DYNAMIC ACTIVITY MANAGEMENT

• US 20080300914A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Karkanias, Chris Demetrios, Hodges, Stephen Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/754,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20080300914A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0683 Input by handheld remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• 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 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/04 with movable multiple steps , i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/02 Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 : Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 : blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 : temperature
• 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: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A system that facilitates management of physical activity by dynamically compensating for current conditions is provided. A user profile can be employed to automatically calibrate an activity device (e.g., treadmill, cycle, haptic brace) based upon characteristics and/or limitations of a user. User activity and other data (e.g., physiological data, motion data, environmental data) can be monitored and employed to dynamically recalibrate the activity device in an effort to optimize performance. Additionally, a simulation profile can be employed as a benchmark for performance. For example, actual user activity can be contrasted against the simulation profile in order to provide feedback, motivation, or even to facilitate dynamic calibration of an activity device throughout an exercise regimen.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates management of physical activity, comprising:

a device configuration component that calibrates an activity device as a function of a profile;

a dynamic compensation component that recalibrates the activity device as a function of user motion, physiological parameter or environmental data;

a simulation component that replicates third party statistics, wherein the third party statistics are employed as a benchmark of the physical activity;

a comparison component that compares and contrasts the benchmark with the user motion or physiological parameter data; and

a rendering component that communicates the contrast to a user and provides feedback to assist the user in reaching a desired goal, wherein the contrast stimulates motivation to the user; and

wherein network-based information and communication techniques are employed to leverage availability of and comparison between a plurality of users connected to a network to enable dynamic real-time competing of users, either directly or through a mapping that accounts for a users handicap.

4. The system of claim 1, the activity device is at least one of a treadmill, aerobic training machine, weight training machine, stair/step exerciser, elliptical exerciser, ergo, cross trainer or haptic brace.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the simulation component dynamically pairs the user with a third party based at least in part upon ability.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a profile input component that accepts the profile, wherein the profile is incorporated into an identifying indicia.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the profile input component is a scanner and the identifying indicia is a barcode.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the profile input component is a magnetic card reader and the identifying indicia is a magnetic strip.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an activity monitoring component the monitors and obtains the user motion or physiological parameter data.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a sensor component that generates activity information, wherein the activity information is the at least one of user motion or physiological parameter data; and

an information gathering component that accesses the activity information from the sensor component.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising an analysis component that evaluates the user motion or physiological parameter data and determines appropriate action by the dynamic compensation component.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a machine learning and reasoning component that employs at least one of a probabilistic and a statistical-based analysis that infers an action that a user desires to be automatically performed.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

13. A computer-implemented method of regulating physical activity, comprising:

selecting a simulation profile;

monitoring user activity via an activity device;

comparing the user activity with the simulation profile;

rendering the comparison and providing feedback to assist a user in reaching a desired goal; and

employing network-based information and communication techniques to leverage availability of and comparison between a plurality of users connected to a network to enable dynamic real-time competing of users, either directly or through a mapping that accounts for a users handicap.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising calibrating the activity device in accordance with the comparison.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising:

inputting a user profile; and

calibrating the activity device as a function of the user profile.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

querying a network source for performance data related to the user activity; and

logging the user activity and performance data.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the activity device is at least one of a treadmill, aerobic training machine, weight training machine, stair/step exerciser, elliptical exerciser, ergo, cross trainer or haptic brace.

18. A computer-executable system, comprising:

means for calibrating an activity device in accordance with a user profile;

means for monitoring motion of a user via the activity device;

means for comparing the motion to a simulation profile, wherein the simulation profile relates to a third party;

means for rendering the comparison to a user and means for providing feedback to assist the user in reaching a desired goal; and

means for employing network-based information and communication techniques to leverage availability of and comparison between a plurality of users connected to a network to enable dynamic real-time competing of users, either directly or through a mapping that accounts for a users handicap.

19. The computer-executable system of claim 18, further comprising means for recalibrating the activity device based at least in part upon the comparison.

20. The computer-executable system of claim 18, further comprising means for logging data related to the motion and the comparison.