Exercise assisting method and apparatus implementing such method

• US 6,786,848 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Sports & Life Company Limited (Konami Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Konami Sports & Life Company Limited (Konami Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamashita, Akihisa, Ohsato, Shintaro, Terao, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US10/236,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20030064860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/900-902
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• 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 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• 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: A63F 2300/8017 : Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 : Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

An exercise assisting apparatus including a cycling machine, a rotation sensor for detecting pedaling movement of the cycling machine, a pulse sensor for detecting the pulse rate of the user, an exercise monitoring unit for monitoring the pulse rate of the user based on the detection results of the rotation sensor and the pulse sensor and a monitor for displaying a background image and a role-playing character. The apparatus also includes an image processor for causing the role-playing character to make a simulated motion related to the pedaling movement within the background image on the monitor based on the detection result of the rotation sensor, a game executing unit for causing the roll-playing character to jump, and a game evaluating unit for giving a higher evaluation when a landing position after the jump is closer to the position reached when the jump is made at a preset target pulse rate.

Claims

1. An exercise assisting apparatus, comprising:

exercise equipment having a movable portion for allowing a user to exercise under a specified load condition,

exercise detecting means for detecting a movement of the movable portion of the exercising equipment,

pulse rate detecting means for detecting the pulse rate of the user,

exercise monitoring means for monitoring an exercising state of the user in accordance with the detection results of the exercise detecting means and the pulse rate detecting means,

a monitor arranged in connection with the exercising equipment for displaying a background image and a character corresponding to the user on a screen,

image displaying means for causing the character to make a simulated motion related to the exercise within the background image on the screen of the monitor in accordance with the detection result of the exercise detecting means,

game executing means for causing the character to make a specified motion related to the simulated exercise based on the detection results of the exercise detecting means, and

game evaluating means for giving a higher evaluation when the executed specified motion is made in a state in which the pulse rate of the user is closer to a preset target pulse rate.

2. An exercise assisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the exercising equipment is a stationary cycling machine provided with pedals as the movable portion,

the exercise detecting means detects a rotating speed of the pedals,

the game executing means causes the character to jump from a jumping platform displayed in the background image by a jumping distance corresponding to the rotating speed detected by the exercise detecting means such that the jump is the specified motion, and

the game evaluating means gives a score corresponding to a difference between a landing position after the jump and the jumping distance at the rotation speed of the pedals when the pulse rate is the target pulse rate.

3. An exercise assisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exercise monitoring means includes trainer displaying means for displaying a trainer character on the monitor and message displaying means for displaying a message corresponding to a difference between the target pulse rate of the user and the pulse rate detected by the pulse rate detecting means.

4. An exercise assisting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

load condition changing means for changing the load condition of the movable portion, wherein the exercise monitoring means instructs the load condition changing means to switch the load condition so as to reduce a difference between the target pulse rate of the user and the pulse rate detected by the pulse rate detecting means according to said difference.

5. An exercise assisting apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising

load condition changing means for changing the load condition of the movable portion, wherein the exercise monitoring means instructs the load condition changing means to switch the load condition so as to reduce a difference between the target pulse rate of the user and the pulse rate detected by the pulse rate detecting means according to said difference, and the message displaying means gives a corresponding warning message when the difference between the target pulse rate of the user and the pulse rate detected by the pulse rate detecting means exceeds a specified threshold value.

6. An exercise assisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exercise monitoring means includes notifying means for giving a notification when the exercise detecting means has not detected the movement of the movable portion for a specified continuous period.

13. An exercise assisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exercise is pedaling and the specified motion is a jump.

7. An exercise assisting method using an exercise assisting apparatus including exercising equipment with a movable portion and a monitor to display a background image allowing a user to exercise under a specified load condition, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting movement of the movable portion of the exercising equipment and a pulse rate of the user,

(b) monitoring an exercising state of the user in accordance with the detection results,

(c) causing a character corresponding to the user to make a simulated motion related to the exercise within the background image displayed on the monitor in accordance with the detected exercising state,

(d) causing the character to make a specified game motion related to the simulated exercise based on the detection results, and

(e) giving a higher evaluation as the executed specified game motion is made in a state in which the pulse rate of the user is closer to a preset target pulse rate.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said exercising equipment is a stationary cycling machine provided with pedals as the movable portion, a rotating speed of the pedals is detected in step (a), the character is caused to jump, as the specified motion, from a jumping platform displayed in the background image by a jumping distance corresponding to the detected rotating speed in step (d), and a score corresponding to a difference between a landing position after the jump and the jumping distance at the rotation speed of the pedals is given when the pulse rate is the target pulse rate in step (e).

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps step of:

displaying on the monitor a trainer character and a message corresponding to a difference between the target pulse rate of the user and the pulse rate of the user.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

changing the load condition of the movable portion, and

giving an instruction to switch the load condition so as to reduce a difference between the target pulse rate of the user and the pulse rate detected in step (b).

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

changing the load condition of the movable portion,

giving an instruction to switch the load condition so as to reduce a difference between the target pulse rate of the user and the pulse rate detected in step (b), and

giving a corresponding warning message when the difference between the target pulse rate of the user and the pulse rate detected in step (b) exceeds a specified threshold value.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising providing a notification in step (b) when the movement of the movable portion is not detected for a specified continuous period in step (a).

14. An exercise assisting apparatus, comprising:

a stationary cycling machine having movable pedals allowing a user to exercise under a specified load condition;

exercise detecting means for detecting the rotating speed of the pedals;

pulse rate detecting means for detecting the pulse rate of the user;

exercise monitoring means for monitoring an exercise state of the user in accordance with the rotating speed of the pedals detected by said exercise detecting means and the user'"'"'s pulse rate detected by said pulse rate detecting means;

a display monitor arranged in connection with said cycling machine for displaying a background image, a character corresponding to the user and at least one jumping platform;

image displaying means for causing the character to make a simulated motion related to the pedaling movement within the background image on said display monitor in accordance with the rotating speed of the pedals detected by said exercise detecting means;

game execution means for causing the character to jump from the jumping platform displayed in the background image by a jumping distance determined by the rotating speed of the pedals detected by said exercise detecting means; and

game evaluation means for providing a higher evaluation when the executed specified motion is made in a state in which the pulse rate of the user is closer to a preset target pulse rate.

15. An exercise assisting apparatus, comprising:

a stationary cycling machine having a movable pedals allowing a user to exercise on a specified load condition;

exercise detecting means for detecting a rotating speed of the pedals;

pulse rate detecting means for detecting the pulse rate of the user;

exercise monitoring means for monitoring an exercise state of the user in accordance with the rotating speed of the pedals detected by said exercise detecting means and the user'"'"'s pulse rate detected by said pulse rate detecting means;

a display monitor arranged in connection with said stationary cycling machine for displaying a background image, a character corresponding to the user and at least one jumping platform;

image displaying means for causing the character to make a simulated motion related to the pedaling movement within the background image on said display monitor in accordance with the rotating speed of the pedals detected by said exercise detecting means;

game execution means for causing the character to jump from a jumping platform displayed in the background image by a jumping distance corresponding to the rotating speed detected by said exercise detecting means; and

game evaluation means for giving a higher evaluation when the jump from the jumping platform is made in a state in which the pulse rate detected by said pulse rate detecting means immediately before the jump is closer to one corresponding to a preset target pulse rate.

16. An exercise assisting method using an exercise assisting apparatus including a stationary cycling machine with pedals and a monitor which displays a background image for allowing a user to exercise under a specified load condition, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a rotating speed of the pedals driven by the user and a pulse rate of the user;

(b) monitoring an exercising state of the user in accordance with the detection results;

(c) causing a character corresponding to the user to make a simulated motion related to the exercise within the background image displayed on the monitor in accordance with the monitored exercising state;

(d) causing the character to make a specified game motion relating to the simulated exercise including a jump motion from a jumping platform displayed in the background image by a jumping distance corresponding to the detected rotating speed; and

(e) providing a higher evaluation for the user when the jump motion from the jumping platform is made in a state in which the pulse rate detected in step (a) immediately before the jump is closer to a preset target pulse rate.