Online game to promote physical activity

• US 8,506,396 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humana Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Humana Incorporated
• Inventors: Snyder, Seth, Speicher, Jasper
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSEN, CARL VICTOR
• Application Number:
  US12/756,390
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 463/42, 482/8
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 13/56 Computing the motion of game characters with respect to other game characters, game objects or elements of the game scene, e.g. for simulating the behaviour of a group of virtual soldiers or for path finding
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

An online game that promotes physical activity by visually representing the comparative biometric data of a group of people. The biometric data may be collected using a variety of biometric devices. Each individual in the group selects an avatar for use in representing the biometric data. The biometric data is transmitted to a server and displayed collectively on a computer screen. Each individual'"'"'s avatar is displayed on the screen and animated according the biometric data. In an example embodiment in which avatars are fish that are displayed on a fish tank background and the biometric data is steps counted by a pedometer, avatars associated with individuals having a higher step count are positioned above avatars for individuals having a lower step count. Biometric data may be collected from biometric devices at various time intervals and the display updated to reflect the changes in biometric data.

Claims

1. A computerized method for promoting physical activity comprising:

(a) receiving at a server user profile data for a plurality of computer users;

(b) receiving at said server from each of said plurality of computer users a selection of an avatar;

(c) receiving at said server from each of said plurality of computer users biometric data from a biometric device used by said computer user;

(d) defining at said server an activity time period;

(e) defining at said server a target group count;

(f) calculating for each of said plurality of computer users an activity value corresponding to said user'"'"'s activity level as measured by said biometric data at a plurality of intervals within said activity time period;

(g) defining at said server a plurality of activity groups by;

(1) comparing said computer users'"'"' activity values to identify users with correlated activity values; and

(2) adding computer users with correlated activity values to one of said plurality of activity groups until said target group count for said group is reached;

(h) transmitting from said server for display at a user computer said avatar for each of said plurality of users; and

(i) transmitting from said server to said user computer animation data for said avatars wherein said avatars are;

(1) visually grouped according to said activity groups; and

(2) animated in said activity groups according to said correlated activity values for said activity groups.

2. The computerized method of claim 1 wherein transmitting from said server to said user computer animation data comprises transmitting animation data to simulate swimming.

3. The computerized method of claim 2 wherein receiving at said server from each of said plurality of computer users a selection of an avatar comprises receiving selections of fish avatars.

4. The computerized method claim 1 further comprising:

(j) receiving at said server a user'"'"'s selection of an avatar appearing on said display;

(k) in response to receiving said user'"'"'s selection of an avatar, displaying said biometric data for said computer user associated with said avatar.

5. The computerized method of claim 1 wherein said biometric device is selected from the group consisting of:

pedometers, glucometers, and weight scales.

6. The computerized method of claim 1 wherein receiving at a server user profile data for a plurality of computer users comprises receiving profile data for a plurality of co-workers in an office.

7. The computerized method of claim 1 wherein receiving at a server user profile data for a plurality of computer users comprises receiving profile data for a plurality of members of a family.

8. The computerized method of claim 1 further comprising receiving from one of said plurality of computer users a selection of a different avatar.

9. The computerized method of claim 1 further comprising receiving from one of said plurality of computer users a request to view said computer user'"'"'s biometric data over a period of time.

10. The computerized method of claim 1 further comprising:

(j) receiving from said plurality of computer users updated biometric data;

(k) regrouping said avatars according to new activity values calculated from said updated biometric data; and

(l) transmitting to said user computer animation data for said avatars wherein said avatars are;

(1) visually regrouped; and

(2) animated in said activity groups according to said new activity values for said activity groups.

11. The computerized method of claim 1 wherein said display is a touch screen.

12. A computerized system for promoting physical activity comprising:

(a) a computer database for storing;

(1) profile data for a plurality of computer users;

(2) avatar data for an avatar selected by each of said plurality of computer users; and

(3) a plurality of biometric device measurements within an activity time period from each of said plurality of computer users;

(b) a server in communication with said computer database for;

(1) calculating for each of said plurality of computer users an activity value corresponding to said user'"'"'s biometric device measurements;

(2) defining a plurality of activity groups by comparing said computer users'"'"' activity values to identify users with correlated activity values;

(3) adding computer users with correlated activity values to one of a plurality of activity groups until a target group count is reached;

(4) transmitting to a display at a user computer;

(A) said avatar for each of said plurality of users; and

(B) animation data for said avatars on said display wherein said avatars are;

(i) visually group according to said activity groups; and

(ii) animated in said activity groups according to said correlated activity values for said activity groups.

13. The computerized system of claim 12 wherein said animation data comprises animation data to simulate swimming.

14. The computerized system of claim 12 wherein avatar data comprises data for fish avatars.

15. The computerized system of claim 12 further comprising:

(3) selection data for a user'"'"'s selection of an avatar appearing on said display; and

(4) biometric data values for said selected avatar displayed on said display in response to receiving said user'"'"'s selection of an avatar.

16. The computerized system of claim 12 wherein said biometric device is selected from the group consisting of:

pedometers, glucometers, and weight scales.

17. The computerized system of claim 12 wherein said display is a touch screen.

18. A computerized method for promoting physical activity comprising:

(a) receiving at a server from each of a plurality of computer users biometric data from a biometric device used by said computer user;

(b) defining at said server an activity time period;

(c) defining at said server a target group count;

(d) determining for each of said plurality of computer users an activity value corresponding to said user'"'"'s activity level as measured by said biometric data during a plurality of intervals within said activity time period;

(e) defining at said server a plurality of activity groups by;

(1) comparing said computer users'"'"' activity values to identify users with correlated activity values; and

(2) adding computer users with correlated activity values to one of said plurality of activity groups until said target group count for said group is reached;

(f) transmitting from said server for display at a user computer an avatar for each of said plurality of users;

(g) transmitting from said server to said user computer animation data for said avatars wherein said avatars are;

(1) visually organized according to said activity groups; and

(2) animated in said activity groups according to said activity values for said activity groups; and

(h) in response to receiving from a computer user a selection of an avatar, displaying said biometric data for said avatar.

19. The computerized method of claim 18 wherein avatars appear on said display in positions within said activity groups relative to said activity values.

20. The computerized method of claim 19 wherein avatars with higher activity values appear on said display in a position above said avatars with lower activity values.