System and method for tracking and assessing movement skills in multidimensional space

• US 6,430,997 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Impulse Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Trazer Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: French, Barry J., Ferguson, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US09/654,848
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 733/790.1, 733/790.4, 482/4, 482/8
• US Class Current: 73/379.04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/105 each station having its own resisting device, e.g. for training multiple users simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/081 High jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/082 Long jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 : Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 : for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 : for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0053 : Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 : for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0095 : for volley-ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 : Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 : comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 : Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 : for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 : Methods

Abstract

Accurate simulation of sport to quantify and train performance constructs by employing sensing electronics for determining, in essentially real time, the player'"'"'s three dimensional positional changes in three or more degrees of freedom (three dimensions); and computer controlled sport specific cuing that evokes or prompts sport specific responses from the player that are measured to provide meaningful indicia of performance. The sport specific cuing is characterized as a virtual opponent that is responsive to, and interactive with, the player in real time. The virtual opponent continually delivers and/or responds to stimuli to create realistic movement challenges for the player.

Claims

1. A testing and training system comprising a continuous tracking system for determining changes in an overall physical location of a player, in a defined physical space;

a computer operatively coupled to the tracking system for updating in real time a player virtual location in a virtual space corresponding to the physical location of the player in the physical space, for updating a view of the virtual space, and for providing at least one indicia of performance of the player moving in the physical space, wherein the at least one indicia is or is derived from a measure of a movement parameter of the player.

2. The testing and training system of claim 1, further comprising a display (28) operatively coupled to the computer (22) for displaying in real time the view of the virtual space.

3. The testing and training system of claim 2, wherein the display (28) also displays one or more parameter indications.

4. The testing and training system of claim 1, further comprising a display (28) operatively coupled to the computer (22) for displaying in a view of the virtual space which is updated following each movement segment made by the player.

5. A reactive power training system comprising:

a reactive training device which provides cues to elicit responsive changes in an overall physical location of a subject in at least two dimensions; and

a resistive training device;

wherein the reactive training device and the resistive training device are used in a training sequence.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the reactive training device prompts the subject to follow the training sequence.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the training sequence includes alternating use of the reactive training device with use of the resistive training device.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the reactive training device includes a continuous tracking system for determining changes in the overall physical location of the subject, in a defined physical space;

and a computer operatively coupled to the tracking system for updating in real time a subject virtual location in a virtual space corresponding to the physical location of the subject in the physical space, for updating a view of the virtual space, and for providing at least one indicia of performance of the subject moving in the physical space, wherein the at least one indicia is or is derived from a measure of a movement parameter of the subject.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the reactive training device includes a physical space and a tracking and display system.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the reactive training device measures performance of the subject during use of the reactive training device.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the reactive training device includes positional tracking of the subject in at least two vectors of movement.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the reactive training device provides real-time feedback to the subject during use of the reactive training device, the feedback being indicative of the subject'"'"'s reactive power.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the feedback includes an indication of the subject'"'"'s acceleration, velocity, or power.

14. The system of claim 5, wherein the reactive training device is a first reactive training device, and further comprising a second reactive training device, the reactive training devices being connected in a network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the resistive training device is connected to the network.

16. The system of claim 5, further comprising an information storage device coupled to the reactive training device for storing information related to performance during use of the reactive training device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the storage device is also coupled to the resistive training device for storing information related to performance during use of the resistive training device.

18. The system of claim 5, further comprising a marker worn by the subject, wherein the reactive training device tracks movement of the marker.

19. The system of claim 5, further comprising a transmitter worn by the subject which transmits information to the reactive training device without being physically connected to the reactive training device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the information includes an identification of the subject.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the information includes the subject'"'"'s heart rate.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the transmitter acts as a marker, allowing the reactive training device to track location of the subject.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the transmitter also transmits the information to the resistive training device.

24. The system of claim 5, wherein the cues are sports-specific cues.

25. A method of reactive power training for a user using a reactive training device and one or more resistive training devices, comprising:

performing a training sequence, wherein the performing the training sequence includes;

exercising utilizing the reactive training device, to perform reactive training bouts; and

performing resistive strength enhancing activities on the one or more resistive training devices, to perform resistive training bouts;

wherein the reactive training bouts are alternated with the resistive training bouts.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the reactive training bouts are between 30 and 120 seconds.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising directing, via the reactive training device, the user of the system to follow the training sequence by prompting the user at the conclusion of at least one of the reactive training bouts.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising tracking movements of the user, via the reactive training device, during the reactive training bouts, to measure performance of the user.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising storing information regarding the performance of the user.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising displaying feedback to the user during the reactive training bouts.