MOBILE EXERCISE ENHANCEMENT WITH VIRTUAL COMPETITION

• US 20090118100A1
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Oliver, Nuria, Oliveira, Rodrigo de
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• 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 2230/065 within a certain range
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• 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 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings

Abstract

A glanceable interface presented by a computing device to a user while the user engages in physical exercise can provide information regarding exercise-related data within the context of the user'"'"'s exercise-oriented goals. In particular, the glanceable interface can display the difference between a user'"'"'s current exercise level and a target level, optionally with instructions how to reach the target level. Once the target level is reached, the glanceable display can provide raw exercise-related data to the user. In addition, virtual competition can be based on a target-achievement-score that is based on the amount of time, and the accuracy with which, a competitor maintains their exercise level within a target exercise level zone. Competitors can be automatically selected based on the closeness of their target-achievement-scores to the user'"'"'s target-achievement-score, so long as at least one competitor has a higher target-achievement-score than the user so as to further motivate the user.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions for providing exercise-oriented motivation to a user, the computer-executable instructions directed to steps comprising:

receiving a user'"'"'s exercise-related data from one or more sensors coupled to the user;

calculating a user'"'"'s target-achievement-score based on factors comprising;

a user'"'"'s exercise level as determined by reference to the user'"'"'s exercise-related data, a user'"'"'s target exercise level zone, a length of time during which the user'"'"'s exercise level was within the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone, and an accuracy with which the user'"'"'s exercise level matched a user'"'"'s target exercise level, wherein the user'"'"'s target exercise level is associated with the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone;

determining a user'"'"'s ranking from among one or more virtual competitors based on a comparison between the user'"'"'s target-achievement-score and each competitor'"'"'s target-achievement-score; and

providing, to the user, while the user is exercising, the user'"'"'s ranking.

2. The computer-readable media of claim 1 comprising further computer-executable instructions directed to selecting one or more virtual competitors from among potential virtual competitors based on a proximity between the virtual competitors'"'"' target-achievement-scores and a user'"'"'s most recent target-achievement-score, wherein the virtual competitors'"'"' target-achievement-scores are pre-computed.

3. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the selecting one or more virtual competitors comprises selecting at least one greater virtual competitor whose target-achievement-score is greater than the user'"'"'s most recent target-achievement score.

4. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the virtual competitors'"'"' target-achievement-scores are stored remotely from the user.

5. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the comparison between the user'"'"'s target-achievement-score and each competitor'"'"'s target-achievement-score comprises interpolating each competitor'"'"'s target-achievement-scores in accordance with that competitor'"'"'s duration of exercise as compared to a user'"'"'s anticipated duration of exercise.

6. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the providing the user'"'"'s ranking comprises providing the user'"'"'s ranking in a prominent manner in a glanceable interface.

7. The computer-readable media of claim 6, wherein the glanceable interface further comprises:

an indication of the difference between the user'"'"'s exercise-related data and the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone if the user'"'"'s exercise-related data indicates that the user'"'"'s exercise level is outside of the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone.

8. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the user'"'"'s exercise-related data comprises heart-rate data, and wherein the one or more sensors coupled to the user comprises an electrocardiogram sensor.

9. A computing device for providing exercise-oriented motivation to a user, the computing device comprising:

a peripheral interface for receiving a user'"'"'s exercise-related data from one or more sensors coupled to the user; and

a glanceable interface comprising, if the user'"'"'s exercise-related data signifies that a user'"'"'s exercise level is outside of the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone;

a color-coded indication that the user'"'"'s exercise level is outside of the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone, an indication of a change required of the user to conform the user'"'"'s exercise level with the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone, and an indication of the difference between the user'"'"'s exercise-related data and a user'"'"'s target exercise level zone.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the glanceable interface further comprises an instruction to the user directed to modifying the user'"'"'s exercise level to conform to the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone if the user'"'"'s exercise-related data indicates that a user'"'"'s exercise level is outside of the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone.

11. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the glanceable interface further comprises a user'"'"'s ranking from among one or more virtual competitors based on a comparison between a user'"'"'s target-achievement-score and each competitor'"'"'s target-achievement-score, wherein the user'"'"'s target-achievement-score is based on factors comprising:

the user'"'"'s exercise level as determined by reference to the user'"'"'s exercise-related data, the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone, a length of time during which the user'"'"'s exercise level was within the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone, and an accuracy with which the user'"'"'s exercise level matched a user'"'"'s target exercise level, wherein the user'"'"'s target exercise level is associated with the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone.

12. The computing device of claim 11 further comprising computer-executable instructions directed to selecting one or more virtual competitors from among potential virtual competitors based on a proximity between the virtual competitors'"'"' target-achievement-scores and a user'"'"'s most recent target-achievement-score, wherein the virtual competitors'"'"' target-achievement-scores are pre-computed.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the selecting one or more virtual competitors comprises selecting at least one greater virtual competitor whose target-achievement-score is greater than the user'"'"'s most recent target-achievement score.

14. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the comparison between the user'"'"'s target-achievement-score and each competitor'"'"'s target-achievement-score comprises prorating each competitor'"'"'s target-achievement-scores in accordance with that competitor'"'"'s duration of exercise as compared to a user'"'"'s anticipated duration of exercise.

15. A method of providing exercise-oriented motivation to a user comprising the steps of:

receiving a user'"'"'s exercise-related data from one or more sensors coupled to the user;

calculating a user'"'"'s target-achievement-score based on factors comprising;

a user'"'"'s exercise level as determined by reference to the user'"'"'s exercise-related data, a user'"'"'s target exercise level zone, a length of time during which the user'"'"'s exercise level was within the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone, and an accuracy with which the user'"'"'s exercise level was within the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone;

determining a user'"'"'s ranking from among one or more virtual competitors based on a comparison between the user'"'"'s target-achievement-score and each competitor'"'"'s target-achievement-score; and

providing, to the user, while the user is exercising, the user'"'"'s ranking.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

selecting one or more virtual competitors from among potential virtual competitors based on a proximity between the virtual competitors'"'"' target-achievement-scores and a user'"'"'s most recent target-achievement-score, wherein the virtual competitors'"'"' target-achievement-scores are pre-computed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the selecting one or more virtual competitors comprises selecting at least one greater virtual competitor whose target-achievement-score is greater than the user'"'"'s most recent target-achievement score.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the comparison between the user'"'"'s target-achievement-score and each competitor'"'"'s target-achievement-score comprises prorating each competitor'"'"'s target-achievement-scores in accordance with that competitor'"'"'s duration of exercise as compared to a user'"'"'s anticipated duration of exercise.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the user'"'"'s raking is provided via a glanceable interface, the glanceable interface further comprising:

an indication of the difference between the user'"'"'s exercise-related data and the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone if the user'"'"'s exercise-related data indicates that the user'"'"'s exercise level is outside of the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone; and

an indication of the user'"'"'s exercise-related data if the user'"'"'s exercise-related data indicates that the user'"'"'s exercise level matches a user'"'"'s target exercise level, wherein the user'"'"'s target exercise level is associated with the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the glanceable interface further comprises an instruction to the user directed to modifying the user'"'"'s exercise level to conform to the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone if the user'"'"'s exercise-related data indicates that a user'"'"'s exercise level is outside of the user'"'"'s target exercise level zone.