Exercise monitoring system and methods

• US 6,736,759 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1999
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Paragon Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Stubbs, Jack B., Schwieger, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/436,515
• Time in Patent Office: 1,652 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/900-902, 702/127, 702/141, 702/142, 702/150, 702/153, 702/97, 701/213-216, 701/207
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• 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 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

An exercise monitoring system which includes an electronic positioning device; a physiological monitor; and a display unit configured for displaying data provided by the electronic positioning device and the physiological monitor.

Claims

1. An exercise monitoring system, comprising:

(a) a data acquisition unit comprising an electronic positioning device and a physiological monitor, said data acquisition unit configured to be worn by a subject performing a physical activity; and

(b) a display unit configured for displaying real-time data provided by said electronic positioning device and said physiological monitor, said display unit separate from said data acquisition unit;

wherein said display unit is configured to be worn by the subject, worn by someone other than the subject, or attached to an apparatus associated with the physical activity being performed by the subject so as to be visible to the subject while performing the physical activity, and

further wherein said system is configured such that said display unit displays real-time data comprising at least one of a subject'"'"'s location, altitude, velocity, pace, and distance traveled.

2. The exercise monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said electronic positioning device is configured to receive electromagnetic signals from three or more sources so that said monitoring system can determine at least one of a subject'"'"'s location, altitude, velocity, pace, and distance traveled.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic positioning device comprises a GPS device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said physiological monitor is chosen from the group consisting of:

an oximeter and a heart rate monitor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said electronic positioning device comprises a GPS device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic positioning device comprises a GPS device, and further wherein said data acquisition unit further comprises a support member, and said GPS device and said physiological monitor are provided on said support member.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said GPS device and said physiological monitor are removably secured to said support member.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said data acquisition unit is configured to be worn about a human user'"'"'s waist.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said data acquisition unit is configured to be worn about a human user'"'"'s chest.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said display unit is configured to be worn about a human user'"'"'s wrist.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said display unit is configured to be mounted to a bicycle.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said physiological monitor includes a probe configured for acquiring physiological data from a user.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein said physiological monitor comprises an oximeter.

14. The system of claim 4, wherein said physiological monitor comprises a heart rate monitor.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises an alarm which is activated when data provided by at least one of said electronic positioning device and said physiological monitor does not meet a predetermined target.

16. The exercise monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said physiological monitor comprises an oximeter, and wherein said system is configured for computing and displaying the time variability of a subject'"'"'s blood oxygen level.

17. The exercise monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises a heads-up type display unit configured to display said data by projecting the data onto glasses, goggles or a visor, or by projecting the data onto a display screen positioned such that the data will be visible to a user.

18. The exercise monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured such that the display unit simultaneously displays:

at least one of a subject'"'"'s velocity, pace and distance traveled; and

physiological data provided by said physiological monitor.

19. The exercise monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises at least one memory, and at least one processor for processing acquired data in accordance with instructions stored in said at least one memory.

20. The exercise monitoring system of claim 19, wherein said data acquisition unit includes memory, and at least one processor for processing acquired data in accordance with instructions stored in said memory of the data acquisition unit, and further wherein said display unit includes memory, and at least one processor for processing acquired data in accordance with instructions stored in said memory of the display unit.

21. The exercise monitoring system of claim 19, wherein said at least one memory is configured for storing acquired data for later retrieval.

22. The exercise monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said display unit is configured for communication with said data acquisition unit via a wired or wireless link, such that data indicative of at least one of a subject'"'"'s velocity or pace can be transmitted to said display unit.

23. The exercise monitoring system of claim 22, wherein said display unit is configured for communication with said data acquisition unit via radio waves.

24. The exercise monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured for computing a subject'"'"'s workload based on the subject'"'"'s velocity and altitude changes, and displaying the computed workload.

25. The exercise monitoring system of claim 24, wherein said system is configured for the input of a subject'"'"'s weight, and said system is configured for computing a subject'"'"'s workload based on the subject'"'"'s velocity, altitude changes and inputted weight.

26. The exercise monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured for electrical communication with an external computer such that acquired data may be stored in the computer.

27. The exercise monitoring system of claim 15, wherein said physiological monitor comprises an oximeter, and wherein said system is configured such that said alarm is activated when a subject'"'"'s blood oxygen level does not meet a predetermined target.

28. The exercise monitoring system of claim 27, wherein said system is configured such that a plurality of predetermined targets for blood oxygen level may be input into said system.

29. An exercise monitoring system, comprising:

(a) an electronic positioning device configured to receive electromagnetic signals from three or more sources so that said monitoring system can determine at least one of a subject'"'"'s velocity or pace, wherein said electronic positioning device is provided as part of a data acquisition unit;

(b) a physiological monitor;

(c) a display unit configured to be worn by a user and for simultaneously displaying real-time data provided by said electronic positioning device and said physiological monitor, wherein said display unit is separate from said electronic positioning device; and

(d) an alarm, wherein said alarm is activated when a subject'"'"'s velocity or pace does not meet a predetermined target.

30. The exercise monitoring system of claim 29, wherein said electronic positioning device comprises a GPS device.

31. The exercise monitoring system of claim 30, wherein said data acquisition unit further comprises a support member, and said GPS device is removably secured to said support member.

32. The exercise monitoring system of claim 29, wherein said physiological monitor comprises a heart rate monitor configured to be worn about a subject'"'"'s chest and to wirelessly transmit data indicative of a subject'"'"'s heart rate to said display unit.