EXERCISE DERIVED CURRENCY FOR EXCHANGE OR GRADING

• US 20110136627A1
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ITMP
• Original Assignee: ITMP
• Inventors: WILLIAMS, MICHAEL C.
• Application Number:
  US12/630,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20110136627A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• 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 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0059 Exercising apparatus with reward systems
• 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: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

According to various embodiments of the invention, systems and methods are provided to allow a mobile computing device to retrieve exercise related data from a health or fitness monitoring device during an exercise period. The mobile computing device is further configured to use the exercise related data to determine a number of points or an amount of currency earned during the exercise period. These points may then be exchanged for privileges, grades or financial rewards. In some embodiments, this exchange may be conducted or mediated using a system embodied on a second mobile computing device or servers on the internet.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a mobile computing device receiving heart rate data of a user from a heart rate monitor disposed on the user during an exercise period;

the mobile computing device using the heart rate data and a predetermined conversion formula to determine a number of points accumulated during the exercise period; and

the mobile computing device communicating with an external computing device to exchange at least a portion of the accumulated points for a predetermined privilege.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined privilege comprises a grade.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the mobile computing device visually displaying a progress indication during the exercise period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the progress indication comprises at least one of:

a points earned per unit time indication;

a total points earned indication;

a current heart rate indication;

a heart rate history indication;

a calorie burn rate indication; and

a total calorie burned indication.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the mobile computing device receiving a sedentary heart rate value for the user; and

wherein the conversion formula is configured such that points are not assigned if the heart rate data indicates that a heart rate of the user is within a predetermined range of the sedentary heart rate.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the mobile computing device obtaining a maximum heart rate value for the user;

and the mobile computing device determining an intensity level during the exercise period; and

wherein the number of points accumulated during the exercise period varies according to the intensity level.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the mobile computing device obtaining a maximum heart rate value for the user;

and the mobile computing device determining calories burned during the exercise period; and

wherein the number of points accumulated during the exercise period varies according to the calories burned.

8. Computer executable program code embodied on a computer readable medium configured to cause a mobile computing device to perform the functions of:

receiving heart rate data of a user from a heart rate monitor disposed on the user during an exercise period;

using the heart rate data and a predetermined conversion formula to determine a number of points accumulated during the exercise period; and

communicating with an external computing device to exchange at least a portion of the accumulated points for a predetermined privilege.

9. The computer executable program code of claim 8, wherein the predetermined privilege comprises a grade.

10. The computer executable program code of claim 8, further configured to cause the mobile computing device to perform the function of visually display a progress indication during the exercise period.

11. The computer executable program code of claim 10, wherein the progress indication comprises at least one of:

a points earned per unit time indication;

a total points earned indication;

a current heart rate indication;

a heart rate history indication;

a calorie burn rate indication; and

a total calorie burned indication.

12. The computer executable program code of claim 8, further configured to cause the mobile computing device to perform the function of receiving a sedentary heart rate value for the user;

and wherein the conversion formula is configured such that points are not assigned if the heart rate data indicates that a heart rate of the user is within a predetermined range of the sedentary heart rate.

13. The computer executable program code of claim 12, further configured to cause the mobile computing device to perform the function of obtaining a maximum heart rate value for the user;

and the mobile computing device determining calories burned during the exercise period; and

wherein the number of points accumulated during the exercise period varies according to the intensity level.

14. The computer executable program code of claim 12, further configured to cause the mobile computing device to perform the function of obtaining a maximum heart rate value for the user;

and the mobile computing device determining calories burned during the exercise period; and

wherein the number of points accumulated during the exercise period varies according to the calories burned.

15. A system, comprising:

a mobile computing device having a first computer readable medium embodying computer executable program code configured to perform the functions of;

receiving heart rate data of a user from a heart rate monitor disposed on the user during an exercise period;

using the heart rate data and a predetermined conversion formula to determine a number of points accumulated during the exercise period; and

communicating with an external computing device to exchange at least a portion of the accumulated points for a predetermined privilege; and

the external computing device having a second computer readable medium embodying computer executable program code configured to perform the functions of;

maintaining an account of the accumulated points; and

communicating with the mobile computing device to exchange at least a portion of the accumulated points for a predetermined privilege.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined privilege comprises a grade.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer executable program code embodied on the first computer readable medium is further configured to cause the mobile computing device to perform the function of visually display a progress indication during the exercise period.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the progress indication comprises at least one of:

a points earned per unit time indication;

a total points earned indication;

a current heart rate indication;

a heart rate history indication;

a calorie burn rate indication; and

a total calorie burned indication.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer executable program code embodied on the first computer readable medium is further configured to cause the mobile computing device to perform the function of receiving a sedentary heart rate value for the user;

and wherein the conversion formula is configured such that points are not assigned if the heart rate data indicates that a heart rate of the user is within a predetermined range of the sedentary heart rate.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer executable program code embodied on the first computer readable medium is further configured to cause the mobile computing device to perform the function of obtaining a maximum heart rate value for the user;

and the mobile computing device determining calories burned during the exercise period; and

wherein the number of points accumulated during the exercise period varies according to the calories burned.