System and method for improving fitness equipment and exercise

• US 5,947,868 A
• Filed: 06/25/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dugan Health, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brian M. Dugan
• Inventors: Dugan, Brian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E
• Application Number:
  US09/104,917
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/51-54, 482/900-902, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/4
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0652 for cycling in a recumbent position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0641 with a marker advancing in function of the exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 : Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

A method and apparatus for exercise equipment and exercise is provided. One or more exercise monitors are attached to a piece of exercise equipment and/or an exerciser. During exercise, each exercise monitor measures a performance level of the exerciser and outputs a performance level signal to a video game player. The video game player monitors the performance level signal and controls the performance level of a video game character based on the performance level of the exerciser. Many exerciser performance levels may be monitor such as pulse rate, exercise rate, distance traveled, time exercised, etc. and can be used to control such video game character performance levels as speed, striking force, energy level, lifetime, game level, etc. The video game player preferably comprises a hand-held video game player.

Claims

1. A method of exercise comprising:

providing a monitor for determining a level of exercise performance performed by an exerciser and for outputting a signal representative of the performance level;

using the monitor to measure a level of exercise performance performed by an exerciser;

outputting from the monitor a signal representative of the performance level;

providing a video game on a hand-held video game system, the video game having a character, the video game inputting and being responsive to the performance level signal output by the monitor, the video game using the performance level signal to control a performance level of the video game character; and

controlling a performance level of the video game character based on the performance level signal output by the monitor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a monitor comprises providing a pulse monitor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a monitor comprises providing a monitor selected from the group consisting of a distance monitor, a rate monitor and a time monitor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a monitor comprises providing an accelerometer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a video game comprises providing a computer system loaded with a video game.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting from the monitor comprises outputting from the monitor via a cable a signal representative of the performance level.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting from the monitor comprises outputting from the monitor via wireless transmission a signal representative of the performance level.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling a performance level of the video game character based on the performance level signal output by the monitor comprises controlling the energy level of the video game character based on the performance level signal output by the monitor.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling a performance level of the video game character based on the performance level signal output by the monitor comprises controlling the lifetime of the video game character.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling a performance level of the video game character based on the performance level signal output by the monitor comprises controlling the striking force of the video game character.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling a performance level of the video game character based on the performance level signal output by the monitor comprises controlling the accuracy of the video game character.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling a performance level of the video game character based on the performance level signal output by the monitor comprises controlling the game level of the video game character.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an additional monitor for monitoring the performance level of an additional exerciser;

outputting from the additional monitor a signal representative of the performance level of the additional exerciser; and

controlling the performance level of an additional video game character within the video game based on the performance level signal output from the additional monitor.

14. An apparatus for use during exercising comprising:

a monitor for determining a level of exercise performance performed by an exerciser and for outputting a signal representative of the performance level;

a hand-held video game player coupled to the monitor; and

a video game for use with the hand-held video game player, the video game having a character, the video game configured to input the performance level signal output from the monitor and to use the performance level signal to control a performance level of the video game character.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the monitor comprises a pulse monitor.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the monitor comprises a monitor selected from the group consisting of a distance monitor, a rate monitor and a time monitor.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the monitor comprises an accelerometer.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the video game player comprises a computer system.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting the performance level signal from the monitor to the video game player.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the video game comprises an action-adventure game.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the video game comprises a sports game.