Audio pacing device

• US 8,608,621 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Ogg, Felix H. G., Simons, David P. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US10/598,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20080153671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,226 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/148, 600/519
• US Class Current: 482/3
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40

Abstract

There is provided an audio pacing device including a sensing unit, such as heart rate monitoring unit, to obtain a parameter, such as heart-beat rate (pulse), of a user in physical exercise, a memory to store a plurality of audio signals having predetermined tempo indications (e.g. beats per minute values); and a processing unit configured to (1) determine whether the intensity of the parameter of the user should be increased, decreased or maintained by using the parameter of the user from the heart rate monitor and a predetermined reference value, and (2) dynamically select and render an audio signal having (or adjusted to have) an audio-tempo that enables the user to accordingly increase, decrease or maintain exercise intensity, respectively.

Claims

1. An audio pacing device, comprising:

a sensing unit to obtain a parameter of a user in physical exercise;

a memory to store a plurality of audio signals having predetermined tempo values; and

a processing unit configured to (1) determine whether intensity of the parameter of the user should be increased, decreased or maintained by using the parameter of the user from the sensing unit and a predetermined reference value, (2) select an audio signal having a tempo that encourages the user to increase, decrease or maintain the intensity, (3) adjust the tempo of a selected audio signal up to a predetermined percentage of the predetermined tempo value, and (4) calculate the predetermined tempo values of the plurality of audio signals,

wherein the plurality of audio signals are categorized based on their predetermined tempo values.

2. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameter is a pulse rate.

3. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameter is a step-speed rate.

4. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tempo is a beat per minute value.

5. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensing unit is a heart rate monitor.

6. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensing unit is a step-speed measurement unit.

7. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing unit and the processing unit are connected in a wired or wireless way.

8. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined reference value includes reference values selected by a user or a programmed exercise routine.

9. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio signals are encoded in an MP3, WAV, MPEG-4, WMA, or AAC format.

10. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 1, further including a switch to enable use of the audio pacing device in a first mode having a first sensing unit and a first parameter and a second mode having second sensing unit and a second parameter.

11. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein if, after the processing unit adjusts the tempo of the selected audio signal up to the predetermined percentage of the predetermined tempo value, the processing unit determines that the intensity of the parameter of the user should be increased or decreased further, then the processing unit selects a different audio signal.

12. An audio pacing method, comprising the steps of:

receiving a parameter of a user in physical exercise from a sensing unit;

determining whether intensity of the parameter of the user should be increased, decreased or maintained by using the parameter of the user from the sensing unit and a predetermined reference value;

selecting an audio signal, from a plurality of audio signals that have predetermined tempo values, having a tempo that encourages the user to increase, decrease or maintain the intensity, further comprising the step of adjusting the tempo of a selected audio signal up to a predetermined percentage of the tempo;

calculating, by an audio pacing device, the predetermined tempo values of the plurality of audio signals; and

categorizing the plurality of audio signals based on their predetermined tempo values.

13. The audio pacing method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of a user selecting the said predetermined reference value from a group of reference values or a programmed exercise routine.

14. The heart rate audio pacing method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the audio signals are encoded in an MP3, WAV, MPEG-4, WMA, or AAC format.

15. The audio pacing method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the parameter is a pulse rate or a step speed rate.

16. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensing unit is a heart rate monitor or a step-speed measurement unit.

17. The audio pacing method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of selecting a different audio signal if, after adjusting the tempo of the selected audio signal up to the predetermined percentage of the tempo, it is determined that the intensity of the parameter of the user should be increased or decreased further.

18. An audio pacing device, comprising:

a sensing unit to obtain a parameter that is representative of a status of a user in motion;

a memory to store a plurality of audio signals having predetermined tempo values; and

a processing unit configured to (1) determine whether the parameter should be increased, decreased or maintained by using the parameter from the sensing unit and a predetermined reference value, (2) select an audio signal having a tempo that encourages the user to increase, decrease or maintain the parameter, (3) adjust the tempo of a selected audio signal up to a predetermined percentage of the predetermined tempo value, and (4) calculate the predetermined tempo values of the plurality of audio signals,

wherein the plurality of audio signals are categorized based on their predetermined tempo values.

19. The audio pacing device as claimed in claim 18, wherein if, after the processing unit adjusts the tempo of the selected audio signal up to the predetermined percentage of the predetermined tempo value, the processing unit determines that the parameter should be increased or decreased further, then the processing unit selects a different audio signal.