Method and system for controlling training

• US 7,717,827 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firstbeat Analytics OY (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Firstbeat Technologies Oy
• Inventors: Pulkkinen, Aki, Saalasti, Sami, Kurunmaki, Veli-Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman; Glenn
• Application Number:
  US12/223,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247, 600/300, 601/23
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

The invention relates to method and system for controlling a training plan for a user having a chosen aim for training, where

• • at least one parameter describing physical characteristics of the user is determined, and
  • a training plan consists of plurality of days, each day having one or more training sessions or rest, and
  • each performed and coming session having a training load described by one or more parameters
  • a training template is determined according to the aim and the said one or more parameters describing physical characteristics, each training template having a cumulative training load target according to the said parameter and the chosen aim and consisting of one or more training sessions or rest in each day, each training session of the template having a pre-selected training load, and
  • an adapting window is determined, the adapting window consisting of a plurality of days, which include one or more previous sessions and one or more coming sessions according to the training template, and
  • training loads of each session in the adapting window are combined into a cumulative training load, which is compared relatively to the cumulative training load target in the template, and
    depending on the comparison one or more coming sessions in the adapting window are adapted by changing one or more training loads of these so that the performed training load and the training load of the coming sessions as a combination meets the cumulative training load target.

Claims

1. Method for controlling a training plan for a user having a chosen aim for training, where

at least one parameter describing physical characteristics of the user is determined, and

a training plan consists of plurality of days, each day having one or more training sessions or rest, and

each performed and coming session having a training load described by one or more parameters

a training template is determined according to the aim and the said one or more parameters describing physical characteristics, each training template having a cumulative training load target according to the said parameter and the chosen aim and consisting of one or more training sessions or rest in each day, each training session of the template having a pre-selected training load, and

an adapting window is determined, the adapting window consisting of a plurality of days, which include one or more previous sessions and one or more coming sessions according to the training template, and

training loads of each session in the adapting window are combined into a cumulative training load, which is compared relatively to the cumulative training load target in the template, and

depending on the comparison one or more coming sessions in the adapting window are adapted by changing one or more training loads of these so that the performed training load and the training load of the coming sessions as a combination meets the cumulative training load target.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the training load is set in a scale of a cumulative physiological quantity.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that training load is estimated by at least one physical quantity of workout describing the total physical load of workout.

4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the cumulative physiological quantity is a parameter describing the general disturbance to homeostatis brought on by workout.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the parameter is EPOC (Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption).

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that each training load is set between pre-selected lower and upper limits, which depend on at least one of said parameters.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapting window slides forward through a chosen number of days and adapting of the training template takes place in each position of the adapting window.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cumulative training load target is a range having an upper target limit and a lower target limit, these limits depending on at least one of said parameters.

9. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that when the said cumulative training load stays relatively within the range the workload of next training session fine tuned in order get weekly training load in the middle of the range.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapting of the coming sessions includes adding rest instead of a scheduled training session, when the previous sessions were too hard or adding a training session instead of rest, when the previous sessions were too easy.

11. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the training template consists of 7-28 days having at least one training session per 7 days.

12. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one parameter describes physical activity of user during essential longer period than the training template.

13. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that method is integrated with controlling a real time training effect during a single training session.

14. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that a group of different training templates is determined initially corresponding different physical characteristics of the user.

15. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the default training template is adapted according to user'"'"'s aim with desired training days.

16. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that method is executed using remote processing, where personal data and each result of performed workloads are send remote system, which adapts training plan and send it to user.

17. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that method is executed using a local device having processing means for said adapting.

18. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the parameters describing physical characteristic are updated automatically according each result of the performed training workload.

19. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the aim of user is a weight control.

20. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the aim of user is a marathon.

21. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the aim of user is a rapid improvement of training level.

22. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the dynamic guide is shown to the user as time to exercise in selected intensity range.

23. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that intensity range is described by one parameter belonging to the following group:

heart rate level, speed, oxygen consumption, calorie consumption.

28. System according to claim 20, characterized in that system comprises WEB-based system having

a user terminal for sending data describing personal characteristics and results of previous sessions and receiving training template

a server for receiving said data and processing a training plan using received data and sending it to the user terminal.

24. System for controlling a training plan for a user for training, where a training plan consists of plurality of days, each day having one or more training sessions or rest, and each session having a training load described by one or more parameters, where the system comprises

a user interface device, comprising an input device for entering the values of initial variables describing physical activity and a personal aim for training and an output device for displaying information about at least the next session of training plan, and

means for storing a group of training templates each presenting a schedule for training, each template corresponding different aim and/or a parameter describing physical characteristics and each training template having a cumulative training load target, and

means for storing results of performed training sessions, and

means for selecting a template according the aim and the physical characteristics of the user, and

means for processing an adapting window having a plurality of days including at least one previous day and one coming day, and combining training loads of the performed training sessions and those of the template in the adapting window into a combination, and

means for assessing the combination with the cumulative training load target, and adapting one or more coming sessions of the current template in the adapting window so that the combination meets relatively the cumulative training load target.

25. System according to claim 24, characterized in that system comprises wrist-unit with buttons and a display.

26. System according to claim 25, characterized in that wrist-unit has input means for receiving measured intensity of exercise and has means for controlling training session in real-time and for recording a result of each performed training session.

27. System according to claim 24, characterized in that system comprises PDA with keyboard and display.