System and method for tracking and assessing movement skills in multidimensional space

• US 6,876,496 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Impulse Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Impulse Technology Limited
• Inventors: Ferguson, Kevin R., French, Barry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, TIMOTHY J
• Application Number:
  US10/888,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20040248632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630, 359/629, 733/790.4, 73/650.1, 731/72, 482/8, 482/1, 482/9, 482/902
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/105 each station having its own resisting device, e.g. for training multiple users simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/081 High jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/082 Long jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 : Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 : for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 : for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0053 : Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 : for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0095 : for volley-ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 : Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 : comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 : Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 : for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 : Methods

Abstract

Accurate simulation of sport to quantify and train performance constructs by employing sensing electronics for determining, in essentially real time, the player'"'"'s three dimensional positional changes in three or more degrees of freedom (three dimensions); and computer controlled sport specific cuing that evokes or prompts sport specific responses from the player that are measured to provide meaningful indicia of performance. The sport specific cuing is characterized as a virtual opponent that is responsive to, and interactive with, the player in real time. The virtual opponent continually delivers and/or responds to stimuli to create realistic movement challenges for the player.

Claims

1. A testing and training system comprising:

a tracking system for continuously tracking the overall physical location of a player in a defined physical space;

a computer operatively coupled to the tracking system for updating in real time a player virtual location in a virtual space corresponding to the physical location of the player in the physical space, and for updating a view of the virtual space; and

a display operatively coupled to the computer, wherein the display displays the view of the virtual space;

wherein the view is from a point of view in the virtual space corresponding to a location on a line directed outward from the display into the physical space.

2. The testing and training system of claim 1, wherein the view of the virtual space includes a virtual representation of at least a part of the player.

3. The testing and training system of claim 2, wherein the view is from a point of view in the virtual space behind the virtual representation of the at least part of the player.

4. The testing and training system of claim 1, wherein the view of the virtual space is a first person perspective view from the player virtual location.

5. The testing and training system of claim 1, wherein the computer provides at least one indicium of performance of the player moving in the physical space, wherein the at least one indicium is or is derived from a measure of a movement parameter of the player.

6. The testing and training system of claim 5, wherein the view of the virtual space includes a player icon located at the player virtual location.

7. The testing and training system of claim 6, wherein the computer updates a protagonist virtual location of a virtual protagonist in the virtual space, and the view includes a protagonist icon located at the protagonist virtual location.

8. The testing and training system of claim 7, wherein the computer updates the protagonist virtual location as a function of a selectable modulation factor.

9. The testing and training system of claim 8, wherein the modulation factor controls the rate of change of the protagonist virtual location.

10. The testing and training system of claim 7, wherein the updating of the protagonist virtual location is made in response to the changes in the physical location of the player, such that the virtual protagonist and the player engage in an interactive task.

11. The testing and training system of claim 10, wherein the interactive task involves the player attempting to create an asynchronous event, and the at least one indicium of performance of the player includes a measure of the player'"'"'s ability to maximize spatial differences over time between the player and the virtual protagonist.

12. The testing and training system of claim 7, wherein said at least one indicium of performance of the player includes a measure of the player'"'"'s ability over a time interval to minimize spatial differences between the player virtual location and the protagonist virtual location.

13. The testing and training system of claim 12, wherein the at least one indicium of performance of the player includes a time in compliance.

14. The testing and training system of claim 5, wherein the at least one indicium of performance of the player includes a measure of the player'"'"'s bi-lateral vector accelerations and decelerations.

15. The testing and training system of claim 5, wherein the at least one indicium of performance of the player includes a measure of the player'"'"'s power.

16. A testing and training system comprising:

a tracking system for continuously tracking the overall physical location of a player in a defined physical space;

a computer operatively coupled to the tracking system for updating in real time a player virtual location in a virtual space corresponding to the physical location of the player in the physical space, and for updating a view of the virtual space; and

a display operatively coupled to the computer, wherein the display displays the view of the virtual space;

wherein the view is from a point of view in the virtual space corresponding to a location on a line directed substantially perpendicular to the display.

17. The testing and training system of claim 16, wherein the view of the, virtual space includes a virtual representation of at least a part of the player.

18. The testing and training system of claim 17, wherein the view is from a point of view in the virtual space behind the virtual representation of the at least part of the player.

19. The testing and training system of claim 16, wherein the view of the virtual space is a first person perspective view from the player virtual location.

20. The testing and training system of claim 16, wherein the computer provides at least one indicium of performance of the player moving in the physical space, wherein the at least one indicium is or is derived from a measure of a movement parameter of the player.