Exercise and communications system and associated methods

• US 8,821,350 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard J. Maertz
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Maertz
• Inventors: Maertz, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALALZADEH ABYANE, SHILA
• Application Number:
  US12/827,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20110003664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482/8, 482/4, 482/13
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/083 Measuring rate of metabolism by using breath test, e.g. measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/205 P-CO2, i.e. partial CO2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 : P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

An exercise and communications system includes an interactive device, a remote device, and an external device, wherein the interactive device is configured to gather data relating to a user of the system and transmit the same to the remote device, and the remote device is configured to provide analyze the data and transmit a response to the interactive device, which in turn communicates the response to the user and additionally communication with an external device for retrieval of instructions, programs, and data, inter alia. An exercise and communications system facilitates communication between a plurality of users, each having an interactive device and a remote device.

Claims

1. An exercise and communications system, comprising, an interactive device comprising a memory and controller, a remote device, and an external device,

wherein the controller is capable of receiving digital data and instructions from the memory and executing instructions from the memory, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a sensed physiological parameter satisfies a notification criteria;

wherein the memory is capable of maintaining digital data and instructions provided to the controller;

the interactive device further comprising;

one or more sensors, configured to sense physiological parameters of a user during an activity, the physiological parameters being at least one of heart rate, oxygen saturation and end tidal carbon dioxide;

a headset with one earpiece that houses a wireless communication functionality and another earpiece with a tube comprising a tip, a carbon dioxide sensor located in front of the user'"'"'s mouth and configured to measure carbon dioxide and mounted on the tube, and wiring to carbon dioxide sensor on the tip of the tube,

wherein the one earpiece that houses the wireless communication is functionally configured to audibly reinforce the user if the heart rate of the user falls below a targeted training zone heart rate;

a remote interface, configured to communicate data corresponding to the physiological parameters to the remote device during the activity, and further configured to receive from the remote device a response corresponding to the at least one physiological parameter, wherein the response is determined by the remote device based on whether the parameters are within predetermined criteria;

and a user interface configured to communicate the response to the user,

wherein the interactive device notifies the user with the one earpiece that houses wireless communication functionality when the user is outside predetermined safety parameters;

wherein the remote device includes an operator interface for connecting the remote device to the external device, wherein the operator interface facilitates communication with the external device;

wherein the external device communicates with a plurality of remote devices, and transmits information to a plurality of remote devices, and wherein the external device allows a coach or medical professional to communicate directly with the user, and

wherein at least one of interactive device and remote device is configured to respond to data collected from the user, wherein the user uses an exercise machine, said response is by making alterations to exercise machine relative to exercise action of the user, wherein said alterations are provided by a disk brake mechanism and comprise increased resistance or decreased resistance by adjusting how near or far away magnets come to the disk.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote device is in operative communication with an external device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the external device is at least one of an entertainment system, an emergency response center, a web TV system, a computing system and a video game console.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors and the remote device are integrated in a single housing configured to be disposed within or clipped to an ear, finger, mouth, arm, leg, or trunk of the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a device configured to be supported by a user during an activity.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote device is one of a watch, a cell phone, smart phone, a personal digital assistant, and an arm mount fixation device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactive device is in wireless communication with the remote device.

8. The exercise and communications system of claim 1, further comprising a finger sensor adapted to sense heart rate from a finger.

9. The exercise and communications system of claim 1, wherein the interactive device is further configured to monitor global position of the user.

10. A method performed by a remote device in data communication with an interactive device, wherein the interactive device comprises a headset with one earpiece that houses a wireless communication functionality and another earpiece with a tube comprising a tip, a carbon dioxide sensor located in front of the user'"'"'s mouth and configured to measure carbon dioxide and mounted on the tube and wiring to carbon dioxide sensor on the tip of the tube,

wherein the one earpiece that houses the wireless communication functionality is configured to audibly reinforce the user if a heart rate of the user falls below a targeted training zone heart rate;

and an external device, comprising, in combination;

determining a selected exercise mode, wherein the selected exercise mode is selected by a user from among a plurality of exercise modes;

receiving, from the interactive device, data corresponding to parameters sensed by the interactive device;

wherein the parameters sensed by the interactive device correspond to physiological parameters of the user;

said parameters being at least all one of heart rate, oxygen saturation, and end tidal carbon dioxide;

comparing the data to a predetermined criteria associated with the selected exercise mode;

selecting a predetermined response based on whether the data is within the criteria associated with the selected exercise mode;

transmitting the predetermined response to the interactive device, whereby the predetermined response is communicated to the user via the one earpiece that houses wireless communication functionality of the interactive device;

and transmitting said data corresponding to said parameter to the external device or retrieving associated responses and criteria from the external device, wherein the external device allows a coach or medical professional to communicate directly with the user, and

wherein at least one of interactive device and remote device is configured to respond to data collected from user, wherein the user uses an exercise machine, and the response is by making alterations to said exercise machine relative to exercise action of the user, wherein said alterations comprise increased resistance or decreased resistance provided by a disk brake mechanism.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote device and interactive device are integrated into a single housing configured to be disposed within or clipped to an ear of the user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the interactive device further comprising a finger sensor adapted to sense heart rate from a finger.

13. An exercise and communications system, comprising, in combination:

an interactive device configured to collect biometric information from a user'"'"'s ear during an activity, the interactive device comprising a headset with one earpiece that houses a wireless communication functionality and another earpiece with a tube comprising a tip, a carbon dioxide sensor located in front of the user'"'"'s mouth and configured to measure carbon dioxide and mounted on the tube, and wiring to carbon dioxide sensor on the tip of the tube, wherein the one earpiece that houses the wireless communication is functionally configured to audibly reinforce the user if a heart rate of the user falls below a targeted training zone heart rate;

a remote device in operative communication with the interactive device, the interactive device and the remote device being integrated into a single housing configured to be disposed within or clipped to the user'"'"'s ear; and

an external device in operative communication with the remote device, the external device including at least one of an entertainment system, a computing system, a video game console and a second user, the external device receiving the collected biometric information from the remote device;

wherein the interactive device comprises a controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether collected biometric information satisfies satisfy a notification criteria;

the biometric information being at least one of heart rate, oxygen saturation, and end tidal carbon dioxide;

wherein the external device responds to the collected biometric information by at least one of transmitting information to the interactive device and providing real time audio communications to the user during the activity, and wherein the external device allows a coach or medical professional to communicate directly with the user, and

wherein at least one of interactive device and remote device is configured to respond to data collected from user, wherein the user uses an exercise machine, said response is by making alterations to of exercise machine relative to exercise action of the user, wherein said alterations comprise increased resistance or decreased resistance provided by a disk brake mechanism.

14. The exercise and communications system of claim 13, wherein the interactive device further comprising a finger sensor adapted to sense heart rate from a finger.