User-specific performance monitor, method, and computer software product

• US 20080214359A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Kinnunen, Hannu, Niva, Arto
• Granted Patent: US 7,901,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• 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 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining an exertion parameter of a physical exercise, and a user-specific performance monitor implementing the method, and a computer software product. The method comprises determining, in the user-specific performance monitor, a propagation variable characterizing the user'"'"'s propagation; determining, in the user-specific performance monitor, a gravitational motion variable characterizing the user'"'"'s motion in the direction of the gravitational field; and calculating the user'"'"'s exertion parameter by means of the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable.

Claims

1. A method for determining an exertion parameter of a physical exercise, comprising

determining, in a user-specific performance monitor, a propagation variable characterizing the user'"'"'s propagation;

determining, in the user-specific performance monitor, a gravitational motion variable characterizing the user'"'"'s motion in the direction of the gravitational field; and

calculating the user'"'"'s exertion parameter by means of the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inclination factor proportional to the inclination of a propagation base is calculated by means of the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable;

and

calculating the user'"'"'s exertion parameter by means of the inclination factor.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein calculating comprises calculating the user'"'"'s exertion parameter by using, when the inclination value of the propagation base is negative, the first functional dependence of the exertion parameter on the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable and, when the inclination value of the propagation base is positive, the second functional dependence of the exertion parameter on the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable, the second functional dependence producing, with at least one value pair of the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable, an exertion parameter which is different from the exertion parameter produced by the first functional dependence with said value pair.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

calculating a propagation factor proportional to the propagation efficiency of the user as a function of the inclination factor; and

calculating the user'"'"'s exertion parameter by means of the propagation factor.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein calculating comprises calculating the user'"'"'s exertion parameter by using, when the inclination factor is negative, the first functional dependence of the propagation factor on the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable and, when the inclination factor is positive, the second functional dependence of the propagation factor on the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable, the second functional dependence producing, with at least one value pair of the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable, a propagation factor which is different from the propagation factor produced by the first functional dependence with said value pair.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

measuring motion pulses generated by the user'"'"'s limb;

accepting the motion pulses that fulfill predefined criteria by filtering; and

determining the propagation variable by means of the accepted motion pulses.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining the user'"'"'s activity on the basis of the propagation variable; and

calculating the user'"'"'s exertion parameter, if the user'"'"'s activity exceeds a predefined activity limit.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising determining the gravitational motion variable by means of measuring the pressure of the environment.

9. A user-specific performance monitor, comprising:

means for determining a propagation variable characterizing the user'"'"'s propagation,

means for determining a gravitational motion variable characterizing the user'"'"'s propagation in the direction of the gravitational field; and

means for calculating the user'"'"'s exertion parameter by means of the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable.

10. A user-specific performance monitor as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

means for calculating an inclination factor proportional to the inclination of a propagation base by means of the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable;

the means for calculating the exertion parameter being configured to calculate the user'"'"'s exertion parameter by means of the inclination factor.

11. A user-specific performance monitor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for calculating the exertion parameter are configured to calculate the user'"'"'s exertion parameter by using, when the inclination value of the propagation base is negative, the first functional dependence of the exertion parameter on the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable and, when the inclination value of the propagation base is positive, the second functional dependence of the exertion parameter on the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable, the second functional dependence producing, with at least one value pair of the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable, an exertion parameter which is different from the exertion parameter produced by the first functional dependence with said value pair.

12. A user-specific performance monitor as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

means for calculating a propagation factor proportional to the propagation efficiency of the user as a function of the inclination factor;

the means for calculating the exertion parameter being configured to calculate the user'"'"'s exertion parameter by means of the propagation factor.

13. A user-specific performance monitor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means for calculating the propagation factor are configured to calculate the propagation factor by using, when the inclination factor is negative, the first functional dependence of the propagation factor and, when the inclination factor is positive, the second functional dependence of the propagation factor, the second functional dependence producing, with at least one value pair of the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable, a propagation factor which is different from the propagation factor produced by the first functional dependence with said value pair.

14. A user-specific performance monitor as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

pulse measuring means for measuring motion pulses generated by the user'"'"'s limb;

filtering means for accepting the motion pulses that fulfill predefined criteria;

the means for determining the propagation variable being configured to determine the propagation variable by means of the accepted motion pulses.

15. A user-specific performance monitor as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

means for determining activity of the user by means of the propagation variable;

the means for calculating the exertion parameter being configured to calculate the user'"'"'s exertion parameter, if the user'"'"'s activity exceeds a predefined activity limit.

16. A user-specific performance monitor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for determining the gravitational motion variable comprise a pressure gauge for measuring the pressure of the environment, which is a gravitational motion variable.

17. A computer software product comprising coded instructions for executing a computer process in a digital processor, the computer process being suitable for determining a user exertion parameter of a physical exercise, the computer process comprising:

determining, in a user-specific performance monitor, a propagation variable characterizing the user'"'"'s propagation;

determining, in the user-specific performance monitor, a gravitational motion variable characterizing the user'"'"'s motion in the direction of the gravitational field; and

calculating the user'"'"'s exertion parameter by means of the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable.

18. A computer software distribution medium comprising the computer software product of claim 17.