Athletic Data Aggregation via Discovery Beacon
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern fitness devices often have limited on-board user interfaces (UIs) and feedback mechanisms, making it cumbersome for users to access and utilize athletic data during activities, especially in group settings where equipment synchronization and data aggregation are time-consuming and require complex coordination, and may involve privacy concerns with remote platforms.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes a discovery beacon for real-time identification and transmission of athletic data, allowing multiple fitness devices to broadcast data without needing to be connected to a central device, enabling efficient data aggregation and display on a leaderboard without requiring users to disconnect from their mobile devices, and allowing for secure data transmission and privacy control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If fitness devices are miniaturized to reduce bulk and obtrusiveness, then device portability and comfort are improved, but user interface capabilities and feedback mechanisms are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate display device as an intermediary between the miniaturized fitness tracker and the user. The fitness tracker maintains its small form factor while the display device provides comprehensive UI feedback. This mediator handles the complex interaction requirements that would otherwise burden the miniaturized device.
2Loss of information
If users connect fitness devices to mobile devices for data access, then data availability is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to needing to carry and manage mobile devices during athletic activities
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a local copy of the mobile device's UI capabilities on a dedicated display device. Instead of requiring users to access data through their mobile devices, the display device replicates data display and interaction functions locally, making athletic data accessible without needing the original mobile device.
3Adaptability or versatility
If instructors manually coordinate equipment synchronization in group settings, then equipment control is possible, but time consumption and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic peer-to-peer discovery and connection between display devices and fitness trackers without requiring instructor intervention. Devices automatically discover each other, establish connections, and synchronize data streams, eliminating the need for manual coordination while maintaining full group workout functionality.
4Ease of operation
If Bluetooth connections are used for data transmission, then wireless communication is achieved, but connection flexibility is limited due to single-connection protocol constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the connection architecture by implementing direct peer-to-peer connections between display devices and fitness trackers, bypassing the mobile device as an intermediary. This segmentation allows each display device to independently connect to its associated fitness tracker(s) without being constrained by Bluetooth's single-connection limitation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods relating to wirelessly transmitting athletic data, including personal fitness devices, to a display are provided. Embodiments relate to non-connectable advertising, such as using wireless advertising beacons, to transmit athletic data. Certain embodiments include using BTLE in non-connectable advertising modes to transmit data. Athletic data may be displayed by a display device observable by several users. Further embodiments utilize the data is coaching users of a group.