Digital Data Processing Systems and Methods for Skateboarding and Other Social Sporting Activities

Abstract

Systems and methods for social and other sporting activities. A system according to one such aspect of the invention comprises a sensing device that is attached to an object, such as a skateboard (by way of non-limiting example), for measuring characteristics thereof. It communicates those characteristics wirelessly, e.g., via bluetooth, to a mobile device, such as a cell phone, personal digital assistant, or the like (by way of non-limiting example). That device can log and/or display those characteristics, graphically, for study or analysis by the operator (e.g., the skateboard enthusiast) or others.

1 . A digital data processing system, comprising:
 a measurement device attached to an object and comprising a sensor for measuring the motion, position, and/or orientation of the object over time;   a portable digital data processor communicatively coupled with the. first digital data processor via a wireless communications link;   the measurement device operable to wirelessly transmit information about the motion, position, and/or orientation of the object over time (“spatial information”) to the digital data processor;   the portable digital data processor operable to wirelessly receive that spatial information from the measurement device, to display the motion. position, and/or orientation of the object over time, and to compare the motion, position, and/or orientation of the object, over time with that of another object whose spatial information has been obtained via a measurement device attached thereto and transmitted to the portable digital data processor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable digital data processor comprises a smart phone, personal digital assistant, or handheld device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer, gyroscope, or magnetometer. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless link operates in accord with Bluetooth, wireless Ethernet, etc. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the object comprises sports equipment. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a skateboard. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the motion, position, and/or orientation of the object over time is controlled by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable digital data processor comprises a imaging device that photographs and/or films the object. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein any of the measurement device and the portable digital data processor comprises a location sensor that records a location of the object and associates that location with the spatial information. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable digital data processor analyzes the spatial information so as to calculate a rating associated therewith. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable digital data processor analyzes the spatial information to detect the presence of one or more predetermined values for motion, position, and/or orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable digital data processor analyzes the spatial information to detect the presence of a sequence of predetermined values for motion, position, and/or orientation of the object. 
     
     
         13 . A digital data processing system, comprising:
 a measurement device attached to an object and comprising a sensor for measuring a value of at least one physical characteristic of the object over time;   a portable digital data processor communicatively coupled with the first digital data processor via a wireless communications link and communicatively coupled with a server digital data processor;   the measurement device operable to wirelessly transmit information about the value of the at least one physical characteristic of the object over time (“physical characteristic information”) to the digital data processor;   the portable digital data processor operable to wirelessly receive the physical characteristic information of the object from the measurement device, to display the physical characteristic information of the object, and to transmit the physical characteristic information of the object to the server digital data processor for storage and/or comparison with physical characteristic information of other objects.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the physical characteristic comprises any of motion, position, and orientation of the object. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the server digital processor is operable to collect physical characteristic information from a plurality of portable digital data processors and/or measurement devices associated with other objects. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the server digital data processor is operable to transmit the physical characteristic information of the object to at least other portable digital data processor. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the server digital data processor ranks the physical characteristic information of objects according to a scoring system. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the server digital data processor ranks users based on the physical characteristic information of objects associated therewith. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the portable digital data processor comprises a smart phone, personal digital assistant, handheld device 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the wireless link operates in accord with Bluetooth, wireless Ethernet, etc. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the object comprises sports equipment 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the object comprises a skateboard 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the motion, position, and/or orientation of the object over time is controlled by a user. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the portable digital data processor comprises a imaging device that photographs and/or films the object. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein any of the measurement device and the portable digital data processor comprises a location sensor that records a location of the object and associates that location with the spatial information. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the portable digital data processor analyzes the spatial information so as to calculate a rating associated therewith. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the portable digital data processor analyzes the spatial information to detect the presence of one or more predetermined values for motion, position, and/or orientation. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the portable digital data processor analyzes the spatial information to detect the presence of a sequence of predetermined values for motion, position, and/or orientation of the object. 
     
     
         30 . A method comprising:
 with a sensor attached to an object, sensing any of the motion, position, and/or orientation of the object over time;   wirelessly transmitting information about the motion, position, and/or orientation of the object over time from the sensor to a portable digital data processor;   at least one of displaying and comparing with like data received from another measurement device information about the motion, position, and/or orientation of the object.   
     
     
         31 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method comprising:
 with a sensor attached to an object, sensing a physical characteristic of the object over time;   wirelessly transmitting information about the physical characteristic that varies over time from the sensor to a portable digital data processor;   collecting with the portable digital data processor any of location, still images and video images in a locale of the object;   sending, from the portable digital data processor to a server digital data processor, information about the physical characteristic that varies over time and, optionally, at least one of said location, still images and video images;   from the server digital data processor, causing information about the physical characteristic that varies over time and, optionally, at least one of said location, still images and video images, to be communicated to others.   
     
     
         40 .- 52 . (canceled)