SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS MONITORING OF SPORTS ACTIVITIES

• US 20120139731A1
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Razoumov, Leonid, Bowen, Donald J., Miller, Robert R. II
• Granted Patent: US 8,593,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• 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 2230/08 : other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 : blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• 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 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

The subject disclosure provides a system and method for wireless monitoring of sports activities. A subject participating in a sports activity is associated with biometric sensors which measure the subject'"'"'s body movements. In one aspect, the system includes a sensor for continuously gathering biometric data from a subject performing a sports activity where the biometric data associated with the body movements of the subject. A wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor transmits the biometric data and a database engine receives the biometric data from the wireless transceiver and providing real-time feedback. The real-time feedback associated with the biometric data from the subject is characterized by instructions associated with the sports activity.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring sports activities, comprising:

at least one sensor for substantially continuously gathering biometric data from a subject performing a sports activity, the biometric data associated with the body movements of the subject;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the at least one sensor for transmitting the biometric data; and

a database engine for receiving the biometric data from the wireless transceiver and providing real-time feedback,

wherein the real-time feedback associated with the biometric data from the subject is characterized by instructions associated with the sports activity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the real-time feedback is provided by rules-based analysis.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the real-time feedback is provided by a second subject.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the real-time feedback is utilized for competitive analysis.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the database engine further comprises:

a preprocessor for preprocessing the biometric data;

a filter for extracting real-time information from the data; and

a compressor for compressing the data for long-term storage.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the database engine further comprises:

a master agent for monitoring the biometric data and providing statistical feedback.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the master agent further provides benchmarking against previously stored sports activities.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the master agent provides replaying of previously stored sports activities.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the master agent provides benchmarking against other subjects.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises:

a Zigbee communication module; and

a GPS module.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor communicates using the Zigbee communication protocol.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor communicates using the Wi-Fi protocol.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the real-time feedback is presented to the subject through an interactive voice response (IVR) interface.

14. A method for monitoring sports activities, comprising:

substantially continuously gathering biometric data at a sensor from a subject performing a sports activity, the biometric data associated with the body movements of the subject;

transmitting the biometric data at a transceiver to a database engine; and

providing real-time feedback associated with the biometric data from the subject, the real-time feedback characterized by instructions associated with the sports activity.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the providing includes providing the real-time rules-based analysis.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the providing includes providing the real-time feedback by a second subject.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting the biometric data to the database engine for preprocessing the biometric data, for extracting real-time information from the data and for compressing the data for long-term storage.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting the biometric data to the database engine for monitoring the biometric data and providing statistical feedback by a master agent.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the providing the statistical feedback by the master agent further includes providing benchmarking against previously stored sports activities.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the providing the statistical feedback by the master agent includes replaying of previously stored sports activities.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the providing the statistical feedback by the master agent includes providing benchmarking against other subjects.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitting the biometric data includes transmitting the biometric data by a transceiver including a Zigbee communication module;

and a GPS module.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor communicates using the Zigbee communication protocol.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor communicates using the Wi-Fi protocol.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the real-time feedback is presented to the subject through an interactive voice response (IVR) interface.

26. A system for monitoring the sports activities of a subject, comprising:

a database engine for receiving biometric data from a wireless transceiver and providing real-time feedback, wherein the database engine is coupled to a wireless transceiver via at least one wireless communication network, and wherein the wireless transceiver is coupled to at least one sensor for substantially continuously gathering the biometric data from a subject performing a sports activity, the biometric data associated with the body movements of the subject;

wherein the real-time feedback associated with the biometric data from the subject is characterized by instructions associated with the sports activity, and

wherein the instructions associated with the sports activity are displayed in graphical form on the display.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the real-time feedback is provided by rules-based analysis.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the real-time feedback is provided by a second subject.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the real-time feedback is utilized for competitive analysis.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the database engine further comprises:

a preprocessor for preprocessing the biometric data;

a filter for extracting real-time information from the data; and

a compressor for compressing the data for long-term storage.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the database engine further comprises:

a master agent for monitoring the biometric data and providing statistical feedback.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the master agent further provides benchmarking against previously stored sports activities.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the master agent provides replaying of previously stored sports activities.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the master agent provides benchmarking against other subjects.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein the transceiver further comprises:

a Zigbee communication module; and

a GPS module.

36. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one sensor communicates using the Zigbee communication protocol.