PACING SYSTEM WITH FEEDBACK BASED ADJUSTMENTS

• US 20170120133A1
• Filed: 01/12/2017
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: LACROIX, Robert, GRANT, Danny
• Granted Patent: US 10,471,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/505 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• 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 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A pacing system for pacing an activity receives a desired pace that includes a timing interval and generates a first pace signal based on the desired pace and corresponding to the timing interval. The system receives feedback on an actual pace of the activity and determines if the actual pace is different than the desired pace. When the actual pace is different, the system generates a second pace signal having a timing that is different than the timing interval. When the actual pace is not different, the system generates the second pace signal in accordance with the timing interval.

Claims

1. A method of operating an adaptive metronome for pacing an activity of a user, the method comprising:

initiating an initial metronome signal based on a target pace, the initial metronome signal generating a pace signal at every occurrence of an initial fixed timing interval, wherein the pace signal comprises a haptic effect;

monitoring characteristics of the activity, the characteristics comprising a current pace of the user;

determining a difference between the current pace and the target pace; and

continuously modifying, while monitoring the characteristics, the initial fixed timing interval based on the difference and the characteristics while generating the pace signal at the occurrence of each of the modified time intervals;

wherein the continuously modifying occurs until the current pace of the user is substantially equal to the target pace.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristics further comprise at least a heart rate or body temperature of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristics further comprise ambient conditions of the activity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the ambient conditions comprise a current incline.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect is generated on a wearable device worn on a wrist of the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the wearable device comprises a touch sensitive user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuously modifying comprises generating a first pace signal every t, wherein t is a first measure of time, further comprising:

determining that the current pace differs from the target pace by x, wherein x is a second measure of time;

generating a next pace signal at the next t interval after determining that the current pace differs from the target pace;

generating the second pace signal, after generating the next pace signal, at the next t+x interval when the current pace is slower than the target pace; and

generating the second pace signal, after generating the next pace signal, at the next t−

x interval when the current pace is faster than the target pace.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuously modifying causes three or more consecutive timing intervals to be different from each other.

9. A pacing system comprising:

a processor;

a pace signal output device coupled to the processor, wherein the pace signal output device comprises an actuator; and

a feedback device coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is adapted to pace an activity of a user comprising;

initiating an initial metronome signal based on a target pace, the initial metronome signal generating a pace signal on the pace signal output device at every occurrence of an initial fixed timing interval, wherein the pace signal comprises a haptic effect;

monitoring characteristics of the activity from the feedback device, the characteristics comprising a current pace of the user;

determining a difference between the current pace and the target pace; and

continuously modifying, while monitoring the characteristics, the initial fixed timing interval based on the difference and the characteristics while generating the pace signal at the occurrence of each of the modified time intervals;

wherein the continuously modifying occurs until the current pace of the user is substantially equal to the target pace.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the characteristics further comprise at least a heart rate or body temperature of the user.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the characteristics further comprise ambient conditions of the activity.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the ambient conditions comprise a current incline.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the haptic effect is generated on a wearable device worn on a wrist of the user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the wearable device comprises a touch sensitive user interface.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the continuously modifying comprises generating a first pace signal every t, wherein t is a first measure of time, further comprising:

determining that the current pace differs from the target pace by x, wherein x is a second measure of time;

generating a next pace signal at the next t interval after determining that the current pace differs from the target pace;

generating the second pace signal, after generating the next pace signal, at the next t+x interval when the current pace is slower than the target pace; and

generating the second pace signal, after generating the next pace signal, at the next t−

x interval when the current pace is faster than the target pace.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the continuously modifying causes three or more consecutive timing intervals to be different from each other.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to operate an adaptive metronome for pacing an activity of a user, comprising:

initiating an initial metronome signal based on a target pace, the initial metronome signal generating a pace signal at every occurrence of an initial fixed timing interval, wherein the pace signal comprises a haptic effect;

monitoring characteristics of the activity, the characteristics comprising a current pace of the user;

determining a difference between the current pace and the target pace; and

continuously modifying, while monitoring the characteristics, the initial fixed timing interval based on the difference and the characteristics while generating the pace signal at the occurrence of each of the modified time intervals;

wherein the continuously modifying occurs until the current pace of the user is substantially equal to the target pace.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the haptic effect is generated on a wearable device worn on a wrist of the user and the wearable device comprises a touch sensitive user interface.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the continuously modifying comprises generating a first pace signal every t, wherein t is a first measure of time, further comprising:

determining that the current pace differs from the target pace by x, wherein x is a second measure of time;

generating a next pace signal at the next t interval after determining that the current pace differs from the target pace;

generating the second pace signal, after generating the next pace signal, at the next t+x interval when the current pace is slower than the target pace; and

generating the second pace signal, after generating the next pace signal, at the next t−

x interval when the current pace is faster than the target pace.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the continuously modifying causes three or more consecutive timing intervals to be different from each other.