Components, systems and methods of bicycle-based network connectivity and methods for controlling a bicycle having network connectivity

Abstract

A bicycle configured for communication with other bicycles, a centralized server, client computing devices and third party servers allows the rider to be connected with friends, coaches/trainers, and third party vendors including vendors associated with lodging, food, and other conveniences, vendors associated with bike servicing, equipment, warranties, and other bike related products and services, and vendors associated with routes, areas or destinations. Information may be communicated in real time or stored in memory and communicated to servers, client devices, other riders, etc., at a later date. Information may be communicated to the bike controller for route planning, service scheduling, training purposes and the like. Information communicated to or from the bicycle may be performed as indicated by the rider or there may be predetermined rules or guidelines for what information is collected and to whom the information may be sent to or received from.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bicycle comprising a frame, two wheels supported by the frame, a drive train to enable a user to propel the bicycle, a motor coupled to a battery, and a controller communicatively coupled to a network, the controller comprising a processor and a non-transitory memory storing a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the controller to:
 obtain, from one of the non-transitory memory and a first server communicatively coupled to the controller via the network, rider information for a rider on the bicycle;   determine location information associated with the bicycle;   obtain, from the first server, terrain information associated with the location information;   obtain, from a second server communicatively coupled to the controller via the network, information related to a plurality of routes associated with the location of the bicycle, the rider information, and the terrain information;   display, via a GUI, the plurality of routes to the rider, wherein at least one route is determined based on the rider information and on a power level of the battery;   determine, based on the power level of the battery, a control scheme for the motor; and   control the motor based on the control scheme.   
     
     
         2 . The bicycle of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions are executable by the processor to cause the controller to:
 receive an indication of a route from the rider;   receive a set of signals from a sensor; and   communicate at least a portion of the set of signals to one of a central server, a client computing device, a third party server, and a second controller.   
     
     
         3 . The bicycle of  claim 2 , wherein the at least a portion of the set of signals is communicated to a client computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The bicycle of  claim 3 , wherein the at least a portion of the set of signals is streamed. 
     
     
         5 . The bicycle of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine, in response to an indication of a desired bicycle speed and an available power level of the battery, an amount of power available for adding power to the bicycle; and   add power to the bicycle to increase the speed of the bicycle based on the desired bicycle speed.   
     
     
         6 . The bicycle of  claim 1 , wherein the rider information includes health information. 
     
     
         7 . The bicycle of  claim 1 , further comprising a continuously variable transmission coupled to the motor, wherein the controller is configured to:
 determine a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission;   determine a control scheme for the motor and the continuously variable transmission; and   control the motor and the continuously variable transmission according to the determined control scheme.   
     
     
         8 . A controller for use with a bicycle comprising a frame, two wheels supported by the frame, a drivetrain, and a motor coupled to a battery for propelling the bicycle, the controller communicatively coupled to a network and configured to:
 obtain, from a first server communicatively coupled to the controller via the network, rider information for a rider on the bicycle;   determine location information associated with the bicycle;   obtain terrain information associated with the location information;   obtain, from a second server communicatively coupled to the controller via the network, information related to a plurality of routes associated with the location of the bicycle, the rider information, and the terrain information;   display, via a GUI, the plurality of routes to the rider, wherein at least one route is determined based on the rider information and on a power level of the battery;   determine, based on the power level of the battery, a control scheme for the motor; and   control the motor based on the control scheme.   
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to, upon receiving an indication from the rider of a route selection, communicate information to one of a client computing device, a central server, and a third party server. 
     
     
         10 . The controller of  claim 9 , wherein the third party server is associated with one of a vendor associated with bicycle service or maintenance, a vendor associated with the route selection, and a vendor associated with rider services, equipment, or apparel. 
     
     
         11 . The controller of  claim 8 , wherein the rider information includes health information. 
     
     
         12 . The controller of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is a first controller configured to control a first bicycle and to communicate with a second controller configured to control a second bicycle, wherein the first controller and the second controller display the same plurality of routes based on the rider information for either the first rider of the first bicycle or a second rider of the second bicycle. 
     
     
         13 . The controller of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to control a continuously variable transmission coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         14 . A server communicatively coupled to a plurality of controllers associated with a plurality of bicycles, comprising:
 a memory storing a database of route information related to a plurality of routes; and   a set of instructions executable to cause at least one controller of the plurality of controllers to:
 receive a request for a route based on a geographic location determined by the controller from a bicycle associated with a rider, wherein the request includes rider information and bicycle information, wherein the bicycle information includes information about a motor and a power level of a battery, 
 obtain terrain information associated with the geographic location from the database, and 
 select a set of routes from the plurality of routes, wherein at least one route is determined based on the rider information and the power level of the battery. 
   
     
     
         15 . The server of  claim 14 , wherein the set of instructions are executable to cause the at least one controller to:
 receive an indication of a route of the set of routes from the rider;   receive a set of signals from a sensor; and   communicate at least a portion of the set of signals to a client computing device, a third party server, or a second controller.   
     
     
         16 . The server of  claim 14 , wherein the set of instructions are executable to cause the at least one controller to determine, based on the power level of the battery, a control scheme for a motor coupled to the battery. 
     
     
         17 . The server of  claim 16 , wherein the set of instructions are executable to cause the at least one controller to determine, based on the power level of the battery, a control scheme for a continuously variable transmission coupled to the motor.