Fitness Training System With Energy Expenditure Calculation That Uses Multiple Sensor Inputs

• US 20130324368A1
• Filed: 06/04/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Aragones, Tesa, Guerrero, Adriana, Holmes, Steve, Self, Christina S., Weast, Aaron B., Winsper, Paul, Blahnik, Jay C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,545,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0053 by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/44 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the integumentary system, e.g. skin, hair or nails A61B5/117 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• 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 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 10/60 : Healthcare; Welfare
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 20/40 : relating to personal data, e.g. biometric data, records or preferences
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 40/10 : Detection; Monitoring

Abstract

Systems and methods for prompting a user to perform an exercise and monitoring the exercise are provided. Multiple independent sensors or sensor systems may be used to calculate energy expenditure. Various criteria may be used to manually or automatically select the independent sensor or sensor system or combination that will be used with the energy expenditure calculations.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method tier use with a user performing an exercise, comprising:

monitoring, with a first sensor, athletic activity of the user while performing the exercise;

monitoring, with a second sensor, the athletic activity of the user while performing the same exercise;

selecting, by a computer processor, one of the first sensor and the second sensor to calculate an energy expenditure estimate of the user corresponding to the monitored exercise;

displaying, by a first display device associated with the selected sensor, the energy expenditure estimate of the user; and

displaying, on a second display device associated with the non-selected sensor, the same energy expenditure estimate of the user displayed on the first display device associated with the selected sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the computer processor prior to beginning the exercise, a selection by the user of a sensor to be used to calculate the energy expenditure estimate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying, on the second display device associated with the non-selected sensor comprises:

disabling the second display device from displaying data received from the second sensor; and

receiving, at the second display device, the energy expenditure estimate of the user displayed on the first display device associated with the selected sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting is performed by a computer processor based on accuracy of the first sensor to calculate a first energy expenditure estimate of the user and accuracy of the second sensor to calculate a second energy expenditure estimate of the user, the method further comprising:

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selecting is a function of the exercise performed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the one of the first sensor and the second sensor comprising selecting the first sensor for a first portion of the exercise and the second sensor for a second portion of the exercise, the method further comprising:

calculating, by the processor using monitored data from the first sensor, a first energy expenditure estimate of the user corresponding to the first portion of the exercise, wherein the first sensor is configured to more accurately monitor the user'"'"'s athletic movement during the first portion of the exercise than the second sensor; and

calculating, by the processor using monitored data from the second sensor, a second energy expenditure estimate of the user corresponding to the second portion of the exercise, wherein the second sensor is configured to more accurately monitor the user'"'"'s athletic movement during the second portion of the exercise than the first sensor;

wherein the energy expenditure estimate displayed on the first display is a function of the first energy expenditure estimate and the second energy expenditure estimate.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the function is a weighted average of the first energy expenditure estimate and the second energy expenditure estimate.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the exercise comprises the user running, wherein the second portion of the exercise comprises the user performing squats, and wherein the energy expenditure estimate comprise an estimate of calories burned by the user.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the calculating of the first energy expenditure estimate is determined utilizing a metabolic equivalent of task (MET) table based on a type of the exercise.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first energy expenditure estimate is based on a basal metabolic rate of the user and wherein the calculating of the first energy expenditure estimate applies the following equation:

Calories burned=BMR*(activity modifier)*(completeness modifier),

wherein BMR is the Basal Metabolic Rate of the user, the activity modifier is an adjustment corresponding to a type of the exercise, and the completeness modifier is an adjustment corresponding to how well a form of the user corresponds to a desired form for the exercise.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a system comprising a combination of multiple independent sensors used to calculate an energy expenditure estimate.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first sensor comprises an image-capturing device coupled with at least one of:

an IR device, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a location-determining device, light sensor, temperature sensor, heart rate monitor, and moisture sensor, and wherein image data captured by the image-capturing device detects that the user'"'"'s right arm has moved based on a distance between sensor locations having decreased.

13. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing system to perform a method comprising:

detecting, with a first sensor, athletic activity of a user while performing an exercise;

detecting, with a second sensor, the athletic activity of the user while performing the same exercise;

selecting one of the first sensor and the second sensor to calculate an energy expenditure estimate of the user corresponding to the exercise;

displaying, by a first display device associated with the selected sensor, the energy expenditure estimate of the user; and

disabling a second display device associated with the non-selected sensor.

14. The computer readable media of claim 13, storing further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising

receiving a selection by the user of a sensor to be used to calculate the energy expenditure estimate.

15. The computer readable media of claim 13, wherein the selecting is performed by the one or more processors based on accuracy of the first sensor to calculate a first energy expenditure estimate of the user and accuracy of the second sensor to calculate a second energy expenditure estimate of the user.

16. The computer readable media of claim 15, wherein the selecting is a function of the exercise performed.

17. The computer readable media of claim 15, wherein the first sensor is a system comprising a combination of multiple independent sensors used to calculate an energy expenditure estimate.

18. A computerized system comprising:

at least one processor;

a first sensor configured to monitor athletic activity of a user while performing exercise;

a second sensor configured to monitor athletic activity of the user user while performing the same exercise;

a first display device associated with a selected sensor;

a second display device associated with a non-selected sensor; and

at least one tangible memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system at least to;

monitor, with the first sensor, the athletic activity of the user while performing the exercise;

monitor, with the second sensor, the athletic activity of the user while performing the same exercise;

select one of the first sensor and the second sensor to calculate an energy expenditure estimate of the user corresponding to the exercise;

display, by the first display device associated with the selected sensor, the energy expenditure estimate of the user; and

disable the second display device associated with the non-selected sensor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one tangible memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system at least to:

receive a selection by the user of a sensor to be used to calculate the energy expenditure estimate.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the selecting is performed by the one or more processors based on accuracy of the first sensor to calculate a first energy expenditure estimate of the user and accuracy of the second sensor to calculate a second energy expenditure estimate of the user, and wherein the selecting is a function of the exercise performed.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the first sensor is a sensor system comprising a combination of multiple independent sensors used to calculate an energy expenditure estimate.