Apple Upset at Non-Authorized Nike+ Use, Patents Control

Apple’s patent application filing (#20080218310) entitled “Smart Garment” aims to put more control on the Nike + iPod system, so customers can use it only with Nike shoes. Nike + iPod system is widely used by fitness fanatics and in combination with the iPod nano. The invention relates generally to performance monitoring.

Apple describes the patent as a sensor authenticated to a garment transfers information, either wirelessly or wired, to an external data processing device.

Such information includes location information, physiometric data of the individual wearing the garment, garment performance and wear data (when the garment is an athletic shoe, for example). The external data processing device can be portable digital media players that are, in turn, in wireless communication with a server computer or other wireless devices. Apple is upset because “it is becoming more commonly practiced to place the sensor at locations on a garment (shoes, for example) that are not specifically designed to physically accommodate the sensor and/or calibrated to accurately reflect data supplied to the wrist device.”

For example, Nike and Apple have joined forces to provide what is referred to as the Nike iPod Sport Kit - a wireless device kit that allows communication between a pair of specially configured Nike+ shoes and an iPod nano. The Nike iPod Sport Kit is arranged such that at least one of the Nike+ shoes includes a sensor (that includes an accelerometer/transmitter) mounted under the inner sole and a receiver that communicates with the iPod nano. In order to accommodate the sensor and provide appropriate data to the iPod nano, the shoe must be a Nike+ model with a special pocket in which to place the sensor.

“However, some people have taken it upon themselves to remove the sensor from the special pocket of the Nike+ shoe and place it at inappropriate locations (shoelaces, for example) or place it on non-Nike+ model shoes,” - said Apple. “Therefore, what is desired is a method of electronically pairing a sensor and an authorized garment.”

The sensor can be authenticated for use with a particular garment using, for example, an RFID type device and can also include location-sensing GPS receiver. This in turn, would provide velocity and/or location data to a processor unit that can be coupled to a database having information such as physical characteristic data such as weight, age, and gender. The database can, then, provide an updated readout to a display unit of the user’s ongoing athletic performance statistics. Such statistics can include elevation gain, speed, heading, elevation, calories burned, anticipated calories burned (based upon a pre-selected course), and others.