Training Coordinator Device And Method

• US 20080153672A1
• Filed: 11/19/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Garcia, Andres, Hove, Jillis Ter, Groeneweg, Nikolaj, Barre, Lara
• Granted Patent: US 7,815,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/4
• 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 coordinator device is in communication with a training transducer integrated in an exercise article. The training coordinator device receives training schedule data, for example, via an internet link, and uses this schedule to prompt and encourage a user in performing training activities in a real time and persistent manner defined in the training schedule by means of a user interface which may take the form of an LED array. The training coordinator device monitors training activities by signals from a suitably adapted training transducer, which may be integrated in an exercise article such as a bicycle etc. Information concerning the user'"'"'s training activities may be published via an internet link for access by both the user and medical professionals, who may also be the source of the training schedule.

Claims

1. A training device, comprising:

a first interface adapted to receive signals from a training transducer;

a second interface adapted to receive training schedule data from a remote correspondent, the training schedule data defining times by which specified activities are to be performed by a user;

a first memory adapted to store said training schedule data;

a first output adapted to output a human perceptible signal as a function of status data from both the first output and a feedback template;

a clock; and

a processor, said processor configured to continuously

carry out a determination in real time of whether said signals received at said first interface satisfy criteria derived from said training schedule with regard to a value of said clock;

update said status data, so as to output a representation as a result of said determination; and

update said training schedule data as a function of a result of said determination;

regardless of whether training activities are currently taking place.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second interface, wherein the training device transmits information by the second interface to said remote correspondent, the information including identification of the user and/or the training device and at least one of said signals received from said first interface;

said first output status data;

results of said determination; and

an updated portion of said training schedule.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a second memory adapted to store said first output status data.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second memory adapted to store said first output status data.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said first output is adapted to output optical signals.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said first output is adapted to output said signal continuously.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said second interface is adapted to transmit training schedule data to a remote correspondent and receive training schedule data from the remote correspondent, via the Internet.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said first interface is a wireless interface.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said processor is further adapted to cause said first memory to store at least one of said data received from said first interface and results of said determination.

10. The device of any claim 1 wherein said second interface is further adapted to receive said feedback template from said remote correspondent.

11. A method of training, comprising the steps of:

receiving training schedule data from a remote correspondent at a second interface, said training schedule data defining times by which specified activities are to be performed by a user;

storing said training schedule data in a first memory; and

continuously carrying out the steps of

determining in real time whether signals received from a training transducer via a first interface satisfy criteria derived from said training schedule with regard to the value of a clock;

outputting a human perceptible signal as a function of the results of both said step of determining and a feedback template; and

updating said training schedule data as a function of results of said step of determining.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting information identifying said user or said training device and one or more of (a) said signals received from said first interface, (b) results of said determination, and/or (c) an updated portion of said training schedule, by said second interface to said remote correspondent.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of adapting a second memory to store the results of both the step of determining and the feedback template.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of outputting the human perceptible signal includes outputting the signal continuously.

15. A program product comprising program codes stored in a computer readable storage medium, said program codes implementing the steps of:

receiving training schedule data from a remote correspondent at a second interface, said training schedule data defining times by which specified activities are to be performed by a user;

storing said training schedule data in a first memory; and

continuously carrying out the steps of

determining in real time whether signals received from a training transducer via a first interface satisfy criteria derived from said training schedule with regard to the value of a clock;

outputting a human perceptible signal as a function of the results of both said step of determining and a feedback template; and

updating said training schedule data as a function of results of said step of determining.

16. The program product of claim 15, further comprising program codes implementing the step of transmitting information identifying said user or said training device and one or more of (a) said signals received from said first interface, (b) results of said determination, and/or (c) an updated portion of said training schedule, by said second interface to said remote correspondent.

17. The program product of claim 15, further comprising program codes implementing the step of adapting a second memory to store the results of both the step of determining and the feedback template.

18. The program product of claim 15, further comprising program codes implementing the step of outputting the human perceptible signal continuously.