U.S. patent application number 13/386931 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-17 for method and system for providing a training program to a subject.
This patent application is currently assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.. Invention is credited to Ningjiang Chen, Xi Chen, Adriana Johanna Pas, Rong Song.
Application Number | 20120122063 13/386931 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42760659 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120122063 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Xi ; et al. |
May 17, 2012 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A TRAINING PROGRAM TO A SUBJECT
Abstract
A method of providing a training program including at least a
first exercise and a second exercise, the method comprising the
steps of: acquiring one or more parameters associated with the
first exercise performance of a subject; and adjusting, based on
said one or more parameters, one or more target values of the
second exercise to be provided after said first exercise.
Inventors: |
Chen; Xi; (Shanghai, CN)
; Pas; Adriana Johanna; (Eindhoven, NL) ; Chen;
Ningjiang; (Shanghai, CN) ; Song; Rong;
(Shanghai, CN) |
Assignee: |
KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS
N.V.
EINDHOVEN
NL
|
Family ID: |
42760659 |
Appl. No.: |
13/386931 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
July 30, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2010/053471 |
371 Date: |
January 25, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
434/247 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 20/30 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/247 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/00 20060101
A63B069/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 31, 2009 |
CN |
200910161110.5 |
Claims
1. A method of providing a training program including at least a
first exercise and a second exercise, the method comprising the
steps of: acquiring (S210) one or more parameters associated with
the first exercise performance of a subject; and adjusting (S290a,
S290b), based on said one or more parameters, one or more target
values of the second exercise to be provided after said first
exercise.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more parameters are
obtained from one or more repetitions of said first exercise.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of: comparing
(S280a, S280b) said one or more parameters with said one or more
target values, respectively; wherein said step of adjusting is
implemented in accordance with the result of said step of
comparing.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of: supplying
(S240) one or more weight factors corresponding to said one or more
parameters, said weight factors being associated with
characteristics of said first exercise; wherein said step of
adjusting is implemented based further on said one or more weight
factors.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more target values
are adjusted according to said one or more parameters,
respectively.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein more than one parameter is
acquired in said step of acquiring, and said one or more target
values are adjusted by a combination of said acquired
parameters.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of: providing
said second exercise with the adjusted target values to the
subject.
8. A system of providing a training program including at least a
first exercise and a second exercise, the system comprising: a
first unit (10) for acquiring one or more parameters associated
with the first exercise performance of a subject; and a second unit
(30) for adjusting, based on said one or more parameters, one or
more target values of the second exercise to be provided after said
first exercise.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said one or more parameters are
obtained from one or more repetitions of said first exercise.
10. The system of claim 8, further comprising: a third unit (30)
for comparing said one or more parameters with said one or more
target values, respectively; wherein said second unit (30) adjusts
said one or more target values of said second exercise in
accordance with the comparison result of said third unit.
11. The system of claim 8, further comprising: a fourth unit (40)
for supplying one or more weight factors corresponding to said one
or more parameters, said weight factors being associated with
characteristics of said first exercise; wherein said second unit
(30) adjusts said one or more target values of said second
exercise, based further on said one or more weight factors.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein said second unit (30) adjusts
said one or more target values according to said one or more
parameters, respectively.
13. The system of claim 8, wherein said first unit (10) acquires
more than one parameter, and said second unit (30) adjusts said one
or more target values, based on a combination of said acquired
parameters.
14. The system of claim 8, further comprising: a fifth unit (30)
for providing said second exercise with the adjusted target values
to the subject.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present application relates to a training method and
system, more particularly, to a method and system for providing a
training program to a subject.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] At present various devices are known to provide exercises
for a subject, e.g. a patient who suffers from loss of motor
function as a result of accident or disease. Usually these
exercises are efficient in regaining motor control, provided the
training is intense and the patient is guided in the therapy.
Another example of a subject is an athlete.
[0003] A rehabilitation system is disclosed in application CN
200410056143.0. In the disclosure of the rehabilitation system,
during the exercise, the posture of a patient is captured by two
cameras. The parameters, such as the range of movement, physical
activity level, etc., acquired by the cameras and/or other sensors,
are used to evaluate an actual performance of the patient during
one exercise. A performance goal of the exercise, such as target
level of the exercise, is predefined by a rehabilitation
specialist. The specialist may make a more accurate diagnosis
and/or set up a more suitable rehabilitation program for the
patient, based on a comparison between the actual performance and
the target level.
[0004] The rehabilitation program, e.g. target level of an
exercise, cannot be adjusted until the patient visits the
specialist. The duration may be too long to ensure compliance of
the patient. The patient may become de-motivated to do the exercise
especially in an unsupervised home rehabilitation program.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of this application to provide a
method and a system for providing a training program that is
adjusted automatically.
[0006] In accordance with one aspect, a method of providing a
training program including at least a first exercise and a second
exercise is provided, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring
one or more parameters associated with the first exercise
performance of a subject; and adjusting, based on said one or more
parameters, one or more target values of the second exercise to be
provided after said first exercise.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect, a system of providing a
training program including at least a first exercise and a second
exercise is provided, the system comprising: a first unit for
acquiring one or more parameters associated with the first exercise
performance of a subject; and a second unit for adjusting, based on
said one or more parameters, one or more target values of the
second exercise to be provided after said first exercise.
[0008] These and other characteristics, features and advantages of
the present invention will become apparent from the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of
the invention. The description is given for the sake of example
only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference
numerals given below refer to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The invention is explained in further detail, by way of
example and with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a system of providing a training program to a
subject according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a training program including a
series of exercises according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart for a process of providing a
training program to a subject according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a system of providing a training program to a
subject according to another embodiment of the invention; and
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart for a process of providing a
training program to a subject according to another embodiment of
the invention.
[0015] Throughout the above drawings, like reference numerals will
be understood to refer to like, similar or corresponding features
or functions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The present invention will be described with respect to
particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings, but
the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The
drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the
drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and
not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. In the block diagrams
of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the dashed lines indicate that the element in
question may be removed from the system in various embodiments; in
the flowcharts of FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the dashed lines indicate that
the step in question may be removed from the process in various
embodiments. Where an indefinite or definite article is used when
referring to a singular noun, e.g. "a", "an", "the", this includes
a plural of that noun unless something else is specifically
stated.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a system 100a of providing a training program
to a person P according to an embodiment of the invention. The
system 100a comprises a sensing device 10, an analyzer 20a and a
controller 30. The sensing device 10 may include a plurality of
sensors to detect movement of a person P. The sensors can be e.g.
inertial sensors, marker-based or markerless camera systems for
motion acquisition. During the time that an exercise is performed
by the person P, the sensing device 10 is used to monitor the
exercise and capture parameters of the movements of the person P.
The parameters are supplied to the analyzer 20a via wired or
wireless connection 60 between the sensing device 10 and the
analyzer 20a.
[0018] In an embodiment, the parameters may be represented as a set
of progress factors associated with an exercise for a specific
training, for example, rehabilitation therapy. The values of the
progress factors may be associated with the exercise performance of
the person P. In a physical activity exercise for upper limbs, the
set of progress factors may include range of movement PF.sub.a,
speed of movement PF.sub.b, smoothness PF.sub.c, and trunk
stability PF.sub.d. An actual performance 25a (i.e. performance
level) of the exercise performed by the person P is generated by
the analyzer 20a based on analysis of the progress factors
PF.sub.a, PF.sub.b, PF.sub.c and PF.sub.d.
[0019] In another embodiment, the system 100a further comprises a
weight supplier 40 which may supply a set of weight factors to the
analyzer 20a based on characteristics of an exercise. In a physical
activity exercise for stretching upper limbs, for example, the
range of movement PF.sub.a and trunk stability PF.sub.d are used to
evaluate the actual performance 25b of the exercise performed by
the person P. Correspondingly, weight factors WF.sub.a and WF.sub.d
are set to non-zero values, and weight factors WF.sub.b and
WF.sub.C are set to zero. The analyzer 20a selects PF.sub.a and
PF.sub.d in accordance with the non-zero weights WF.sub.a and
WF.sub.d. The actual performance 25b is thus evaluated from the
progress factors PF.sub.a and PF.sub.d.
[0020] In addition, an exercise may be performed repeatedly by the
person P. The number of repetitions of the exercise may be
predetermined or determined by a rehabilitation specialist. In
another embodiment, the system 100a may further comprise a storage
50. During the time that an exercise is performed repeatedly,
values of progress factors for the exercise are stored in the
storage 50. In another embodiment, where it is assumed that an
exercise is performed repeatedly for ten times, values of progress
factors for one or more mid-repetitions of the exercise, five
mid-repetitions for example, are stored in the storage 50. When the
person P finishes the exercise, each of the progress factors
includes a group of values to be stored in the storage 50. The
average of one group of values is calculated as an actual value of
one progress factor. The actual values are used to evaluate an
actual performance 25c of the exercise performed by the person P.
That is to say, the actual performance 25c may be obtained on the
basis of actual values for each of progress factors PF.sub.a,
PF.sub.b, PF.sub.c and PF.sub.d.
[0021] The controller 30 is provided with the actual performance
(25a, 25b, or 25c). In the controller 30, the actual performance is
compared with a target level of the exercise. An instruction is
generated by the controller 30 to adjust the target level of an
upcoming exercise, based on the compared result, which will be
explained in detail later in the text. The controller 30 provides
the upcoming exercise with adjusted target values to the person P
through a display (not shown).
[0022] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a training program including a
series of exercises which can be monitored by the system 100a as
shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the training program can be
used for stroke rehabilitation. The training program includes a
plurality of sessions, each session further including a series of
exercises, and the series of exercises being intended to be
sequentially provided to the subject. As shown in FIG. 2, a session
of physical activity for upper limbs includes three exercises, i.e.
Exercise A for hand movement, Exercise B for wrist rotation and
Exercise C for stretching the upper limbs.
[0023] An evaluation of the performance level for each of the
exercises in the session of physical activity for upper limbs is
made on the basis of four progress factors, i.e. range of movement
PF.sub.a, speed of movement PF.sub.b, smoothness PF.sub.c, and
trunk stability PF.sub.d. One or more progress factors are selected
by the corresponding weight factors, and in one embodiment, these
selected progress factors may be used in the evaluation of the
actual performance 25b. Here it is assumed that Exercises A, B and
C represent Stages 1, 2 and 3. The upper index 1, 2, and 3 in
progress factor (PF) or weight factor (WF) shown in FIG. 2
indicates values of Exercises A, B and C corresponding to stage 1,
2 and 3 respectively.
[0024] The following is a table showing a relationship between an
evaluation of an actual performance of an exercise, progress
factors and weight factors.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Progress Factors (PF) Weight Factors
Exercise Used in Evaluation (WF) Exercise A PF.sup.1.sub.a,
PF.sup.1.sub.c WF.sup.1.sub.a > 0, WF.sup.1.sub.c > 0 (hand
movement) WF.sup.1.sub.b = 0, WF.sup.1.sub.d = 0 Exercise B
PF.sup.2.sub.a, PF.sup.2.sub.b, PF.sup.2.sub.d WF.sup.2.sub.a >
0, WF.sup.2.sub.b > 0 (wrist rotation) WF.sup.2.sub.d > 0,
WF.sup.2.sub.c = 0 Exercise C PF.sup.3.sub.a, PF3.sub.d
WF.sup.3.sub.a > 0, WF.sup.3.sub.d > 0 (stretching the upper
limbs) WF.sup.3.sub.b = 0, WF.sup.3.sub.c = 0
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart for a method of providing a
training program as shown in FIG. 2 to the person P. Exercises A, B
and C are intended to be sequentially provided to the subject.
During the time that Exercise A is provided to the subject, a
sensing device 10 monitors Exercise A performed by the person P to
acquire progress factors, i.e. range of movement PF.sup.1.sub.a,
speed of movement PF.sup.1.sub.b, smoothness PF.sup.1.sub.c, and
trunk stability PF.sup.1.sub.d (Step S210).
[0026] During the time that the person P performs Exercise A
repeatedly, e.g. ten times, values of the progress factors for the
five mid-repetitions of Exercise A are stored in the storage 50
(Step S220). Once the person P finishes the Exercise A, average
values for each of the progress factors PF.sup.1.sub.a,
PF.sup.1.sub.b, PF.sup.1.sub.c and PF.sup.1.sub.d are calculated as
actual values based on the stored values of the progress factors
from the five mid-repetitions of Exercise A. The actual values are
supplied to the analyzer 20a (Step S230).
[0027] Based on characteristics of Exercise A, i.e. hand movement
in the session of physical activity for upper limbs, the weight
supplier 40 provides a set of weight factors WF.sup.1.sub.a,
WF.sup.1.sub.b, WF.sup.1.sub.c and WF.sup.1.sub.d corresponding to
the acquired progress factors PF.sup.1.sub.a, PF.sup.1.sub.b,
PF.sup.1.sub.c and PF.sup.1.sub.d (Step S240). The weight factors
are also supplied to the analyzer 20a, wherein the values of
WF.sup.1.sub.a and WF.sup.1.sub.c are non-zero, and the values of
WF.sup.1.sub.b and WF.sup.1.sub.d are zero (Step S250).
[0028] The analyzer 20a, based on the actual values of the progress
factors and the weight factors, generates an actual performance
(i.e. actual performance level) of Exercise A (Step S260). Since
WF.sup.1.sub.b and WF.sup.1.sub.d are zero, PF.sup.1.sub.a and
PF.sup.1.sub.c corresponding to non-zero weights WF.sup.1.sub.a and
WF.sup.1.sub.c, are selected to be used in the evaluation of the
actual performance level of Exercise A. Then, the actual
performance level is supplied to the controller 30 (Step S270). The
controller 30 compares the actual performance level with a target
level of Exercise A (Step S280a). In this embodiment, the target
level for each exercise is determined by a set of target values of
the progress factors associated with the exercise. Preferably,
initial target values are predefined or predetermined by a
specialist.
[0029] Based on the comparison result, if the difference between
the actual performance level and the target level of Exercise A
exceeds a threshold value, the controller 30 generates an
instruction to adjust the target level of upcoming Exercise B
and/or Exercise C (Step S290a). In particular, if the actual
performance level shows the person P performs Exercise A very well
and the instruction then indicates to adjust the target level of
the next exercise (i.e. Exercise B), target values of progress
factors PF.sup.2.sub.a and PF.sup.2.sub.c of Exercise B may be
increased based on the selected progress factors PF.sup.1.sub.a and
PF.sup.1.sub.c of Exercise A. On the other hand, if the actual
performance level shows the person P performs Exercise A poorly and
the instruction also indicates to adjust the target level of
Exercise B, the target values of the progress factors
PF.sup.2.sub.a and PF.sup.2.sub.c of Exercise B may be decreased
based on the selected progress factors PF.sup.2.sub.a and
PF.sup.1.sub.c of Exercise A. Since a target level of an exercise
is determined by target values of progress factors of the exercise,
the target level of Exercise B will be adjusted by updating the
target values of progress factors thereof.
[0030] In an embodiment of the step for adjusting the target level
of Exercise B, PF.sup.2.sub.a and PF.sup.2.sub.c of Exercise B are
updated by replacing the initial target values of PF.sup.2.sub.a
and PF.sup.2.sub.c of Exercise B with the actual values of
PF.sup.1.sub.a and PF.sup.1.sub.c of Exercise A respectively. In an
alternative embodiment, the initial target values of PF.sup.2.sub.a
and PF.sup.2.sub.c of Exercise B are updated by multiplying them by
a coefficient which depends upon the actual performance level of
Exercise A.
[0031] Then, Exercise B, with adjusted target values, is provided
to the person P. During the time that the person P performs the
next exercise (i.e. Exercise B), a similar process, i.e. Step
S210-Step S290a, is performed. The acquired progress factors
PF.sup.2.sub.a, PF.sup.2.sub.b and PF.sup.2.sub.d are selected to
be used in an evaluation of the actual performance level of
Exercise B, and whether the target level of the next Exercise C is
adjusted depends upon a comparison between the actual performance
level of Exercise B and the target level of Exercise B that has
been adjusted on the basis of progress factors of Exercise A.
[0032] In an embodiment of the step for adjusting the target level
of Exercise C, according to the compared result, part of target
values of PF.sup.3.sub.a, PF.sup.3.sub.b and PF.sup.3.sub.d of
Exercise C are updated. As an example, target values of
PF.sup.3.sub.a and PF.sup.3.sub.b of Exercise C are replaced by the
actual values of PF.sup.2.sub.a and PF.sup.2.sub.b of Exercise B,
while the target value of PF.sup.3.sub.d of Exercise C is not
updated. Then, Exercise C, with adjusted target values, is provided
to the person P.
[0033] According to the embodiment described above, the initial
target values of PF.sup.2.sub.a and PF.sup.2.sub.c of Exercise B
are updated based on the actual values of PF.sup.1.sub.a and
PF.sup.1.sub.C of Exercise A. Further, the initial target values of
PF.sup.3.sub.a and PF.sup.3.sub.b of Exercise C are updated by the
actual values of PF.sup.2.sub.a and PF.sup.2.sub.b of Exercise B.
When the person P starts to perform Exercise C, all target values
of the progress factors of Exercise C, except PF.sup.3.sub.d, are
updated. Since at least some of the target values of progress
factors of Exercise C are different from the initial target values
thereof, the target level of Exercise C is not the initial target
level of Exercise C.
[0034] FIG. 4 shows a system 100b of providing a training program
to a person P according to another embodiment of the invention. In
comparison with the system 100a illustrated in FIG. 1, the system
100b comprises an analyzer 20b. In addition to analyzer 20b,
sensing device 10, controller 30, weight supplier 40 and storage 50
in the system 100b, the system (?) can adopt the same or similar
devices as the system shown in FIG. 1. The detailed description of
these same or similar devices is omitted herein.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in addition to an evaluation of
the actual exercise performance by the analyzer 20a in FIG. 1, the
analyzer 20b further comprises a constructor to create a
coefficient matrix for updating target values of upcoming
exercises. A process performed by the system 100b is illustrated in
FIG. 5. The process may be described according to an embodiment to
provide the training program as shown in FIG. 2.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the analyzer 20b obtains training
data acquired by the sensing device 10 during the time that a
person P performs Exercise A (Step S205). Then, the constructor
generates the coefficient matrix by using the training data, based
on a linear approximation model (Step S208).
[0037] On the supposition that progress factors of each exercise
are represented as elements of a matrix, the matrix of stage m and
the matrix of stage m-1 can be expressed as:
[PF.sup.m.sub.a,PF.sup.m.sub.b,PF.sup.m.sub.c . . .
PF.sup.m.sub.n]=Coff.sub.n.times.n[PF.sup.m-1.sub.a,PF.sup.m-1.sub.b,PF.s-
up.m-1.sub.c . . . PF.sup.m-1.sub.n] (1)
where the index (e.g. m and m-1) indicates the stage of the
exercise, n is the number of progress factors associated with a
specific exercise, and Coff.sub.n.times.n represents the
coefficient matrix.
[0038] In this embodiment, a matrix of Exercise A and a matrix of
Exercise B can be shown as:
[PF.sup.2.sub.a,PF.sup.2.sub.b,PF.sup.2.sub.c,PF.sup.2.sub.d]=Coff.sub.n-
.times.n[PF.sup.1.sub.a,PF.sup.1.sub.b,PF.sup.1.sub.c,PF.sup.1.sub.d]
(2)
[0039] Coff.sub.n.times.n is a 4.times.4 matrix, thus expression
(2) is further represented as:
( PF a 2 PF b 2 PF c 2 PF d 2 ) = [ Coff 11 Coff 12 Coff 13 Coff 14
Coff 21 Coff 22 Coff 23 Coff 24 Coff 31 Coff 32 Coff 33 Coff 34
Coff 41 Coff 42 Coff 43 Coff 44 ] ( PF a 1 PF b 1 PF c 1 PF d 1 ) (
3 ) ##EQU00001##
[0040] In accordance with a matrix algorithm, in order to obtain
the values of each element in the coefficient matrix, the training
data at least includes five groups of progress factors for one
exercise, wherein each group of the progress factors can be
acquired by sensing device 10 from one repetition of the exercise
performed by the person P. In an embodiment, the person P performs
the exercise ten times, and the training data is obtained from one
or more mid-repetitions of the exercise, for example five
mid-repetitions.
[0041] Using the training data, the coefficient matrix
Coff.sub.n.times.n is formed based on a linear approximation model,
for example minimizing RMSE (root mean square error). After the
coefficient matrix Coff.sub.n.times.n is obtained from the training
data, a similar process, i.e. Step S210-Step S280a, is performed.
The acquired progress factors PF.sub.a and PF.sub.c are selected to
be used in an actual performance level evaluation of Exercise A,
and whether the target level of Exercise B is adjusted depends upon
a comparison between the actual performance level of Exercise A and
a target level of Exercise A. Steps S210-S280a may be the same or
similar steps as those shown in FIG. 3. The detailed description of
these steps is omitted herein.
[0042] Based on the comparison result, if the difference between
the actual performance level of Exercise A and the target level of
Exercise A exceeds a threshold value, the controller 30 generates
an instruction to adjust the target level of upcoming Exercise B
(Step S290b). In Step S290b, target values of the progress factors
PF.sup.2.sub.a, PF.sup.2.sub.b, PF.sup.2.sub.c and PF.sup.2.sub.d
of Exercise B are obtained in accordance with Expression (3). As
compared with Step S290a in FIG. 3, each of the actual values of
progress factors PF.sup.1.sub.a, PF.sup.1.sub.b, PF.sup.1.sub.c and
PF.sup.1.sub.d of Exercise A makes contributions to target values
of the progress factors of Exercise B. That is to say, the target
values of the progress factors of Exercise B are adjusted by a
combination of actual values of progress factors PF.sup.1.sub.a,
PF.sup.1.sub.b, PF.sup.1.sub.c and PF.sup.1.sub.d of Exercise A. In
other words, even though PF.sup.1.sub.b and PF.sup.1.sub.d of
Exercise A are not selected to be used for an evaluation of the
actual performance level of Exercise A according to non-zero
weights, each one of the progress factors of Exercise A, including
PF.sup.1.sub.b and PF.sup.1.sub.d, exerts an influence on the
target values of the progress factors of Exercise B.
[0043] Then, Exercise B, with adjusted target values, is provided
to the person P. During the time that the person P performs next
Exercise B, a similar process from Step S210-Step S290b is
performed. Target values of the progress factors PF.sup.3.sub.a,
PF.sup.3.sub.b, PF.sup.3.sub.c and PF.sup.3.sub.d of Exercise C are
updated by multiplying actual values of progress factors
PF.sup.2.sub.a, PF.sup.2.sub.b, PF.sup.2.sub.c and PF.sup.2.sub.d
of Exercise B with the coefficient matrix Coff.sub.n.times.n
generated on the basis of training data acquired in Exercise A. So,
the target level of Exercise C is adjusted according to the actual
values of progress factors of Exercise B.
[0044] The system of providing a training program to a subject and
a method performed by the system should not be limited to
embodiments mentioned above. It will be apparent to those skilled
in the art that the various aspects of the invention claimed may be
practiced in other examples that depart from these specific
details.
[0045] In an alternative embodiment of the system 100a, the
analyzer 20a may be removed from the system. Accordingly, the step
for performing an actual performance evaluation of Exercise A (Step
S260) and the step for supplying the actual performance level (Step
270) are not performed. The comparing step 280a as shown in FIG. 3
or FIG. 5 may be modified as step 280b accordingly.
[0046] After actual values for each of the progress factors
PF.sub.a, PF.sub.b, PF.sub.c and PF.sub.d are supplied to the
controller 30 (Step 230) and the weight factors, provided by the
weight supplier 40, are also supplied to the controller 30 (step
240), the step 280b may be performed in other embodiments as
described below.
[0047] In an embodiment, the controller 30 generates an instruction
to update target values of Exercise B. The controller 30 selects
corresponding actual values of the progress factors of Exercise A
according to non-zero weights provided by the weight supplier 40.
The target values of Exercise B are then replaced by the
corresponding actual values of the progress factors of Exercise A.
In another embodiment, the controller 30 compares actual values of
the progress factors of Exercise A with target values of Exercise B
first. In still another embodiment, actual values of the progress
factors of Exercise A provided with non-zero weights are compared
with target values of Exercise B. Whether the target values of
Exercise B are adjusted depends upon the comparison result. For
example, PF.sup.1.sub.a and PF.sup.1.sub.c of Exercise A are
compared with PF.sup.2.sub.a and PF.sup.2.sub.c, respectively, of
Exercise B. Based on the comparison results, if the difference
between PF.sup.1.sub.a of Exercise A and PF.sup.2.sub.a of Exercise
B exceeds a threshold value, while the difference between
PF.sup.1.sub.c of Exercise A and PF.sup.2.sub.c of Exercise B does
not exceed a threshold value, only PF.sup.2.sub.a of Exercise B is
replaced by PF.sup.1.sub.a of Exercise A. That is to say, each of
the target values of Exercise B may be adjusted by the result of
the comparison between the actual values of the progress factors of
Exercise A and the corresponding target values of Exercise B.
[0048] In addition, the order of the steps should not be limited to
the procedure shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. In another embodiment of
the method of providing a training program to a subject, the step
for generating weight factors (i.e. Step 240) and supplying the
weight factors to the analyzer (i.e. Step 250) for example, may be
performed before the step for supplying the actual values of
progress factors to the analyzer (i.e. Step 230).
[0049] Moreover, the coefficient matrix described in system 100b
may be created based on training data associated with each one of
the exercises. That is to say, a new coefficient matrix may be
generated using training data acquired at the start of an upcoming
exercise. The new coefficient matrix is used to adjust target
values of the upcoming exercise. In an alternative embodiment, a
coefficient matrix may be shared by exercises included in one
session. The new coefficient matrix is generated using training
data acquired at the start of the exercise in the next session
performed by a subject.
[0050] Additionally, as described in the embodiment mentioned
above, the coefficient matrix is formed based on a linear
approximation model. However, other mathematical models in a neural
network for example may be applied as well to generate the
coefficient matrix based on the training data.
[0051] Further, the operation of updating target values of upcoming
exercises based on progress factors acquired in an exercise may be
performed at the end of the exercise or at start of the upcoming
exercise alternatively.
[0052] Additionally, the analyzer 20a, the controller 30 and the
weight supplier 40 are described as separate modules in the
embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. However, a person skilled in
the art may understand that the functions of these modules can be
implemented by a processor and a readable medium on which a
software program including a set of instructions is recorded. When
the instructions are executed, the processor will be enabled to
perform any one of the methods described in the above-mentioned
embodiments.
[0053] It should be noted that the above described embodiments are
given for describing rather than limiting the invention, and it is
to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted
to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
those skilled in the art readily understand. Such modifications and
variations are considered to be within the scope of the invention
and the appended claims. The protective scope of the invention is
defined by the accompanying claims. In addition, any of the
reference numerals in the claims should not be interpreted as a
limitation to the claims.
* * * * *