Method and system for presenting information for physical motion analysis

• US 6,537,076 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Golftec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GolfTEC Enterprises LLC (Golftech)
• Inventors: Parks, Jeffrey Jack, McNitt, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng; Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/788,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118,247,252,257,258,307 R,308,365 473/131,156,168,201,221,222,266,453 345/156,419,420,723,835 348/38,157,207,317,335,383,578,584,700,840 463/1,8,39 725/34 386/46,52,64,104,112,117 709/247 707/500.1,104.1
• US Class Current: 434/252
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• 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 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0015 for cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

An analysis system and method for providing athletic training and instruction by sensing different types of information, such as video, positional information, weight transfer information during a training session and storing the information to a lesson file. The method and system displays video information simultaneously with positional measurement information related to that is synchronized with the video information. Additionally, the displays are controlled using a single control element, or group of control elements. Moreover, the fact as to whether the displayed information is synchronized is automatically detected so as to link corresponding control elements together.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information on a display area presented on a display monitor, the method comprising:

(a) dividing the display area into a first display region and a second display region;

(b) displaying a first video clip in the first display region, the first video clip controllable by a first set of video control elements and comprising video frames of a golfer performing a golf swing, wherein the first set of video control elements comprises;

a start control element to start the display of video information;

a stop control element to stop the display of video information;

an address control element to display the video information related to an address position of the golf swing;

a top control element to display the video information relate to a top position of the golf swing;

an impact control element to display the video information related to an impact position of the golf swing; and

a finish control element to display the video information relate to a finish position of the golf swing;

(c) displaying a second video clip in the second display region simultaneously with the display of the first video clip, the second video clip controllable by a second set of video control elements and comprising video frames of a golfer performing a golf swing, wherein the second set of video control elements comprises;

a start control element to start the display of video information;

a stop control element to stop the display of video information;

an address control element to display the video information related to an address position of the golf swing;

a top control element to display the video information relate to a top position of the golf swing;

an impact control element to display the video information related to an impact position of the golf swing; and

a finish control element to display the video information relate to a finish position of the golf swing;

(d) determining that the first video clip is synchronized with the second video clip; and

(e) linking the first set of control elements with the second set of control elements such that the first set of control elements controls both the first video clip and the second video clip simultaneously;

(f) displaying a third display region comprising one or more positional measurement values related to the golf swing displayed in the first and second video clips, and wherein the one or more positional measurement values are time-synchronized with the video information; and

(g) simultaneously controlling the display of the one or more positional measurement values in the third display region with the first set of control elements.

2. A method of displaying information as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

dividing the third display region into a plurality of windows, wherein each window displays a positional measurement related to a predetermined body element.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 further comprising interactively positioning the windows in the first display region.

4. A method of displaying information as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

comparing the one or more positional measurement values to a range of predetermined threshold values;

determining a color to display with each of the one or more positional measurement values based on the comparison to the range of predetermined threshold values; and

displaying the one or more positional measurement values in the determined color.

5. A computer program product readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for presenting athletic instruction related to a physical motion on a display area presented on a display monitor, said computer process comprising:

(a) dividing the display area into a first display region and a second display region;

(b) displaying a first video clip in the first display region, the first video clip controllable by a first set of video control elements and comprising video frames of a golfer performing a golf swing, wherein the first set of video control elements comprises;

a start control element to start the display of video information;

a stop control element to stop the display of video information;

an address control element to display the video information related to an address position of the golf swing;

a top control element to display the video information relate to a top position of the golf swing;

an impact control element to display the video information related to an impact position of the golf swing; and

a finish control element to display the video information relate to a finish position of the golf swing;

(c) displaying a second video clip in the second display region simultaneously with the display of the first video clip, the second video clip controllable by a second set of video control elements and comprising video frames of a golfer performing a golf swing, wherein the second set of video control elements comprises;

a start control element to start the display of video information;

a stop control element to stop the display of video information;

an address control element to display the video information related to an address position of the golf swing;

a top control element to display the video information relate to a top position of the golf swing;

an impact control element to display the video information related to an impact position of the golf swing; and

a finish control element to display the video information relate to a finish position of the golf swing;

(d) determining that the first video clip is synchronized with the second video clip; and

(e) linking the first set of control elements with the second set of control elements such that the first set of control elements controls both the first video clip and the second video clip simultaneously;

(f) displaying a third display region comprising one or more positional measurement values related to the golf swing displayed in the first and second video clips, and wherein one or more positional measurement values are time-synchronized with the video information; and

(g) simultaneously controlling the display of the one or more positional measurement values in the third display region with the first set of control elements.

6. A computer program product as defined in claim 5 wherein the process further comprises:

dividing the third display region into a plurality of windows, wherein each window displays a positional measurement value related to a predetermined body element.

7. A computer program product as defined in claim 6 wherein the process further comprises interactively positioning the windows in the first display region.

8. A computer program product as defined in claim 6 wherein the process further comprises:

comparing the one or more positional measurement values to a range of predetermined threshold values;

determining a color to display with each of the one or more positional measurement values based on the comparison to the range of predetermined threshold values; and

displaying the one or more positional measurement values in the determined color.

9. An analysis system for analyzing physical motion occurring during a training session, the analysis system comprising:

a plurality of sensors that sense physical motion, wherein the sensors generate information signals comprising samples of information related to the physical motion;

a storage medium for storing the samples of information related to the physical motion conducted by the information signals;

a display module for generating a display of sensed physical motion, wherein the display module presents a display area comprising;

a first display region displaying a first video clip comprising a plurality of video frames of a performance of the physical motion, the first video clip controllable by a set of control elements;

a second display region displaying one or more positional measurement values related to the physical motion displayed in the first video clip, and wherein each of the one or more positional measurement values is time-synchronized with one of the plurality of the video frames of the first video clip; and

a control area for displaying the set of control elements, the set of control elements comprising a first control element and a second control element, wherein one of the first and second control elements controls both the first display region and the second display region simultaneously.

10. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the display module further comprises:

a third display region displaying a second video clip comprising a plurality of video frames of the performance of the physical motion, wherein each of the plurality of video frames of the second video clip are time-synchronized with one of the plurality of video frames of the first video clip such that one of the first and second control elements controls the first display region, the second display region and the third display region simultaneously.

11. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the first video clip comprises video frames of a golfer performing a golf swing, wherein the set of control elements comprise:

a start control element to start the display of the first video clip;

a stop control element to stop the display of the first video clip;

an address control element to display a video frame related to an address position of the golf swing;

a top control element to display a video frame related to a top position of the golf swing;

an impact control element to display a video frame related to an impact position of the golf swing; and

a finish control element to display a video frame related to a finish position of the golf swing.