Training and instructing support device

• US 20090239710A1
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CardiacSense Ltd
• Original Assignee: Eldad Shemesh, Liat Shemesh-Granot
• Inventors: Shemesh, Eldad, Shemesh-Granot, Liat
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• 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 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

A personal device is provided for measuring a training activity of a trainee having a body part which moves during this training activity, this movement at least partially defining said training activity. The device comprises a sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during the training activity, parameters associated with the movement of the body part, and wherein the sensing unit comprising at least accelerometer means, a compass and, optimally, gyroscope means. The device further comprises means for attaching the sensing unit to the body part and a processor adapted to receive from the sensing unit the parameters and to calculate based thereon, data indicative of the training activity. In addition, there are provided a system for use by an instructor in instructing of a plurality of participants engaged in an activity, a communication system for communicating with one or more swimmers, the system comprising a transmitting module adapted to communicate in accordance with a wireless communication protocol with at least one receiving module associated with at least one swimmer, and a method for automated training one or more swimmers accordingly.

Claims

1. A personal device for measuring a training activity of a trainee having a body part which moves during said training activity, this movement at least partially defining said training activity, said device comprising:

(a) a sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during said training activity, parameters associated with the movement of said body part, and wherein said sensing unit comprising at least accelerometer means, a compass and optionally gyroscope means;

(b) means for attaching the sensing unit to said body part; and

(c) a processor adapted to receive from the sensing unit said parameters, and to calculate based thereon, data indicative of said training activity.

2. A personal device according to claim 1, wherein said body part changes its location and orientation during said training activity, said parameters characterizes the location and orientation of said body part relative to its initial location and orientation, and said data includes at least the location and orientation of said body part for each of the measurements.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said accelerometer means adapted to measure linear acceleration of said body part along three axes, said gyroscope means adapted to measure angular acceleration of said body part around said three axes, and wherein said parameters are at least linear and angular acceleration values.

4. A device according to claim 1, and further comprising at least one additional sensing unit and means for its attaching to an additional body part of said trainee, the sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during said activity, parameters characterizing at least the location and orientation of said additional body part relative to its initial position and orientation;

and said processor being further adapted to receive from said at least one additional sensing unit said parameters, and to calculate, based thereon, at least the location and orientation of said additional body part for each of the measurements, for use thereof in providing said data.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said activity is a swimming session and said data further includes statistics and summary results for said session.

7. A device according to claim 1, further adapted for infrared measurement of the pulse and wherein said data includes the pulse of the trainee.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means for attaching the sensing unit further comprise a flexible platform adapted to amplify at least one of the measurements performed by the sensing unit.

9. A training advisor comprising a device according to claim 1, and further comprising a presentation unit adapted to present to the trainee at least said data or training instructions based on said data.

10. A training advisor according to claim 9, wherein said presentation unit comprises a screen connected to said processor and adapted for displaying to the trainee readings including at least said data or training instructions to the trainee based on said data.

11. A training advisor according to claim 9, wherein said presentation unit comprises vibrating element adapted to generate vibratory pulses according to a predetermined rule, and to direct said pulses to the skin of said trainee.

12. A training advisor according to claim 9, wherein said presentation unit comprises at least one earphone with a receiving module adapted for wirelessly receiving readings including at least the data from said device or training instructions to the trainee based on said data, and converting said readings into audio signal to be transmitted to the trainee via said at least one earphone.

13. A training advisor according to claim 9, wherein the processor of said device is further adapted to provide said training instructions according to predetermined rules.

14. A training advisor according to claim 9, and further comprising a computer adapted for being located at a location spaced from said processor and for wirelessly receiving the data from said device, and having a monitor for displaying to a user of said computer said data or information derived therefrom.

15. A training advisor according to claim 14, wherein said computer further comprises an input unit to receive said training instructions from its user, the computer being adapted to wirelessly transfer said instructions directly or indirectly to said presentation unit.

16. A training advisor according to claim 14, constituting a part of a training system comprising a plurality of such training advisors for a corresponding plurality of trainees, and wherein said monitor is adapted to display to said user said data or information derived therefrom, relating to said plurality of trainees.

17. A training advisor according to claim 16, wherein said monitor is adapted to display to said user said data or information derived therefrom, in a real-time activity of said plurality of trainees.

18. A training advisor according to claim 16, wherein said computer further comprises an input unit to receive from its user the training instructions, the computer being adapted to simultaneously and wirelessly transfer said instructions directly or indirectly to each of said plurality of trainees.

6. A device according to claim 6, wherein said results include one or more of the following:

total training time, number of laps, average lap time, average lap velocity, average strokes per lap, fastest and slowest lap, highest and lowest number of hand strokes per lap, instantaneous speed during the laps, hand or leg lifting height for each stroke, distance traveled for each stroke, comparative results to other trainees using similar devices.

19. A system for use by an instructor in instructing of a plurality of participants engaged in an activity, comprising:

(a) a plurality of personal measuring devices each adapted for being worn by one of said participants and for repeatedly measuring, during said activity, parameters of the participant'"'"'s movement;

(b) a computer adapted for being used by said instructor for wirelessly receiving from each of said personal measuring devices, data, calculated based on said parameters, and having a monitor for displaying said data or information derived therefrom, and an input unit adapted to receive instructions from the instructor;

(c) a plurality of presentation units, each for presenting to said participant at least said instructions; and

(d) communication means connected to said computer adapted to wirelessly transfer said instructions directly or indirectly to each of said presentation units.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein at least one of said plurality of personal measuring devices for at least one participant from said plurality of participants, includes:

(a) a sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during said activity parameters associated with said movement, and wherein said sensing unit comprising at least accelerometer means and gyroscope means;

(b) means for attaching the sensing unit to said participant; and

(c) a processor adapted to receive from the sensing unit said parameters, and to calculate based thereon, data indicative of said activity.

21. A system according to claim 19, wherein at least one of said plurality of presentation units is a screen adapted for being worn by said participant.

22. A system according to claim 19, wherein at least one of said presentation units comprises at least one earphone with a receiving module adapted for wirelessly receiving at least said instructions in digital format, and converting it into audio signal to be transmitted to said participant via said at least one earphone.

23. A system according to claim 19, wherein said activity is swimming.

24. A system according to claim 19, wherein said information displayed to said instructor includes comparative data about the activity of two or more of said plurality of participants.

25. A communication system for communicating with one or more swimmers, the system comprising a transmitting module adapted to communicate in accordance with a wireless communication protocol with at least one receiving module associated with at least one swimmer, wherein:

(a) the transmitting module is adapted to obtain data designated to said at least one swimmer, to accommodate said data and/or derivatives thereof thus giving rise to accommodated data, to process the accommodated data in order to fit it to the wireless communication protocol, and to transmit the processed data to said at least one receiving module upon a predefined condition;

(b) said at least one receiving module associated with said at least one swimmer is adapted to receive the data transmitted from the transmitting module and to process the received data in order to facilitate presenting the data to the swimmer;

(c) the predefined condition is communication availability of said at least one receiving module; and

(d) the wireless communication protocol is configured to facilitate recognition of communication availability of said at least one receiving module.

26. A communication system according to claim 25, wherein said process of accommodated data in the transmitting module includes compressing said data and said process in said at least one receiving module including decompressing the data.

27. A communication system according to claim 25, wherein said receiving module constitutes a part of a device attached to the head of said swimmer, comprises at least one earphone and is adapted for converting said data into audio signal to be transmitted to the swimmer via said at least one earphone.

28. A communication system according to claim 27, wherein said receiving module includes digital media means adapted to display music to said swimmer via said at least one earphone.

29. A communication system according to claim 25, wherein said receiving module includes a screen that is adapted to facilitate said presenting of data to the swimmer.

30. A communication system according to claim 25, wherein said receiving module is adapted to further transmit said data to an additional receiving module which constitutes a part of an additional device attached to the head of said swimmer, said additional device comprises at least one earphone and is adapted for converting said data into audio signal to be transmitted to the swimmer via said at least one earphone.

31. A method for automated training one or more swimmers, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining data related to one or more training instructions designated to at least one swimmer among said swimmers;

(b) automated processing the obtained data in order to fit a wireless communication protocol; and

(c) transmitting the processed data to at least one receiving module associated with said at least one swimmer upon a predefined condition;

wherein the predefined condition is communication availability of said at least one receiving module, and the wireless communication protocol is configured to facilitate recognition of communication availability of said at least one receiving module.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising receiving the transmitted data and further processing thereof in order to facilitate presenting said data related to training instructions to said at least one swimmer.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein processing data to be transmitted further comprises a compression operation and processing the received data further comprises a decompression operation.

34. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for automated training one or more swimmers, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining data related to one or more training instructions designated to at least one swimmer among said swimmers;

(b) automated processing the obtained data in order to fit a wireless communication protocol; and

(c) transmitting the processed data to at least one receiving module associated with said at least one swimmer upon a predefined condition;

wherein the predefined condition is communication availability of said at least one receiving module, and the wireless communication protocol is configured to facilitate recognition of communication availability of said at least one receiving module.

35. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for automated training one or more swimmers, the computer program product comprising:

(a) computer readable program code for causing the computer to obtain data related to one or more training instructions designated to at least one swimmer among said swimmers;

(b) computer readable program code for causing the computer to automated processing the obtained data in order to fit a wireless communication protocol; and

(c) computer readable program code for causing the computer to transmit the processed data to at least one receiving module associated with said at least one swimmer upon a predefined condition;

wherein the predefined condition is communication availability of said at least one receiving module, and the wireless communication protocol is configured to facilitate recognition of communication availability of said at least one receiving module.