Method and Apparatus in Connection with Exercise

• US 20090275442A1
• Filed: 04/10/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Nissila, Juuso
• Granted Patent: US 7,914,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• 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 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/08 other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/40 respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/65 : skin conductivity
• 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: 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

An apparatus for an interval exercise performable by a person, the interval exercise including at least two training intervals, each including a work phase and a recovery phase, wherein processing a first exercise parameter data characterizing an exertion level of the interval exercise, detecting a work phase of a training interval from the first exercise parameter data, detecting a value of the first exercise parameter from the exercise parameter data at end of the work phase, and determining a threshold level of a physiological parameter, measured from the person and characterizing the person'"'"'s recovery level in a recovery phase, based on the value of the first exercise parameter at the end of the work phase.

Claims

1. An apparatus for an interval exercise performable by a person, the interval exercise including at least two training intervals, each including a work phase and a recovery phase, the apparatus comprising:

a processing device to process a first exercise parameter data characterizing an exertion level of the interval exercise;

a detector to detect a work phase of a training interval from the first exercise parameter data;

a detector to detect a value of the first exercise parameter from the exercise parameter data at the end of the work phase; and

a determiner to determine a threshold level of a physiological parameter, measured from the person and characterizing the person'"'"'s recovery level in a recovery phase, based on the value of the first exercise parameter at the end of the work phase.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing device processes the physiological parameter data, the apparatus further comprising an indicator to indicate the physiological parameter reaching the threshold level of the physiological parameter.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising a determiner to determine a threshold level of the physiological parameter for each recovery phase separately based on a value of the first exercise parameter at the end of a preceding work phase.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising:

a determiner to determine a heart rate variation value during at least one recovery phase; and

an indicator to indicate if the heart rate variation value goes below a predetermined threshold value.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an interval exercise operation mode, in which the detector to detect a work phase, detector to detect a value of the first exercise parameter, and the determiner to determine a threshold level of a physiological parameter are activated.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing device processes information on a type of the interval exercise, the apparatus further comprising a determiner to determine the threshold level of the physiological parameter based on the value of the exercise parameter at the end of the work phase and the type of the interval exercise.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first exercise parameter characterizes at least one element of a group comprising:

motion information on the person, physiological information on the person, and workout information on the person.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an applicator to applying the threshold level of the physiological parameter in at least one element of a group comprising:

controlling the interval exercise, monitoring the interval exercise.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first exercise parameter is the physiological parameter measured from the person.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes one or more elements of a group comprising a processor usable as an electric device, a performance monitor for monitoring interval training performed by a healthy person, a mobile station, an external computer connected to a performance monitor, and an exercise device.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising:

means for processing the physiological parameter data; and

means for providing an indication of the physiological parameter reaching the threshold level of the physiological parameter.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising means for determining a threshold level of the physiological parameter for each recovery phase separately based on a value of the first exercise parameter at the end of a preceding work phase.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising

means for determining a heart rate variation value during at least one recovery phase;

and

means for providing an indication if the heart rate variation value goes below a predetermined threshold value.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising

means for processing information on a type of the interval exercise;

and

means for determining the threshold level of the physiological parameter based on the value of the exercise parameter at the end of the work phase and the type of the interval exercise.

11. A method for an interval exercise performable by a person, the interval exercise including at least two training intervals, each including a work phase and a recovery phase, the method comprising:

processing a first exercise parameter data characterizing an exertion level of the interval exercise, in a first computer process

detecting a work phase of a training interval from the first exercise parameter data;

detecting a value of the first exercise parameter from the exercise parameter data at the end of the work phase; and

determining a threshold level of a physiological parameter in a second computer process, measured from the person and characterizing the person'"'"'s recovery level in a recovery phase, based on the value of the first exercise parameter at the end of the work phase.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising providing an indication of the heart rate parameter reaching the recovery level of the heart rate parameter.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

determining a heart rate variation value during at least one recovery phase; and

providing an indication if the heart rate variation value goes below a predetermined threshold value.

14. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

processing information on a type of the interval exercise in a third computer process; and

determining the threshold level of the physiological parameter based on the value of the exercise parameter at the end of the work phase and the type of the interval exercise in a fourth computer process.

15. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

process a first exercise parameter data characterizing an exertion level of the interval exercise;

detect a work phase of a training interval from the first exercise parameter data;

detect a value of the first exercise parameter from the exercise parameter data at the end of the work phase; and

determine a threshold level of a physiological parameter, measured from the person and characterizing the person'"'"'s recovery level in a recovery phase, based on the value of the first exercise parameter at the end of the work phase.

16. An apparatus for an interval exercise performable by a person, the interval exercise including at least two training intervals, each including a work phase and a recovery phase, the apparatus comprising:

means for processing a first exercise parameter data characterizing an exertion level of the interval exercise;

means for detecting a work phase of a training interval from the first exercise parameter data;

means for detecting a value of the first exercise parameter from the exercise parameter data at the end of the work phase; and

means for determining a threshold level of a physiological parameter, measured from the person and characterizing the person'"'"'s recovery level in a recovery phase, based on the value of the first exercise parameter at the end of the work phase.