U.S. patent application number 12/824365 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-07 for method for monitoring exercise, and apparatus and system thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to PERCEPTION DIGITAL LIMITED. Invention is credited to Ping KOW, Jack LAU.
Application Number | 20110165998 12/824365 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44225028 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110165998 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LAU; Jack ; et al. |
July 7, 2011 |
Method For Monitoring Exercise, And Apparatus And System
Thereof
Abstract
An exercise monitoring device having sensors for monitoring and
measuring the physiological and physical parameters of a person
during an exercise. The monitored and measured parameters are
stored and used in real-time comparison with the same person's
performance another time. The monitored and measured parameters of
another person in the same exercise may also be used. Real-time
monitoring and measuring of the parameters of several people
provides the possibility to have virtual competition between people
in different locations.
Inventors: |
LAU; Jack; (Hong Kong,
HK) ; KOW; Ping; (Hong Kong, HK) |
Assignee: |
PERCEPTION DIGITAL LIMITED
Hong Kong
HK
|
Family ID: |
44225028 |
Appl. No.: |
12/824365 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/1112 20130101;
A63B 2220/74 20130101; A63B 2230/60 20130101; G16H 50/70 20180101;
A63B 2220/40 20130101; A63B 24/0062 20130101; A61B 5/681 20130101;
A63B 2220/73 20130101; A63B 2220/17 20130101; A63B 2220/75
20130101; A61B 5/6802 20130101; A63B 2230/75 20130101; A63B 2230/30
20130101; G16H 20/30 20180101; A63B 24/0084 20130101; A63B 2225/20
20130101; A63B 2220/803 20130101; A61B 5/0022 20130101; A61B 5/024
20130101; A63B 2220/30 20130101; A63B 2220/12 20130101; A61B 5/0077
20130101; A61B 5/02055 20130101; A63B 2220/20 20130101; A63B
2225/50 20130101; A61B 5/0816 20130101; A63B 69/0028 20130101; A63B
2230/00 20130101; A63B 2220/72 20130101; A61B 5/1118 20130101; A63B
2024/0068 20130101; A61B 2503/10 20130101; A61B 2562/029 20130101;
A63B 2230/06 20130101; A61B 2560/0242 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/8 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 7, 2010 |
HK |
10100101.4 |
Claims
1. A method of monitoring the exercise of a user, comprising the
step of: using at least one sensor to record at least one
performance parameter of the user during his exercise; comparing
the record of the performance parameter against another record of
the same performance parameter; and indicating to the user the how
the performance parameter of the user compares to the other record
of the same performance parameter.
2. A method of monitoring the exercise of a user, as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the other record of the same performance parameter
is of an earlier exercise of the same user.
3. A method of monitoring the exercise of a user, as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the other record of the same performance parameter
is of an earlier exercise of another person.
4. A method of monitoring the exercise of a user, as claimed in
claim 3, wherein the comparison is made as the user is performing
the exercise.
5. A method of monitoring the exercise of a user, as claimed in
claim 4, wherein the step of comparing the record of the
performance parameter against another record of the same
performance parameter is made when the user is performing the
exercise at the same time as the other person.
6. A method of monitoring the exercise of a user, as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the step of indicating to the user the how the
performance-parameter of the user compares to the other record of
the same performance parameter comprises providing a voice prompt
to the user.
7. A method of monitoring the exercise of a user, as claimed in
claim 6, wherein the voice prompt is via a earphone.
8. An exercise monitoring system for remote competition, comprising
a host server; a plurality of client exercise monitoring devices in
wireless communication with the host server; each client exercise
monitoring device having at least one sensor for monitoring at
least one performance parameter of a respective user during an
exercise; each client exercise monitoring device being capable of
sending the performance parameter of the respective user to the
host server; the host server being adapted to compare the
performance parameter sent from the plurality of client exercise
monitoring devices; and the host server being adapted to
communicate to each client exercise monitoring device how the
performance parameter of each user compares to the performance
parameter of another user; wherein the comparative performance of
the users in the exercise is indicated to each user.
9. A client exercise monitoring device for the exercise monitoring
system as claimed in claim 8.
10. An exercise monitoring device comprising at least one sensor
for monitoring at least one performance parameter of a user during
an exercise, and a controller for comparing the performance
parameter of the user to another performance parameter; and and
output device for indicating to the user the extent to which the
performance parameter of the user differs from the other
performance parameter.
11. An exercise monitoring device as claimed in claim 10 wherein
the other performance parameter is the performance parameter of the
user during an earlier exercise.
12. An exercise monitoring device as claimed in claim 10 wherein
the other performance parameter is of another person.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to devices for monitoring
physical exercise.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A sportsman wishing to improve his sports performance would
have a goal of beating his past performance. To do so require
measurement devices and physical markers, such as a running track
indicative of the run distance, a stop watch to measure time.
[0003] However, it is difficult for any sportsman to monitor his
own progress while he is concentrating on the exercise. Only when
he has finished with the exercise could he check the time, or other
measurement parameters, to review his performance; the sportsman
does not have a real time indication of his present performance.
Therefore, the sportsman is unable to push himself at specific
crucial moments during the exercise to exceed his past performance,
unless he had specific help. For example, an assistant could be
placed at specific locations along a running track to shout out to
the sportsman his time. In this way, the sportsman can then decide
if he needs to push himself harder based on the shouted
information.
[0004] Furthermore, unless the sportsman shares the same running
track and timing facilities with other sportsmen at the same time,
it is impossible for the sportsman to compete with the other
sportsmen.
[0005] It is desirable to provide a way to allow a sportsman to
actively compare his performance during an exercise, with his past
performance at the same exercise. Furthermore, it is also desirable
to provide a way to allow two or more persons to exercise and
compete with less restraints of travel.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0006] In a first aspect the invention discloses a method of
monitoring the exercise of a user, comprising the step of: using at
least one sensor to record at least one performance parameter of
the user during his exercise; comparing the record of the
performance parameter against another record of the performance
parameter; and indicating to the user the how the performance
parameter of the user compares to the other record of the same
performance parameter.
[0007] Optionally, the other record of the same performance
parameter is of an earlier exercise of the same user.
Alternatively, the other record of the performance parameter is of
an earlier exercise of the other person. Preferably, the step of
comparing the record of the performance parameter against another
record of the performance parameter is made as the user is
performing the exercise at the same time as another person.
[0008] Preferably, the indication of the comparison of the
parameters to the user is provided by voice prompt, such as one
which is audible by an earphone worn by the user.
[0009] In a second aspect the invention discloses an exercise
monitoring device system for remote competition, comprising a host
server; a plurality of client exercise monitoring devices in
wireless communication with the host server; each client exercise
monitoring device having at least one sensor for monitoring at
least one performance parameter of a respective user during an
exercise; each client exercise monitoring device is capable of
sending the performance parameter of the respective user to the
host server; the host server is adapted to compare the performance
parameter sent from the plurality of client exercise monitoring
devices; and the host server is adapted to communicate to each
client exercise monitoring device how the performance parameter of
each user compares to the performance parameter of another user;
wherein the comparative performance of the users in the exercise is
indicated to each user.
[0010] In a third aspect the invention discloses an exercise
monitoring device comprising at least one sensor for monitoring at
least one performance parameter of a user during an exercise, a
controller for comparing the performance parameter of the user to
another performance parameter; and an output device for indicating
to the user the extent to which the performance parameter of the
user differs from the other performance parameter.
[0011] Optionally, the other performance parameter is a performance
parameter of the user during an earlier exercise. Alternatively,
the other performance parameter is the performance parameter of
another person.
[0012] The performance parameter is one of the following
non-exhaustive list of: time, distance, location, track, speed,
acceleration, inclination, altitude, temperature, humidity,
ultraviolet index, heart beat rate, breath, calorie, SpO2 and any
other parameter which is useable to measure, monitor or analyse the
physical condition of the user and his performance in an
exercise.
[0013] The at least one sensor includes any combination of the
following non-exhaustive list: timer, GPS, accelerometer,
gyroscope, barometer, temperature sensor, infrared sensor,
ultraviolet sensor, CMOS sensor, piezo-electric, fingerprint
sensors, and any other sensor which is useable to measure, monitor
or analyse the physical condition of the user and his performance
in an exercise.
[0014] The exercise of the user comprises, among other
possibilities, running, walking, rowing, biking, rope skipping,
number of times of weight lifting, sit-ups, push-ups, pull-up, so
and on
[0015] Accordingly, the embodiment provides the possibility that a
user monitors, records and analyses the user's different sessions
of the same exercise over a period of time, such as over months or
years, to monitor and chart his improvement according to various
parameters, i.e. not just speed or endurance, but also breathing
rate, heart beat rate, and so on.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] It will be convenient to further describe the present
invention with respect to the accompanying drawings that illustrate
possible arrangements of the invention, in which like integers
refer to like parts. Other arrangements of the invention are
possible, and consequently the particularity of the accompanying
drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of
the preceding description of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the
invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the internal architecture
of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and
[0019] FIG. 3 shows examples of relational-tables inside the
database of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate how different physical parameters
monitored by the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be charted for
analysis;
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates how the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be used
in one way;
[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates how the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be used
to provide results viewable on a computer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] FIG. 1 shows an exercise monitoring device 100 which is an
embodiment of the invention. The exercise monitoring device 100
contains a sensor bank 125, which is a collection of devices and
sensors that allow the present exercise of a user to be compared to
past exercise `records`, or Exercise Profiles.
[0024] The exercise monitoring device 100 comprises a housing 102,
a user interface including a screen 104 and multiple buttons
106.
[0025] The exercise monitoring device 100 is small enough to be
portable and worn by a user while he is performing an exercise.
Typically, the exercise monitoring device 100 may be strapped to
the user's wrist in the way watches are worn, or worn on his arms
or waist, or around his neck.
[0026] To be able to monitor the exercise of the user, the exercise
monitoring device 100 contains devices for identifying the user,
time and environment parameters, and sensors for monitoring the
user's physiological parameters. Physiology refers to the physical
and chemical processes of living organisms and their parts.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing some of the devices
and sensors inside the exercise monitoring device 100, including a
processor 120, a storage media 122, a wireless communication
interface 124, a user interface 104 and a biometric identification
module (not illustrated).
[0028] The storage media 122 comprises a random access memory (RAM)
121 and flash type memory 123, etc. A database for recording the
performance of the user and his identity is stored in the storage
media 122.
[0029] The wireless communication interface 124 provides data
transfer with remote electronic equipment, such as a server 503
(see FIG. 5).
[0030] The user interface 104 is connected to input and output
ports 126 in the exercise monitoring device 100. For input, there
is a keypad, a stylus pad, touch screen, keyboard or keypad (not
illustrated) etc. Furthermore, there is a microphone (not shown)
for voice recording.
[0031] Therefore, the exercise monitoring device 100 is capable of
receiving input of personal information of the user, such as the
user's identity (ID), name, address, personal information and
static physiological parameters including height, weight, age, sex
etc.
[0032] The biometric identification module is a voice recognition
module. Thus, after the user has entered his identity into the
exercise monitoring device 100 at the first time he used the
exercise monitoring device 100, the user can be subsequently
identified by biometric voice recognition through the microphone.
The biometric voice recognition allows the exercise monitoring
device 100 to be used in turn by a plurality of identifiable users
easily.
[0033] Furthermore, there are various output devices such as a
screen for display, earphone socket 108 for an earphone or a
speaker (not illustrated).
[0034] Other input and output components include a serial port or
USB port (not illustrated) for data output to a computer.
[0035] The sensor bank 125 include one or more accelerometers,
gyroscopes, heart beat rate monitors, CMOS sensors and
piezoelectric sensors, blood oxygen sensors, breathe sensors and so
on. Furthermore, the sensor bank 125 includes devices for
monitoring time, environmental parameters, location of the user and
so on, such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors, ultraviolet
sensors, barometers, CMOS cameras, infrared sensors and a location
sensor. Preferably, the location sensor is a global position system
(GPS) locator.
[0036] The sensor bank 125 is therefore capable of monitoring the
user's exercise and recording the time spent, the distance covered,
the speed and acceleration of the user, the number of repetitions
in the exercise, the user's heart beat rate and breathing rate.
Furthermore, the sensor bank 125 is capable of detecting
geographical location and altitude, ambient temperature, humidity,
ultraviolet index and so on. Advantageously, such environmental
data is able to provide an indication if the weather has any effect
on the exercise performance of the user.
[0037] The CMOS camera is useable to sense the monitor changes in
pattern or colour of the user's body parts, such as his tongue,
eye, face, the skin etc. The piezoelectric sensor can be used to
sense vibration or stress or strain on the muscle. Such devices or
sensors help to monitor the user's physiological parameters.
[0038] How each sensor or device in the sensor bank 125 works is
known to the skilled man and needs no detailed elaboration here.
Just for example, the accelerometer is useable to sense the steps
of the user as he walks or runs, and to count the steps; a
finely-tune accelerometer is capable of determining if the user has
taken slow steps in a walk or quick steps in a run. U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/342,678 of 12 Dec. 2008 explains how an
accelerometer is able to monitor acceleration, calculate walking or
running speed, and also count the steps of the user, and is
entirely incorporated herein by reference.
[0039] Also, how is each physiological sensor 125 placed in contact
with the user to monitor his physiological parameters is known to
the skilled man, which also needs no detailed elaboration here.
[0040] The database in the storage media 122 contains records from
the sensor bank 125 in past exercises. FIG. 3 shows an example of
three relational tables in the database, Table 1(a), Table 1(b) and
Table 1(c), all containing information pertaining to past
exercises.
[0041] Table 1(a) contains the personal information of all the
users who have used the exercise monitoring device 100. These are
shown as columns Name, Identity (Or Serial Number), Personal
Information, Exercise Level and Exercise Profile. Although not
illustrated in detail, the column "Personal Info" comprises
information such as gender, age, weight, height, etc.
[0042] Table 1(b) contains information on each exercise perform by
the users recorded in Table 1(a), such as the date and venues of
the exercise, and the profile of the exercise. In this case, Table
1(b) contains information of a running exercise.
[0043] Table 1(c) contains the actual `profile data` of each
exercise and, by way of example, the data columns shows time,
distance, location, track, speed, acceleration, terrain's
inclination, altitude, temperature, humidity, ultraviolet index,
heart beat rate, breath, SpO2 (Saturation of Peripheral Oxygen),
and calorie burnt. To provide the data as shown in Table 1(c), the
sensors in the sensor bank 125 monitor various physical and
physiological parameters of the user during the user's exercise.
For example, in a running exercise, the heartbeat rate, steps and
the quickness of the steps of the user are monitored by the
accelerometer and counted.
[0044] Typically, the sensors 125 provide the data in Table 1(c) by
sampling the user's physiological parameters at intervals of one
second. That is, the columns are filled with a new row of data
every second.
[0045] The exercise monitoring device 100 contains software which
allows the processor 120 to make comparisons between the present
performance of the user and a record of the user's past
performance. During the present exercise, the sensor bank 125
measures the user's physiological parameters, and the surround
physical parameters in real-time, and compares them with his
recorded profile or profiles. For example, if the user is
performing a run and at moments where the user is slower compared
to the same moments in the record, the exercise monitoring device
100 prompts the user to run faster, to encourage him to improve his
performance. This provides the possibility that the exercise
monitoring device issue alerts and messages in real time about the
present performance in relation to the record.
[0046] Optionally, the exercise monitoring device 100 also helps
the user to slow down if the user prefers to sustain only a
comfortable, slightly less strenuous exercise routine than the
record. It is possible to configure the exercise monitoring device
100 to monitor whether the user should outperform or under-perform
the user's past performances.
[0047] FIG. 5 shows that the exercise monitoring device may be worn
on the arm of the user, or his waist or around his neck. A suitable
position will facilitate the sensors such as the accelerometer to
sense the up and down movements of the arm of the user when the
user is running. The ear phone extends from the exercise monitoring
device to the ear of the user, so that the user is able to receive
regular prompt messages, updating him on his progress of his
exercise. Any parameter monitored by the exercise monitoring device
may be announced to the user while the user is till at the
exercise, such as distance covered, heart beat rate, blood
pressure, calorie count, and can be used by the user to decide
whether he has achieved his goal of the exercise. Thus, the
embodiment provides an advantage that review of the user's
performance is in real time. This relieves the need of another
person to monitor the user's performance.
[0048] In a variation of the embodiment, the embodiment provides
the possibility of comparing the performance of the user with the
performance of other people, instead of with a record of the user's
own past performance. In this case, the user loads a single or a
plurality of the Exercise Profiles of other people to compare with
the user's present performance in real time. That means, during the
present exercise, the sensor bank 125 measures the user's
physiological parameters and the physical parameters in real-time,
and compares them with the parameters in the Exercise Profiles,
i.e. records, of the other people.
[0049] There are many ways to obtain another person's record
against which to compare the performance of the present user.
Firstly, the exercise monitoring device 100 may wirelessly
communicate with a server 503 containing a database of other
people's records, to download a selected person's record into the
exercise monitoring device 100 (preferably, the user's own record
in the exercise monitoring device 100 is also uploaded into the
server 503 for other people to download). Alternatively, the
exercise monitoring device 100 has Bluetooth, IrDa or other
wireless communication protocol which allows the exercise
monitoring device 100 to communicate directly with the exercise
monitoring device 100 of another person, to allow record sharing.
Alternatively, the record can be downloaded into a computer, floppy
disk or portable memory, to be transferred between computers which
can then further transfer the record into another exercise
monitoring device 100. The means for data transfer into a computer
include serial or USB communication, or other communication
protocol as the skilled man would know.
[0050] Preferably, if the parameters in another person's record are
too difficult for the user, the exercise monitoring device 100
automatically adjusts the parameters of the other person's record
by a factor to make it easier, such as 10%. The skilled man
understands that, depending on the parameter, this may means an
adjustment to the greater or lesser value. For example, the
parameter of speed is adjusted lower to make the speed easier to
beat. On the other hand, the parameter of time taken in the other
person's record may be adjusted longer to also make it easier to
beat. The exercise monitoring device 100 determines that an record
is too difficult if the difference between one or more selected
parameter in the latest record of the user's performance and the
same parameters in the selected other person's record is greater
than a certain threshold. On the other hand, if the difference is
too small, the exercise monitoring device 100 determines that a
record is too easy and the user is capable of beating the record of
the other person. In this case, the exercise monitoring device 100
amends the parameters in the record of the other person by a factor
to make the competition more difficult, such by a 5% amendment.
This will make the challenge to measure up to the other person's
record stiffer. In a variation of this embodiment, the user
specifies to the exercise monitoring device 100 a certain amount or
percentage of improvement over the user's past records. For
example, he could specify an improved speed by 10%.
[0051] Preferably, the exercise monitoring device 100 also allows
comparison with the performance of famous sportsmen. If the user is
a sprinter, he may want to improve himself or learn from a famous
sprinter such as Usain Bolt or Xiang Liu. He then can download
Bolt's profiles and then sprint with the exercise monitoring device
100 providing prompts as to how the user's performance at any stage
of his sprint compares to Bolt's record.
[0052] In a variation of the embodiment, the exercise monitoring
device 100 automatically selects records for comparison. For
example, the user inputs into the exercise monitoring device 100 an
indication of improving his running speed by 5%. Based on the past
record of the user's exercises, the exercise monitoring device 100
searches within the exercise monitoring device's 100 memory or from
a remote server 503 at least one suitable record of another person
against which the user's present exercise is to be monitored, where
the suitable record of another person having a running speed of
around 5% faster than the user's past record.
[0053] In a further variation of the embodiment, the exercise
monitoring device 100 is in wireless communication with a remote
database which records and compares the performance parameters of
several users in real time. This makes it possible to hold "virtual
competition" among multiple competitors. Even if the competitors
are at different locations around the world, the exercise
monitoring devices 100 is able to inform all competitors to begin
the exercise at the same time, to measure and upload the exercise
status of each competitor into the server for comparison. This
allows several exercise monitoring devices 100 to monitor the
physiological and physical parameters of several respective
competitors at the same time via remote communication, and making
comparison between the parameters in the database. The parameters
can include the position of every competitor, the distance traveled
and time passed, etc. Based on the information in the database,
each exercise monitoring device 100 can suggest suitable effort
improvement to the respective competitor in real time. The may
include, for example, telling the competitor his current position
in the virtual competition and suggesting a strategy to beat the
other competitors, such as [0054] "You are No. 4 of 6. You can
follow them now." [0055] "You are lagged behind, must be faster in
next minute." [0056] "It is time for you to exceed. Rush!" [0057]
"Run faster in next half minute!" [0058] "Maybe slow down a bit for
a minute to catch your breathe."
[0059] A virtual competition is illustrated in FIG. 5, showing one
runner 501 in the USA running during the day and another runner 502
running at the same time, such as at night in China. The server 503
with which the exercise monitoring devices 100 on each of the
runner 501, 502 communicate compares the performances, and issues
prompts or updates to each runner 501, 502. Thus, a virtual but
literal competition is held at the same time but in different
locations. With real-time exercise sensing and analysis functions,
the exercise monitoring device 100 is able to record a users' 501,
502 real-time records and transmit the records to a server 503 (not
illustrated). The server 503 processes all the users' 501, 502
information, and compute some statistics. For instance, the
real-time positions of all users 501, 502 are known by the GPS.
Thus, the server 503 informs each user 501, 502 of the user's
current position and how far he is from the leading the other user,
via the voice prompting of the exercise monitoring device 100.
Furthermore, one user may be informed of processed statistics
during a competition of many players, such as who is the leading
person in the completion, and the user's position among of all male
athletes at specific age groups, or body mass groups, and so on.
The skilled man knows that cloud computing or distributed computing
are all possible options for realizing such an embodiment and there
is no need for detailed elaboration.
[0060] The skilled man understands that it is not necessary that
all aforesaid physiological parameters have to be monitored for a
competition. For example, the heart beat rate need not be monitored
during a competition.
[0061] After the competition, the records of each competitor may be
uploaded into a computer and displayed as an animation. This will
allow friends of the competitors to appreciate their performance on
a display screen, as illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0062] The exercise monitoring device 100 also provides health and
fitness monitoring. The values in any two columns of data in Table
1(c) may be charted against each other to trend the relationship
between the two types of values. FIGS. 4a and FIG. 4b shows how
acceleration may be plotted against time 401, and heart-rate
against distance 402. Mathematical or statistical manipulation for
these matters is known and need no detailed explanation here.
[0063] In one use, the exercise monitoring device 100 is able to
monitor the user's heart beat rate and propose whether the user
could push himself harder. For example, if the user has indicated
to the exercise monitoring device 100 that he would run 5 km, and
by the end of the 5 km the exercise monitoring device detects that
the heart beat rate of the user is at a rate which is considered
safe, the exercise monitoring device 100 issues encouraging message
to request the user to push himself harder to complete 5.5 km. On
the other hand, if the heart beat rate is outside the safety zone
at any point during the run, the exercise monitoring device 100
suggests at suitable moments that the user runs only 4.5 km or
less. Health prompts may also be provided, such as "Your heart beat
rate is too fast! Slow down!" "You have potential to be faster in
next 3 minutes!" Thus, the exercise monitoring device 100 also
provides both health and performance monitoring. The prompt is
typically given in the form of audible messages through an ear
phone attached to the exercise monitoring device 100. However,
other than an audible prompt message by the earphones, the exercise
monitoring device can also issue meaningful alarms that are not in
textual or audio formats. For example, the exercise monitoring
device can provide a steady beeping sound when the user is
performing his exercise in pace with the record his present
performance is being compared to. When the efforts of the user are
not as good as the record he is comparing his present performance
to, the beeping increases to encourage the user to improve his
performance. When the efforts of the user are better the record,
the beeping may slow down or stop.
[0064] Preferably, the exercise monitoring device 100 allows the
user to identify the type of exercise he about to perform. For
example, the user can type `running`, `aerobics`, `triathlon` and
so on into the exercise monitoring device 100 or select the type of
exercise from a dropdown list of exercises stored in the exercise
monitoring device 100. Furthermore, the exercise monitoring device
100 also allows the user to input or select information on the
`level` of exercise. The `levels` of exercise can be pre-determined
in the factory, and differentiated such as by speed or duration of
exercise, and means varying levels of exercise programs. For
example, in running, there may be different levels of running
relating to a run of 10 km, half marathon, full marathon and so on,
or different levels of training profiles such as Weight Loss
exercise, De-stress exercise etc. Furthermore, `levels` can also be
determined by the different purposes involving different parameters
targets, such as target heart rate or exercise duration and so
on.
[0065] Furthermore, the location of the exercise can also be
selected from a dropdown list. To do so, the name and features of
each exercise location that contribute to sports difficulty are
predetermined and stored into the exercise monitoring device 100
for selection by the user. For example, the location is named
descriptively as a "sport stadium running track", a "forest track"
of a specific place, a "swimming lake" and so on. Subsequently, the
physical attributes or features of the locations which affect the
exercise, such as the inclination and distance of a running track,
the number of steps to be climbed along the running track, the
breath of the swimming lake and so on are recorded. Official maps,
and the rangers or facility managers of such locations can be
consulted to establish this information. Each location recorded is
given a difficulty level in advance, according to the location
features. Specific details of how this can be done are known to the
skilled man and need no elaboration here. The GPS locator in the
exercise monitoring device 100 may automatically identify the
location of the exercise and impose the difficulty level base on
the exercise which the user selects to perform there.
[0066] The skilled ma understands that in addition to using "time"
as the primary key, as in the example here in Table 1(c), the
database may also use multiple primary keys as time &
acceleration, distance & heart-rate, or time & location
& distance, etc. Some data which are not obtained directly from
the sensors can also be deduced from the sensor's output. For
example, from the user's weight and distance covered in the
exercise, the amount of calorie burnt in the exercise can be
calculated at any point of time during the run. This helps to
provide real time information to the user on how much calories has
been burnt at any point in time.
[0067] While there has been described in the foregoing description
preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be
understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many
variations or modifications in details of design, construction or
operation may be made without departing from the scope of the
present invention as claimed.
[0068] For example, while the described embodiment has many parts,
including a screen, a touch pad, a keypad, several sensor modules,
the skilled man understands that any of these may be exempted from
some embodiments while still achieving the desired invention as
claimed.
[0069] Thus, although a plurality of physiological and physical
parameters has been described, a sole parameter can also be used to
monitor the user performance. Correspondingly, it is possible that
only one sensor or device is be used.
[0070] Furthermore, the skilled man knows that various embodiments
may be applied to different forms of exercise such as chin-ups,
swimming, walking, running, walking, rowing, biking, rope skipping,
number of times of weight lifting, sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups and
so on.
[0071] Furthermore, other than voice recognition, other biometric
sensors such as fingerprint identification can be used.
[0072] Furthermore, the skilled man knows that other applications
may be envisaged even though they are not described in detail
herein, such as monitoring the performance of racing animals.
[0073] Therefore, the embodiment 100 includes a method of
monitoring the exercise of a user, comprising the step of: using at
least one sensor to record at least one performance parameter
(given as examples in relation to Table 1(c)) of the user during
his exercise; comparing the record of the performance parameter
against another record of the same performance parameter; and
indicating to the user the how the performance parameter of the
user compares to the other record of the same performance
parameter.
[0074] Therefore, the embodiment 100 includes an exercise
monitoring device system for remote competition, comprising a host
server; a plurality of client exercise monitoring devices in
wireless communication with the host server; each client exercise
monitoring device having at least one sensor for monitoring at
least one performance parameter of a respective user during an
exercise; each client exercise monitoring device is capable of
sending the performance parameter of the respective user to the
host server; the host server is adapted to compare the performance
parameter sent from the plurality of client exercise monitoring
devices; and the host server is adapted to communicate to each
client exercise monitoring device how the performance parameter of
each user compares to the performance parameter of another user;
wherein the comparative performance of the users in the exercise is
indicated to each user.
[0075] Therefore, the embodiment includes an exercise monitoring
device 100 comprising at least one sensor for monitoring at least
one performance parameter of a user during an exercise, a
controller for comparing the performance parameter of the user to
another performance parameter; and an output device for indicating
to the user the extent to which the performance parameter of the
user differs from the other performance parameter.
[0076] The skilled man knows that the performance parameter is one
of the following non-exhaustive list of: time, distance, location,
track, speed, acceleration, inclination, altitude, temperature,
humidity, ultraviolet index, heart beat rate, breath, calorie, SpO2
and any other parameter which is useable to measure, monitor or
analyses the physical condition of the user and his performance in
an exercise.
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