U.S. patent application number 11/610168 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for generation of user activity feedback.
This patent application is currently assigned to MOTOROLA, INC.. Invention is credited to Katrin Mueller, Andreas Schaller, Iwona Turlik.
Application Number | 20080146416 11/610168 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39528068 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080146416 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mueller; Katrin ; et
al. |
June 19, 2008 |
GENERATION OF USER ACTIVITY FEEDBACK
Abstract
A system for generating a user activity feedback comprises a
sensor device (101) and a user device (103). The sensor device
(101) comprises a force sensor (105, 107) which determines a
measured force distribution resulting from a user activity, such as
a sporting or exercise activity. A transmitter (109) transmits the
measured force distribution to the user device (103) where a
receiver (111) receives the measured force distribution. A context
data processor (115) provides context data for the user, such as
e.g. environment data or activity equipment data. A target
processor (117) determines a target force distribution for the user
activity in response to the context data and a feedback processor
(113) generates the user activity feedback in response to the
measured force distribution and the target force distribution. The
user device can then present the user activity feedback to the
user, e.g. as a real time audio signal suggesting performance
corrections that can be made by the user.
Inventors: |
Mueller; Katrin; (Wiesbaden,
DE) ; Schaller; Andreas; (Wiesbaden, DE) ;
Turlik; Iwona; (Barrington, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MOTOROLA, INC.
1303 EAST ALGONQUIN ROAD, IL01/3RD
SCHAUMBURG
IL
60196
US
|
Assignee: |
MOTOROLA, INC.
Schaumburg
IL
|
Family ID: |
39528068 |
Appl. No.: |
11/610168 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 24/0075 20130101;
A63B 2220/13 20130101; A63B 2220/30 20130101; A63B 2225/20
20130101; A63B 2220/12 20130101; A63B 24/0062 20130101; A63B
2024/0012 20130101; A63B 2024/0068 20130101; A63B 2220/833
20130101; A63B 24/0021 20130101; A63B 2220/51 20130101; A63B
2024/0025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/8 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00 |
Claims
1. An arrangement for generating a user activity feedback, the
arrangement comprising: a sensor device comprising: a force sensor
for determining a measured force distribution resulting from a user
activity, and means for transmitting the measured force
distribution to a user device; and the user device comprising:
means for receiving the measured force distribution, context means
for providing context data for the user, target means for
determining a target force distribution for the user activity in
response to the context data, and feedback means for generating the
user activity feedback in response to the measured force
distribution and the target force distribution.
2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the context data comprises
user activity environment data.
3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the context data comprises
user activity equipment data.
4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the context means is arranged
to determine the context data as a context data set selected from a
plurality of context data sets associated with different user
activities.
5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the target means is arranged
to select the target force distribution in response to a
characteristic of the measured force distribution.
6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the user device further
comprises means for storing a target force distribution determined
in response to the measured force distribution.
7. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the user device further
comprises means for storing a plurality of target force
distributions linked to context data characteristics and the target
means is arranged to retrieve a target force distribution linked to
a context data characteristic matching the context data.
8. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the feedback means comprises
means for determining a difference measure indicative of a
difference between the measured force distribution and the target
force distribution and to determine the user activity feedback in
response to the difference measure.
9. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the user device furthermore
comprises location means for determining location data for the user
device.
10. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the target means is arranged
to determine the target force distribution in response to the
location data.
11. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the feedback means is
arranged to determine the user activity feedback in response to the
location data.
12. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising means for
providing user data indicative of a characteristic of the user; and
wherein the feedback means is arranged to determine the user
activity feedback in response to the user data.
13. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the measured force
distribution comprises at least one of a temporal force
distribution and a spatial force distribution.
14. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the user device comprises
means for receiving measured force distributions for a plurality of
users; and the feedback means is arranged to determine the user
activity feedback in response to the measured force
distributions.
15. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the user device further
comprises presenting means for presenting the user activity
feedback to a user.
16. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein the user device further
comprises means for receiving a second user activity feedback from
another user device; and the presenting means is arranged to
generate a combined user activity indication in response to the
user activity feedback and the second user activity feedback.
17. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the user device is a
personal communication device.
18. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the user activity feedback
is a real time feedback.
19. A method of generating user activity feedback, the method
comprising: a sensor device performing the steps of: determining a
measured force distribution resulting from a user activity, and
transmitting the measured force distribution to a user device; and
a user device performing the steps of: receiving the measured force
distribution, providing context data for the user, determining a
target force distribution for the user activity in response to the
context data, and generating the user activity feedback in response
to the measured force distribution and the target force
distribution.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to generation of user activity
feedback and in particular, but not exclusively, to generation of
feedback for exercise and sporting user activities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Recent decades have seen an explosive growth the volume and
types of personal activities, such as sports, leisure and
entertainment activities performed by people. Furthermore, a
significant improvement has been made in manufacturing, computing
and communication technologies resulting in an increasing number of
electronic devices and equipment for monitoring user responses and
supporting or enhancing user activities.
[0003] For example, in the area of health monitoring electronic
devices capable of monitoring a user's physiognomic response during
exercise activities have been introduced. E.g. in the health care
sector there is a growing amount of real-time wearable systems for
monitoring, visualizing and analyzing physiognomic signals.
[0004] Specifically, exercise computers have been developed which
are capable of receiving signals from a heart rate sensor in order
to monitor and assess the user's performance. As another example,
computers have been developed which can receive input from a
pedometer sensor in order to calculate various characteristics of
the performed exercise, such as the distance covered or an average
speed of the user during the exercise.
[0005] However, existing systems tend to be limited and provide
only a very limited feedback on the user activity. Typically, the
feedback information is restricted to relatively simple measures
such as a heart rate, speed, or duration of the exercise.
[0006] Accordingly, an improved system for providing user activity
feedback would be advantageous and in particular a system allowing
increased flexibility, additional feedback information and/or
improved user activity feedback would be advantageous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, the Invention seeks to preferably mitigate,
alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above mentioned
disadvantages singly or in any combination.
[0008] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided
an arrangement for generating a user activity feedback, the
arrangement comprising: a sensor device comprising: a force sensor
for determining a measured force distribution resulting from a user
activity, and means for transmitting the measured force
distribution to a user device; and
[0009] the user device comprising: means for receiving the measured
force distribution, context means for providing context data for
the user, target means for determining a target force distribution
for the user activity in response to the context data, and feedback
means for generating the user activity feedback in response to the
measured force distribution and the target force distribution.
[0010] The invention may allow an improved user activity feedback
to be generated. For example, more accurate user activity feedback
or enhanced or additional user activity feedback may be generated.
Specifically, the arrangement may generate feedback data which not
only reflects how a user performs during the user activity but also
how the user preferably should perform in the specific
circumstances of the user activity. The arrangement may for example
generate feedback data suggesting improvements and corrections to
the user. The arrangement may for example provide an automated
coaching experience for a user performing a sports activity. Thus,
the user activity feedback may be exercise or sporting performance
indication data.
[0011] The user activity feedback may be any data relating to the
user activity which depends on the user's actions during the
activity. The measured force distribution may be a temporal and/or
spatial force distribution. For example, the force distribution may
reflect the temporal and/or spatial force variation exerted by one
or more of the user's limbs during the user activity. For example,
the force distribution may reflect the pressure exerted by one or
both of the users feet during the activity. The measured force
distribution may include a directly or indirectly measured
distribution of e.g. pressures, torques and/or turns.
[0012] According to an optional feature of the invention, the user
device is a personal communication device. The user device may
specifically be a cellular mobile telephone. Thus, the invention
may allow the functionality of a personal communication device,
which is typically always carried by a user, to be reused to
provide an additional user experience and service to the user.
Furthermore, existing communication capabilities of the personal
communication device may be used to communicate with the sensor
device. In addition, the communication capabilities of the personal
communication device can be used to enhance the user experience for
example by exchanging user activity feedback data, measured force
distribution data, target force distribution data and/or context
data with other communication devices. In particular, the personal
communication device may be used to provide group based user
activity feedback.
[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of generating user activity feedback, the method
comprising: a sensor device performing the steps of: determining a
measured force distribution resulting from a user activity, and
transmitting the measured force distribution to a user device; and
a user device performing the steps of: receiving the measured force
distribution, providing context data for the user, determining a
target force distribution for the user activity in response to the
context data, and generating the user activity feedback in response
to the measured force distribution and the target force
distribution.
[0014] These and other aspects, features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to
the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the drawings, in which
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an apparatus for generating
a user activity feedback in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention; and
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a method of generating user activity
feedback in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The following description focuses on embodiments of the
invention applicable to sports user activity feedback being
generated on a personal communication device which specifically is
a cellular mobile phone. In particular, the description focuses on
an example of a skiing user activity where feedback may be provided
on the users skiing performance. However, it will be appreciated
that the invention is not limited to this application or scenario
but may be applied to many other applications and in many other
scenarios.
[0019] In the described embodiments, a sensor device generates a
measured force distribution and sends it to a mobile phone for
further processing. Specifically, the pressure exercised by a
skier's feet is measured (in ski boots, socks or the like). The
pressure is monitored at multiple points or as an area distribution
and the left and right foot pressure distributions are combined to
allow correlation parameters between these to be determined.
[0020] In the example, pressure sensors are attached to the skis or
boots and provides information on the ski run in terms of the
pressure exerted by the user on the skis/boots (or vice versa). The
pressure data is compared to a target force distribution which
specifically can represent an ideal or preferred distribution for
the specific ski run. Thus, the comparison can generate advanced
user activity feedback data to the skier including for example a
feedback suggesting corrections to be made by the skier during the
ski run. For example, a real-time correction feedback may be
provided to the user thereby providing an effective real-time
automatic coaching experience. As a specific example, during a turn
the system can detect that the user is putting too much pressure on
one of his feet and may accordingly inform the user to shift his
weight from one ski towards the other.
[0021] The measured pressure/force profile for the skier is
compared to a target pressure profile which depends on the context
of the user activity. Specifically, context data is generated for
the user activity and used to determine the appropriate target
pressure profile. The context data may for example include
information of the environment in which the user activity takes
place such as a location, height, temperature etc. As another
example, at the context data may include information of the
equipment that is used by the user. For example, for pressure
sensor devices implemented in ski boots the context data can
include an indication of whether the ski boots are used for
snowboarding or conventional skiing. The target pressure profile
may be selected accordingly in order to provide accurate feedback
data that reflects the actual performed user activity.
[0022] The sensor data is thus used in an intelligent analysis
which also considers context data for the user activity to generate
a complex and detailed feedback. The real-time feedback may for
example be determined based on a number of rules and criteria that
are assessed in response to the measured pressure profile and the
target profile. In the specific skiing example such rules and
criteria can for example include: [0023] For prepared slopes front
pressure should be higher than back pressure. [0024] Pressure
should not exceed a given threshold for a given user weight. [0025]
Higher left pressure indicates left curve. [0026] Pressure changes
between left and right indicates curve changes. [0027] Low pressure
and long time until pressure changes indicates long curve/large
radius of curve and low speed. [0028] Low pressure and short time
until pressure changes indicates long curve/large radius of curve
and high speed. [0029] High pressure and short time until pressure
changes indicates short curve/small radius of curve and high
speed.
[0030] Based on an evaluation of such rules for both the measured
profile and the target profile, real time feedback can be generated
which provides guidance on where to put more pressure (front/back
and left/right), which types of slope are preferable, when to slow
down the activity etc.
[0031] The feedback can be provided to the user in any suitable
form. For example, sound can be modulated (e.g. tempo and pitch)
based on the feedback data. E.g. the rhythm frequency of a
generated sound signal can be modified to reflect how closely the
user's performance matches that of the target profile
(corresponding to the preferred/ideal performance) and the pitch
can be used to indicate whether the user should shift pressure from
one foot to the other (e.g. the sound changes form a nominal pitch
depending on how much the pressure distribution deviates from the
desired pressure distribution). A change towards a higher pitch can
indicate that the user should shift the pressure towards the left
foot and a change towards a lower pitch can indicate that the user
should shift pressure towards the right foot.
[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an apparatus for generating
a user activity feedback. The apparatus comprises a sensor device
101 which is capable of generating a measured force distribution
and transmitting it to a user device which in the specific example
is a mobile phone 103. The mobile phone 103 can process the
measured force distribution and compare it to a target force
distribution which is derived from context data for the user.
[0033] The sensor device 103 comprises a number of sensors 105
which in the specific example are pressure sensors located in the
soles of a pair of ski boots such that the pressure exerted on the
skis by the ski boots can be measured. In the example, each of the
boots comprises a plurality of pressure sensors distributed over
the sole. Thus, the pressure sensors may measure a force exerted by
the user on the skis and in particular measure how this is
distributed between the boots and over the area of each boot.
Pressure sensors may for example measure the force towards the
front of the boot, the left side of the boot, the right side of the
boot and towards the back of the boot.
[0034] The sensors 105 are coupled to a sensor processor 107 which
generates a force distribution which reflects the force
distribution exerted the ski boots on the skis.
[0035] The measured force distribution can be a spatial
distribution which indicates how the forces are distributed over a
given area at a specific time. In the specific example, the
different pressure sensors can be combined in the measured force
distribution which accordingly may provide information of the
instantaneous force distribution and accordingly the weight
distribution of the user.
[0036] Alternatively or additionally, the force distribution may be
a temporal distribution. For example, the measured force
distribution may comprise information showing how the exerted
pressure on one or more pressure sensors varies with time. In this
example, the sensor processor 107 can create a measured force
distribution by combining the measured pressure values during a
given time interval. Thus, the measured force distribution can be
both a temporal and a spatial distribution.
[0037] The sensor processor 107 is coupled to a transmitter 109
which is arranged to transmit the measured force distribution to
the mobile phone 103. The mobile phone 103 furthermore comprises a
receiver 111 which is arranged to receive the measured force
distribution from the sensor device 101.
[0038] In the example, the mobile phone 103 is a cellular telephone
such as a GSM or UMTS telephone. However, the communication between
the sensor device 101 and the mobile phone 103 does not use the
cellular communication system but rather uses a dedicated short
range air interface communication link. For example, the mobile
phone 103 and the sensor device 101 may use a propriety air
interface standard or may communicate using a public short range
communication standard such as Bluetooth.TM..
[0039] The receiver 111 is coupled to a feedback processor 113
which is arranged to generate user activity feedback in response to
the measured force distribution. Furthermore, the mobile phone 103
comprises a context data processor 115 which is arranged to provide
context data for the user. As a simple example, the context data
processor 115 may comprise data relating to a plurality of
different ski runs or ski slopes. Alternatively or additionally,
the context data processor 115 may comprise data relating to a
plurality of skis or ski boots. Furthermore, the context data
processor 115 may be able to select the specific context data in
response to a user input. For example, the user can specifically
select the ski slope, the skis and the ski boots for the current
user activity.
[0040] The context data processor 115 may in some embodiments be
arranged to receive all or part of the context data from an
external source. For example, context data can be received over a
radio air interface (e.g. a cellular air interface supported by the
mobile phone 103).
[0041] The context data processor 115 is coupled to a target
processor 117 which is arranged to determine a target force
distribution for the user activity in response to the context data.
For example, the context data processor 115 may provide an
indication of which ski slope is currently being skied by the user.
In addition, the context data processor 115 may provide an
indication of the equipment used e.g. of which skis and which ski
boots are used. In response, the target processor 117 generates a
target force distribution which may correspond to a distribution
for a reference performance for the user activity. For example, the
target force distribution can correspond to the force distribution
which would be or has been produced by an experienced skier on the
specific slope using the specific skis and boots.
[0042] In many embodiments, the target processor 117 may comprise a
store containing a large number of target distribution profiles.
These may for example be generated by recording the measured force
distribution generated by experienced skiers using the specified
equipment on the specified slope. Furthermore, the measured force
distributions for a number of skiers and/or ski runs can be
recorded and the average measured force distribution can be stored
as the target force distribution for the corresponding context
data. Thus, the target processor 117 can comprise a number of
target force distributions for different contexts produced during
e.g. a design, development and test phase of the user feedback
apparatus. The target processor 117 can simply compare the selected
context data with corresponding context data stored for each target
force distribution and select the target force distribution with
matching context data.
[0043] The target force distribution is fed to the feedback
processor 113 where it is compare to the measured force
distribution to generate a feedback indication.
[0044] For example, the mobile phone 103 may continuously receive a
spatial force distribution representing the pressure exerted by the
user on the skis. This may continually be compared to the data of
the target profile by the feedback processor 113. Thus, the
feedback processor 113 can continually monitor how much the current
force distribution deviates from the corresponding force
distribution generated by experienced skiers on the specific ski
slope. The feedback processor 113 can continuously and in real time
generate an indication which reflects the current deviation.
[0045] It will be appreciated, that the above example is a simple
example provided to illustrate the applied principles. A practical
system may typically include complex analysis of the measured force
distribution relative to the target force distribution. For
example, the feedback processor 113 may be arranged perform pattern
matching between the measured force distribution and the target
force distribution in order to align data of these. For example,
the feedback processor 113 may be arranged to match a pressure
pattern of the measured force distribution to a similar pattern in
the target profile before the comparison between the two is
performed. This may for example correspond to matching the force
distribution data of a specific turn of the ski slope to the target
distribution data for the same specific turn.
[0046] The feedback processor 113 is coupled to a presentation
processor 119 which is arranged to present a feedback to the user
depending on the user activity feedback generated by the feedback
processor 113. In the example, the presentation processor 119 is
further coupled to a user interface 121 which may output a suitable
signal to the user. The user interface 121 can e.g. include a
speaker or a display.
[0047] The arrangement of FIG. 1 can thus in the specific example
compare stored data for the ski track to the measured pressure
distribution resulting from a user skiing the track. It can then
present the user with real time feedback depending on the
comparison. The real time feedback can e.g. be provided as sound,
light effects, vibration or other effects.
[0048] For example the feedback processor 113 may generate a
feedback signal which indicates whether the user should shift his
weight towards the left or right foot. The presentation processor
119 may control the user interface 121 to generate a tone with a
pitch that increases the more the user should shift his weight
towards the left foot. Thus, a user may simply hear a tone which
has a nominal pitch during correct/acceptable skiing. However, if
the user should currently shift his weight towards the left foot
the pitch of the tone may increase substantially above the nominal
pitch. Similarly, if the user should shift his weight towards the
right foot the pitch of the tone may be reduced substantially below
the nominal pitch. Thus, a simple to understand feedback signal
which can assist the user in improving his skiing ability can be
provided.
[0049] It will be appreciated, that in many embodiments more
complex feedback data is generated and provided to the user. For
example, the presentation processor 119 can comprise a large number
of spoken words which can be selected in response to the feedback
data. Also, it will be appreciated that the feedback need not be
real-time but can be provided e.g. after the user activity. For
example, a user may ski a specific slope and afterwards be provided
with a spoken review of the run including specific recommendations
for improvements (e.g. "next time, try to shift more weight to the
right foot when turning left" or "lean forward when going
straight").
[0050] The context data may specifically comprise user activity
environment data. This environment data may reflect the environment
in which the user activity is performed. For example, data may be
provided which reflects the conditions such as the temperature,
whether it is raining or snowing, visibility, consistency of the
snow etc. The data may be provided manually by the user and/or may
be generated from measurements. For example, the mobile phone 103
or the sensor device 101 may comprise a thermometer arranged to
measure the ambient temperature. If the thermometer is located
within the sensor device 101, the measurement data may be
communicated to the mobile phone using the same communication
functionality that is used for the measured force distribution.
[0051] The context data may alternatively or additionally comprise
user activity equipment data. For example, the context data may
include an indication of one or more characteristics of the skis
used by the user (e.g. carve size, length of ski etc). This
information may for example be entered manually by the user. As
another example, the user equipment can have an RFID (Radio
Frequency Identification) tag attached which transmits information
of the equipment characteristics to an RFID receiver of the mobile
phone 103.
[0052] The mobile phone 103 may comprise a plurality of context
data sets associated with different user activities. For example, a
first set of context data comprising snow conditions, temperature,
visibility, ski properties etc may be stored for an alpine downhill
skiing user activity. In addition, a second set of context data
comprising the same or other parameters may be stored for a slalom
skiing user activity. Thus, depending on the user activity,
different context data sets may be used.
[0053] Also, it will be appreciated that the context data processor
115 may comprise a number of different context data profiles which
can be selected (e.g. by the user). Furthermore, the context data
profiles may be selected in response to the measured force
distribution.
[0054] Similarly, the target processor 117 may store a number of
different target force distributions. Indeed, in some embodiments
the target processor 117 may store different target force
distributions for the same context data and the specific target
force distribution to be used may be selected in response to the
measured force distribution. For example, a pattern match may be
performed between the measured force distribution received from the
sensor device 101 and the stored target force distributions. The
target force distribution most closely resembling the measured
force distribution may then be selected and used for the comparison
by the feedback processor 113.
[0055] In some embodiments, the mobile phone 103 may furthermore
comprise functionality for storing a target force distribution
determined in response to the measured force distribution. For
example, the measured data for a first run may be stored and used
as the reference target force distribution during the next run.
Accordingly, the user activity feedback system can directly provide
information that indicates the user's performance variations and
which may specifically include an indication of whether the user is
improving or not.
[0056] As another example, the mobile phone 103 may be arranged to
generate a target force distribution by averaging a plurality of
measured force distributions. This will allow the mobile phone 103
to provide instant feedback of how the current performance deviates
from an average performance. This may be particularly interesting
for user activities where consistency and reproducibility is
important (such as e.g. golf swings).
[0057] In the specific example, the feedback processor 113
generates feedback data which is indicative of how much a current
user performance deviates from a target/reference performance.
Thus, the feedback processor 113 can determine a difference measure
which is indicative of a difference between the measured force
distribution and the selected target force distribution. For
example, the feedback processor 113 can simply determine the
normalised difference between the sensor measurement values for the
current performance compared to the same measurements for the
reference performance. However, it will be appreciated that in
other embodiments, other and more complex criteria and algorithms
may be used by the feedback processor 113.
[0058] In some embodiments, the mobile phone 103 comprises
functionality for determining a location of the mobile phone 103.
Specifically, the mobile phone 103 can comprise a GPS (Global
Positioning System) receiver or can use cellular positioning
systems to determine a location.
[0059] The location information can be used to determine the target
force distribution. For example, the target processor 117 can
comprise target force distributions for a plurality of different
ski slopes with an indication of a location of each ski slope. By
comparing a current location of the mobile phone 103 to the
locations of the stored ski slopes, the target processor 117 can
automatically select the target force distribution for the ski
slope where the user is currently located.
[0060] In some embodiments, the feedback processor 113 may
furthermore determine the user activity feedback in response to the
location data. For example, the location data may indicate the
user's current position on the ski slope and may accordingly be
used by the feedback processor 113 to match the measured force
distribution currently being received to the data of the target
force distribution. As an example, the target force distribution
may link the stored force data to specific locations on the ski
slope. The stored data for a right turn may be linked to location
data reflection the exact location of that right turn. When the
location data of the mobile phone 103 corresponds to the location
of the right turn (and assuming the mobile phone is carried by the
user), the data stored for the right turn is extracted and compared
to the received measurement data.
[0061] In some embodiments the feedback data is furthermore
determined in response to user data which is indicative of a
characteristic of the user. For example, data indicating whether
the user is an experienced skier may be used to generate feedback
data. Thus, the feedback system of FIG. 1 may provide different
coaching feedback depending on whether the user is a novice skier
or an experienced skier.
[0062] As another example, the feedback processor 113 may determine
the feedback data in response to a weight of the user. In some
embodiments, different target force distributions can e.g. be
stored for different weights. This user data may for example be
entered manually by the user or e.g. determined/calibrated from the
pressure measured by the sensor when the user is at rest.
[0063] In some embodiments, the user characteristic or user data
may include user goals or targets. For example, the user data may
include e.g. a desired speed or direction. The target distribution
may thus be selected to reflect this user goal.
[0064] In the above example, the feedback system was described as a
single user system. However, in some embodiments the system is
arranged to provide a multi user experience. For example, feedback
data relating to the performance of a group of users may be
generated. Specifically the performance of the individual user
compared to the rest of the group of users can be determined and
fed back to the user(s).
[0065] Specifically the mobile phone 103 can receive measured force
distributions for a plurality of users. For example, the mobile
phone 103 may be capable of receiving data from more than one
sensor device. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile phone 103
can comprise a cellular transceiver 123 which is coupled to the
feedback processor 113 and the presentation processor 119 and which
can receive measured force distribution data from other mobile
phones 103 via a cellular communication link. Thus, a second mobile
phone (not shown) can receive measured force distribution data from
a sensor device and transmit this to the cellular transceiver 123
from where it is forwarded to the feedback processor 113.
Similarly, the mobile phone 103 may also be able to transmit the
measured force distribution data received from the sensor device
101 to other mobile phones.
[0066] In the example, the feedback processor 113 can generate a
user activity feedback which does not only depend on the measured
force distribution received from the sensor device 101 but also on
the measured force distribution received from the second mobile
phone. For example, the feedback processor 113 may generate a
difference distribution between the two measured force
distributions and compare this to a target difference distribution
in order to generate the feedback signal. Thus, the feedback signal
may reflect not only one user's performance during the user
activity but also how this performance is relative to the
performance of another user. Such a feature may for example be of
significant importance in user activities such as synchronised
skiing.
[0067] As another example, the mobile phone 103 may receive user
activity feedback from another mobile phone. For example, feedback
data may be generated by another mobile phone by comparing a
received measured force distribution and target force distribution
similarly to what has been described for the first mobile phone
103. This second user activity feedback data is then transmitted to
the cellular transceiver 123 using the communication functionality
of the cellular communication system. The feedback data is fed to
the presentation processor 119 which also receives the feedback
data from the feedback processor 113. The two sets of presentation
data are then combined to generate a single combined user activity
indication. For example, a single audio signal indicating how well
the user is performing relative to the other user may be
generated.
[0068] It will be appreciated that in more complex embodiments,
more complex combinations and user activity indications may be
provided. For example of the relative performance of one user
compared to another user may be plotted onto a map of the ski slope
thereby clearly indicating at which parts of the course each user
achieves the best performance.
[0069] It will be appreciated that the group data exchange may use
the cellular communication system as described above but may
alternatively or additionally use other communication means
including for example WiFi.TM. or Bluetooth.sup.TN short range
communication means.
[0070] It will be appreciated that the generation of the feedback
data may be further in response to many other parameters than the
measured force distribution. For example, the feedback signal may
be generated in response to a combination of the measured force
distribution and additional measurements, such as for example a
heart rate or blood pressure measurement.
[0071] Thus, the system of FIG. 1 may provide an enhanced user
experience and may in particular provide improved, additional
and/or enhanced assessment and feedback on the user activity.
[0072] FIG. 2 illustrates a method of generating user activity
feedback in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0073] The method initiates in step 201 wherein a measured force
distribution resulting from a user activity is generated by a
sensor device.
[0074] Step 201 is followed by step 203 wherein the sensor device
transmits the measured force distribution to a user device.
[0075] Step 203 is followed by step 205 wherein the user device
receives the measured force distribution.
[0076] Step 205 is followed by step 207 wherein the user device
provides context data for the user.
[0077] Step 207 is followed by step 209 wherein the user device
determines a target force distribution for the user activity in
response to the context data.
[0078] Step 209 is followed by step 211 wherein the user device
generates the user activity feedback in response to the measured
force distribution and the target force distribution.
[0079] It will be appreciated that the above description for
clarity has described embodiments of the invention with reference
to different functional units and processors. However, it will be
apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between
different functional units or processors may be used without
detracting from the invention. For example, functionality
illustrated to be performed by separate processors or controllers
may be performed by the same processor or controllers. Hence,
references to specific functional units are only to be seen as
references to suitable means for providing the described
functionality rather than indicative of a strict logical or
physical structure or organization.
[0080] The invention can be implemented in any suitable form
including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these.
The invention may optionally be implemented at least partly as
computer software running on one or more data processors and/or
digital signal processors. The elements and components of an
embodiment of the invention may be physically, functionally and
logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed the functionality
may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as
part of other functional units. As such, the invention may be
implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally
distributed between different units and processors.
[0081] Although the present invention has been described in
connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited
to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the
present invention is limited only by the accompanying claims.
Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in
connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art
would recognize that various features of the described embodiments
may be combined in accordance with the invention. In the claims,
the term comprising does not exclude the presence of other elements
or steps.
[0082] Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of
means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single
unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may
be included in different claims, these may possibly be
advantageously combined, and the inclusion in different claims does
not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or
advantageous. Also the inclusion of a feature in one category of
claims does not imply a limitation to this category but rather
indicates that the feature is equally applicable to other claim
categories as appropriate. Furthermore, the order of features in
the claims does not imply any specific order in which the features
must be worked and in particular the order of individual steps in a
method claim does not imply that the steps must be performed in
this order. Rather, the steps may be performed in any suitable
order.
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