Method and system for physically exercising with plurality of participants using network

• US 20040103146A1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Codisoft Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Codisoft Incorporated
• Inventors: Park, Seung-Hun
• Application Number:
  US10/304,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103146A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0724 Bar-bells; Hand bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/42 rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/60 muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/70 body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 : using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 : automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 : Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system for physically exercising with plurality of participants using a network wherein a user can exercise continuously and interestedly without feeling boredom. The system is characterized by comprising: a server which provides a virtual common space for one or more participants to be connected through the network, and makes the participants participate in the virtual common space as virtual objects; and one or more state signal generation apparatus for generating, and providing for the server through the network, one or more state signals including each exercise state signal corresponding to each physical action of the participants so as to control each action of the virtual objects corresponding to each physical action of the participants.

Claims

1. A multi-participant physical exercise system which uses a network and an exercise apparatus, said system being characterized by comprising:

a server which provides a virtual common space for one or more participants to be connected through the network, and makes the participants participate in the virtual common space as virtual objects; and

one or more state signal generation apparatus for generating, and providing for the server through the network, one or more state signals including each exercise state signal corresponding to each physical action of the participants so as to control each action of the virtual objects, corresponding to each physical action of the participants.

2. A multi-participant physical exercise system according to claim 1, said multi-participant physical exercise system further comprising a virtual object generation means for generating one or more virtual objects in the virtual common space whose actions are controlled by each state signals.

3. A multi-participant physical exercise system according to claim 1, said state signal generation apparatus, further comprising:

one or more sensing section for sensing a physical action (exercise state) and/or a physical health state of the participant;

a processor for receiving a sensing signal SNS of the sensing section and generating state signals indicating the exercise state and/or the health state of the participants; and

an interface means for transmitting said state signals to the server through the network.

4. A multi-participant physical exercise system according to claim 1, said virtual common space, which is provided in the server, comprising a certain exercise competition using a change in each action of the virtual objects.

5. A multi-participant physical exercise system according to claim 1, said virtual common space, which is provided in the server, comprising a certain game using a change in each action of the virtual objects.

6. A multi-participant physical exercise system according to claim 1, said state signals comprising a state signal of a physical health state to be sensed in the state signal generation apparatus, and information on a health state of the participants being analyzed using the state signal of the physical health state in the server and provided from the server.

7. A multi-participant physical exercise system according to claim 1, said server comprising a memory means for storing personal information and information on the health state of the participants, and providing information on a history of a health condition of the participants using the information stored on the memory means.

8. A multi-participant physical exercise system according to claim 7, the memory means further comprising a smart card.

9. A method of physically exercising with plurality of participants using a network and an exercise apparatus, said method being characterized by comprising the steps of:

connecting each of state signal generation apparatus of one or more participants to a server through the network;

constructing a virtual common space for a game or an exercise competition in the server and providing the virtual common space in common to each of the participants so as for each of the participants to participate as virtual objects;

performing the game or the exercise competition on the basis of the virtual common space;

generating in one or more state signal generation apparatus and providing to the server through the network from the state signal generation apparatus, one or more state signals including each exercise state signal corresponding to each physical action of the participants so as to control each action of the virtual objects corresponding to each physical action of the participants; and

controlling each action of the virtual objects so as to fit into the game or the exercise competition under performance in response to the state signals of the participants transmitted to the server.

10. A method of physically exercising with plurality of participants using a network according to claim 9, said method further comprising the step of generating one or more virtual objects so as to show the participants in the virtual common space in the steps of providing with the virtual common space and controlling the virtual objects.

11. A method of physically exercising with plurality of participants using a network according to claim 9, said virtual common space comprising a game space or an exercise competition track in which a game or an exercise competition is executed, virtual objects, exercise state display parts and real person display parts.

12. A method of physically exercising with plurality of participants using a network according to claim 9, said state signals comprising physical health states of the participants, and said method further comprising the step of providing with information on at least one of measured physical health information of the participants by the state signals of the exercise state and the physical health state, physical strength and health evaluation information for performing diagnosis after analyzing the physical health information, and exercise prescription information based on the physical health information and the physical strength and health evaluation information.

13. A method of physically exercising with plurality of participants using a network according to claim 9, said method further comprising at least one of the steps of:

affiliating and registering as a member for connecting to the server or logging on the network;

reading from, or storing to, memory means such as a smart card, a hard disk, etc., personal information and/or physical strength and health information; and

selecting one of games and exercise competitions providing a virtual common space.

14. A method of physically exercising with plurality of participants using a network according to claim 9, said method further comprising one of the steps of transmitting an virtual objects directly from the participants to the server, and selecting one among virtual objects provided from the server.

15. A method of physically exercising with plurality of participants using a network according to claim 9, said method further comprising the steps of analyzing in the server etc., the state signals on the physical health state fed back biologically during the exercise competition or the game execution, judging whether or not there is any participant inadequate to the exercise competition or the game execution, and taking a measure proper to the inadequate participant.