Systems and methods for fitness and video games

• US 10,486,067 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2018
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dugan Health, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dugan Health, LLC
• Inventors: Dugan, Brian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Renwick, Reginald A
• Application Number:
  US15/907,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20180185754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• 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 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets

Abstract

In some aspects, a system is provided that includes (1) a plurality of mobile devices; and (2) an application on each mobile device, the application adapted to (a) allow exercisers to form an exercise group; (b) track position or change in position of each exerciser in the exerciser group; and (c) display an avatar having a position that is controlled by a position or change in position of one or more member of the exercise group. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims

1. A system for cooperative control of a video game avatar, the system comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device being with a different one of a plurality of users; and

computer program code stored in each of the plurality of mobile devices;

wherein the computer program code stored in a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, when executed by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to;

direct a user of the first mobile device to perform an exercise movement;

measure, by sensors communicatively coupled to the first mobile device, exercise parameters of the user of the first mobile device;

transmit, by communications facilities of the first mobile device, the measured exercise parameters of the user to a server, and receive measured exercise parameters of other users;

execute a video game on the first mobile device, the video game operable to employ the measured exercise parameters of the users to cooperatively control movement of an avatar within the video game;

transmit location information of the user to the server and to receive location information of other users, wherein the video game has one or more avatars controllable based on location information of the user of the first mobile device and location information of other users,

wherein a first movement parameter of the avatar is controlled based upon a first exercise parameter of a first user and a second movement parameter of the avatar is controlled based upon a second exercise parameter of a second user, and

wherein movement capabilities of the video game avatar for playing the video game are set based upon an exercise performance level of the users.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the first mobile device, when executed by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to output images to a display of the first mobile device depicting a movement of the avatar, which is representative of the exercise movement of the user of the first mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the first mobile device, when executed by the first mobile device, further causes the first mobile device to direct the first user to perform a first exercise for a first period of time and then direct the first user to perform a second exercise for a second period of time.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications facilities of the first mobile device to allow the user to join an exercise group of other users.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer program code, when executed by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to:

communicate location information for the user to other users within the exercise group.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer program code stored in the first mobile device, when executed by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to display information associated with achievement of a goal of the exercise group.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein competitiveness in the video game is based upon the exercise group achieving a goal of the exercise group.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer program code, when executed by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to communicate with other users within the exercise group through a social network web site.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the first mobile device, when executed by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to prompt other users to exercise for a predefined amount of time.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the first mobile device, when executed by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to prompt the user when to perform exercise.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the first mobile device, when executed by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to communicate messages to the other users.

12. A system for cooperative control of a video game avatar, the system comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device being with a different one of a plurality of users; and

computer program code stored in each of the plurality of mobile devices;

wherein the computer program code stored in a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, when executed by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to;

direct a user of the first mobile device to perform an exercise movement;

measure, by sensors coupled to the first mobile device, exercise parameters of the user of the first mobile device;

transmit, by communications facilities of the first mobile device, the measured exercise parameters of the user to a server, and receive measured exercise parameters of other users;

execute a video game on the first mobile device, the video game operable to employ the measured exercise parameters of the users to cooperatively control movement of an avatar within the video game,

wherein a first movement parameter of the avatar is controlled based upon a first exercise parameter of a first user and a second movement parameter of the avatar is controlled based upon a second exercise parameter of a second user, and

wherein movement capabilities of the video game avatar for playing the video game are set based upon an exercise performance level of the users;

wherein the video game is further operable to switch which movement parameter of the avatar is controlled based upon the exercise parameters of the users such that the first movement parameter of the avatar is controlled based upon the second exercise parameter of the second user and the second movement parameter of the avatar is controlled based upon the first exercise parameter of the first user.

13. A system for cooperative control of a video game avatar, the system comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device being with a different one of a plurality of users; and

computer program code stored in each of the plurality of mobile devices;

wherein the computer program code stored in a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, when executed by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to;

direct a user of the first mobile device to perform an exercise movement;

measure, by sensors communicatively coupled to the first mobile device, exercise parameters of the user of the first mobile device;

transmit, by communications facilities of the first mobile device, the measured exercise parameters of the user to a server, and receive measured exercise parameters of other users; and

execute a video game on the first mobile device, the video game operable to employ the measured exercise parameters of the users to cooperatively control movement of an avatar within the video game,

wherein a first movement parameter of the avatar is controlled based upon a first exercise parameter of a first user and a second movement parameter of the avatar is controlled based upon a second exercise parameter of a second user, and

wherein movement capabilities of the video game avatar for playing the video game are set based upon an exercise performance level of the users,

wherein the computer program code stored in the first mobile device, when executed by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to communicate measured biometric information of the user to a third party.

14. A method for cooperative control of a video game avatar, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices being with a different user; and

providing computer program code stored in each of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein execution of the computer program code stored in a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices by the first mobile device, causes the first mobile device to;

direct a user of the first mobile device to perform an exercise movement;

measure, by sensors communicatively coupled to the first mobile device, exercise parameters of the user of the first mobile device;

transmit the measured exercise parameters of the user to a server, and receive measured exercise parameters of other users; and

execute a video game on the first mobile device, the video game operable to employ the measured exercise parameters of the users to cooperatively control movement of an avatar within the video game;

transmit location information of the user to the server and receive location information of other users,

wherein the video game has one or more avatars controllable based on location information of the user of the first mobile device and location information of other users,

wherein a first movement parameter of the avatar is controlled based upon a first exercise parameter of a first user and a second movement parameter of the avatar is controlled based upon a second exercise parameter of a second user, and

wherein movement capabilities of the video game avatar for playing the video game are set based upon an exercise performance level of the users.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting location information of a user to the server and receiving location information of other users.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising controlling one or more avatars of the video game based, at least in part, on location information of a user and location information of other users.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the computer program code stored in the first mobile device, when executed by the first mobile device, further causes the first mobile device to allow a user to join an exercise group of other users.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising communicating location information for the user to other users within the exercise group.