SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING AND ASSESSING MOVEMENT SKILLS IN MULTIDIMENSIONAL SPACE

• US 20090046893A1
• Filed: 04/10/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• 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 7,791,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• 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 physical activity system comprising:

a display;

a tracking system for continuously tracking translation of a user relative to the display; and

a computer operatively coupled to the tracking system and the display, for updating in real time a view of a virtual space that is displayed on the display;

wherein the computer shifts a viewpoint of the view based on the translation of the user.

2. The physical activity system of claim 1,

wherein the tracking system continuously tracks an overall physical location of the user in a defined physical space corresponding to the virtual space;

wherein the computer updates in real time a user virtual location in the virtual space corresponding to the physical location of the player in the physical space; and

wherein the viewpoint of the view is from the user virtual location.

3. The physical activity system of claim 1, wherein the view is a first person view.

4. The physical activity system of claim 3, wherein the first person view is a first person perspective view.

5. The physical activity system of claim 1, wherein the tracking system tracks the translations in three dimensions.

6. The physical activity system of claim 1, wherein the tracking system includes a beacon worn by the user.

7. The physical activity system of claim 1, wherein the tracking system includes a camera.

8. The physical activity system of claim 1, wherein the view includes one or more stationary virtual objects that stay stationary within the virtual space.

9. The physical activity system of claim 8, wherein the one or more stationary virtual objects change position on the display in response to shifts in the viewpoint.

10. The physical activity system of claim 1, wherein the view includes one or more movable virtual objects that move within the virtual space.

11. A method of prompting physical activity, the method comprising:

continuously tracking translation of a user relative to a display, using a tracking system; and

updating in real time a view of a virtual space using a computer operatively coupled to the tracking system, wherein the computer shifts a viewpoint of the view based on the translation of the user; and

displaying the updated view of the virtual space on the display.

12. The method of claim 11,

wherein the continuously tracking includes continuously tracks an overall physical location of the user in a defined physical space corresponding to the virtual space;

wherein the updating includes updating in real time a user virtual location in the virtual space corresponding to the physical location of the player in the physical space; and

wherein the viewpoint of the view is from the user virtual location.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the view of the virtual space updated by the computer is a first person view.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first person view is a first person perspective view.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the continuously tracking includes tracking the translations in three dimensions.

16. The method of claim 11,

wherein the tracking system includes a beacon worn by the user;

and

wherein the tracking includes tracking the beacon.

17. The method of claim 11,

wherein the tracking system includes a camera;

and

wherein the tracking includes using image analysis to determine the translation of the user.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the view includes one or more stationary virtual objects that stay stationary within the virtual space.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more stationary virtual objects change position on the display in response to shifts in the viewpoint.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the view includes one or more movable virtual objects that move within the virtual space.