System and method for monitoring activity

• US 6,259,944 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pylon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pylon Corporation
• Inventors: Margulis, Eliahu, Frank, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, CARL HERNANDZ
• Application Number:
  US09/209,596
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 128/903, 600/509, 600/519, 600/520, 600/523
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A system for simultaneous monitoring of a plurality of individuals including an individual physiological data logger (IPDL) for each individual for measuring and storing heart beat data, the IPDL including: an electro-cardiogram (ECG) measuring device for providing heart beat data, an extended memory for storing the measured heart beat data, a synchronization element, a micro-controller including a synchronization element controlling circuit, and RF transceiver apparatus; a central interface unit selectably couplable by radio telemetry communication to each IPDL for transmitting thereto a plurality of commands and for receiving therefrom the heart beat data; and a computer coupled to the central interface unit for providing commands for each IPDL, for performance of an individual bench test for deriving a conversion coefficient of heart beat cost per unit of mechanical work, and for monitoring and analyzing, in real time, the heart beat data of each of the plurality of individuals.

Claims

1. A system for simultaneous monitoring of a plurality of individuals comprising:

an individual physiological data logger (IPDL) for each individual for measuring and storing heart beat data, the IPDL including;

an electro-cardiogram (ECG) measuring device for providing heart beat data;

an extended memory for storing said measured heart beat data;

a synchronization element;

a micro-controller including a synchronization element controlling circuit; and

RF transceiver apparatus;

a central interface unit selectably couplable by radio telemetry communication to each IPDL for transmitting thereto a plurality of commands and for receiving therefrom said heart beat data; and

a computer coupled to said central interface unit for providing commands for each said IPDL, for performance of an individual bench test for deriving an individual conversion coefficient of heart beats cost per unit of mechanical work, and for monitoring and analyzing, in real time, said heart beat data, utilizing said individual coefficient of heart beats cost per unit of mechanical work, of each of the plurality of individuals, wherein said computer scans said heart beat identification data during analysis and commands said central interface unit to request re-transmission of any missing heart beat data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said ECG measuring device includes a printed circuit board, for measuring electrical activity of the heart muscle as detectable on the chest; and

said IPDL further includes;

a clock for providing time marks;

software for operating RF transceiver apparatus for RF communication with said central interface unit (CIU); and

an electric power source.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said computer further includes means for analyzing and storing data about each individual in real time and over time.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein each said IPDL provides heart beat data as time marks, the absolute time from the start of exercise at which a heart beat pulse signal is received.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein each said IPDL provides heart beat data as relative time intervals between each heart beat, together with heart beat identification data.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said computer includes a plurality of data bases, selected from a Personal Data Base;

a Fitness Data Base;

a Groups Data Base;

a Sensor Data Base;

a Training Session Plans Data Base;

a Sessions Data Base, for details about each session;

a Heart Beat Time Marks Data Base;

a Manual Coach Markers Data Base; and

an Exercises Data Base.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said computer includes an plurality of software modules selected from a group including:

a Sensor Registration Module;

a Person Editor Module;

a Group Editor Module;

a Session Creation Module;

a Training Plan Editor Module;

a Monitor Module; and

an Analysis Module.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said central interface unit (CIU) includes:

a microprocessor;

RF transceiver apparatus for communication with said IPDLs;

a power source; and

a communication circuit for coupling to said computer.

10. The system according to claim 1, further including means for calculating heart beat intervals and spectral analysis of the variability of heart rate.

4. A system for simultaneous monitoring of a plurality of individuals comprising:

a plurality of individual physiological data loggers (IPDL), each for coupling to an individual, each having an ECG measuring device for providing heart beat data of said individual, and an extended memory, for producing and storing an output representative of said heart beat data

a central interface unit including RF transceiver apparatus for sequentially transmitting a predetermined signal to cause each of said plurality of IPDLs to transmit IPDL identity data and stored heart beat data, for receiving these transmissions, and for requesting re-transmission of any missing heart beat data; and

a computer for analyzing and displaying, in real time, said heart beat utilizing a calculated conversion coefficient of individual heart beats cost of specific mechanical work, together with identification and personal data for said individual each of the plurality of individuals.

11. A method for monitoring the activity level and the physiological status of an individual, or a group of individuals, including the steps of:

measuring heart beat pulses in an individual physiological data logger (IPDL) worn adjacent the chest of an individual;

calculating heart beat data in said IPDL;

storing said heart beat data in said IPDL;

transmitting a command via RF transceiver apparatus from a central interface unit (CIU) to said IPDL in response to a command to transmit said stored heart beat data;

transmitting said stored heart beat data via RF transceiver apparatus from said IPDL to said CIU;

transferring said heart beat data from said CIU to a computer;

analyzing and processing said heart beat data in said computer in real time utilizing an individual coefficient of heart beats cost per unit of external work, and providing an output display, in real time, corresponding thereto.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said steps of measuring through analyzing are performed in real time while said individual is performing physical exercise, and wherein said step of analyzing includes calculating individual heart beats cost for performing said physical exercise and providing an output display corresponding thereto.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said steps of measuring through storing are performed simultaneously by a plurality of IPDLs, each worn on a different individual;

and

said steps of transmitting are performed sequentially for each of said IPDLs.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said individual coefficient for cost of work is derived by means of a bench test including the following steps:

fastening an IPDL on the individual;

defining a first load for the individual;

providing synchronization by said IPDL for a step rate for that load;

monitoring in real time in said IPDL heart beat data of the individual;

calculating a first load performance result;

defining a second load for the individual;

providing synchronization by said IPDL for a step rate for said second load;

monitoring in real time in said IPDL heart beat data of the individual; and

calculating a second load performance result;

calculating said individual coefficient for cost of work for the individual based on said first and second load performance results.

15. The method according to claim 14, further including, after said step of calculating a second load performance result, the steps of:

defining a third load for the individual;

providing synchronization by said IPDL for a step rate for said third load;

monitoring in real time in said IPDL heart beat data of the individual; and

calculating a third load performance result;

and wherein said step of calculating said individual coefficient includes calculating said individual coefficient for cost of work for the individual based on said first, second, and third load performance results.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said step of providing synchronization includes providing an audible signal at the rate of said step rate.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a graphic presentation of the analyzed heart beat data.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein said computer starts a monitoring session for an individual upon an input command, and analyzed heart beat data for that individual from said session is stored in association with identification data for said monitoring session.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein said computer starts a plurality of monitoring sessions, each for one of a plurality of individuals, upon an input command, and analyzed heart rate beat data for each individual from said respective monitoring session is stored in association with identification data for the associated monitoring session.

20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

coupling an unused IPDL to a new individual;

measuring and storing heart beat data for said new individual in said IPDL;

starting a monitoring session for said new individual in said computer; and

causing said computer to actuate said CIU to request transmission of the stored heart beat data from said IPDL, without interrupting other existing sessions.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

opening, on a monitor screen, a new client window when said monitoring session is started; and

adding a sensor number corresponding to said unused IPDL to a CIU command packet for current pooling.

22. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

removing an IPDL from one of the plurality of individuals;

ending said monitoring session for that individual in the computer, without interrupting other existing sessions; and

closing, on a monitor screen, a client window associated with said individual.

23. The method of claim 11, wherein a micro-controller unit in each said IPDL manages two way, half-duplex RF communication between said IPDL and said CIU, heart beat storage upon command from a computer program, providing an audible signal at the start and stop of exercises, and synchronization of rhythmical beeping during a Bench Test.

24. The method of claim 11, wherein said computer calculates heart beat intervals, and utilizes Fast Fourier Transform to perform spectral analysis of the variability of the heart beat rate.

25. The method according to claim 11, including the steps of

sending a command packet for current pooling, containing an IPDL address for each IPDL participating at that moment in a monitoring session, together with a respective command for each IPDL, from said computer to said CIU;

slicing said command packet in said CIU according to each individual IPDL address, with its corresponding command;

preparing said data for RF transmission;

transmitting a direct data message sliced from said command packet to a first IPDL; and

awaiting receipt of an acknowledgement message from said first IPDL.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the steps of transmitting a direct data message sliced from said command packet to a second IPDL regardless of receipt of an acknowledgement message from said first IPDL;

and

awaiting receipt of an acknowledgement message from said second IPDL.

27. The method according to claim 11, wherein said IPDL provides heart beat data together with heart beat identification data via said CIU to said computer;

said computer scans said heart beat identification data during analysis and commands said CIU to request re-transmission of any missing heart beat data.

28. The method according to claim 11, further including:

preparing a training program including a combination of specific external work, consisting of different sport activities over different periods of time;

assigning said training program to an individual;

converting values of said external work to personal heart beats cost, using an individual coefficient for cost of work (heart beats cost); and

displaying representatives of said personal heart beats cost in a personal Monitoring Window as a personal target power expenditure for performing said training program.

29. The method according to claim 11, wherein said steps of measuring and storing heart beat data is performed at one time, and said step of transmitting said heart beat data to said CIU is performed at a later time.