Device and method for exercise prescription, detection of successful performance, and provision of reward therefore

• US 20060025282A1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Gibbens Redmann
• Original Assignee: William Gibbens Redmann
• Inventors: Redmann, William Gibbens
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/06 Children, e.g. for attention deficit diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• 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: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

An exercise computer monitors the exercises of a user, especially a child, and provides rewards for exercises done well and regularly, thereby motivating the user. Rewards take the form of video games, cartoons, music, and merchant coupons. The exercise computer also provides encouragement and advice as the user progresses in skill level. Exercises may be prescribed. A record of exercise performance can be produced, to track the user'"'"'s progress over time. The system and method can readily utilize the current install base of handheld computers and video games pre-existing in the marketplace.

Claims

1. A method for motivating a user to perform a first exercise of a plurality of exercises, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an exercise computer, said exercise computer having a sensor to detect the performance by the user of the first exercise;

(b) detecting the performance by the user of the first exercise;

(c) making a record of first exercise performance; and

(d) providing a reward based on the record of first exercise performance;

whereby the user is provided with a reward as a result of performing the first exercise.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) consists of finding a correspondence between a predetermined pattern of sensor activity associated with the first exercise and an interval of sensor activity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a plurality of accelerometers and sensor activity is induced by at least one of orientation and motion of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reward is provided by the exercise computer.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

(e) providing an external source of rewards, and

(f) downloading the reward to the exercise computer from the external source.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reward is selected by the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reward is provided by the exercise computer.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(f) downloading the reward to the exercise computer from an external reward source.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the external reward source is a web site.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the external reward source is a CD-ROM.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) consists of communicating from the exercise computer to an external device to enabling the external device to provide the reward.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the external device is a television adapted to communicate with the exercise computer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the external device is a music player adapted to communicate with the exercise computer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the external device is a personal computer adapted to communicate with the exercise computer.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the external device is a video game console adapted to communicate with the exercise computer.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(g) detecting a failed attempt by the user to perform the first exercise;

(h) providing at least one of advice and encouragement to the user appropriate to overcoming the failed attempt in the future.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(i) repeating at least steps (b) and (c) a plurality of times; and

(j) displaying information based on the records of first exercise performance to indicate the progress of the user.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

(k) uploading the records of first exercise performance to an external computer.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(l) expiring the record of first exercise performance after a predetermined interval such that the reward is no longer provided.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the reward is selected from the set comprising a video game, a computer game, a cartoon, a video program, music, a period of Internet access, and a merchant coupon.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(m) identifying to the user the first exercise.

22. A system for rewarding a user for performance of a first exercise of a plurality of exercises comprising:

a sensor to be worn by the user for detecting physical conditions influenced by the performance of the first exercise;

an exercise computer for monitoring the sensor, said exercise computer having a program to detect the performance of the first exercise and respond by producing a record of first exercise performance; and

a reward generator, responsive to the user, such that in response to the user, the reward generator provides a reward to the user based on the record of first exercise performance.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the program operates to compare the detected conditions to a predetermined pattern of conditions indicative of the performance of the first exercise and detects the first exercise performance when a match is found.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the sensor is a plurality of accelerometers and the detected physical conditions include at least one of orientation and motion of the user.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the exercise computer contains the reward generator.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising an external reward source, at least occasionally in communication with the reward generator, wherein the reward is downloaded to the reward generator.

27. The system of claim 22, further comprising a reward selector operated by the user, wherein the reward is selected by the user from a plurality of rewards.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the exercise computer contains the reward selector and reward generator.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising an external reward source, at least occasionally in communication with the reward generator, wherein the reward is downloaded to the reward generator.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the external reward source is a web site.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the external reward source is a CD-ROM.

32. The system of claim 22, wherein the exercise computer communicates with the reward generator to enable the reward generator to provide the reward.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the reward generator is a television adapted to communicate with the exercise computer.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the reward generator is a music player adapted to communicate with the exercise computer.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the reward generator is a personal computer adapted to communicate with the exercise computer.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the reward generator is a video game console adapted to communicate with the exercise computer.

37. The system of claim 22, wherein the exercise computer further comprises a user interface, and said program is further able to detect a failed attempt by the user to perform the first exercise and provide in response, through the user interface, at least one of advice and encouragement to the user appropriate to overcoming the failed attempt in the future.

38. The system of claim 22, wherein the record of first exercise performance is one of a plurality of records of exercise performance, said system further comprising:

a display of information based on the plurality of records, whereby the progress of the user is shown.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the display comprises an external computer at least occasionally connected to the exercise computer, to which the plurality of records are uploaded.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising

a timer operative to expire the record of first exercise performance after a predetermined interval, such that the reward is no longer available.

41. The system of claim 22, wherein the reward is selected from the set of a video game, a computer game, a cartoon, a video program, music, a period of Internet access, and a merchant coupon.

42. The system of claim 22, further comprising a display driven by the exercise computer, to indicate the first exercise to the user.

43. The system of claim 22, further comprising an audio output driven by the exercise computer, to indicate the first exercise to the user.

44. A method for motivating a user to perform a first exercise of a plurality of exercises, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an exercise computer, said exercise computer having a sensor to detect the performance by the user of the first exercise;

(b) detecting the performance by the user of the first exercise;

(c) making a record of first exercise performance;

(d) providing with the exercise computer a reward based on the record of first exercise performance;

(e) providing an external source of rewards; and

(f) downloading the reward to the exercise computer from the external source.

whereby the user is provided with a reward as a result of performing the first exercise.

45. A system for rewarding a user for performance of a first exercise of a plurality of exercises comprising:

a sensor to be worn by the user for detecting conditions influenced by the performance of the first exercise;

an exercise computer for monitoring the sensor, said exercise computer having a program to detect the performance of the first exercise and respond by producing a record of first exercise performance, and further having a reward generator, responsive to the user, such that in response to the user, the reward generator provides a reward to the user based on the record of first exercise performance; and

an external reward source, at least occasionally in communication with the reward generator, wherein the reward is downloaded to the reward generator.