Smartphone Bicycle Sensor Integration for Real-Time Data Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bicycle computers are often expensive and require complex setup, limiting accessibility to cyclists, and typically only share information with the connected device after a ride, failing to provide real-time data sharing among multiple bicycles.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device system that allows real-time sharing of riding characteristics, such as speed and heart rate, among multiple bicycles, using communications circuitry and control circuitry to detect and pair with authorized devices, and alert for unauthorized use, enabling secure data exchange and theft protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a bicycle computer is used to provide real-time information to cyclists, then information accessibility is improved, but device cost and setup complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a smartphone application as an intermediary between the bicycle sensors and the user interface. The app receives data from the bicycle's sensors via Bluetooth and displays it on the smartphone screen, eliminating the need for a dedicated bicycle computer. This mediator approach reduces device complexity and cost while maintaining real-time information accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the multi-functional capabilities of smartphones to serve as both the data display interface and the communication hub with the bicycle. The smartphone's existing processor, display, touchscreen, and Bluetooth capabilities are utilized, eliminating the need for a specialized bicycle computer and reducing overall system complexity.
2Loss of information
If a bicycle computer is used to provide real-time information, then information availability is improved, but the system becomes expensive and less accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive dedicated bicycle computers with inexpensive smartphones that cyclists already possess. The smartphone's processing power, display, and communication capabilities are sufficient for the application, making the solution cost-effective and accessible to casual and semi-serious cyclists without requiring them to purchase additional expensive equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The smartphone application acts as an intermediary that leverages the smartphone's existing resources to provide bicycle data visualization and communication. This eliminates the need for cyclists to purchase expensive dedicated computers while maintaining real-time information availability through the app's processing and display capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a bicycle computer is used to share information with other cyclists, then group coordination is improved, but real-time data sharing capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or wired data sharing methods with wireless Bluetooth communication between smartphones and bicycles. This enables real-time data transmission without physical connections, allowing cyclists to share information instantly during group rides without the delays associated with post-ride data transfers or wired connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous real-time data streaming from the bicycle sensors through Bluetooth to the smartphone application during the ride. This continuous communication enables ongoing group coordination with minimal latency, allowing cyclists to receive and respond to information immediately rather than after the ride completes or at predetermined intervals.
4Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used to share data between bicycles, then data sharing convenience is improved, but security and theft protection are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication and pairing procedures before allowing data communication between the bicycle and smartphone. The system verifies the authenticity of devices and establishes secure connections in advance, ensuring that only authorized devices can access and share data. This preliminary security setup maintains convenience while preventing unauthorized access and theft.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are providing for interfacing an electronic device with a bicycle system. The electronic device can receive the output from sensors coupled to the bicycle and generate riding characteristics for display to the user. The electronic device can in addition receive communications from other electronic devices and provide the communications to the user. In some embodiments, the electronic device can be paired with the devices of one or more other cyclists so that the cyclists can share riding characteristics and other information. This can allow the cyclists to ride as a team and better assist each other.