Training method and device

• US 8,721,503 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Barre, Lara, Garcia, Andres, Groeneweg, Nikolaj, Hove, Jillis Ter
• Primary Examiner(s): Ginsberg, Oren
• Assistant Examiner(s): GANESAN, SUNDHARA M
• Application Number:
  US13/607,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20130005536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 600/595, 702/482
• US Class Current: 482/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases

Abstract

A training method and device. Signals are received from a training transducer. Training schedule data of exercises for a user is received from a remote correspondent. The training schedule data is stored in a first memory. A human perceptible signal, which is outputted in accordance with a feedback template, includes data content relating to performance of exercise by the user, said feedback template specifying a manner in which the data content is to be conveyed to the user. Output status data from which the human perceptible signal is generated is stored in a second memory. A determination of whether the received signals satisfy criteria of conforming to the training schedule data is continuously carried out in real time as the user is performing the exercises. The training schedule data is updated as a function of a result of the determination. The training device includes the first and second memory.

Claims

1. A method of training using a training device that comprises a processor, said method comprising:

said processor receiving signals from a training transducer;

said processor receiving, from a remote correspondent, training schedule data comprising a training schedule for exercises to be performed by a user;

said processor storing the training schedule data in a first memory;

said processor outputting a human perceptible signal in accordance with a feedback template, said human perceptible signal comprising data content relating to performance of the exercises by the user, said feedback template specifying a manner in which the data content is to be conveyed to the user;

said processor storing, in a second memory, output status data from which the human perceptible signal is generated;

said processor continuously

(i) carrying out a determination, in real time as the user is performing the exercises, of whether the received signals satisfy criteria of conforming to the training schedule data; and

(ii) updating the training schedule data as a function of a result of said determination,

wherein the training device further comprises the first memory and the second memory,

wherein the training device further comprises a first output including a plurality of luminous transducers that may be independently illuminated or not illuminated, and wherein the method further comprises;

conveying the data content to the user in the human perceptible signal while an exercise of said exercises is being performed by the user, wherein the data content is feedback on how correct the exercise is being performed, and wherein the feedback on how correct the exercise being performed is conveyed to the user through a pattern of illumination of the luminous transducers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback on how correct the exercise is being performed is further conveyed to the user through usage of different light colors within the pattern of illumination.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of luminous transducers are distributed in at least one ring of luminous transducers.

4. The method of claim 3, said method further comprising:

said processor selectively illuminating a number of luminous transducers in a timing ring of the at least one ring such that the number of luminous transducers in the timing ring that are illuminated at a present time is indicative of a time duration of said performance of the exercise by the user from a time at which said performance of the exercise by the user was initiated until the present time, and wherein the number of luminous transducers in the timing ring is at least two.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the number of luminous transducers in the timing ring that are illuminated increases as the time duration of said performance of the exercise by the user increases.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one ring of luminous transducers is a plurality of rings of luminous transducers, and wherein the timing ring is a first ring of the plurality of rings.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the exercise is performed by the user on a balance board.

8. The method of claim 7,

wherein the plurality of rings comprises a central ring consisting of a single luminous transducer that is concentric with respect to the rings of the plurality of rings,

wherein the processor is configured to illuminate the single luminous transducer during said performance of the exercise by the user when a perfect balance of the balance board is achieved, and

wherein the processor is configured to prevent the single luminous transducer from being illuminated during said performance of the exercise by the user when said perfect balance of the balance board is not achieved.

9. The method of claim 7,

wherein the plurality of rings comprises a second ring and a third ring,

wherein the second ring and the third ring each independently comprise two or more luminous transducers,

wherein a distribution of illumination of the luminous transducers in the second ring is indicative of a direction in which the balance board is tipped, and

wherein a distribution of illumination of the luminous transducers in the third ring is indicative of a degree to which the balance board is tipped.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the training device further comprises a clock;

wherein said criteria comprises criteria of conforming to the training schedule data with regard to a time value obtained from the clock;

wherein the training device further comprises a first interface and a second interface,

wherein the processor is directly connected to the first interface via a unidirectional first link in which data can flow only from the first interface to the processor;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the second interface via a bidirectional second link in which data can flow from the second interface to the processor or from the processor to the second interface;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the first output via a unidirectional third link in which data can flow only from the from the processor to the first output;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the first memory via a bidirectional fourth link in which data can flow from the first memory to the processor or from the processor to the first memory;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the second memory via a unidirectional fifth link in which data can flow only from the second memory to the processor;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the clock via a unidirectional sixth link in which data can flow only from the clock to the processor.

11. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable tangible storage device having computer readable program code stored therein, said program code configured to be executed by a processor comprised by a training device to implement a method of training, said method comprising:

said processor receiving signals from a training transducer;

said processor receiving, from a remote correspondent, training schedule data comprising a training schedule for exercises to be performed by a user;

said processor storing the training schedule data in a first memory;

said processor outputting a human perceptible signal in accordance with a feedback template, said human perceptible signal comprising data content relating to performance of the exercises by the user, said feedback template specifying a manner in which the data content is to be conveyed to the user;

said processor storing, in a second memory, output status data from which the human perceptible signal is generated;

said processor continuously

(i) carrying out a determination, in real time as the user is performing the exercises, of whether the received signals satisfy criteria of conforming to the training schedule data; and

(ii) updating the training schedule data as a function of a result of said determination,

wherein the training device further comprises the first memory and the second memory,

wherein the training device further comprises a first output including a plurality of luminous transducers that may be independently illuminated or not illuminated, and wherein the method further comprises;

conveying the data content to the user in the human perceptible signal while an exercise of said exercises is being performed by the user, wherein the data content is feedback on how correct the exercise is being performed, and wherein the feedback on how correct the exercise being performed is conveyed to the user through a pattern of illumination of the luminous transducers.

12. The computer program product of claim 11,

wherein the training device further comprises a clock;

wherein said criteria comprises criteria of conforming to the training schedule data with regard to a time value obtained from the clock;

wherein the training device further comprises a first interface and a second interface,

wherein the processor is directly connected to the first interface via a unidirectional first link in which data can flow only from the first interface to the processor;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the second interface via a bidirectional second link in which data can flow from the second interface to the processor or from the processor to the second interface;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the first output via a unidirectional third link in which data can flow only from the from the processor to the first output;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the first memory via a bidirectional fourth link in which data can flow from the first memory to the processor or from the processor to the first memory;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the second memory via a unidirectional fifth link in which data can flow only from the second memory to the processor;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the clock via a unidirectional sixth link in which data can flow only from the clock to the processor.

13. A training device, comprising a processor, a first memory, and a second memory, said training device configured to implement a method of training, said method comprising:

said processor receiving signals from a training transducer;

said processor receiving, from a remote correspondent, training schedule data comprising a training schedule for exercises to be performed by a user;

said processor storing the training schedule data in a first memory;

said processor outputting a human perceptible signal in accordance with a feedback template, said human perceptible signal comprising data content relating to performance of the exercises by the user, said feedback template specifying a manner in which the data content is to be conveyed to the user;

said processor storing, in a second memory, output status data from which the human perceptible signal is generated;

said processor continuously

(i) carrying out a determination, in real time as the user is performing the exercises, of whether the received signals satisfy criteria of conforming to the training schedule data; and

(ii) updating the training schedule data as a function of a result of said determination,

wherein the training device further comprises a first output including a plurality of luminous transducers that may be independently illuminated or not illuminated, and wherein the method further comprises;

conveying the data content to the user in the human perceptible signal while an exercise of said exercises is being performed by the user, wherein the data content is feedback on how correct the exercise is being performed, and wherein the feedback on how correct the exercise being performed is conveyed to the user through a pattern of illumination of the luminous transducers.

14. The training device of claim 13,

wherein the training device further comprises a clock;

wherein said criteria comprises criteria of conforming to the training schedule data with regard to a time value obtained from the clock;

wherein the training device further comprises a first interface and a second interface,

wherein the processor is directly connected to the first interface via a unidirectional first link in which data can flow only from the first interface to the processor;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the second interface via a bidirectional second link in which data can flow from the second interface to the processor or from the processor to the second interface;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the first output via a unidirectional third link in which data can flow only from the from the processor to the first output;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the first memory via a bidirectional fourth link in which data can flow from the first memory to the processor or from the processor to the first memory;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the second memory via a unidirectional fifth link in which data can flow only from the second memory to the processor;

wherein the processor is directly connected to the clock via a unidirectional sixth link in which data can flow only from the clock to the processor.