PERSONAL TRAINING DEVICE USING MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SPATIAL AUDIO

• US 20080280730A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Alexanderson, Ulf Petter
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• 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 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/11 Positioning of individual sound objects, e.g. moving airplane, within a sound field H04S2420/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/304 For headphones

Abstract

A personal training device is provided for a participant of pace-based physical training. The device includes an input for receiving an input signal indicative of a pace of the participant, and a comparator coupled to the input for comparing the pace of the participant to a predefined criteria. The personal training device further includes a training partner positioner for generating a position of a virtual training partner relative to the participant based on an output of the comparator, and a training partner audio source for providing audio representative of sounds from the virtual training partner. Still further, the personal training device includes a spatial audio processor for producing a multi-dimensional audio signal comprising the audio from the audio source, the multi-dimensional audio signal providing the audio at a spatial location represented by the position generated by the training partner positioner.

Claims

1. A personal training device for a participant of pace-based physical training, comprising:

an input for receiving an input signal indicative of a pace of the participant;

a comparator coupled to the input for comparing the pace of the participant to a predefined criteria;

a training partner positioner for generating a position of a virtual training partner relative to the participant based on an output of the comparator;

a training partner audio source for providing audio representative of sounds from the virtual training partner;

a spatial audio processor for producing a multi-dimensional audio signal comprising the audio from the audio source, the multi-dimensional audio signal providing the audio at a spatial location represented by the position generated by the training partner positioner.

2. The personal training device of claim 1, comprising an accelerometer for providing the input signal.

3. The personal training device of claim 1, comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for providing the input signal.

4. The personal training device of claim 1, wherein the training partner positioner adjusts the position of the virtual training partner as a function of whether or not the partner is maintaining a predetermined pace.

5. The personal training device of claim 4, wherein the predetermined pace is based on a training level preselected from among a plurality of different training levels.

6. The personal training device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of training levels each include a predetermined pace which varies as a function of time.

7. The personal training device of claim 4, wherein the predetermined pace is based on a preselected lap time or preselected pace.

8. The personal training partner of claim 4, wherein the training partner positioner tends to advance the position of the virtual training partner relative to the particpant when the runner fails to maintain the predetermined pace, and tends to decrease the position of the virtual training partner relative to the participant when the particpant exceeds the predetermined pace.

9. The personal training device of claim 1, wherein the training partner positioner includes a pseudo-random component for varying the position of the virtual training partner.

10. The personal training device of claim 1, wherein the audio provided by the training partner audio source includes the sound of footsteps of the virtual training partner.

11. The personal training device of claim 10, wherein the training partner audio source varies the frequency of the footsteps as a function of a change in position of the virtual training partner.

12. The personal training device of claim 10, wherein the training partner audio source varies the amplitude of the footsteps as a function of the position of the virtual training partner.

13. The personal training device of claim 1, wherein the audio provided by the training partner audio source includes the sound of cycling.

14. The personal training device of claim 1, wherein the audio provided by the training partner audio source includes voice sounds of the virtual training partner.

15. The personal training device of claim 1, wherein the personal training device is comprised within a portable electronic device.

16. The personal training device of claim 15, wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile phone.

17. The personal training device of claim 1, wherein the position of the virtual training partner is varied in at least two dimensions.

18. The personal training device of claim 1, wherein multiple virtual training partners are provided simultaneously.