Encouraging Exercise Whilst Playing Electronic Games

• US 20090098979A1
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard John Coshott
• Original Assignee: Richard John Coshott
• Inventors: Coshott, Richard John
• Application Number:
  US11/988,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20090098979A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/4
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/06 with support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movementsupport stands for bicycles A63B69/16; unicycles B62K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• 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 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 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

In order to encourage people who are playing an electronic games machine (12) also to take exercise, and to encourage users of exercise machines (76) who simultaneously play a games machine to exercise at a particular rate, an interrupter system (34) is added to an existing connection (18,20,22) between the games machine and its controller (14) so as to provide a modified connection. Operation of the exercise machine is detected, and the interrupter system is used selectively to enable and interrupt the modified connection between the game controller and the games machine to enable and interrupt normal operation of the games machine in dependence upon the detected operation of the exercise machine. The normal operation of the games machine may be interrupted if the rate of operation of the exercise machine is detected as being below a predetermined threshold and/or above a pre-determined threshold. Accordingly, a parent can arrange it such that their child cannot play normally on a games machine unless the child also exercises on the exercise machine. Also, a user of an exercise machine and games machine can be encouraged to exercise in a particular manner, otherwise their game will be interrupted.

Claims

1. A method of modifying operation of an electronic games machine (12) having a game controller (14) which is arranged to be connected to the games machine by an existing connection (18,20,22) to control the games machine, the method comprising:

adding an interrupter system (34) to the existing connection so as to provide a modified connection (18,20,22,36,38,40) between the game controller and the games machine;

providing an exercise machine (76);

detecting operation of the exercise machine; and

using the interrupter system selectively to enable and interrupt the modified connection between the game controller and the games machine to enable and interrupt normal operation of the games machine in dependence upon the detected operation of the exercise machine.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the normal operation of the games machine is interrupted if the rate of operation of the exercise machine is detected as being below a predetermined threshold.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the normal operation of the games machine is interrupted if the rate of operation of the exercise machine is detected as being above a predetermined threshold.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the predetermined threshold is adjustable.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein normal operation of the games machine is interrupted by disconnecting a power supply connection (44,48) from the games machine to the game controller.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the existing connection includes a first connector (20) of the game controller that is releasably connectable to a complementary second connector (22) of the games machine, and the interrupter system is added by connecting a third connector (40) of the interrupter system to the first connector of the game controller and by connecting a fourth connector (38) of the interrupter system to the second connector of the games machine.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interrupter system is added by permanently wiring the interrupter system to the game controller.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one magnet (72) is attached to a moving part of the exercise machine, and operation of the exercise machine is detected magnetically.

9. A game controller (14) in combination with an interrupter system (34), for use with an electronic games machine (12) and an exercise machine (76), the game controller having a first connector (20) for releasable connection to a complementary second connector (22) of the games machine, and the interrupter system comprising means (64-70) for detecting operation of the exercise machine, and means (60) for changing, in dependence upon the detected operation of the exercise machine, a connection (44,48,54,56) between the game controller and the games machine selectively to enable and interrupt normal operation of the games machine.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein the interrupter system includes a third connector (40) connected to the first connector of the game controller and a fourth connector (38) for connection to the second connector of the games machine so that the interrupter system is connected between the first and second connectors.

11. A combination claimed in claim 9, wherein the interrupter system is permanently wired to the game controller.

12. A combination as claimed in claim 9 in combination with a games machine.

13. A combination as claimed in claim 9 in combination with an exercise machine.

14. An apparatus comprising:

an exercise machine;

an electronic games machine;

a game controller having a connection to the games machine including a first connector which is releasably connectable to a complementary second connector of the games machine so that the game controller can control the games machine; and

an interrupter system comprising means for detecting if a rate of operation of the exercise machine is below a predetermined threshold, and means responsive to the detecting means for changing the connection between the game controller and the games machine to interrupt normal operation of the games machine when the rate of operation of the exercise machine is below the threshold.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the connection changing means is operable to disconnect a power supply connection from the games machine to the game controller when the rate of operation of the exercise machine is below the threshold.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the interrupter system has a third connector which is complementary to and, in use, connected to the first connector of the game controller, and a fourth connector which is complementary to and, in use, connected to the second connector of the games machine.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the interrupter system is permanently wired to the game controller, and, in use, the first connector of the game controller is connected to the second connector of the games machine.