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

• US 8,861,091 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• 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): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US13/959,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20130317634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 359/629, 359/630, 73/650.1, 731/72, 733/790.1, 733/790.4, 482/1, 482/8, 482/9, 482/902, 382/103, 345/156
• 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 tracking physical location of a user; and

a computer operatively coupled to the tracking system, the computer using the tracking to provide a measure of compliance of the user with desired movement of the user that is in a synchronous relationship with movement of an avatar on a display that is displayed to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the display on which the avatar is displayed.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer is operatively coupled to the display to control movement of the avatar on the display.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer is operatively coupled to the display to display feedback regarding the compliance of the user with the desired movement that is in a synchronous relationship with the movement of the avatar.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer is operatively coupled to the display such that the feedback is displayed to the user in real time, during the movement of the user.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer is operatively coupled to the display such that the feedback includes numerical feedback.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer is operatively coupled to the display such that the feedback includes graphical feedback.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement of the avatar is kinematically and anthropomorphically correct in form and action.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement of the avatar continually delivers movement challenges to the user.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking system is an optical tracking system.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking system provides continual tracking of the physical location of the user.

12. A physical activity system comprising:

a tracking system for tracking physical location of a user;

a display; and

a computer operatively coupled to the tracking system and the display, wherein the computer is operatively coupled to the display to control movement of the avatar on the display, the computer using the tracking to provide a measure of compliance of the user with desired movement of the user that is in a synchronous relationship with movement of an avatar on the display;

wherein the computer is operatively coupled to the display to display feedback regarding the compliance of movement of the user with the desired movement that is in a synchronous relationship with the movement of the avatar;

wherein the computer is operatively coupled to the display such that the feedback is displayed in real time to the user, during the movement of the user;

wherein the movement of the avatar on the display is kinematically and anthropomorphically correct in form and action; and

wherein the tracking system is an optical tracking system.

13. A physical activity method comprising:

displaying to a user a moving avatar on a display;

during the displaying, tracking physical location of the user; and

determining, using the tracking, a measure of compliance of the user with desired movement of the user that is in a synchronous relationship with the movement of an avatar.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the displaying includes displaying the moving avatar as kinematically and anthropomorphically correct in form and action.

15. The method of claim 13,

wherein the determining occurs in real time during the tracking;

and

wherein the displaying also includes displaying feedback, on the display, regarding the compliance of movement of the user with the desired movement that is in a synchronous relationship with the movement of the avatar.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the displaying feedback includes displaying numerical feedback.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the displaying feedback includes displaying graphical feedback.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the tracking includes continual optical tracking of the physical location of the user.

19. The method of claim 13,

wherein a computer is operatively coupled to the display for moving the avatar on the display;

and

wherein the determining is performed in the computer.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the displaying includes continually delivering movement challenges to the user by the moving of the avatar.