Orientation during swimming

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016101323-A1
Application number	US-201414513902-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2014
Priority date	Oct 14, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform operations comprising: obtaining heading information indicating a target heading to a target; detecting, during swimming, that the swimmer deviates from the target heading; and informing the swimmer, via a user interface element, that the swimmer has deviated from the target heading.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An orientation apparatus for swimming, comprising:
an attachment unit for attaching the apparatus to a swimmer; a user interface element; at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising: obtaining heading information indicating a target heading to a target; detecting, during swimming, that the swimmer deviates from the target heading; and informing the swimmer, via the user interface element, that the swimmer has deviated from the target heading.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to further perform operations comprising:
detecting that the swimmer either starts or stops swimming; and automatically either starting or stopping to check whether or not the swimmer has deviated from the target heading.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the target heading is based on at least one of the following: a magnetic direction of the target, geographic coordinates of the target.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein there is a plurality of targets defining a plurality of swimming parts, and the heading information indicates a plurality of target headings, one for each swimming part.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to further perform operations comprising:
detecting that a target is reached; determining which swimming part starts after the reached target; selecting the heading which corresponds to the determined swimming part; and applying the selected heading as the target heading to be followed during the determined swimming part.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a wireless receiver, and wherein obtaining the heading information comprises:
wirelessly receiving target location information from another user device, wherein the wireless receiver applies proximity communication for receiving the target location information; and determining the heading information based on the received target location information.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the heading information comprises:
recording the current heading of the swimmer for a predetermined time or distance during the swimming; and storing the recorded heading as the target heading to be followed during swimming.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the heading information comprises:
detecting magnetic heading corresponding to the direction of the target; and storing the magnetic heading as the target heading to be followed during swimming.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to further perform operations comprising:
determining the current location of the swimmer; redefining the target heading during swimming based on the current location; and applying the redefined heading as the target heading to be followed.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to further perform operations comprising:
obtaining target distance information indicating a distance to the target; and taking the distance to the target into account when redefining the target heading.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heading information further indicates a target route to the target, and the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to further perform operations comprising navigating the swimmer along the target route to the target.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein detecting that the swimmer deviates from the target heading comprises:
detecting whether or not the swimmer has deviated from the target heading more than a predetermined margin; and informing, via the user interface element, that the swimmer has deviated from the target heading only when the swimmer has deviated from the target heading more than the predetermined margin.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein informing the swimmer, via the user interface element, that the swimmer has deviated from the target heading comprises causing a haptic feedback, wherein left and right deviations have different types of haptic feedbacks.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein intervals between repeating haptic feedbacks indicates the amount deviation.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is comprised in a wrist device or in swimming gear.

16 . A method, comprising:
obtaining heading information indicating a target heading to a target; detecting that the swimmer deviates from the target heading; and informing the swimmer that the swimmer has deviated from the target heading.

17 . A computer program product embodied on a distribution medium readable by a computer and comprising program instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, perform a method comprising:
obtaining heading information indicating a target heading to a target; detecting that the swimmer deviates from the target heading; and informing the swimmer that the swimmer has deviated from the target heading.

Assignees

• Polar Electro Oy

Inventors

• Erkkila Mika
• Maatta Harri
• Puurunen Jonna

Classifications

• A63B33/00 Primary

  Swimming equipment attachable to the head, e.g. swim caps or goggles (diving masks B63C11/12; breathing aids, e.g. snorkels, B63C11/18) · CPC title

• G01S19/19

  Sporting applications · CPC title

• A63B24/0062

  Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance · CPC title

• A63B2225/60

  Apparatus used in water · CPC title

• G01C21/08

  involving use of the magnetic field of the earth · CPC title