Patents by Inventor Michael T. Hoffman

Michael T. Hoffman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140317526
    Abstract: User interfaces such as web pages may be customized in terms of appearance and content based on user interests. For example, information items may be arranged such that items corresponding to strong user interests are displayed in more visually identifiable locations while items corresponding to weaker user interests are displayed in less visually valuable positions. The size of and space allocated to the information items may also be customized based on the relative strengths of the corresponding interests. For example, information associated with a strong user interest may be allotted 50% of the user interface. Other visual characteristics of the user interface and the information items such as font size/style, color, transparency and the like may also be customized to reflect the importance or strength of corresponding user interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Michael T. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20140288680
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring and tracking may provide multiple ways in which to track athletic movement and activity. Workouts may also be tagged with various parameters including mood, weather, terrain, athletic equipment, friends used and the like. Workout information may be shared to social messaging and networking outlets. Workout information shared may include map information including images of maps, interactive maps, links to maps, route information and the like and/or combinations thereof. Additionally or alternatively, an application may be configured to execute within a context of a social networking system to facilitate athletic activity data transfer and generation of workout entries in the social networking site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc
    Inventors: Michael T. Hoffman, Kwamina Crankson, Jason Nims, Michael Levi Orenstein, Kristen Laina White
  • Patent number: 8825445
    Abstract: Athletic activity may be tracked and monitored while providing encouragement and maintaining an individual's interest in continuing to perform athletic activity. For example, a themed workout plan may be implemented to motivate the individual and maintain the individual's interest. The theme may include geographic locations, food items, technology, sports and the like and may include multiple categories or groupings of goals. For example, the categories may correspond to geographic locations. In each category, multiple goals may be defined. The goals may further be represented by real-world objects such as buildings, food items, technology products, sports equipment and the like. A user may progress through each category by completing each of the goals within that category. Other individuals (e.g., friends) may also be displayed on an interface through which a user's progress is tracked. This may allow the user to also view the other individuals' progress in the same workout plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Hoffman, Kwamina Crankson, Jason Nims
  • Publication number: 20140228988
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring and tracking may provide multiple ways in which to track athletic movement and activity. In one example, an athletic monitoring device may include or be associated with multiple types of movement sensors and switch between the sensors or use both depending on various factors including type of workout. Workouts may also be tagged with various parameters including mood, weather, terrain, athletic equipment used and the like. In one or more examples, the parameters may be automatically determined based on location. User workouts and accomplishments may also be celebrated through messages from celebrities, family, friends and other users. In some cases, the messages may be triggered by various conditions. Coaching may also be provided to the user to help improve workouts and overall athletic performance. Running routes may also be automatically tracked, stored and shared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Hoffman, Kwamina Crankson, Jason Nims, Michael L. Orenstein, Kristen L. White
  • Patent number: 8769434
    Abstract: User interfaces such as web pages may be customized in terms of appearance and content based on user interests. For example, information items may be arranged such that items corresponding to strong user interests are displayed in more visually identifiable locations while items corresponding to weaker user interests are displayed in less visually valuable positions. The size of and space allocated to the information items may also be customized based on the relative strengths of the corresponding interests. For example, information associated with a strong user interest may be allotted 50% of the user interface. Other visual characteristics of the user interface and the information items such as font size/style, color, transparency and the like may also be customized to reflect the importance or strength of corresponding user interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael T. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20130337978
    Abstract: A wearable device has a carrier having an aperture. A device has a USB connection and a protrusion wherein the protrusion is received in the aperture to connect the device to a wristband. The device is a USB type device having athletic functionality. The device may further be configured to receive calibration data such that a measured distance may be converted to a known distance based on athletic activity performed by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Robinette, Hector Moll-Carrillo, Matt Capozzi, Michael T. Hoffman, Tomislav Lakovic
  • Publication number: 20130246531
    Abstract: A system and method for maintaining associations within a social network for a user are provided. A device proximate a user device is identified. It is determined whether the identified device is associated with an entity having a pre-established association with a user of the user device within the social network. The user is associated with the entity within the social network if the identified device is not associated with an entity having a pre-established association with the user. The user-entity association is maintained within the social network based upon whether the entity and the user device remain proximate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Domingo Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Michael T. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20130238287
    Abstract: Tracking and monitoring athletic activity offers individuals with additional motivation to continue such behavior. An individual may track his or her athletic activity by completing goals. These goals may be represented by real-world objects such as food items, landmarks, buildings, statues, other physical structures, toys and the like. Each object may correspond to an athletic activity goal and require an amount of athletic activity to complete the goal. For example, a donut goal object may correspond to an athletic activity goal of burning 350 calories. The user may progress from goal object to goal object. Goal objects may increase in difficulty (e.g., amount of athletic activity required) and might only be available for selection upon completing an immediately previous goal object, a number of goal objects, an amount of athletic activity and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Hoffman, Kwamina Crankson, Jason Nims
  • Patent number: 8533620
    Abstract: Tracking and monitoring athletic activity offers individuals with additional motivation to continue such behavior. An individual may track his or her athletic activity by completing goals. These goals may be represented by real-world objects such as food items, landmarks, buildings, statues, other physical structures, toys and the like. Each object may correspond to an athletic activity goal and require an amount of athletic activity to complete the goal. For example, a donut goal object may correspond to an athletic activity goal of burning 350 calories. The user may progress from goal object to goal object. Goal objects may increase in difficulty (e.g., amount of athletic activity required) and might only be available for selection upon completing an immediately previous goal object, a number of goal objects, an amount of athletic activity and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Hoffman, Kwamina Crankson, Jason Nims
  • Patent number: 8517896
    Abstract: A wearable device has a carrier having an aperture. A device has a USB connection and a protrusion wherein the protrusion is received in the aperture to connect the device to a wristband. The device is a USB type device having athletic functionality. The device may further be configured to receive calibration data such that a measured distance may be converted to a known distance based on athletic activity performed by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Robinette, Hector Moll-Carrillo, Matt Capozzi, Michael T. Hoffman, Tomislav Lakovic
  • Patent number: 8458257
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying transient friends for a social network of a user are provided. A transient friend processing function obtains locations of a number of users or locations otherwise associated with the number of users. In order to identify transient friends for a first user, the transient friend processing function identifies other users associated with locations within a proximate area of the first user. For each of the identified users, the transient friend processing function compares a user profile of the first user to a user profile of the identified user to determine whether to add the identified user as a transient friend of the first user. If the transient friend processing function determines that the identified friend is to be added as a transient friend of the first user, the identified friend is then added as a transient friend of the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Domingo Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Michael T. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20120274508
    Abstract: A device for monitoring athletic performance of a user has a wristband configured to be worn by the user. The electronic module may include a controller and a screen and a plurality of user inputs operably associated with the controller. The user inputs may include a user input configured to be applied by the user against the screen and in a direction generally normal to the screen. The controller may further be configured to generate one or more user interfaces in response to various user inputs and conditions. For example, the controller may generate workout mode interfaces and non-workout mode interfaces including various goal information, workout data, reminders and the like. In one or more arrangements, multiple types of information may be displayed simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Miles W. Brown, Jordan M. Rice, Aaron B. Weast, Matthew V. Capozzi, Michael T. Hoffman, Tomislav Lakovic
  • Publication number: 20120271885
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying transient friends for a social network of a user are provided. A transient friend processing function obtains locations of a number of users or locations otherwise associated with the number of users. In order to identify transient friends for a first user, the transient friend processing function identifies other users associated with locations within a proximate area of the first user. For each of the identified users, the transient friend processing function compares a user profile of the first user to a user profile of the identified user to determine whether to add the identified user as a transient friend of the first user. If the transient friend processing function determines that the identified friend is to be added as a transient friend of the first user, the identified friend is then added as a transient friend of the first user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: DOMINGO ENTERPRISES, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael T. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8209416
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying transient friends for a social network of a user are provided. A transient friend processing function obtains locations of a number of users or locations otherwise associated with the number of users. In order to identify transient friends for a first user, the transient friend processing function identifies other users associated with locations within a proximate area of the first user. For each of the identified users, the transient friend processing function compares a user profile of the first user to a user profile of the identified user to determine whether to add the identified user as a transient friend of the first user. If the transient friend processing function determines that the identified friend is to be added as a transient friend of the first user, the identified friend is then added as a transient friend of the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Domingo Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Michael T. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20120116550
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring and tracking may provide multiple ways in which to track athletic movement and activity. In one example, an athletic monitoring device may include or be associated with multiple types of movement sensors and switch between the sensors or use both depending on various factors including type of workout. Workouts may also be tagged with various parameters including mood, weather, terrain, athletic equipment used and the like. In one or more examples, the parameters may be automatically determined based on location. User workouts and accomplishments may also be celebrated through messages from celebrities, family, friends and other users. In some cases, the messages may be triggered by various conditions. Coaching may also be provided to the user to help improve workouts and overall athletic performance. Running routes may also be automatically tracked, stored and shared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael T. HOFFMAN, Kwamina CRANKSON, Jason NIMS, Michael Levi ORENSTEIN, Kristen Laina WHITE
  • Publication number: 20120072580
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying transient friends for a social network of a user are provided. A transient friend processing function obtains locations of a number of users or locations otherwise associated with the number of users. In order to identify transient friends for a first user, the transient friend processing function identifies other users associated with locations within a proximate area of the first user. For each of the identified users, the transient friend processing function compares a user profile of the first user to a user profile of the identified user to determine whether to add the identified user as a transient friend of the first user. If the transient friend processing function determines that the identified friend is to be added as a transient friend of the first user, the identified friend is then added as a transient friend of the first user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Domingo Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Michael T. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20120041767
    Abstract: User activity including both athletic activity (e.g., running, walking, etc.) and non-athletic activity (shopping, reading articles, etc.) may be monitored and tracked by an athletic monitoring and tracking device and service. The user activity may be used to award a user with an amount of virtual currency to encourage the user to continue various activities. In one example, users may use the virtual currency to purchase or otherwise acquire various products, services, discounts and the like. A user may track an amount currency earned and/or needed relative to an amount required to acquire a desired product or service. Additionally or alternatively, a visual appearance of a user device (e.g., a watch or athletic activity band) may change based on the user's activity level, an amount of virtual currency earned and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE INC.
    Inventors: Michael T. Hoffman, Tomislav Lakovic, Richard J. Engelberg
  • Publication number: 20120042280
    Abstract: User interfaces such as web pages may be customized in terms of appearance and content based on user interests. For example, information items may be arranged such that items corresponding to strong user interests are displayed in more visually identifiable locations while items corresponding to weaker user interests are displayed in less visually valuable positions. The size of and space allocated to the information items may also be customized based on the relative strengths of the corresponding interests. For example, information associated with a strong user interest may be allotted 50% of the user interface. Other visual characteristics of the user interface and the information items such as font size/style, color, transparency and the like may also be customized to reflect the importance or strength of corresponding user interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Michael T. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8024431
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying transient friends for a social network of a user are provided. A transient friend processing function obtains locations of a number of users or locations otherwise associated with the number of users. In order to identify transient friends for a first user, the transient friend processing function identifies other users associated with locations within a proximate area of the first user. For each of the identified users, the transient friend processing function compares a user profile of the first user to a user profile of the identified user to determine whether to add the identified user as a transient friend of the first user. If the transient friend processing function determines that the identified friend is to be added as a transient friend of the first user, the identified friend is then added as a transient friend of the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Domingo Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Michael T. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20110197157
    Abstract: Tracking and monitoring athletic activity offers individuals with additional motivation to continue such behavior. An individual may track his or her athletic activity by completing goals. These goals may be represented by real-world objects such as food items, landmarks, buildings, statues, other physical structures, toys and the like. Each object may correspond to an athletic activity goal and require an amount of athletic activity to complete the goal. For example, a donut goal object may correspond to an athletic activity goal of burning 350 calories. The user may progress from goal object to goal object. Goal objects may increase in difficulty (e.g., amount of athletic activity required) and might only be available for selection upon completing an immediately previous goal object, a number of goal objects, an amount of athletic activity and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael T. Hoffman, Kwamina Crankson, Jason Nims