Client Device Implementing Middleware To Link Between Heterogeneous Exergame Equipment And Variable Game Contents And Management Method Thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an exergame exercise equipment which can link contents which give fun, such as a game, with an exercise equipment to physical-interactively enjoy the game and exercise, and provides a client device, which implements a middleware that connects various hardware configurations of the exergame exercise equipment with various software configurations such as a game content and an application to perform smooth communication between an application program under a complex heterogeneous environment and an operation environment, and a control method thereof.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an exergame which links contents (or an application) which gives fun, such as a game, with an exercise equipment to enable a user to physical-interactively enjoy the game and exercise, and more particularly, to a client device which implements a middleware which manages entire services to be smoothly operated under a complex environment in which a heterogeneous exergame equipment is linked with various game contents (applications) and a control method of the middleware.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] An exercise equipment, which enables a user to simultaneously enjoy a game and exercise, such as a physical interactive exercising console game machine or a screen golf machine is widely known to the public. Such an exercise equipment is also called an exergame exercise equipment.

[0003] Specifically, the present disclosure relates to an exergame which uses an indoor exercise equipment such as an indoor bicycle, an elliptical, a treadmill, or various weight machines, in the field of exergame.

[0004] Generally, an indoor exercise equipment has a mechanical structure which rotatably reciprocates or linearly reciprocates and measures the reciprocating speed of the structure to enable a user to use the contents such as a game.

[0005] Differently from the prior trend in which several large companies lead the development and supply market of games, in the recent development and supply market of games, a market of a smart device and an application is developed such that a small company or a private individual develops and publishes games by themselves. Therefore, it is expected that various heterogeneous hardware equipments and game contents (or applications) are released by small and medium-sized companies in the exergame market in the future.

[0006] Currently, the exergame exercise equipments has technologies which mainly control a movement of a game avatar using a hardware equipment, and a firmware, which is embedded in a controller of the exergame exercise equipment, directly sends a predetermined signal to the game contents (applications) to control the movement in most cases.

[0007] However, the above-mentioned exergame exercise equipment has the following problems:

[0008] First, there is a limitation in that one exergame exercise equipment uses only a small number of game contents (applications) which are developed by a predetermined game company or equipment company.

[0009] Second, when one game content (application) is used by using a heterogeneous exergame exercising equipment, characteristic of the exercise equipments vary depending on the type of the exercise equipments so that a control signal of the game may have a small amount of deviation. This may cause a problem in that discrimination depending on the type of exercise equipment is caused when the game contents (applications) is used, and further, a user may lose reliability on information of the game contents (application). In other words, when the same person exercises with the same intensity, the same records of the game contents (applications) need to be obtained, but it is difficult to actually implement as described above, which may destroy the reliability of the user for the records.

[0010] Third, when a control signal is directly sent to a client device, in which the application (game content) is executed, from the exergame exercise equipment, only a single application which is activated in the client device may receive the signal. Therefore, if the application does not have a function of processing exercise data, the exercise data is not utilized as information and is dissipated. Therefore, there is a problem in that the exercise data may not be utilized in the existing games which are not programmed as an exergame.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

[0011] The present disclosure has been made in an effort to solve the aforementioned problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to implement a middleware between a heterogeneous exergame exercise equipment and various contents (or applications) in a game exercise equipment to mediate various signals between the exercise equipment and the contents.

[0012] The middleware is implemented in a client device (a PC, a TV, a phone, or other portable terminals) in a server and client environment and may also be implemented in an exercise equipment which is connected to a client device in wired or wirelessly. Therefore, the exercise equipment may also be considered as a part of the client device.

[0013] Further, another object of the present disclosure is to connect several servers and a firmware of a controller of an exergame exercise equipment through a network. The object is to correct the firmware of the controller of all the exercise equipments within the network by correcting information of a server when the firmware of the controller of the exercise equipment needs to be corrected.

Technical Solution

[0014] The middleware according to the present disclosure is software which is installed in a client device (a PC, a TV, a phone, or other portable terminals) which connects a user with a network to serve as a gateway or an exercise equipment which is connected to the client device in wired or wirelessly, and is divided into four areas, that is, a central control part, a calibration part, a personal data part, and an application profile part, for more understanding and clear description of the function.

[0015] The central control part receives the following three data from an external middleware server:

[0016] The first data is a model number of an exercise equipment which is unique data embedded in a firmware of the controller of the exercise equipment, and the same model has the same number.

[0017] The second data is a calibration parameter which is uniquely designated in accordance with the model of the exergame exercise equipment, and this parameter includes a measured speed parameter, a measured torque parameter, a heartbeat parameter, and a torque control parameter. Each parameter is configured by a constant number and the values may frequently vary through the middleware server.

[0018] The third data is a profile which is formed of an HID signal value which commands a movement speed of an application avatar. The profile is configured by three types of signals, that is, a switching signal, a key value signal, and a linear control. Each application has a profile which defines one or more signal among the three types of signals.

[0019] As described above, the central control part serves to download and store data input through the external middleware server and provide the data to other parts in the middleware.

[0020] The calibration part calibrates information measured by multiplying the parameters, which are received from the central control part and measurement value information of an exercise speed, an exercise torque, and a heartbeat which are measured in the exercise equipment. The process is a process of standardizing the measurement values, which have deviations in the heterogeneous exercise equipment, with respect to a reference. The signals which are measured in heterogeneous exergame exercise equipments may be standardized without having a deviation through the calibration process.

[0021] Further, the calibration part serves to standardize data by similarly multiplying a torque control parameter to torque control data which is received from the application and then transmit the standardized data to the controller of the exercise equipment.

[0022] If the above-described calibration process is not provided, depending on the characteristic of the exercise equipment, in some exercise equipments, even though a user does not have a good exercising ability, the user may have a good record, and in other exercise equipments, even though a user has a good exercising ability, the user may have a bad record, and therefore fare competition may not be supported. Further, the user loses interest so that the competitiveness of the content (application) itself is lowered. Therefore, the above-described calibration process is necessary.

[0023] The personal data part serves to calculate exercise data such as an exercising amount based on personal exercising metabolic rate information which is received from an exercise management server, and calibrated exercise information which is received from the calibration part, and send the exercise data back to the exercise management server.

[0024] The application profile part serves to convert and transmit the calibrated exercise speed, exercise torque, and heartbeat measuring signals which are received from the calibration part, into an HID value which is suitable for an application which a user selects for use.

[0025] When the calibrated signal is converted into the HID value in the application profile part, a signal which is a reference of the conversion is defined by three signals, that is, the exercise speed, a value obtained by multiplying the exercise speed and the exercise torque, and the heartbeat.

[0026] As a method of transmitting a HID standard signal in accordance with the application, basically, there are three profiles, that is, a switching profile, a key value profile, and a linear control profile, and in some cases, two more profiles may be combined to be used. When the user executes the application, the central control part provides a profile of the application selected by the user to the application profile part.

[0027] In the switching profile, the avatar of the game and the contents (application) such as a car or an airplane is generally expressed as one animation, regardless of the movement speed, and if there is only one method of instructing the running of the avatar, like pressing of an "up arrow" key, the switching profile is used.

[0028] In the key value profile, requires different animations are required whenever the avatar of the game and the contents (applications) walks and runs like a human, an animal, or a robot, and various manipulation keys may be provided in accordance with the speed of the avatar.

[0029] The linear control profile may be applied to an application in which the avatar of the game and the contents (application) such as a car or a airplane is expressed as one animation regardless of the movement speed, and a method of instructing the running of the avatar is programmed in a linear method, like a potentiometer of a joystick.

[0030] Further, two or more of the above profiles may be combined to be used. For example, the key value profile and the switching profile, or the key value profile and the linear control profile, or the switching profile and the linear control profile may be combined. In the case of general running, the linear control profile or the switching profile may be used, and in the case of specific running circumstance such accelerating or jumping, the key value profile may be used.

Advantageous Effects

[0031] The middleware and the device implementing the same according to the present disclosure provide the following effects.

[0032] First, various measurement signals which are generated in heterogeneous exergame exercise equipments are standardized to prevent the equity between the game contents (applications) from being collapsed due to the inconsistency between the performances of the specific equipments and prevent the reliability of the users from being lowered.

[0033] Second, the game contents (application) in which game manipulating methods, specifically, avatar moving methods are different from each other may also be used in one exergame exercise equipment.

[0034] Third, a parameter which standardizes a signal of the exergame exercise equipment and a profile which manipulates the game contents (applications) may be updated by a center server so that the center server may control everything without individually correcting a firmware of the controller of the exercise equipment or correcting an execution file of the game contents (application).

[0035] Fourth, the game contents (application) needs to have a function of calculating exercise data in order to calculate the exercise data while using the application without using the middleware. However, even though the application does not have a function of calculating and managing the exercise data, the middleware according to the present disclosure serves to separately calculate the exercise data and directly send the information to an exercise management server.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a concept of a middleware according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a system configuration of the middleware according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an internal configuration of the middleware according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a function between a central control part of the middleware and a middleware server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a diagram specifically illustrating a function of a calibration part according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a diagram specifically illustrating a function of an application profile part according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] FIGS. 7 to 9 are views illustrating a switching profile according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIGS. 10 and 11 are views illustrating a key value profile of an HID signal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] FIGS. 12 and 13 are views illustrating a linear control profile according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] FIG. 14 is a diagram specifically illustrating a function of a personal data part according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an exercise torque control method of an exercise equipment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] FIG. 16 is a view illustrating the torque control method of FIG. 15 and a calibration method.

[0048] FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a configuration in which a middleware according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is installed in an exercise equipment.

[0049] FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an operating procedure of a middleware according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

BEST MODE

[0050] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A configuration of the present disclosure and an effect thereof will be clearly understood through the following detailed description. Prior to the detailed description of the present disclosure, like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification even in different drawings and detailed explanation of known constitutions may be omitted when it is determined that the detailed explanation may obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure.

[0051] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a concept of a middleware according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] A middleware 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is disposed between heterogeneous exergame exercise equipments 2 and various game contents (or applications APP) 3 to mediate various hardware and software. Therefore, the middleware 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure controls lots of kinds of unstandardized hardware or software to be operated without any problems under complex heterogeneous environments.

[0053] Specifically, the middleware according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure performs the following functions:

[0054] First, the middleware serves to calibrate a measurement value of an exercise speed, an exercise torque, and a heartbeat, which are measured through the heterogeneous exergame exercise equipments 2, to transmit a standardized signal to a final application or a server (hereinafter, referred to as an exercise management server) which manages exercise data.

[0055] Further, the middleware serves to calibrate torque control data (a signal which controls an exercise resistance brake of the exergame exercise equipment), which is input from the application, to be a signal suitable for each exergame exercise equipment 20.

[0056] The calibration mentioned in the present disclosure does not mean only a simple correction of a signal. The calibration also includes unification of the signals into the same signal under an assumption that signals output from exercise equipments may have differences when a person exercises using heterogeneous exercise equipments with the same exercise intensity. Further, under the assumption that strength of exercise resistance brake may vary depending on the type of heterogeneous exercise equipments, the calibration includes unification of the brake strength.

[0057] Second, when the calibrated signal is transmitted to the application as described above, the middleware serves to convert the calibrated signal into a human interface device signal which is suitable for each application, that is, a predefined device control signal for controlling an application, and to transmit the signal, thereby transmitting the standardized signal to all the applications.

[0058] Third, the middleware may receive and update information required for the calibration from an external server, thereby resolving inconvenience to correct a firmware, a content program, or an application itself of the controller of the exergame exercise equipment 20.

[0059] Fourth, the middleware serves to calculate and transmit exercise data (exercising time, speed, torque, exercising amount, or heartbeat) of a user to the exercise management server, thereby providing individually standardized exercise data and allowing an average exercise amount of the user to be exactly understood, even though models of the exergame exercise equipments which are used by a user are different from each other.

[0060] The middleware of the present disclosure which implements the above functions has a system configuration which will be described below.

[0061] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a system configuration of the middleware according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. General configurations and functions will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and a detailed description thereof will be made with reference to subsequent drawings.

[0062] The middleware 20 is a sort of software and may be installed in a client device 10 such as a computer or a controller of an exercise equipment 5. FIG. 2 illustrates a case when the middleware 20 is installed in the client device 10, and a case when the middleware 20 is installed in the controller of the exercise equipment 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 16.

[0063] Here, the client device 10 may be a user terminal such as a PC, a TV, or a personal portable terminal or a gateway.

[0064] The middleware 20 receives a model number of the exercise equipment and various measurement information 11 from an external exercise equipment 6. In this case, the model number and measurement information may be provided using a commercialized wired or wireless communication channel such as a serial and an HID.

[0065] The middleware 20 reflects update information 18 including various parameters, which is received from a middleware server 30, into an exercise speed measurement value, an exercise torque measurement value, and a heartbeat measurement value, which are information 11 input from the controller of the exercise equipment 6, to calibrate the measurement values. The calibrated measurement values are values which determine a speed and various statuses of an avatar of an application such as a game, and are converted into an HID signal 21 to be transmitted to a corresponding application 50.

[0066] The application 50 means an application program itself which provides a game and a specific content. The application 50 is generally installed in the client device 10 but may be installed in an external server in the case of a cloud service. As described above, when the application 50 is serviced from the external server, the HID signal 21, which is to be transmitted to the application, is transmitted to the external server in which the application 50 is installed, even though not illustrated in the drawing.

[0067] Further, based on a personal exercise metabolism 14 of which the calibrated value is provided from an exercise management server 40, the middleware 20 calculates personal exercise data (exercise amount or exercise distance) of the user. The middleware 20 processes the calculated value as information 13 such as personal information, exercise information or record information and then transmits the processed information back to the exercise management server 40 to be stored.

[0068] Further, the middleware 20 calibrates torque control data, among data 51 received from the application 50, using the parameter of data 18 received from the middleware server 30, and then transmits the calibrated torque control data to the corresponding exercise equipment 6. The transmitted calibrated torque control data is used to adjust strength of an exercise resistance brake of the exercise equipment 6.

[0069] In this case, all or some of the middleware server 30, the exercise management server 40, and the application 50, which are connected with the middleware 20, may be present in the same hardware or all of them may be present in different hardwares.

[0070] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an internal configuration of the middleware according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0071] The middleware 20 is divided into four areas, that is a calibration part 25, a central control part 26, an application profile part 27, and a personal data part 28, depending on various possessed functions. The middleware 20 is divided into four areas for helping the understanding of various functions of the middleware, but is not physically divided.

[0072] The central control part 26 receives the model number of the exercise equipment, an HID signal profile suitable for each application, and various measurement parameters used for the calibration from the middleware server 30, which is a center server, and provides corresponding information to the calibration part 25 and the application profile part 27.

[0073] The calibration part 25 calibrates measurement values input from the controller 5 of the exercise equipment using the measurement parameter received from the central control part 26. Further, the calibration part 25 serves to calibrate the torque control data received from the application 50 to transmit the calibrated data to the exercise equipment.

[0074] The application profile part 27 converts the measurement value, which is calibrated by the calibration part 25, into an HID signal, which may control a movement speed of the avatar of the application 50, and transmits the converted HID signal to the application 50. In this case, a format of the HID signal to be converted is determined by a profile, which defines an HID signal standard suitable for each application, among the profiles received from the central control part 26.

[0075] The personal data part 28 calculates exercise data of the individuals based on the measurement value, which is calibrated by the calibration part 25, and a personal exercise metabolism, which is received from the exercise management server 40, and transmits the calculated exercise data of the individual to the exercise management server 40.

[0076] Hereinafter, the respective parts will be described in detail.

[0077] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a function between a central control part of the middleware and a middleware server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The central control part 26 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is connected with the external middleware server 30 and the internal calibration part 25 and application profile part 27.

[0078] Therefore, the central control part 26 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure receives various information from the external middleware server 30 and transmits the received information to the internal calibration part 25 and application profile part 27.

[0079] In this case, the information, which is received by the central control part 26 from the middleware server 30, mainly includes three types of information. The first type of information is a model number which is uniquely assigned to every model of the exercise equipment.

[0080] The model number is a different concept from a product serial number which is differently applied to every hardware, and if the model of the product is the same, the same number is assigned. When the exergame exercise equipment is connected to the client device 10, the middleware 20 of the client device 10 determines the model of the exercise equipment based on the model number.

[0081] The second type of information is a calibration parameter for every model in accordance with the model number, which is multiplied by a value which is measured and transmitted from the exercise equipment to calibrate the measurement values to standardize the signal. For the convenience of description, in the calibration parameter for every model, it is assumed that that "S" is a measured speed parameter, "T" is a measured torque parameter, "H" is a measured heartbeat parameter, and "C" is a toque control parameter.

[0082] The third type of information is an HID signal profile in accordance with each application.

[0083] The application HID signal profile is required because the manipulating method of running of the avatar varies for every application, and when the application is executed, the middleware calls and uses a profile which forms a pair with the application. The HID signal profile is largely classified into three types, that is, a switching profile, a key value profile, and a linear control profile, and is used as a reference for converting the calibrated measurement value into the HID signal. The HID signal profile will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 13.

[0084] The above-described three information (the model number, the calibration parameter for every model, and the HID signal profile) is updated in the middleware server 30 and then provided to the central control part 26 of the middleware 20 through a network such as the Internet.

[0085] Among the information received from the middleware server 30, the central control part 26 transmits the calibration parameter for every model to the calibration part 25 and transmits the HID signal profile to the application profile part 27.

[0086] FIG. 5 is a diagram specifically illustrating a function of a calibration part according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0087] For example, an exercise equipment 6 whose model number is X includes an exercise speed sensor 2, an exercise torque sensor 3, a heartbeat sensor 4, and a controller 5 which controls the sensors. A measuring method using the sensors 2, 3, and 4 and the sensors are not associated with the present disclosure so that the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0088] The values measured through the sensors 2, 3, and 4 in the exergame exercise equipment 6 are transmitted to the calibration part 25 of the middleware 20. In this case, the transmitting method is performed based on a serial or HID communication standard which is a general communication channel.

[0089] The calibration part 25 multiplies a measured speed X.sub.s, a measured torque X.sub.t, a measured heartbeat X.sub.h into a measured speed parameter S.sub.X, a measured torque parameter T.sub.x, a measured heartbeat parameter H.sub.x of the model (the model number x), which are received from the central control part 26, as represented in Equation 1. The multiplied value may be defined as a calibrated value (S.sub.s, S.sub.t, and S.sub.h). Here, the measured speed parameter S.sub.X, the measured torque parameter T.sub.x, and the measured heartbeat parameter H.sub.x are calibration parameters.

[0090] If the same person exercises using a different exercise equipment, that is, an exercise equipment whose model number is Y, under the same environment and the same exercise intensity condition, a process of calibrating a measurement value of the exercise equipment Y is represented in Equation 2.

[0091] Further, if the same person exercises using an exercise equipment whose model number is Z, under the same environment and the same exercise intensity condition, a process of calibrating a measurement value of the exercise equipment Z may be performed with reference to Equation 3.

[0092] As described above, if the same person exercises using the exercise equipments having different characteristics, such as the exercise equipments X, Y, and Z, under the same conditions, the calibration part 25 calibrates the measurement values measured through the exercise equipments to standardize the measurement values as values of S.sub.s, S.sub.t, and S.sub.h by applying the calibration parameter, which is determined for every model of the exercise equipments. The standardized values S.sub.s, S.sub.t, and S.sub.h are transmitted to the application profile part 27 and the personal data part 28.

[0093] Next, FIG. 6 is a diagram specifically illustrating a function of an application profile part according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0094] The application profile part 27 receives the values S.sub.s, S.sub.t, and S.sub.h which are calibrated in the calibration part 25, and converts the received values into an HID signal which is required to manipulate a game or contents (or application) (hereinafter, collectively called "application"), and then transmits the converted HID signal to the application 50.

[0095] The application profile part 27 may create various HID profiles arbitrarily using the three values S.sub.s, S.sub.t, and S.sub.h. For example, the application profile part 27 may create an HID profile, which determines a running speed of a human style avatar, using the calibrated measured speed value S.sub.s. Further, the value (S.sub.s X S.sub.t) obtained by multiplying the calibrated measured speed value and the calibrated measured torque value may copy a cycle having a gear shifting level. That is, if a speed S.sub.s at which the user exercises using legs and a gear shifting level S.sub.t which is compared with the torque are multiplied, it is possible to obtain a value which copies an actual moving speed of the cycle. Further, an HID profile, which changes a color of the game avatar in accordance with the calibrated measured heartbeat S.sub.h, may be created and transmitted to the application 50.

[0096] As described above, a great variety of HID signals are required to manipulate the game and contents (application), and thus in the exemplary embodiment, a profile, which manipulates the movement speed of the game avatar using the calibrated measured speed value S.sub.s, will be described.

[0097] The HID signal profile according to the present disclosure includes total three profiles, that is, a switching profile, a key value profile, and a linear control profile.

[0098] The switching profile controls a key value, which instructs movement of an avatar, which is exposed to the contents or the application, to be on/off using a switching signal in proportion to a measurement value which is calibrated through the calibration part 25 and a value obtained by multiplying a calibrated speed measurement value and a calibrated torque measurement value among the calibrated measurement values. The switching profile method according to the present disclosure is a method of applying the PMW control method to turn on a specific key value, which instructs the movement of the avatar, in proportion to a duty rate which turns on the specific key value to control a speed of the avatar This is a profile which is utilized in a game which sets the movement of the avatar using a single specific key value of a keyboard or a joystick and the movement is set using one key value so that it is impossible to control the speed of the avatar, but if the switching profile is applied, the speed of the avatar may be controlled in accordance with the exercise speed. In the above description, the measurement value which is calibrated through the calibration part 25 includes measurement values which are calibrated for the exercise speed measurement value, the exercise torque measurement value, and the heartbeat measurement value.

[0099] For example, FIGS. 7 to 9 are views illustrating a switching profile according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0100] The switching profile instructs the movement of the avatar mainly using one key value and is used to move an avatar such as a car, a motorcycle, or a bicycle of which an animation of the avatar is not changed in accordance with a speed section.

[0101] A curve e of FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating a change of the calibrated measured speed in accordance with a time. A left vertical axis of the graph represents a height of a measured speed value S.sub.s and may represent (S.sub.s X S.sub.t) or (S.sub.h) in some cases. A right vertical axis represents a switching duty rate.

[0102] FIG. 8 is a view which defines a duty ratio section per time interval along the curve e.

[0103] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating that a key value per duty rate section is on/off. For ease description, a key value which is on/off in FIG. 9 is defined as `W`. That is, the key value `W` is an input signal which moves the avatar of the game.

[0104] If there is no signal S.sub.s as indicated in an interval t0 because the user does not exercise, a duty rate is 0% like values in a first row of FIG. 8. In this case, there is no on signal of the W key as illustrated in FIG. 9 so that the avatar does not move. When the user exercises at a low speed like the interval t0 to t1, the duty rate is 0% to 25% as illustrated in a second row of FIG. 8. In this case, the on signal of the W key is on as long as the duty rate as illustrated in a second graph of FIG. 9 so that the avatar moves at a low speed.

[0105] When the user exercises at a medium speed like the interval t1 to t2, the duty rate is 25% to 75% as illustrated in a third row of FIG. 8. In this case, the W key value is on as long as the duty rate as illustrated in a third graph of FIG. 9 so that the avatar moves at a medium speed.

[0106] Further, when the user exercises at a high speed like the interval t2 to t3, the duty rate is 75% to 100% as illustrated in a fourth row of FIG. 8. In this case, the W key value is on as long as the duty rate as illustrated in a fourth graph of FIG. 9 so that the avatar moves at a high speed.

[0107] Further, when the user exercises at an ultra high speed like the interval t3 or higher, the duty rate is 100% as illustrated in a fifth row of FIG. 8. In this case, the on signal of the W key is 100% which is the same as the duty rate as illustrated in a fifth graph of FIG. 9 so that the avatar moves at an ultra high speed.

[0108] The switching profile has been described above, but the arbitrary interval and sections are set for easy description. However, the W key value is on as long as the duty rate in accordance with an arbitrary calibrated measured speed value S.sub.s without actually setting the interval or section.

[0109] FIGS. 10 and 11 are views illustrating a key value profile of an HID signal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0110] The key value profile according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure divides the measurement value which is calibrated through the calibration part 25, a value obtained by multiplying the calibrated speed measurement value and the calibrated torque measurement value among the calibrated measurement values, and a variation of the calibrated speed measurement per unit time, for a predetermined interval, and converts and controls the values into an HID key value which is defined for every interval. Here, the calibrated measurement value includes measurement values which are calibrated for the exercise speed measurement value, the exercise torque measurement value, and the heartbeat measurement value.

[0111] A horizontal axis of FIG. 10 represents a time and a left vertical axis represents a height of a calibrated measured speed value S.sub.s and may represent (S.sub.s X S.sub.t) or (S.sub.h) in some cases. A right vertical axis represents the HID key value which is defined per time interval by dividing the measured speed S.sub.s into predetermined sections. Such a key value profile may be applied to an avatar like a human the animation of which varies in accordance with the section of the speed.

[0112] As illustrated by a curve e of FIG. 10, if the measured speed S.sub.s is input, the key value and the animation in accordance with the time are matched and defined as illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0113] That is, during the interval t0 to t1, a key value a is on and an animation which slowly walks is executed. During the interval t1 to t2, a key value b is on and an animation which walks is generally executed. During the interval t2 to t3, a key value c is on and an animation which walks fast is executed. During the interval t3 to t4, a key value d is on and an animation which slowly runs is executed. During the interval t4 to t5, a key value x is on and an animation which speeds up is executed. During the interval t5 to t6, key values f and g are sequentially on, and animations which run fast and sprint are executed. During the interval t6 to t7, a key value y is on and an animation which speeds down is executed.

[0114] As described above, the key value profile is a sort of a function value which defines a predetermined key value in accordance with a section of the calibrated measured speed value S.sub.s, and each application has a different profile.

[0115] The application profile part 27 converts the calibrated measurement values S.sub.s, S.sub.t, and S.sub.h into the HID signal through the above processes and transmits the converted HID signal to the application. In this case, the application profile part 27 refers to a profile which is designated to the application.

[0116] As another example, FIGS. 12 and 13 are views illustrating a linear control profile according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0117] A linear control profile according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure applies the measurement value, which is calibrated through the calibration part 25, and a value, which is obtained by multiplying the calibrated speed measurement value and the calibrated torque measurement value among the calibrated measurement values, to a linear function to convert the values into a predetermined HID value. Here, the calibrated measurement value includes measurement values which are calibrated for the exercise speed measurement value, the exercise torque measurement value, and the heartbeat measurement value.

[0118] A horizontal axis of FIG. 12 represents a time, and a left vertical axis represents a calibrated measured speed value S.sub.s and may represent (S.sub.s X S.sub.t) or (S.sub.h) in some cases. A right vertical axis is an axis which defines a figure corresponding to an arbitrary measured speed value S.sub.s. Generally, the figure is a binary number and total n figures exist.

[0119] Linear control is a method which is generally used in HID communication, and is used to send an analog signal of a potentiometer, which is generally called a volume device, to a digital device. The transmitted signal is a digital signal so that strictly speaking, perfect linear control is not possible, but the number of figures, which are substituted for the analog signal and transmitted, is sufficient so that it is nearly defined as linear control. Therefore, in the present disclosure, it is also referred to as linear control.

[0120] The linear control profile is used for contents of a game that is manufactured such that an animation of an avatar, such as a car or a bicycle, need not be distinguished in accordance with the speed and the adjustment of the speed of the avatar may correspond to considerable sections (generally, 256 sections).

[0121] For example, if n is defined as a binary number 11111111, when the calibrated measured speed S.sub.s is minimum, 00000000 is transmitted as the binary number, and when the calibrated measured speed S.sub.s is maximum, 11111111 is transmitted as the binary number. The measured speed S.sub.s between the minimum and the maximum transmits a value corresponding to an arbitrary value between 00000000 and 11111111 to the application.

[0122] When an HID value, which is transmitted from the application profile part 27 to the application, is calculated with reference to FIG. 11, a binary number 00111111 is transmitted to the application at an arbitrary time t1 illustrated in FIG. 10, a binary number 0111111 is transmitted to the application at t2, and a binary number 11111111 is transmitted to the application at t3, and the movement speed of the avatar is adjusted based on linear control information of the transmitted binary number in the application.

[0123] Next, a function which is performed by the personal data part in a middleware according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0124] FIG. 14 is a diagram specifically illustrating a function of a personal data part according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0125] The personal data part 28 serves to calculate a consumed calorie and an exercise distance of an individual based on calibrated measurement values S.sub.s, S.sub.t, and S.sub.h which is received from the calibration part 25, and a personal exercise metabolism which is received from the exercise management server 40, and to provide the calculated values back to the exercise management server 40.

[0126] Here, the calibrated measurement values S.sub.s, S.sub.t, and S.sub.h are measurement values which are corrected in the calibration part 25, and are standardized values regardless of the model of the exercise equipment.

[0127] The personal exercise metabolism is different for every person and needs to be measured using a precise equipment so that a weight of the individual may be used for the calculation instead of the personal exercise metabolism. A client provides the personal exercise metabolism to a DB of the exercise management server 40 using a personal terminal. The consumed calories among the exercise data is defined as a value obtained by integrating S.sub.s and S.sub.t or calculated using the calibrated heartbeat S.sub.h, an exercise time, and personal exercise metabolism data, and various methods for the calculation are known to the academic world, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0128] FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an exercise torque control method of an exercise equipment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0129] Exercise torque control in the present disclosure means a function of the client device 10 which controls a torque (an exercise resistance caused by a brake of the exercise equipment) of the exercise when a user exercises using an exercise equipment. For example, if an avatar of a game moves a land with a steep gradient, the exercise torque is weighted as compared with a flat land, and if a weight of a possessed item (shield) is heavier than the previous item, the exercise torque is more weighted.

[0130] Basic information for the exercise torque control is provided from the application 50 and a parameter (calibration parameter) for calibration is provided from the central control part 26. The basic information which is provided from the application to the calibration part 25 may be formed by four information, that is, a weight a of an avatar, a weight b of a possessed item, a friction coefficient f of a land, an inclination value .differential. or h of the land. Exercise torque control data P may be substituted by the following Equation 55.

P=(a+b)sin .differential.+f(a+b) Equation 55

[0131] The weight a of the avatar is a weight of an avatar itself, such as a human or a bicycle, with which any item is not mounted. The weight b of the possessed item is a sum of weights of items which is possessed and used by the avatar, and uses the same unit as the unit of the weight of the avatar. The friction coefficient f of the land is a variable which is determined depending on a type (asphalt, a sandy beach, or swamp) of the land through the avatar is moving and the inclination value .differential. or h of the land is a value indicating the inclination in accordance with a movement direction of the avatar, and the inclination may be represented by the avatar and an angle .differential. of the land as illustrated in FIG. 16 or represented by a deviation h of the land in accordance with a preceding direction of the avatar.

[0132] In FIG. 16A, the inclination angle .differential. includes a movement direction vector V in a positional coordinate (x, y) of the avatar and is defined with reference to a curve S where a plane U perpendicular to an XY plane intersects the land. That is, an acute angle formed by a tangent line of the cross curve S and the positional vector V in the position of the avatar is defined as .differential.. However, when such an inclination angle is continuously calculated whenever the avatar moves, large calculation loads may be applied to the application, which may cause a problem. Therefore, the inclination value h of the land may be calculated using a height map of the contents (application) in some situations. A general definition of the height map is a land function which defines a height of the land in accordance with an arbitrary coordinate. In FIG. 16B, a height for the position coordinate (x, y) of the avatar is H, and a coordinate obtained by adding the position vector of the avatar and a unit vector of the movement direction of the avatar is (x', y') and a height is H'. In FIG. 16B, if it is defined that |H-H'|=h and a length (|V'|) of the unit vector of the movement direction is defined as a constant 1, it is defined that |H-H'|/|V'|.apprxeq. tan .differential., and |V'|=1 so that sin .differential. of Equation 55 is represented by Equation 2 using the following Equation 1.

sin .differential.= {square root over (tan .differential..sup.2/(1+tan .differential..sup.2))} Equation 1

sin .differential.= {square root over (h.sup.2/(1+h.sup.2))} Equation 2

[0133] The exercise torque control data P may be represented by the following Equation 3.

P=(a+b) {square root over (h.sup.2/(1+h.sup.2))}+f(a+b) Equation 3

[0134] Accordingly, the calibration part 25 calculates the torque control data P using the information of a, b, f, and (.differential. or h), which is transmitted from the application 50 of FIG. 11 to the calibration part 25, and the above Equation 55 or Equation 3.

[0135] Finally, the torque control data P', which is calibrated by multiplying the P value to the torque control parameter C in accordance with the model of the exercise equipment received from the central control part 26, is transmitted to the controller 5 of the exercise equipment 6. In the exercise equipment 6, a brake device of the exercise equipment is controlled using a switching signal which is in proportion to the calibrated torque control data P'.

[0136] The above Equation 55 is an representative example and a functional formula may be changed depending on basic information a, b, f, and (.differential. or h) which is provided from the application. The torque control value is calibrated because when the same contents (application) is used in different hardware exercise equipment, even though P has the same value, the value is applied to different exercise equipments so that a user may actually feel a different torque intensity of the exercise.

[0137] Next, FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a configuration in which a middleware according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is installed in an exercise equipment.

[0138] The foregoing middleware illustrated in FIG. 2 is implemented in a client device which is provided separately from the heterogeneous exercise equipments. When the client device is used, it is advantageous in that the firmware may be used as it is without changing the firmware of the existing exercise equipment and various applications may be applied regardless of the type of the applications.

[0139] As illustrated in FIG. 17, when the middleware 20 is installed in a controller 5 of the exercise equipment, the client device 10 serves as a simple gateway. That is, the client device 10 serves to transmit data received from the middleware server to the middleware 20 which is installed in the controller 5 of the exercise equipment, and to transmit the data received from the middleware 20 to the application or an external server.

[0140] As described above, if the middleware 20 is installed in the controller 5 of the exercise equipment, data exchanged between the controller 5 of the exercise equipment and the client device 10 is different from data in the case when the middleware 20 is installed in the client device 10.

[0141] That is, the data which is received by the middleware 20 from the client device 10 in the controller 5 of the exercise equipment is data which is transmitted by the client device 10 as it is without processing the data which is received from the external middleware server 30, the exercise management server 40, and the internal application 50 and the data includes a model number of the exercise equipment, various parameters, various profiles, and a personal exercise metabolism.

[0142] In contrast, the data, which is transmitted by the middleware 20 to the client device 10 in the controller 5 of the exercise equipment, is an HID signal which is used in the application and personal exercise information data which is to be sent to the exercise management server.

[0143] A device which is provided in the controller 5 of the exercise equipment is an exercise equipment, but the controller 5 of the exercise equipment may be considered as an accessory which is included in the client device when a meaning of the middleware according to the present disclosure is considered. In this case, the client device which is connected to the exercise equipment serves as only a gateway which receives the data from the exercise equipment and mediates the external server or the application with the data.

[0144] Other components which have not been described and functions thereof are repeated in the above description, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

[0145] FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an operating procedure of a middleware according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The description will be made with reference to the components of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0146] A user logs in the exercise management server 40 using the client device 10 in step S100.

[0147] Then, the exercise management server 40 transmits exercise metabolism information of an individual corresponding to log-in information to the client device 10 in step S101.

[0148] Next, the client device 10 receives a model number from the external exercise equipment 6 which is connected with the client device 10 in the central control part 26 of the middleware 20 in step S102, and downloads the model number of the exercise equipment, a calibration parameter for calibration, and an HID signal profile from the middleware server 30 in step S103.

[0149] The central control part 26 of the client device 10 transmits a calibration parameter corresponding to the model number among the parameters received from the middleware server 30 to the calibration part 25.

[0150] The calibration part 25 of the client device 10 receives an exercise speed measurement value at which a user exercises, an exercise torque measurement value, a heartbeat measurement value from the exercise equipment, and multiplies the received measurement values and the calibration parameter of the model number to calibrate and standardize the measurement values in steps S104 and S 105.

[0151] Next, the calibration part 25 of the client device 10 transmits the calibrated measurement value to the application profile part 27 and the personal data part 28 in steps S106 and S109.

[0152] Then, the application profile part 27 converts the calibrated measurement value into an HID signal using the HID signal profile which is selected when the user executes the application 50, and transmits the converted measurement value to the application 50 in steps S107 and S108.

[0153] The personal data part 28 generates exercise data of the user based on a personal exercise metabolism received from the exercise management server 40, and transmits the generated personal exercise data to the exercise management server 40 in steps S110 and S111.

[0154] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to limit the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure shall be construed on the basis of the following claims in such a manner and it should be construed that all of the technical ideas included within the scope equivalent to the claims belong to the present disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0155] The physically interactive exergame exercise equipment in the related art has limits that only predetermined contents (application) is used, which may lower satisfaction of a customer who wants to buy an exercise equipment. Further, in order for users to compete and exercise using specific contents (application), only when all the users compete using the same exercise equipments, the record is reliable, and therefore it is difficult to compete and enjoy the same contents (application) using the heterogeneous equipments.

[0156] However, according to the present disclosure, many contents (applications) may be used in one exergame exercise equipment, and even if one content (application) is used in heterogeneous exergame exercise equipments, the deviation of the record is minimized so that satisfaction of the user may be maximized. Further, a service provider which provides a service and contents (application) may control a parameter, which calibrates hardware and contents (application), through a server, thereby providing the service provider with an optimal environment in which the service is operated.

[0157] Therefore, the present disclosure exceeds a limitation of a service which uses an exergame exercise equipment of the related art so that the present disclosure may be not only used in the related technology and but also build an applicable server and provide a business possibility, and further may be practically and apparently carried out, and therefore the present disclosure is a useful disclosure having an industrial applicability.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A client device which provides a game and an exercise, the client device comprising: a control part configured to receive an ID (Identification) of an exercise equipment, a calibration parameter in accordance with the ID, and a device control profile which is predefined in order to control an application of the game from a server; a calibration part configured to, when the ID and a measurement value obtained by measuring an exercise of an user are received from the exercise equipment, calibrate and standardize the measurement value using the calibration parameter in accordance with the ID which is provided from the control part; and an application profile part configured to, when the application is executed by the user, receive a predefined device control profile, which is assigned to the executed application, from the control part and convert the measurement value, which is calibrated through the calibration part using the provided predefined device control profile, to create a predefined device control signal which controls the application of the game.

17. The client device of claim 16, further comprising: a personal data part configured to receive the calibrated measurement value from the calibration part and calculate exercise data for the user based on the calibrated measurement value and a personal exercise metabolism.

18. The client device of claim 16, wherein the application is stored in the server.

19. The client device of claim 16, wherein the measurement value obtained by measuring the exercise of the user through the exercise equipment includes a measurement value of an exercise speed, a measurement value of an exercise torque, or a measurement value of a heartbeat.

20. The client device of claim 16, wherein the ID is a model number assigned into the exercise equipment, and the calibration parameter includes a measured speed parameter, a measured torque parameter, a heartbeat parameter, or a torque control parameter.

21. The client device of claim 16, wherein the predefined device control profile which is assigned to the application includes a switching profile, and the switching profile is configured to control a key value, which instructs movement or a status of an avatar of the game that is exposed to the application, to be on/off using a predefined device control signal in a switching control manner in proportion to the calibrated measurement value and a value obtained by multiplying a calibrated speed measurement value and a calibrated torque measurement value among the calibrated measurement values.

22. The client device of claim 16, wherein the predefined device control profile which is assigned to the application includes a key value profile, and the key value profile includes the measurement value which is calibrated through the calibration part, a value obtained by multiplying the calibrated speed measurement value and the calibrated torque measurement value among the calibrated measurement values, and a variation of the calibrated speed measurement per unit time, for a predetermined interval, and the key value profile is configured to convert and control the value into a predefined device control key value which is defined for every section of the predetermined interval.

23. The client device of claim 16, wherein the predefined device control profile which is assigned to the application includes a linear control profile, and the linear control profile is configured to convert the value into a predefined device value by applying the calibrated measurement value and the value obtained by multiplying the calibrated speed measurement value and the calibrated torque measurement value among the calibrated measurement values to a linear function.

24. The client device of claim 16, wherein when a torque control data is received from the application, the calibration part calibrates the received torque control data based on the calibration parameter which is received from the control part, and transmits the calibrated torque control data to the exercise equipment to control an exercise torque of the exercise equipment.

25. A control method of a client device which provides a game and an exercise, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an ID (Identification) and a measurement value obtained by measuring exercise of a user from an exercise equipment; receiving a calibration parameter for the ID which is received from the exercise equipment; standardizing the measurement value based on the calibration parameter by calibrating the measurement value; converting the calibrated measurement value into a predefined device control signal for controlling an application of the game corresponding to the exercise equipment; and transmitting the converted predefined device control signal to the application of the game corresponding to the exercise equipment.

26. The control method of claim 25, wherein the ID is a model number of the exercise equipment, and the client device receives the model number, the calibration parameter, and the predefined device control profile, which is assigned to the application of the game.

27. The control method of claim 25, wherein the calibration parameter for the ID is a parameter which is uniquely assigned into the exercise equipment, and the calibration parameter includes at least one of a measured speed parameter, a measured torque parameter, a heartbeat parameter, and a torque control parameter.

28. The control method of claim 25, wherein the step of converting of the calibrated measurement value into the predefined device control signal is that the client device receives a predefined device control profile for the application of the game corresponding to the exercise equipment and converts the calibrated measurement value into the predefined device control signal by using the received predefined device control profile.

29. The control method of claim 25, wherein the step of standardizing further comprising the steps of: accessing to an exercise management server to receive a personal exercise metabolism; calculating an exercise data per user based on the personal exercise metabolism; and transmitting the calculated exercise data per user to the exercise management server.

30. The control method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of: receiving a torque data in accordance with a content in the game; calibrating the torque data based on the calibration parameter in accordance with the ID of the exercise equipment; and transmitting the calibrated torque data to the exercise equipment to control an exercise torque of the exercise equipment.

31. The control method of claim 25, wherein the torque data in accordance with the content in the game includes an avatar's weight, an item's weight, a friction degree of the game topography or an inclination of the game topography.