System and method for tracking and assessing movement skills in multidimensional space

• US 20060211462A1
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barry J. French, Kevin R. Ferguson
• Original Assignee: Barry J. French, Kevin R. Ferguson
• Inventors: French, Barry J., Ferguson, Kevin R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• 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 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/105 each station having its own resisting device, e.g. for training multiple users simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/081 High jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/082 Long jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 : Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• 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 69/002 : for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 : for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0053 : Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 : for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0095 : for volley-ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 : Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 : comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 : Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 : for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• 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: Y10S 359/90 : Methods

Abstract

Accurate simulation of sport to quantify and train performance constructs by employing sensing electronics for determining, in essentially real time, the player'"'"'s three dimensional positional changes in three or more degrees of freedom (three dimensions); and computer controlled sport specific cuing that evokes or prompts sport specific responses from the player that are measured to provide meaningful indicia of performance. The sport specific cuing is characterized as a virtual opponent that is responsive to, and interactive with, the player in real time. The virtual opponent continually delivers and/or responds to stimuli to create realistic movement challenges for the player.

Claims

1. A method for prompting a user to engage in a physical activity, the method comprising:

causing displaying of a representation of the user on a monitor, wherein the displaying of the representation includes moving the representation of the user to reflect movement of the user;

causing displaying of one or more virtual objects on the monitor, wherein the displaying of the one or more virtual objects includes displaying the one or more virtual objects to prompt physical motion of the user; and

causing reporting of at least one indicium of physical activity performance of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing displaying of the one or more virtual objects includes causing moving of the one or more virtual objects on the monitor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing displaying of the one or more virtual objects includes causing displaying of plural virtual objects on the monitor.

4. The method of claim 3,

wherein the virtual objects include targets;

and

wherein the causing displaying of the virtual objects includes prompting the user to perform an interception task that includes the representation of the user moving to have the representation of the user intercept at least some of the targets.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the causing displaying of the virtual objects includes causing emanating of the targets from a source on the monitor.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the causing displaying of the virtual objects includes causing moving of the targets on the monitor in straight line trajectories.

7. The method of claim 4,

wherein the virtual objects also include obstacles;

and

wherein the causing displaying of the one or more virtual objects also includes prompting the user to move to have the representation of the user avoid the obstacles.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing displaying of the one or more virtual objects includes prompting the user to perform a compliance task that involves movement of the representation of the user along a path indicated by the virtual objects.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the compliance task involves the user moving along a path corresponding to movement of the representation of the user along a path traveled by the virtual object.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing displaying of the representation includes causing use of an image capturing device in positioning the representation of the user on the monitor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the causing use of the image capturing device includes causing use of a camera in positioning the representation of the user on the monitor.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing reporting of the at least one indicium includes causing reporting of an indicium of power of the user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing reporting of the at least one indicium includes causing reporting of an indicium of reaction time of the user.

14. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising:

displaying a representation of a user on a monitor, wherein the displaying of the representation includes moving the representation of the user to reflect movement of the user;

displaying one or more virtual objects on the monitor, wherein the displaying of the one or more virtual objects includes displaying the one or more virtual objects to prompt physical motion of the user; and

reporting at least one indicium of physical activity performance of the user.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the displaying of the one or more virtual objects of the method includes moving the one or more virtual objects on the monitor.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the displaying the one or more virtual objects of the method includes displaying plural virtual objects on the monitor.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14,

wherein the virtual objects include targets;

and

wherein the displaying the virtual objects of the method includes prompting the user to perform an interception task that includes the representation of the user moving to have the representation of the user intercept at least some of the targets.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the displaying the virtual objects of the method includes emanating the targets from a source on the monitor.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the displaying the virtual objects of the method includes moving the targets on the monitor in straight line trajectories.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17,

wherein the virtual objects also include obstacles;

and

wherein the displaying the one or more virtual objects of the method also includes prompting the user to move to have the representation of the user avoid the obstacles.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the displaying the one or more virtual objects of the method includes prompting the user to perform a compliance task that involves movement of the representation of the user along a path indicated by the virtual objects.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the compliance task involves the user moving along a path corresponding to movement of the representation of the user along a path traveled by the virtual object.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the displaying of the representation of the method includes using an image capturing device in positioning the representation of the user on the monitor.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the using the image capturing device of the method includes using a camera in positioning the representation of the user on the monitor.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the reporting at least one indicium includes reporting an indicium of power of the user.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the reporting at least one indicium includes reporting an indicium of reaction time of the user.

27. A physical activity device comprising:

a monitor;

means for displaying a representation of a user on the monitor, wherein the means for displaying the representation includes means for moving the representation of the user to reflect movement of the user;

means for displaying one or more virtual objects on the monitor, wherein the means for displaying the one or more virtual objects includes means for displaying the one or more virtual objects to prompt physical motion of the user; and

means for reporting at least one indicium of physical activity performance of the user.