On November 22, the US Patent & Trademark Office published five of Apple’s patent applications that are directly linked to the 2006 Apple + Nike initiative. The initial patents in this report cover the gathering and handling of physiologic data and various aspects of this special version of the iPod. The remaining three patents cover such matters as the wireless technology behind the iPod and Nike runner system, a voice command interface and features such as a pedometer.

Patent 1: Integrated Media Jukebox and Physiologic Data Handling Application

Apple’s patent FIG. 1 below illustrates an example of a system, including a portable media player, generally usable for, among other things, monitoring and/or controlling user exercise or other activity or physiology.

Apple’s Abstract: A method is provided to operate a computer to interoperate with a portable media player. The method includes processing signals provided from the portable media player to the computer that are indicative of whether an accessory has been connected to the portable media player, to determine whether the accessory has been connected to the portable media player. Based on a determination that the accessory has been connected to the portable media player, physiologic data of a user that was provided to the portable media player from a wireless physiologic data gathering device is received from the portable media player, into the computer, via the accessory.

Apple’s patent FIG. 3, noted below, is a flowchart illustrating an example of steps, mostly within a host computer, to accomplish transfer of physiologic data between a portable media player and a workout data service.

Patent 2: System Including Portable Media Player and Physiologic Data Gathering Device

Apple’s Abstract: An integrated system for handling physiologic data includes a portable device (such as a portable media player) configured to wirelessly receive the physiologic data of a person. A host computer is configured to be detachedly coupled to the portable device, to receive the physiologic data from the portable device and to provide, to the portable device, a result of processing the physiologic data (such as suggested behavior of the user).

Patent 3: Calibration techniques for activity sensing devices

Apple’s Abstract: Improved techniques and systems to calibrate an electronic device that is providing activity sensing are disclosed. The activity being sensed can, for example, correspond to walking or running by a user. In one embodiment, calibration can be performed by a portable electronic device so that activity data it receives from a remote sensor device can be more accurately processed. The improved techniques and systems to calibrate can be used to monitor, process, present and manage data captured by a remote sensor.

The portable electronic device can also offer a convenient user interface that can be visual and/or audio based, customized to a particular application, user-friendly and/or dynamic. The portable electronic device can pertain to a portable media player and thus also provide media playback.

Apple’s patent FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sports monitoring system (100) according to one embodiment of the invention. The sports monitoring system (100) is an electronic system that enables sports related information to be acquired, stored, analyzed, presented and shared.

The sports monitoring system (100) includes a portable media device (102). The portable media device (102) is capable of storing and playing media for its user. For example, the portable media device (102) can output (e.g., play) audio or video. The sports monitoring system (100) also includes a sports device (104). The sports device (104) is, for example, a pedometer, a heart rate monitor, etc. The sports device (104) includes one or more sensors that acquire sports related data.

Patent 4: Portable media device with workout support

Apple’s Abstract: Improved techniques and systems for utilizing a portable electronic device to monitor, process, present and manage data captured by a remote sensor are disclosed. The portable electronic device offers a convenient user interface that can be visual and/or audio based customized to a particular application, user-friendly and/or dynamic. The portable electronic device can pertain to a portable media player and thus also provide media playback.

iPod: Voice Commands

Apple’s patent FIGS. 8A is flow diagram of a workout manager process (800) according to one embodiment of the invention. The workout manager process 800 is associated with a workout manager that is a software module that operates to manage the capture, processing and storage of sports related data as well as displaying appropriate information and playing music to the user of the computing device (portable media device).

As the workout is ongoing, voice prompts can be provided to the user. Hence, a decision 812 determines whether a voice prompt is to be provided. When the decision 812 determines that a voice prompt is to be provided, workout data for the voice prompt is retrieved 814. Here, the voice prompt is to be associated with the workout that is ongoing. Hence, the voice prompt is associated with and provides to the user voice feedback pertaining to workout data. Next, the voice prompt is initiated 816. In one embodiment, the voice prompts are provided at predetermined points along a given type of workout. In another embodiment, the voice prompt can be provided based on performance metrics. For example, when the user runs his/her fastest mile the user can be provided with a voice prompt indicating that they have achieved a personal best. Here, the user can be congratulated for reaching a particular performance metric. Alternatively, when the decision 812 determines that a voice prompt is not to be provided, the blocks 814 and 816 can be bypassed.

Patent 4: Communication protocol for use with portable electronic devices

Apple’s Abstract: Improved techniques and systems for utilizing a portable electronic device to monitor, process, present and manage data captured by a remote sensor are disclosed. The portable electronic device offers a convenient user interface that can be visual and/or audio based customized to a particular application, user-friendly and/or dynamic. The portable electronic device can pertain to a portable media player and thus also provide media playback.

Apple’s patent FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating various commands of an accessory protocol according to one embodiment of the invention.

NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.

Written and researched by Neo.