SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING FITNESS EQUIPMENT AND EXERCISE

• US 20150065213A1
• Filed: 11/11/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dugan Health, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brian M. Dugan
• Inventors: Dugan, Brian M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,700,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• 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 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

The present invention provides systems for and methods of playing a video game that includes providing a game character having a virtual appearance characteristic, receiving an input signal indicative of a user exercise performance level, and altering the virtual appearance characteristic in response to receiving the input signal. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a monitor that monitors exercise performance level of a user;

providing a gaming device that receives exercise performance level information from the monitor, the gaming device having a video game executable on the gaming device responsive to exercise performance level information received from the monitor;

providing a game character within the video game of the gaming device, the game character having a virtual appearance characteristic based on physical characteristics of the user;

receiving an input signal at the gaming device from the monitor indicative of the user'"'"'s exercise performance level;

altering the virtual appearance characteristic of the game character in response to receiving the input signal; and

altering game play of the video game based on the altered virtual appearance characteristic of the game character.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the game character is an avatar representation of the user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a game character includes generating a representation of the user based on input from the user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an input signal includes receiving a verification indication from a third party.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein altering the virtual appearance characteristic includes altering the virtual appearance characteristic to be representative of an effect of performing an exercise.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein altering the virtual appearance characteristic includes altering a game performance level associated with the virtual appearance characteristic of the game character.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein altering the virtual appearance characteristic includes altering a second virtual appearance characteristic that is associated with the altered game performance level.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the video game is executable as part of an exercise group over the internet that includes the user and a second user, wherein the user and the second user play the video game and wherein the method further comprises displaying the game character of the user to the second user as a representation of the user such that the second user can see that the user has achieved the exercise performance level based on the altered virtual appearance characteristic.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein altering the virtual appearance characteristic includes enlarging a muscle size of the game character.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein altering the virtual appearance characteristic includes reducing a dress size of the game character.

11. A method comprising:

providing a monitor that monitors exercise performance level of a user;

providing a video game device that receives exercise performance level information from the monitor, the video game device having a video game executable on the video game device responsive to exercise performance level information received from the monitor;

providing a game character within the video game of the gaming device, the game character having a virtual appearance characteristic;

receiving an input signal at the video game device from the monitor indicative of achievement of a physical goal by the user;

altering the virtual appearance characteristic of the game character in response to receiving the input signal; and

altering game play of the video game based on the altered virtual appearance characteristic of the game character.

12. A system for playing a game comprising:

a video game system adapted to allow a user to interact with a virtual environment using a game character having a virtual appearance characteristic, the virtual appearance characteristic based on physical characteristics of the user;

an input device coupled to the game system and adapted to provide an input signal to the game system indicative of an exercise performance level of the user; and

a video game adapted to execute on the game system and further adapted to alter the virtual appearance characteristic of the game character in response to receiving the input signal and alter game play of the video game based on the altered virtual appearance characteristic of the game character.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the game character is an avatar representation of the user.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the video game is further adapted to generate a representation of the user based on input from the user.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the input device is adapted to receive input from at least one of a monitor, the user entering a code, a sensor, an exercise device, and a third party.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the video game is further adapted to alter the virtual appearance characteristic to be representative of an effect of performing an exercise.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the video game is further adapted to alter a game performance level associated with the virtual appearance characteristic of the game character.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the video game is further adapted to be played concurrently by the user and a second user and wherein the video game is further adapted to display the game character to the second user as a representation of the user such that the second user can see that the user has achieved the user exercise performance level based on the altered virtual appearance characteristic.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the video game is further adapted to alter an appearance of the virtual appearance characteristic by making the game character appear to be more charismatic.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the video game is further adapted to alter an appearance of the virtual appearance characteristic by making the game character appear to be younger.