SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PACING REPETITIVE MOTION ACTIVITIES

• US 20110061515A1
• Filed: 11/01/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacing Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Pacing Technologies LLC
• Inventors: TURNER, William D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,101,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/612
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/081 Beat indicator, e.g. marks or flashing LEDs to indicate tempo or beat positions analysis tempo G10H2210/076; tempo or beat alterations G10H2210/375; rhythm pattern G10H2210/341
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/351 Environmental parameters, e.g. temperature, ambient light, atmospheric pressure, humidity, used as input for musical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/371 Vital parameter control, i.e. musical instrument control based on body signals, e.g. brainwaves, pulsation, temperature, perspiration; biometric information signals from body positions or movements G10H2220/321
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/105 User profile, i.e. data about the user, e.g. for user settings or user preferences
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/131 Library retrieval, i.e. searching a database or selecting a specific musical piece, segment, pattern, rule or parameter set

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method that allows users to customize audible and visible signals, such as music or video, to maintain a pre-determined or specified pace or to achieve a new pace in repetitive motion activities such as, but not limited to, running, walking, swimming, cycling, aerobics, and the like. Other applications of the system and method include, but are not limited to, enhancing the results of medical rehabilitation programs, physical therapy, weight loss programs, disc jockey services, and industries or manufacturing settings where repetitive motion is common and where audible cues designed to help users maintain a consistent pace are useful.

Claims

1-67. -67. (canceled)

68. A pacing system comprising:

storage means for storing a tempo or a pace value corresponding to at least one activity type and for storing at least one data file having information for producing an audible tempo;

output means for playing the at least one data file;

connection means for transferring the at least one data file to or from the storage means; and

selection means for selecting the at least one data file based on the tempo or pace value or activity type.

69. The pacing system of claim 68, further comprising means for determining a geographic location.

70. The pacing system of claim 69, wherein the means for determining a geographic location is an ALI device.

71. The pacing system of claim 68, wherein the selection means is an input/output device.

72. The pacing system of claim 68, wherein the audible tempo is a tempo of a music song.

73. The pacing system of claim 68, further comprising tempo computing means for determining an initial tempo or pace value.

74. The pacing system of claim 68, further comprising a software subsystem for modifying the data file to output a different audible tempo.

75. The pacing system of claim 68, further comprising a software subsystem for automatically selecting the at least one data file based on an updated tempo or pace value.

76. The pacing system of claim 68, wherein the connection means is a wireless network.

77. The pacing system of claim 68, wherein the storage means for storing the tempo or pace value and the least one data file comprises a user-profile database.

78. The pacing system of claim 77, wherein the user profile database comprises a plurality of user profiles, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of users.

79. The pacing system of claim 77, wherein the user-profile database includes a target tempo or target pace corresponding to the at least one activity type.

80. The pacing system of claim 68, wherein the at least one data file comprises advertising information.

81. The pacing system of claim 68, wherein the at least one data file is selected based on a geographic location.

82. The pacing system of claim 68, wherein the tempo value is determined by dividing a measured number of repetitions of the activity type by a measured time period during which the activity type is performed.

83. The pacing system of claim 68, further comprising movement detection means for determining a position of at least one of the storage means, output means, connection means, and selection means.

84. A method performed on a hand-held computing device, comprising:

designating a target tempo or target pace; and

adjusting the tempo of one or more audio tracks being outputted to match the designated target tempo or target pace.

85. A pacing system comprising computer code for generating instructions to display a webpage or form on a computing device, the webpage or form used for:

receiving at least one user-provided target tempo or target pace value that substantially corresponds to a repetitive motion activity,

providing access to one or more song files each having information for producing a sensible tempo substantially the same as or corresponding to the target tempo or pace value;

storing a customized training program having information for achieving the target tempo or pace value; and

selecting an activity location or activity type.

86. A method for transferring data between a storage and playback device and a server containing at least one audio file having information for producing a tempo that is sensible to at least one user as the at least one user performs a repetitive motion activity, the storage and playback device being capable of storing and playing the information in the audio file, the method comprising:

at the server, receiving a request for at least one audio file for downloading to the storage and payback device;

at the server, identifying a metadata tempo tag for each designated audio file, each tempo tag indicating the tempo of the audio file;

at the server, causing to be delivered to, or providing to, the storage and playback device the audio file.

87. The method for transferring data as recited in claim 86 further comprising:

at the storage and playback device, receiving the audio file including the tempo tag from the server; and

at the storage and playback device, storing the audio file including the tempo tag for future use.

88. The method for transferring data as recited in claim 86 further comprising:

designating a plurality of audio files for downloading to the storage and payback device, the plurality of audio file containing an original version of the audio file and at least one new version of the file having a different tempo;

at the server, causing to be delivered to, or providing to, the storage and playback device the plurality of audio files including a tempo tag associated with each audio file.

89. A repetitive motion pacing system comprising:

at least one server for receiving a plurality of user-provided parameters and transmitting at least one data file;

a user profile database for storing the plurality of user-provided parameters, wherein at least one of the user-provided parameters is a target tempo or target pace value that is substantially the same as an actual tempo or actual pace of a repetitive motion activity to be performed by at least one user;

a storage device containing the at least one data file, wherein the data file comprises information for producing a tempo that is sensible to the at least one user; and

a communications network for transmitting the at least one data file to the at least one user.

90. The repetitive motion pacing system of claim 89, further comprising a data storage and playback device for receiving the at least one data file, identifying the tempo information, and producing the sensible tempo.