MEASURING AND CONVERTING ACTIVITIES TO BENEFITS

• US 20100048272A1
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daybreak Game Company, LLC (Enad Global 7 AB)
• Original Assignee: Sony Online Entertainment LLC (Enad Global 7 AB)
• Inventors: Koh, Bobby
• Application Number:
  US12/333,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20100048272A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 : Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

Measuring and converting physical activities to benefits, including: measuring a physical activity of a user using a measuring device; converting the measurement made by the measuring device to service benefits using predetermined formulas, wherein the service benefits are consistent and balanced to time needed to attain a similar reward from engaging only in a target activity; and providing the benefits.

Claims

1. A method of measuring and converting physical activities to benefits, the method comprising:

measuring a physical activity of a user using a measuring device;

converting the measurement made by the measuring device to service benefits using predetermined formulas,

wherein the service benefits are consistent and balanced to time needed to attain a similar reward from engaging only in a target activity; and

providing the benefits.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

coupling an interface module to the measuring device to read the measurement from the measuring device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the interface module includes an optical module.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the interface module includes a cable that connects it to the measuring device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement is converted to points or work units that can be tracked.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising

accounting for and managing the points or work units.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising

translating the points or work units to the benefits.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the provided benefits are online benefits for an online game to boost game characters.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising

managing the benefits obtained as a result of the physical activity performed by the user.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising

selecting at least one specific benefit from the benefits depending on the target activity.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising

negotiating with an online game provider to provide boosts to in-game characters when the target activity is an online game.

12. A system of measuring and converting physical activities to benefits, the system comprising:

a measuring device configured to measure a physical activity of a user;

a conversion module configured to convert the measurement made by said measuring device to service benefits using predetermined formulas,

wherein the service benefits are consistent and balanced to time needed to attain a similar reward from engaging only in a target activity; and

a benefits manager configured to provide the benefits.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising

an interface module coupled to said measuring device to read the measurement from said measuring device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said interface module includes an optical module.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said interface module includes a cable that connects it to said measuring device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said conversion module converts the measurement to points or work units that can be tracked.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising

a points manager configured to account for and manage the points or work units.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising

a translator to translate the points or work units to the benefits.

19. The system of claim 12, further comprising

a selector to select at least one specific benefit from the benefits depending on the target activity.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said benefits manager is configured to negotiate with an online game provider to provide boosts to in-game characters when the target activity is an online game.

21. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for measuring and converting physical activities to benefits, the computer program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

measure a physical activity of a user;

convert the measurement to service benefits using predetermined formulas,

wherein the service benefits are consistent and balanced to time needed to attain a similar reward from engaging only in a target activity; and

provide the benefits.