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

• US 7,038,855 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Impulse Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Impulse Technology Limited
• Inventors: Ferguson, Kevin R., French, Barry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, TIMOTHY J
• Application Number:
  US11/099,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630, 359/629, 73/790.4, 73/650.1, 731/72, 482/8, 482/1, 482/9
• US Class Current: 359/630
• 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 physical activity system comprising:

a tracking system for continuously tracking an overall physical location of a user in a defined physical space; and

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, and for updating a view of the virtual space;

wherein the computer utilizes a measure of the user'"'"'s power in updating the view of the virtual space.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer determines the measure of the user'"'"'s power using information from the tracking system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer determines the measure of the user'"'"'s power at least in part from an acceleration of the user determined from physical location information received by the computer from the tracking system.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer determines the measure of the user'"'"'s power at least in part based on a body weight of the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the measure of the user'"'"'s power is used to determine a measure of compliance.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the measure of compliance includes a measure of ability to maintain a synchronous relationship with a virtual opponent.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the measure of the users power is used to determine a measure of dynamic reaction time.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the measure of the users power is used to determine a measure of dynamic phase lag.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the measure of the user'"'"'s power is used to determine a measure of first step quickness.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the measure of the user'"'"'s power is used to determine a measure of dynamic reactive bounding.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the measure of the user'"'"'s power is used to determine a measure of dynamic posture.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the measure of the user'"'"'s power is used to determine a measure of dynamic reactive cutting.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display operatively coupled to the computer for displaying in a view of the virtual space which is updated following each movement segment made by the player.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the view of the virtual space is a first person perspective view from the player virtual location.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first person perspective view includes a representation indicating part of a virtual being corresponding to the player.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the view of the virtual space includes a player icon located at the player virtual location.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer updates a protagonist virtual location of a virtual protagonist in the virtual space, and the view includes a protagonist icon located at the protagonist virtual location.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the displays also displays an indication of the user'"'"'s power.

19. A method of evaluating physical activity, the method comprising:

continuously tracking an overall physical location of a user in a defined physical space, using a tracking system; and

determining a power of the user from a history of the overall physical location of the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the determining includes determining acceleration of the overall physical location of the user;

and using the acceleration and a body weight of the user to determine the power of the user.