Detecting and using heart rate training zone

• US 20090312658A1
• Filed: 06/13/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Active Knowledge Ltd
• Original Assignee: Gil Thieberger
• Inventors: Keren-Yaar, Ari, Thieberger, Gil, Thieberger, Tal
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/520
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/40 respiratory characteristics
• 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 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities

Abstract

Methods and devices for comprising: obtaining an estimated heart rate training zone for a user; measuring the pulse rate of the user; and performing a plurality of computerized talk tests, such that a higher number of computerized talk tests are performed when the measured pulse rate is more in the vicinity of the estimated heart rate training zone than outside the vicinity of the estimated heart rate training zone. Other embodiments include devices for controlling an exercise program, comprising: an interface to an element configured to play auditory signals, and an interface to an element configured to record a user'"'"'s speech in accordance with the auditory signals; wherein the device is configured to provide an indication upon identifying involuntary interruptions in the user'"'"'s speech.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining an estimated heart rate training zone for a user;

measuring the pulse rate of the user; and

performing a plurality of computerized talk tests, such that a higher number of computerized talk tests are performed when the measured pulse rate is more in the vicinity of the estimated heart rate training zone than outside the vicinity of the estimated heart rate training zone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing at least one of the computerized talk tests while the user sustains a fixed level of effort.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising obtaining from a controllable exercise device an indication that the user is sustaining the fixed level of effort.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising an effort-assessment-device based on which it is determined that the user approximately sustains the fixed level of physical effort.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining that the user approximately sustains the fixed level of physical effort by receiving successive RPE indications within a predetermined close range.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the estimated heart rate training zone is received from the user.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the estimated heart rate training zone is the user'"'"'s last target heart rate.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the estimated heart rate training zone is calculated using data about the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data about the user comprises one or more of the following:

age, sex, height, weight, chest size, blood pressure, activity level, training history, exercise objectives, mental condition, motivation level, body temperature, amount of time since last meal, resting pulse rate, hour of the day, amount of time since last long sleep, body type, and body fat measurement.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the estimated heart rate training zone is based on historic data of the user.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising identifying a change, greater than a threshold, in the user'"'"'s level of effort, and implementing one or more of the following:

disregarding pulse readings obtained while the level of effort changes, indicating the user to maintain the current level of effort while taking the talk test, repeating the talk test after the user sustains a level of effort, or varying the duration of the talk test.

12. A computerized talk test device coupled to a microphone, a speaker, and a pulse meter;

the computerized talk test device is configured to obtain an estimated heart rate training zone of a user, obtain pulse measurements of the user, and perform relatively more computerized talk tests when the measured pulse is more in the vicinity of the estimated heart rate training zone than outside the vicinity of the estimated heart rate training zone.

13. The computerized talk test device of claim 12, wherein the computerized talk test device is configured to receive the estimated heart rate training zone by a voice indication through the microphone.

14. The computerized talk test device of claim 12, wherein the computerized talk test device is further coupled to an input component, and the device receives the estimated heart rate training zone through the input component.

15. The computerized talk test device of claim 12, wherein the computerized talk test device is further configured to perform at least one of the computerized talk tests while the user approximately sustains a fixed level of effort.

16. The computerized talk test device of claim 15, wherein the computerized talk test device is further configured to communicate with a controllable exercise device, whereby the coordination between the computerized talk test device and the controllable exercise device enables the performance of the computerized talk test while the user approximately sustains the fixed level of effort.

17. The computerized talk test device of claim 15, wherein the computerized talk test device is further configured to communicate with an effort-assessment-device, whereby the coordination between the computerized talk test device and the effort-assessment-device enables the performance of the computerized talk test while the user approximately sustains the fixed level of effort.

18. The computerized talk test device of claim 12, wherein the microphone is a conduction microphone enabling operation in a noisy environment.

19. The computerized talk test device of claim 12, wherein the computerized talk test device is an in-the-ear computerized talk test device.

20. A device for controlling an exercise program, comprising:

an interface to an element configured to play auditory signals, and an interface to an element configured to record a user'"'"'s speech in accordance with the auditory signals;

wherein the device is configured to provide an indication upon identifying involuntary interruptions in the user'"'"'s speech.

21. The device of claim 20, further comprising an interface to a controllable exercise device;

wherein the controllable exercise device advances its entering into a cool-down phase based on the identification of the involuntary interruptions.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising an interface to a temperature sensor configured to measure the user'"'"'s temperature;

wherein the controllable exercise device advances its entering into a cool-down phase based on an indication that the user'"'"'s temperature passed a temperature threshold.