Movement-information processing system, terminal unit for use in the system, and battery recharging unit for use with the terminal unit

• US 20070105629A1
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konami Sports & Life Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Sports & Life Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Toyama, Motoki
• Application Number:
  US11/582,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20070105629A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• 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 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4001 Arrangements for attaching the exercising apparatus to the user's body, e.g. belts, shoes or gloves specially adapted therefor weights worn on the user's body A63B21/065; exoskeletons in general B25J9/0006, for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about A61H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/72 Means preventing unauthorised use, e.g. by lowering a tennis net
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• 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 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 13/214 : for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 : characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 : involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 : involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 : for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 : for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 : Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 : involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 : being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 : for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 : by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 : according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 : the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 : Music games

Abstract

Disclosed is a movement-information processing system, which comprises a control unit 30 including an image display control section 312 adapted to allow a guide image for instructing a plurality of players to perform a physical training consisting of plural types of body movements to be displayed on a projection screen 20, and a plurality of terminal units each formed in a belt-like configuration and provided with a movement detection device 53 operable, when the terminal unit is worn on a body of either one of the players, to detect body movements of the player. Each of the terminal unit includes a communication processing section 533 for transmitting a detection signal representing the body movements detected by the movement detection device 53 to the control unit 30. The control unit 30 includes a communication processing section 313 for receiving the detection signal from the communication section 533 of the terminal unit 50, a calorie consumption calculation section 322 for evaluating an exercise quality of the player wearing the terminal unit 50, based on the received detection signal and a content of the guide image, and an image display control section 312 for announcing the evaluation result of the exercise quality through an announcement section.

Claims

1. A movement-information processing system with a control unit and a plurality of terminal units, said movement-information processing system comprising:

the plurality of terminal units corresponding to the number of players capable of entry into a physical training,

each of said terminal units including;

a movement detection device operable, when the terminal unit is worn on a body of either one of the players, to detect body movements of said player, and

a terminal-side communication section for transmitting a detection signal representing said body movements detected by said movement detection device to the control unit, and

said control unit including;

image display control means adapted to allow a guide image for instructing a plurality of players to perform the physical training consisting of plural types of body movements in a time-series manner, to be displayed on a presentation unit;

a control-side communication section for receiving the detection signal from the terminal-side communication section of said terminal unit;

exercise evaluation means for evaluating an exercise quality of the player wearing said terminal unit, based on said received detection signal and a content of said guide image; and

announcement means for announcing the evaluation result of the exercise quality through an announcement section.

2. The movement-information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit includes an audio output section for outputting a music piece synchronous with said guide image to be displayed.

3. The movement-information processing system according to claim 1, wherein:

each of said terminal units is adapted to transmit identification information, uniquely given thereto, to said control unit through said terminal-side communication section; and

said control unit is adapted to evaluate the exercise quality of the player wearing said terminal unit, in association with said identification information.

4. The movement-information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said exercise evaluation means is adapted to calculate an amount of virtual exercise of the player wearing said terminal unit, based on the presence or absence of said detection signal and the type of body-movement instructed by said guide image.

5. The movement-information processing system according to claim 4, wherein said exercise evaluation means is adapted to calculate a calorie consumption as said virtual exercise amount.

6. The movement-information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said display control means is adapted to create, on a screen of said presentation unit, a plurality of individual display regions for displaying respective contents for said terminal units, on a terminal unit-by-terminal unit basis, and displaying information about the evaluation result of the exercise quality of said player, in a corresponding one of said individual display regions.

7. The movement-information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit includes printing-out means for printing out the evaluation result of the exercise quality using a printer on a terminal unit-by-terminal unit basis.

8. A terminal unit for use in a movement-information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal unit includes a belt-like portion adapted to be wrapped around a waist of the player, and wherein said movement detection device is mounted to said belt-like portion.

9. The terminal unit according to claim 8, further comprising a built-in rechargeable battery serving as a power source thereof.

10. The terminal unit according to claim 9, further comprising a buckle portion connected to a first end of said belt-like portion and adapted to allow a second, opposite, end of said belt-like portion to be engagingly inserted thereinto in a disengageable manner, said buckle portion being provided with a recharging connector for said battery.

11. The terminal unit according to claim 8, wherein said movement detection device is detachably mounted to said belt-like portion.

12. The terminal unit according to claim 11, wherein said movement detection device has a peripheral surface formed in a curved shape extending along a part of the entire circumference of the waist region of the player when said belt-like portion is wrapped around the waist of said player.

13. The terminal unit according to claim 8, wherein said movement detection device includes a sensor for sensing a change in acceleration.

14. A battery recharging unit used for a plurality of the terminal units according to claim 10, said battery recharging unit comprising a plurality of recharging electrodes each engageable with said recharging connector of said buckle portion in each of said plurality of terminal units.

15. The battery recharging unit according to claim 14, further comprising:

a base member capable of being placed on a floor, and

a support member extending upward from said base member,

wherein said recharging electrodes are arranged on an upper portion of said support member; and

said support member has a height from the floor which is greater than the entire length of said terminal unit.