Sound-output-control device, sound-output-control method, and sound-output-control program

• US 10,518,161 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Asukai, Masamichi, Shirai, Katsuya, Inoue, Makoto, Sano, Akane
• Primary Examiner(s): Jang, Christian
• Application Number:
  US14/473,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20140369522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/40 respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00

Abstract

A sound-output-control device including an acquisition unit which acquires an anaerobic threshold, a reception unit which receives an input about exercise intensity, a calculation unit which calculates a value indicating a target heart rate of a user on the basis of the acquired anaerobic threshold and the received exercise-intensity input, a detection unit which detects a value indicating the current tempo of a physical exercise done by the user, and a control unit that controls a sound output on the basis of a result of a comparison of the target heart-rate value calculated by the calculation unit and the current physical-exercise-tempo value detected by the detection unit, so as to lead a heart rate of the user so that the heart rate of the user attains the target heart rate is provided.

Claims

1. A mobile information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to receive a heart rate of a user from a sensor and output an audio signal,

wherein the processor is configured to change an original tempo of the audio signal to a current tempo based on a comparison between the heart rate and a target heart rate range,

wherein the processor is configured to determine the target heart rate range based on at least an exercise intensity specified by the user and an anaerobic threshold of the user, the target heart rate range thereby being a user-defined target heart rate range,

wherein the mobile information processing apparatus is configured to be worn by the user, and

wherein the processor is configured to change the current tempo of the audio signal according to a change of the comparison to lead the heart rate of the user to the user-defined target heart rate range,

wherein the processor is configured to change the current tempo by selecting a track from a database of tracks and associated tempos based on a target tempo, and the processor is configured to output the audio signal to play the selected track,

wherein the processor is configured to estimate the anaerobic threshold at least in part by gradually increasing a tempo of the audio signal while the heart rate is detected.

2. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the current tempo of the audio signal has been changed so as to be faster than the original tempo of the audio signal if the heart rate is less than the target heart rate range.

3. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the current tempo of the audio signal has been changed so as to be slower than the original tempo of the audio signal if the heart rate is greater than the target heart rate range.

4. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an acceleration sensor, wherein the acceleration sensor is configured to measure an exercise rhythm based on a vertical motion of a body of the user and/or a lateral motion of the body of the user.

5. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to calculate an exercise tempo indicating a cycle of the exercise rhythm based on the measured exercise rhythm.

6. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is attached to a headphone.

7. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor receives the audio signal from an external device.

8. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory which stores the audio signal.

9. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to acquire data related to user motion from a second sensor, and the second sensor is at least one of an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor or a vibration sensor.

10. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second sensor is attached to a shoe worn by the user.

11. A mobile information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to output an audio signal,

wherein the processor is configured to change an original tempo of the audio signal to a current tempo based on a comparison between a heart rate of a user detected by a sensor and a target heart rate range,

wherein the processor is configured to determine the target heart rate range based on at least an exercise intensity specified by the user and an anaerobic threshold of the user, the target heart rate range thereby being a user-defined target heart rate range,

wherein the anaerobic threshold is determined from a slope or stability of the user'"'"'s heart rate with a varied exercise load or intensity, and

wherein the processor is configured to change the current tempo of the audio signal according to a change of the comparison to lead the heart rate of the user to the user-defined target heart rate range,

wherein the processor is configured to change the current tempo by selecting a track from a database of tracks and associated tempos based on a target tempo, and the processor is configured to output the audio signal to play the selected track,

wherein the mobile information processing apparatus is configured to be worn on an arm of the user,

wherein the processor is configured to estimate the anaerobic threshold at least in part by gradually increasing varying a tempo of the audio signal while the heart rate is detected.

12. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the current tempo of the audio signal has been changed so as to be faster than the original tempo of the audio signal if the heart rate is less than the target heart rate range.

13. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the current tempo of the audio signal has been changed so as to be slower than the original tempo of the audio signal if the heart rate is greater than the target heart rate range.

14. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an acceleration sensor, wherein the acceleration sensor is configured to measure an exercise rhythm based on a vertical motion of a body of the user and/ or a lateral motion of the body of the user.

15. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to calculate an exercise tempo indicating a cycle of the exercise rhythm based on the measured exercise rhythm.

16. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the sensor is attached to a headphone.

17. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor receives the audio signal from an external device.

18. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a memory which stores the audio signal.

19. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to acquire data related to user motion from a second sensor, and the second sensor is at least one of an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor or a vibration sensor.

20. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the second sensor is attached to a shoe worn by the user.

21. A mobile information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to receive a heart rate of a user from a sensor and output an audio signal,

wherein the audio signal has been selected based on a comparison between the heart rate and a target heart rate range,

the processor is configured to determine the target heart rate range based on at least an exercise intensity specified by the user, the target heart rate range thereby being a user-defined target heart rate range,

the mobile information processing apparatus is configured to be worn by the user,

wherein the processor is configured to change a current tempo of the audio signal according to a change of the comparison to lead the heart rate of the user to the user-defined target heart rate range,

wherein the processor is configured to change the current tempo by selecting a track from a database of tracks and associated tempos based on a target tempo, and the processor is configured to output the audio signal to play the selected track,

wherein the processor is configured to estimate an anaerobic threshold at least in part by gradually increasing a tempo of the audio signal while the heart rate is detected.

22. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to select, as the audio signal, a first audio signal having a tempo faster than a tempo of a second audio signal corresponding to a currently reproduced audio if the heart rate is less than the target heart rate range.

23. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to select, as the audio signal, a first audio signal having a tempo slower than a tempo of a second audio signal corresponding to a currently reproduced audio if the heart rate is greater than the target heart rate range.

24. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising an acceleration sensor, wherein the acceleration sensor is configured to measure an exercise rhythm based on a vertical motion of a body of the user and/or a lateral motion of the body of the user.

25. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the processor is configured to calculate an exercise tempo indicating a cycle of the exercise rhythm based on the measured exercise rhythm.

26. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the sensor is attached to a headphone.

27. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the processor receives the audio signal from an external device.

28. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a memory which stores the audio signal.

29. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to acquire data related to user motion from a second sensor, and the second sensor is at least one of an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor or a vibration sensor.

30. The mobile information processing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the second sensor is attached to a shoe worn by the user.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor of a mobile information processing apparatus, perform a method comprising:

receiving a heart rate of a user from a sensor;

outputting an audio signal; and

changing an original tempo of the audio signal to a current tempo based on a comparison between the heart rate and a target heart rate range,

wherein the target heart rate range is determined based on at least an exercise intensity specified by the user and an anaerobic threshold of the user, the target heart rate range thereby being a user-defined target heart rate range,

wherein the mobile information processing apparatus is configured to be worn by the user, and

wherein the processor is changes the current tempo of the audio signal according to a change of the comparison to lead the heart rate of the user to the user-defined target heart rate range,

wherein the processor changes the current tempo by selecting a track from a database of tracks and associated tempos based on a target tempo, and the processor outputs the audio signal to play the selected track, and

wherein the processor is configured to estimate the anaerobic threshold at least in part by gradually increasing a tempo of the audio signal while the heart rate is detected.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor of a mobile information processing apparatus, perform a method comprising:

receiving a heart rate of a user from a sensor; and

outputting an audio signal selected based on a comparison between the heart rate and a target heart rate range,

wherein the target heart rate range is determined based on at least an exercise intensity specified by the user and an anaerobic threshold of the user, the target heart rate range thereby being a user-defined target heart rate range,

wherein the anaerobic threshold is determined from a slope or stability of the user'"'"'s heart rate with a varied exercise load or intensity, and

changes a current tempo of the audio signal according to a change of the comparison to lead the heart rate of the user to the user-defined target heart rate range,

wherein the processor changes the current tempo by selecting a track from a database of tracks and associated tempos based on a target tempo, and the processor outputs the audio signal to play the selected track,

wherein the mobile information processing apparatus is configured to be worn on an arm of the user,

wherein the processor is configured to estimate the anaerobic threshold at least in part by gradually increasing varying a tempo of the audio signal while the heart rate is detected.