DEVICE FOR ANALYZING AND MONITORING EXERCISE DONE BY A USER

• US 20090105047A1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Original Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Inventors: FEDRIGA, Mario, O'CONNELL, Timothy Sean JR., GUIDI, Jarno
• Granted Patent: US 8,512,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68 Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• 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 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• 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 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02

Abstract

A device for analyzing and monitoring exercise done by a user comprises at least a portable support (2), electric power supply means, sensor means (3) for measuring the exercise done by the user during at least one predetermined period of time, expressed at least in the form of at least one non-dimensional parameter, at least one memory (4) designed to archive data relating to the measurement of exercise done by the user, display means (5) for displaying the measurement of the exercise done by the user and the data archived in the memory, data communication means (6a), (6b) and at least one processing unit (7a), (7b).

Claims

1. A device for analyzing, and monitoring exercise done by a user, comprising at least a portable support (2), electric power supply means, sensor means (3) for measuring the exercise done by the user during at least one predetermined period of time, expressed at least in the form of at least one non-dimensional parameter, at least one memory (4) designed to archive data relating to the measurement of exercise done by the user, display means (5) for displaying the measurement of the exercise done by the user and the data archived in the memory, data communication means (6a), (6b) and at least one processing unit (7a);

(7b).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor means (3) comprise at least one accelerometer, connected to respective means for processing and treating the signals which it generates.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said accelerometer is of the piezoelectric type.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit consists of at least one personal computer (7b).

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data communication means (6a) comprise at least one RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) type aerial designed to interact with at least one RFID type reader operatively connected to the processing unit (7a).

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data communication means (6a) comprise at least one RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) type aerial designed to interact with at least one RFID type reader operatively connected to the processing unit (7a), connected to at least one exercise machine (8).

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the RFID aerial and reader (6a) are designed to transfer data about the user and exercise done by the user from the memory of the exercise machine (8) to the device memory (4).

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the RFID aerial and reader (6a) are designed to transfer data about the user and exercise done by the user from the device memory (4) to the memory of the exercise machine (8).

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the RFID aerial and reader (6a) are designed to transfer at least one predetermined user training program data from the device memory (4) to the memory of the exercise machine (8).

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data communication means (6b) comprise at least one USB (Universal Serial Bus) type connector for connecting to at least one processing unit (7a), (7b) designed to display the data contained in the memory (4) and designed to process the data according to methods predetermined by the user and/or by his trainer.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data communication means (6b) comprise at least one USB (Universal Serial Bus) type connector for connecting to at least one processing unit (7b) connected to a personal computer designed to display the data contained in the memory (4) and designed to process the data according to methods predetermined by the user and/or by his trainer.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data communication means comprise at least one USB (Universal Serial Bus) type connector for connecting to at least one processing unit (7a) connected to an exercise machine (8) designed to display the data contained in the memory (4) and designed to process the data according to methods predetermined by the user and/or by his trainer.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the personal computer is designed to connect to at least one remote server having at least one database for saving the measurements of exercise done by the user.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one method for displaying the information on the display means (5) consists of at least one graphic signal indicating the measurement of exercise done by the user, being related to at least a daily exercise goal to be reached.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the graphic signal consists of at least one bar (B) whose length is proportional to the amount of exercise done in a predetermined period of time.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one method for displaying the information on the display means (5) consists of at least one non-dimensional parameter indicating the measurement of exercise done by the user.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the portable support (2) comprises at least one button (11), operatively connected to the memory (4) and to the display means (5), being designed to display at least one screen page presenting information relating to the measurement of exercise done by the user on the display means (5).

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the portable support comprises means for removably fixing the device to the user'"'"'s clothing.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (7a);

(7b) is designed to be put into communication with at least one remote processor (R) for managing and archiving data relating to exercise done by the user.

20. A method for setting at least one exercise goal for a user to reach in at least one predetermined period of time, comprising at least one step of calculating the goal based on historical user data archived in a memory.

27. The method according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined period of time is equal to one day.

30. The method according to claim 20, wherein it can be implemented using a device for analyzing and monitoring exercise done by a user, comprising at least a portable support (2), electric power supply means, sensor means (3) for measuring the exercise done by the user during at least one predetermined period of time, expressed at least in the form of at least one non-dimensional parameter, at least one memory (4) designed to archive data relating to the measurement of exercise done by the user, display means (5) for displaying the measurement of the exercise done by the user and the data archived in the memory, data communication means (6a), (6b) and at least one processing unit (7a);

(7b).

21. A method for setting at least one exercise goal for a user to be reached in at least one predetermined period of time, wherein it implements the following steps one after another:

measuring the exercise done by the user in a predetermined period of time;

saving said exercise measurement;

calculating the arithmetic mean of a predetermined number of exercise measurements previously saved, taken in respective predetermined periods of time;

displaying the request that the user exceeds said arithmetic mean by a predetermined amount, within a further predetermined period of time.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined number is equal to 7.

22. A method for setting at least one exercise goal for a user to be reached in at least one predetermined period of time, wherein it implements the following steps one after another:

setting a long-term exercise goal;

measuring the exercise done by the user in a predetermined period of time;

saving said exercise measurement;

calculating the arithmetic mean of a predetermined number of exercise measurements previously saved, taken in respective periods of time;

displaying the request that the user exceeds the lesser value out of said arithmetic mean and said long-term goal by a predetermined amount, within a further predetermined period of time.

23. A method for setting at least one exercise goal for a user to be reached in at least one predetermined period of time, wherein it implements the following steps one after another:

measuring the exercise done by the user in a predetermined period of time;

saving said exercise measurement;

displaying the request that within a further predetermined period of time the user exceeds by a predetermined amount the exercise measurement saved in a predetermined period of time selected at the discretion of the user and/or his trainer.

24. A method for setting at least one exercise goal for a user to be reached in at least one predetermined period of time, wherein it implements the following steps one after another:

setting a long-term exercise goal;

measuring the exercise done by the user in a predetermined period of time;

saving said exercise measurement;

displaying the request that within a further predetermined period of time the user exceeds by a predetermined amount the lesser value out of the exercise measurement saved in a predetermined period of time selected at the discretion of the user and/or his trainer and the long-term goal.

25. A method for setting at least one exercise goal for a user to be reached in at least one predetermined period of time, wherein it implements the following steps one after another:

setting a minimum exercise goal;

setting a higher increase for the goal;

setting a lower increase for the goal;

comparing the exercise measurement relating to the predetermined immediately previous period of time with the average of the exercise measurements in a predetermined number of previous predetermined periods of time;

if the exercise measurement relating to the predetermined immediately previous period of time is greater than the average of the exercise measurements in a predetermined number of previous predetermined periods of time, assigning, to the average of the exercise measurements in a predetermined number of previous predetermined periods of time, the greatest value out of the average of the measurements for all of the previous periods of time and the sum of the average of the exercise measurements in a predetermined number of previous predetermined periods of time with the predetermined higher increase;

if the exercise measurement relating to the predetermined immediately previous period of time is less than the average of the exercise measurements in a predetermined number of previous predetermined periods of time, assigning, to the average of the exercise measurements in a predetermined number of previous predetermined periods of time, the greatest value out of the sum of the average of the exercise measurements in a predetermined number of previous predetermined periods of time with the predetermined lower increase, the average of the measurements for all of the previous periods of time and the minimum goal;

assigning to the goal for the current predetermined period of time, the difference between the average of the exercise measurements in a predetermined number of previous predetermined periods of time multiplied by the predetermined number and the sum of the exercise measurements in a number of previous predetermined periods of time equal to said predetermined number minus one unit.

26. A method for setting at least one exercise goal for a user to be reached in at least one predetermined period of time, wherein it implements the following steps one after another:

setting at least one gap relating to the predetermined period of time;

assigning to said gap the value of the difference between the measurement relating to the predetermined period of time and the value measured for a predetermined number of previous predetermined periods of time;

setting at least one cumulative gap;

assigning to said cumulative gap the sum of all of the gaps measured in the predetermined number of predetermined periods of time;

if the cumulative gap is negative or null, assigning to the gap relating to the predetermined period of time the value relating to a predetermined number of previous predetermined periods of time;

if the cumulative gap is positive, assigning to the gap relating to the predetermined period of time a gap equal to the lesser value out of the value measured for a predetermined number of previous predetermined periods of time, multiplied by a suitable constant, and the value of the cumulative gap divided by said predetermined number.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein the constant is equal to 1.5.