Systems and methods for portable exergaming

• US 10,569,170 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2018
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pexs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pexs, LLC
• Inventors: Dugan, Brian M., Santisi, Steven M., Latrille, Jean Pierre, Nuyttens, Lieven
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US16/056,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20180339228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 463 31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 45/00 ICT specially adapted for bioinformatics-related data visualisation, e.g. displaying of maps or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

In a first aspect, a system for playing a video game is provided that includes (1) one or more sensors adapted to monitor one or more biometric parameters of a user and communicate the one or more monitored biometric parameters (MBPs); (2) a computing device adapted to communicate with the one or more sensors and to receive the one or more communicated MBPs; and (3) a video game having an avatar adapted to move an object on an incline, the video game adapted to execute on the computing device. The video game is adapted to control the avatar to perform an action in the video game based in part on the received one or more communicated MBPs. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a wearable band including at least one sensor and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit biometric and other information measured by the at least one sensor; and

a mobile device in communication with the wearable band and adapted to receive the biometric and other information from the wearable band and to execute an application wherein the application includes instructions operable to;

display an image representing an object at a first elevation; and

responsive to received biometric and other information from the at least one sensor, change the image to represent movement of the object from the first elevation towards a second goal elevation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and the at least one sensor are internal to the band.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor includes one or more accelerometers.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the application is adapted to control the display of the image based on a location of the wearer of the band.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the application is adapted to control the display of the image based on an activity of the wearer of the band.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor includes a heartrate monitor.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the application is adapted to control the display of the image based on a heartrate of the wearer of the band.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

one or more sensors adapted to monitor locations of a user and communicate information indicative of the user'"'"'s changing location;

wherein the mobile device is adapted to communicate with the one or more sensors and to receive the user location information; and

a video game having an avatar adapted to carry an object, the video game adapted to execute on the computing device,

wherein the video game is adapted to control the avatar to perform an action in the video game based in part on the received user location information;

wherein play of the video game is enhanced by the user moving to specified locations; and

wherein the computing device is adapted to be transported during execution of the video game.

9. A system comprising:

a wearable band including at least one sensor and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit biometric and other information measured by the at least one sensor; and

a mobile device in communication with the wearable band and adapted to receive the biometric and other information from the wearable band and to execute an application wherein the application includes instructions operable to;

display an image representing an object at a first position; and

responsive to received biometric and other information from the at least one sensor, change the image to represent movement of the object from the first position towards a second goal position.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the transmitter and the at least one sensor are internal to the band and wherein the at least one sensor includes one or more accelerometers.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the application is adapted to control the display of the image based on a location of the wearer of the band.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the application is adapted to control the display of the image based on an activity of the wearer of the band.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one sensor includes a heartrate monitor.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the application is adapted to control the display of the image based on a heartrate of the wearer of the band.

15. A method comprising:

transmitting biometric and other information measured by at least one sensor in a wearable band;

receiving the biometric and other information from the wearable band in a mobile device; and

executing an application on the mobile device wherein the application includes instructions operable to;

display an image representing an object at a first elevation; and

responsive to received biometric and other information from the at least one sensor, change the image to represent movement of the object from the first elevation towards a second goal elevation.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the transmitter and the at least one sensor are internal to the band.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one sensor includes one or more accelerometers.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the application is adapted to control the display of the image based on a location of the wearer of the band.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the application is adapted to control the display of the image based on an activity of the wearer of the band.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one sensor includes a heartrate monitor.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the application is adapted to control the display of the image based on a heartrate of the wearer of the band.