Health game apparatus and method using vital signs

• US 20060141431A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seyfarth Shaw
• Original Assignee: Healthpia America
• Inventors: Lee, Min-Hwa
• Application Number:
  US11/356,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20060141431A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0219 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A health game apparatus produces, as a numerical value, a quantized biological index associated with a biological function or state from an electrical signal measured by a sensor detecting a biological signal, and considers the produced biological index to progress a game. The health game apparatus can conveniently perform a data input as data is directly inputted from the sensor and allow health management to be interestingly and continuously achieved through a game element coupled to the health management. The health game apparatus allows a host computer to manage the produced biological index and to manage game progress according to data inputted from a plurality of health game apparatuses. Thus, the health game apparatus enables persons having the same health problem to naturally form a community and enables health management to be interestingly performed in addition to an interest in the game.

Claims

1. A health game apparatus, comprising:

a sensor for detecting a biological signal;

an input unit for receiving an operation command from a user;

a controller comprising a biological index producer for producing, as a numerical value, a quantized biological index associated with a biological function or state on the basis of the biological signal detected by the sensor; and

a game progress processor for progressing a game according to a programmed game scenario in response to the produced biological index and the operation command; and

a display unit for displaying game content and an operating state.

2. The health game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a communication module for communicating with a host computer over a network,

wherein the controller further comprises;

a health manager for sending, to the host computer through the communication module, biological state information indicating a result of a processing operation for the biological index measured by the biological index producer and a biological data value inputted through the input unit.

3. The health game apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the game progress processor comprises:

a progress data transmitting/receiving module for performing game progress data communication with an opposite party coupled to the host computer through the communication module.

4. The health game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the game progress processor additionally progresses the game according to a biological data value inputted through the input unit.

18. The health game apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the game progress processor additionally progresses the game according to a biological data value inputted through the input unit.

5. A method for processing health game data, comprising the steps of:

(a) producing a quantized biological index associated with a biological function or state from a signal inputted by a sensor provided in a health game apparatus;

(b) allowing the game apparatus to send the produced biological index to a host computer and to store the produced biological index on a user-by-user basis;

(c) allowing the health game apparatus to access the host computer in response to a game selected by a user; and

(d) allowing the host computer to progress the game according to the biological index stored on the user-by-user basis and an operation command from the health game apparatus.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

(e) allowing the game apparatus to receive a biological data value from an input unit provided in the health game apparatus and to transmit the received biological data value to the host computer; and

(f) allowing the host computer to store the biological data value on the user-by-user basis,

wherein the step (d) is carried out by progressing the game according to the stored biological data value in addition to the biological index and the operation command.

7. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step (d) comprises the step of:

differently displaying a game character of a corresponding user on the user-by-user basis according to the produced biological index.

8. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the step (d) comprises the step of:

differently displaying a game character of a corresponding user on the user-by-user basis according to the produced biological index or the received biological data value.

9. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step (d) comprises the step of:

assigning an item capable of being used in the game or differently assigning a level of a game character according to the produced biological index.

10. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the step (d) comprises the step of:

assigning an item capable of being used in the game or differently assigning a level of a game character according to the produced biological index or the received biological data value.

19. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the step (d) comprises the step of:

assigning an item capable of being used in the game or differently assigning a level of a game character according to the produced biological index.

20. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the step (d) comprises the step of:

assigning an item capable of being used in the game or differently assigning a level of a game character according to the produced biological index or the received biological data value.

11. A health game apparatus, comprising:

a battery pack comprising a sensor for detecting a biological signal, a signal processor for pre-processing an analog signal from the sensor and converting the analog signal into a digital signal;

a first interface for performing data communication with a mobile-phone main body; and

a pack controller for controlling an overall operation of the health game apparatus;

a second interface coupled to the first interface;

an input unit for receiving an operation command from a user;

a display unit for displaying game content and an operating state;

a main body controller for outputting command data for commanding measurement initiation to the second interface on the basis of a predetermined protocol, the main body controller comprising a biological index producer for producing, as a numerical value, a quantized biological index associated with a biological function or state from data inputted through the second interface; and

a game progress processor for progressing a game according to a programmed game scenario in response to the produced biological index and the operation command; and

the mobile-phone main body capable of being coupled to or removed from the battery pack.

12. The health game apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

a communication module communicating with a host computer over a network,

wherein the controller further comprises;

a health manager for sending, to the host computer through the communication module, biological state information indicating a result of a processing operation for the biological index measured by the biological index producer and a biological data value inputted through the input unit, and

wherein the game progress processor comprises;

a progress data transmitting/receiving module for performing game progress data communication with an opposite party coupled to the host computer through the communication module.

13. The health game apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the biological index producer and the health manager are configured by one application program, respectively.

14. The health game apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the game progress processor is downloaded from the host computer as one application program and is installed on the basis of the one application program.

15. A method for processing health game data, comprising the steps of:

(a) producing a quantized biological index associated with a biological function or state from a signal inputted by a sensor provided in a health game apparatus;

(b) allowing the game apparatus to send the produced biological index to a host computer and to store the produced biological index on a user-by-user basis;

(c) allowing the health game apparatus to access the host computer in response to a game selected by a user;

(d) allowing the host computer to receive and disclose request information for joining a group from the user and to process participation requests from game members to configure groups;

(e) allowing the host computer to select an opposite group from the configured groups; and

(f) allowing the host computer to progress the game according to the biological index stored on the user-by-user basis and an operation command from the health game apparatus.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

(g) making an agreement for a game progress rule between groups joining the game.

17. The method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

(h) giving notification indicating a game progress state to members belonging to the groups.