the user's location being in the vicinity of a given location / node location to generate a haptic cue. The IES may also include an audio system attached to the sole structure and / or upper, in which case the footwear controller may automatically send a fourth command signal to the audio system in response to the user's location being in the vicinity of a given location / node location to generate a given audio output.

[0077] In either method of disclosure, the remote computing node may be a segment of a residential or commercial security system. In this case, the footwear controller may automatically send an activate / deactivate (or activate) command signal to the security system in response to a user entering (or leaving) a designated location or vicinity of a designated section of a residential or commercial building associated with the security system. Optionally, the remote computing node may be a segment of a home automation system. In this example, the footwear controller may, by sending a fifth command signal to the home automation system, lock or unlock doors, activate or deactivate interior lighting, and / or raise or lower the temperature of a thermostat in response to a user entering or leaving a home (or section of a home) associated with the home automation system. The designated location or vicinity may be defined, at least in part, by a geofence generated by the footwear controller. The activate or deactivate command signal may be sent to the remote computing node or IES subsystem after detecting that the remote computing node or IES user has breached the geofence.

[0078] In either of the methods of disclosure, the IES may incorporate internally a pressure sensor attached to the sole structure or upper and configured to detect the presence of a foot within the upper. The footwear controller further transmits a command signal in response to the detection of a foot within the upper. The pressure sensor attached to the sole structure / upper may be configured to detect the user's weight. In this case, the footwear controller receives one or more sensor signals from the pressure sensor indicating the detected weight of the user. The controller then determines whether the detected weight falls within a predetermined range of verified user weights stored in memory. In response to the detected weight falling within a predetermined range of verified user weights, a command signal may be transmitted to a remote computing node or IES subsystem.

[0079] In any of the methods of disclosure, the IES may include a shoelace or strap attached to the upper and a lace motor attached to the shoe structure and configured to selectively transition the lace / strap between a tensioned state and an untensioned state. In this case, the resident footwear controller determines whether the shoelace is tensioned or untensioned and, if the lace is tensioned, responsively sends a command signal to activate the IES subsystem. The tensioned state may be depicted as a plurality of discrete tensioned positions. In this case, the resident footwear controller may identify which of the discrete tensioned positions the lace is at (for example, by using a sensor signal received from a lace sensor or by monitoring the position of the lace motor output shaft). In response to the current tensioned position of the lace corresponding to a verified lace tensioned position stored in memory, the footwear controller may send a command signal to a remote node or the IES subsystem.

[0080] In any of the methods of disclosure, the remote computing node may include an optical sensor, in which case a predetermined optical output of the IES optical system may include a personalized color and / or flashing pattern that is detectable by the optical sensor and configured to verify the user to the remote computing node. The IES wireless communication device may include a BLE, CAT-M1, and / or CAT-NB1 wireless interface. The IES may include a barcode, an RFID tag, and / or an NFC tag attached to the sole structure and / or upper and configured to communicate a security authentication code to the remote computing node.

[0081] An additional aspect of this disclosure is directed to footwear for a user's foot. The footwear includes an upper for receiving and fitting the user's foot, and a sole structure attached to the upper for supporting the user's foot thereon. An optical system and / or sound system is attached to the sole structure and configured to generate light / sound in response to command signals. A wireless communication device is mounted inside the sole structure for wireless communication with a remote computing node. A resident controller, similarly mounted inside the sole structure, is operationally connected to the wireless communication device and the optical system. The resident controller receives location data indicating the user's location and the location of the remote computing node. The resident controller determines whether the user's location is in the vicinity of a given location / node location, and if so, the resident controller responsively transmits one or more command signals to the optical system / sound system to generate a given light / sound output.

[0082] While aspects of this disclosure have been described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications may be made to them without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is not limited to the exact structures and compositions disclosed herein, and any modifications, changes, and variations evident from the foregoing description fall within the scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the concepts explicitly include any combination and subcombinations of the preceding elements and configurations. Additional configurations may be reflected in the following clauses.

[0083] Clause 1: An intelligent electronic shoe (IES) system comprising: an upper configured to be attached to a user's foot; a sole structure attached to the upper and configured to support the user's foot thereon and to define a ground engagement surface; a collision threat warning system attached to the sole structure and / or upper and configured to generate a visible output, an audible output and / or a tactile output in response to a command signal; a detection tag configured to receive a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module and to responsively transmit a response signal to the transmitter-detector module; a wireless communication device attached to the sole structure and / or upper and configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote computing node; and a footwear controller operationally connected to the wireless communication device and the collision threat warning system, wherein the footwear controller is configured to receive a pedestrian collision warning signal from the remote computing node via the wireless communication device, generated in response to a response signal, and to generate a predetermined visible alarm, an audible alarm and / or a tactile alarm configured to warn the user of an imminent collision with a vehicle by transmitting a command signal to the collision threat warning system in response to the received pedestrian collision warning signal.

[0084] Clause 2: The IES system as described in Clause 1, wherein the detection tag includes a radio frequency (RF) transponder attached to the sole structure and / or upper, the prompt signal having a first RF power having a first frequency, and the response signal having a second RF power having a second frequency distinct from the first frequency.

[0085] Clause 3: The prompt signal includes the embedded dataset, and the response signal sends the embedded dataset back to the transmitter-detector module, as described in Clause 2 of the IES system.

[0086] Clause 4: The IES system as described in Clause 3, wherein the RF transponder includes an RF antenna and a frequency filter connected to the RF antenna, the frequency filter being configured to reject signals having RF power having a third frequency distinct from a first frequency.

[0087] Clause 5: The detection tag includes an EAP sensor comprising a dielectric electroactive polymer (EAP) element attached to the sole structure and / or upper, wherein the prompt signal is an electric field configured to induce a physical change in the dielectric EAP element, and the response signal is generated by the user reversing the physical change in the dielectric EAP element, as described in Clause 1 of the IES system.

[0088] Clause 6: The IES system according to any one of Clauses 1 to 5, further configured to transmit user location data and user dynamics data to a remote computing node via a wireless communication device, and to receive pedestrian collision threat values ​​from the remote computing node via a wireless communication device, predicting the vehicle location and the user's intrusion into the predicted route of the vehicle based on the fusion of user location and user dynamics data.

[0089] Clause 7: The footwear controller is further configured to transmit historical data indicating the user's historical behavior to a remote computing node via a wireless communication device, and the pedestrian collision threat value is further based on the fusion of user location data and user dynamics data with behavior data, as described in Clause 6 of the IES system.

[0090] Clause 8: Pedestrian collision threat values ​​are based on the IES system described in Clause 7, further based on the fusion of behavioral data, user location data and user dynamics data with crowdsourced data showing the behavior of multiple individuals in close proximity to the user.

[0091] Clause 9: Pedestrian collision threat value is based on the IES system described in Clause 8, further based on the fusion of behavioral data, user location data, user dynamics data, and crowdsourced data with environmental data representing the user's surrounding environment.

[0092] Clause 10: The user has a portable electronic device, and the wireless communication device is further configured to wirelessly connect to the portable electronic device and thereby wirelessly communicate with a remote computing node, as described in any one of Clauses 1 to 9 of the IES system.

[0093] Clause 11: The IES system as described in any one of Clauses 1 through 10, wherein the remote computing node is a vehicle parking controller, and the footwear controller is further configured to transmit user location data, user dynamics data, and / or user behavior data to the vehicle parking controller via a wireless communication device.

[0094] Clause 12: The IES system as described in any one of Clauses 1 through 10, wherein the remote computing node is a central control unit of the intelligent traffic management system, and the footwear controller is further configured to transmit user location data, user dynamics data, and / or user behavior data to the central control unit via a wireless communication device.

[0095] Clause 13: The IES system described in any one of Clauses 1 through 12, comprising a tactile transducer mounted on the sole structure and / or upper, wherein a command signal causes the tactile transducer to generate a predetermined tactile alarm configured to warn the user of an imminent collision with a vehicle.

[0096] Clause 14: The IES system described in any one of Clauses 1 through 13, wherein the collision threat warning system includes an audio component mounted on the sole structure and / or upper, and a command signal causes the audio component to generate a predetermined audible alarm configured to warn the user of an imminent collision with a vehicle.

[0097] Clause 15: The IES system described in any one of Clauses 1 through 14, wherein the collision threat warning system includes a lighting element mounted on the sole structure and / or upper, and a command signal causes the lighting element to generate a predetermined visible warning configured to alert the user of an imminent collision with a vehicle.

[0098] Clause 16: The IES system described in any one of Clauses 1 through 15, further comprising a pressure sensor attached to the sole structure and configured to detect the presence of a foot within the upper, wherein a command signal is transmitted to the collision threat warning system in response to the detection of the presence of a foot within the upper.

[0099] Clause 17: An IES system according to any one of Clauses 1 to 16, further comprising shoelaces attached to an upper, and a lace motor attached to the inside of a sole structure and configured to selectively transition the shoelaces between a tensioned state and a deflated state, wherein a footwear controller is further configured to communicate with the lace motor to determine whether the shoelaces are tensioned or deflated, and a command signal is transmitted to a collision threat warning system in response to the shoelaces being tensioned.

[0100] Clause 18: A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES), the IES comprising an upper for attachment to a user's foot and a sole structure attached to the upper for defining a ground engagement surface and supporting the user's foot thereon, the method comprising: receiving a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module via a detection tag attached to the sole structure and / or upper of the IES; transmitting a response signal via the detection tag to the transmitter-detector module in response to receiving the prompt signal; receiving a pedestrian collision warning signal generated by a remote computing node in response to the response signal via a resident footwear controller via a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device and the resident footwear controller both attached to the sole structure and / or upper, the receiving pedestrian collision warning signal, and transmitting a command signal via the resident footwear controller in response to the received pedestrian collision warning signal to a collision threat warning system attached to the sole structure and / or upper, which is configured to warn the user of an impending collision with a vehicle, method.

[0101] Clause 19: The method according to Clause 18, wherein the detection tag includes a radio frequency (RF) transponder, the prompt signal having a first RF power having a first frequency, and the response signal having a second RF power having a second frequency distinct from the first frequency.

[0102] Clause 20: The method according to Clause 18, wherein the detection tag includes an EAP sensor comprising a dielectric electroactive polymer (EAP) element, the prompt signal being an electric field configured to induce a physical state change in the dielectric EAP element, and the response signal being generated by the user reversing the physical state change of the dielectric EAP element.

[0103] Clause 21: The method of any one of Clauses 18 to 20, further comprising transmitting user location data and user dynamics data to a remote computing node via a resident footwear controller, and receiving pedestrian collision threat values ​​from the remote computing node via a wireless communication device via the resident footwear controller, predicting the user's intrusion into the vehicle's location and expected route based on the fusion of user location data and user dynamics data.

[0104] Clause 22: The user has a portable electronic device, and a wireless communication device wirelessly connects to the portable electronic device, thereby wirelessly communicating with a remote computing node, as described in any one of Clauses 18 to 21.

[0105] Clause 23: The method according to any one of Clauses 18 to 22, wherein the remote computing node is a vehicle's resident parking controller, and the method further comprises transmitting user location data, user dynamics data and / or user behavior data to the resident parking controller via the resident footwear controller.

[0106] Clause 24: The method according to any one of Clauses 18 to 22, wherein the remote computing node is a central control unit of an intelligent traffic management system, and the method further comprises transmitting user location data, user dynamics data and / or user behavior data to the central control unit via a resident footwear controller.

[0107] Clause 25: The method of any one of Clauses 18 to 24, wherein the IES further includes a pressure sensor attached to the sole structure and configured to detect the presence of a foot within the upper, and a command signal is transmitted to the collision threat warning system in response to the detection of the presence of a foot within the upper. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0108] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265584A1 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265594A1 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 9,365,387B2 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0154505A1

Claims

1. A system for preventing a collision between a user and an approaching vehicle, A footwear product configured to be worn on the user's feet, A collision threat warning system, which is attached to the footwear and configured to generate a visible output, an audible output, or a tactile output, A detection tag is configured to receive a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module attached to the footwear and mounted on a stationary structure in close proximity to the user, and to responsively transmit a response signal indicating the user's location to the transmitter-detector module. A wireless communication device, which is attached to the footwear and configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote computing node located remotely from the vehicle and the user, A biometric sensor is attached to the footwear and configured to sense the user's biometric data from the foot inside the footwear. The system includes the wireless communication device, the biometric sensor, and an electronic controller mounted inside the footwear, which is connected to the collision threat warning system. The aforementioned electronic controller is The biometric measurement sensor receives the user's biometric measurement data, The valid identity of the user is verified using the received biometric measurement data. The wireless communication device receives a collision warning signal from the remote computing node, which is generated in response to the response signal, and which indicates that the user's location is in a predetermined vicinity or location relative to the vehicle. In response to receiving the collision warning signal and verifying the valid identity of the user, the collision threat warning system is configured to send a command signal to generate a predetermined visual, audible, or tactile warning that alerts the user to an impending collision with the vehicle. It is configured in such a way. system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detection tag includes a radio frequency (RF) transponder, the prompt signal having a first RF power having a first frequency, and the response signal having a second RF power having a second frequency.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the RF transponder includes an RF antenna and a frequency filter connected to the RF antenna, the frequency filter being configured to reject signals having RF power having a third frequency distinct from the first frequency.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the prompt signal received from the transmitter-detector module includes an embedded dataset, and the response signal transmits back at least a portion of the embedded dataset to the transmitter-detector module.

5. The aforementioned electronic controller is The user's user dynamics data is transmitted to the remote computing node via the wireless communication device. Based on the user location and user dynamics data, the remote computing node receives collision threat values ​​that predict the vehicle location and the user's intrusion into the predicted route of the vehicle. It is further constructed in such a way. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to transmit behavioral data indicating the user's historical behavior to the remote computing node via the wireless communication device, and the collision threat value is further based on the fusion of the behavioral data with the user location and the user dynamics data.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the collision threat value is further based on the fusion of the behavior data, the user location, and the user dynamics data with crowdsourced data indicating the behavior of multiple users in close proximity to the user.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the collision threat value is further based on the fusion of the behavior data, the user location, the user dynamics data, and the crowdsource data with environmental data indicating the user's surrounding environment.

9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the user has a portable electronic device having wireless communication capabilities, and the wireless communication device is further configured to wirelessly connect to the portable electronic device and thereby wirelessly communicate with the remote computing node.

10. The collision threat warning system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the collision threat warning system includes a tactile transducer attached to the footwear, and the command signal causes the tactile transducer to generate a predetermined tactile alarm configured to warn the user of the imminent collision with the vehicle.

11. The collision threat warning system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the collision threat warning system includes an audio component attached to the footwear, and the command signal causes the audio component to generate a predetermined audible alarm configured to warn the user of the impending collision with the vehicle.

12. The collision threat warning system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the collision threat warning system includes a lighting component attached to the footwear, and the command signal causes the lighting component to generate a predetermined visible warning configured to warn the user of the imminent collision with the vehicle.

13. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the biometric sensor is a pressure sensor attached to the sole structure of the footwear, the pressure sensor is configured to detect the user's weight and output biometric data indicating the user's weight, and the electronic controller verifies the valid identity of the user based on the user's weight.

14. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the biometric sensor is a pressure sensor attached to the sole structure of the footwear, the pressure sensor is configured to detect the user's walking profile and output biometric data indicating the user's walking profile, and the electronic controller verifies the valid identity of the user based on the user's walking profile.

15. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the biometric measurement sensor is an optical toe-fingerprint sensor attached to the sole structure of the footwear, the optical toe-fingerprint sensor is configured to detect the user's toe-finger fingerprint and output biometric measurement data indicating the user's toe-finger fingerprint, and the electronic controller verifies the valid identity of the user based on the user's toe-finger fingerprint.

16. A method for operating a system to prevent a collision between a user and an approaching vehicle, The system receives a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module attached to a stationary structure in close proximity to the user, via a detection tag attached to a footwear product worn on the user's foot. In response to receiving the prompt signal, a response signal indicating the user's location is transmitted to the transmitter-detector module via the detection tag. The system receives the user's biometric data from a biometric sensor attached to the footwear via an electronic controller attached to the inside of the footwear, The valid identity of the user is verified using the received biometric measurement data via the electronic controller, Receiving a collision warning signal via the electronic controller and a wireless communication device attached to the footwear, which is generated by a remote computing node located remotely from the vehicle and the user in response to the response signal, and which indicates that the user's location is in a predetermined vicinity or location relative to the vehicle; The process includes, in response to receiving the collision warning signal and verifying the valid identity of the user, transmitting a command signal via the electronic controller to a collision threat warning system mounted on the footwear to generate a predetermined visual, audible, or tactile warning that warns the user of an impending collision with the vehicle, How it works.

17. The detection tag includes a radio frequency (RF) transponder, the prompt signal having a first RF power having a first frequency, and the response signal having a second RF power having a second frequency. The operating method according to claim 16.

18. The method of operation according to claim 17, wherein the RF transponder includes an RF antenna and a frequency filter connected to the RF antenna, the frequency filter being configured to reject signals having RF power having a third frequency distinct from the first frequency.

19. The operation method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the prompt signal received from the transmitter-detector module includes an embedded dataset, and the response signal transmits back at least a portion of the embedded dataset to the transmitter-detector module.

20. The method of operation according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the user has a portable electronic device having wireless communication capabilities, and the method of operation further includes wirelessly connecting the wireless communication device to the portable electronic device, thereby wirelessly communicating with the remote computing node.

21. The collision threat warning system includes a tactile transducer attached to the footwear, the command signal causes the tactile transducer to generate a predetermined tactile alarm configured to warn the user of the imminent collision with the vehicle, according to any one of claims 16 to 20.

22. The collision threat warning system includes an audio component attached to the footwear, the command signal causes the audio component to generate a predetermined audible alarm configured to warn the user of the imminent collision with the vehicle, according to any one of claims 16 to 21.

23. The collision threat warning system includes a lighting component attached to the footwear, and the command signal causes the lighting component to generate a predetermined visible warning configured to warn the user of the imminent collision with the vehicle, according to any one of claims 16 to 22.

24. The operating method according to any one of claims 16 to 23, wherein the biometric measurement sensor is a pressure sensor attached to the sole structure of the footwear, the pressure sensor is configured to detect the user's weight and output biometric measurement data indicating the user's weight, and the electronic controller verifies the valid identity of the user based on the user's weight.

25. The operating method according to any one of claims 16 to 23, wherein the biometric measurement sensor is a pressure sensor attached to the sole structure of the footwear, the pressure sensor is configured to detect the user's walking profile and output biometric measurement data indicating the user's walking profile, and the electronic controller verifies the valid identity of the user based on the user's walking profile.

26. The method of operation according to any one of claims 16 to 23, wherein the biometric measurement sensor is an optical toe-fingerprint sensor attached to the sole structure of the footwear, the optical toe-fingerprint sensor is configured to detect the user's toe-finger fingerprint and output biometric measurement data indicating the user's toe-finger fingerprint, and the electronic controller verifies the valid identity of the user based on the user's toe-finger fingerprint.

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