Musical fitness computer

• US 7,745,716 B1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Shawn Murphy
• Original Assignee: Michael Shawn Murphy
• Inventors: Murphy, Michael Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels; Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/009,468
• Time in Patent Office: 2,027 Days
• Field of Search: 846/12, 700/94, 482 3- 9, 482/900, 482/901
• US Class Current: 84/612
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/22 Stride length
• 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 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/076 for extraction of timing, tempo; Beat detection tempo display G10H2220/081; tempo control G10H2210/375
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/385 Speed change, i.e. variations from preestablished tempo, tempo change, e.g. faster or slower, accelerando or ritardando, without change in pitch with repetitive changes in pitch, e.g. scratch DJ effects G10H2210/241
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/391 Automatic tempo adjustment, correction or control
• 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 2220/395 Acceleration sensing or accelerometer use, e.g. 3D movement computation by integration of accelerometer data, angle sensing with respect to the vertical, i.e. gravity sensing. conductor baton movement sensing G10H2220/206, angle sensing without reference to gravity G10H2220/391; player body joint angle sensing G10H2220/321
• 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

An audio player comprises a means of dynamically sensing the rate of repetitive motion of the user, a means for storing digital music files, a means for retrieving and dynamically playing at least one of said music files at a rate approximately equal to the sensed rate of repetitive motion of the user, and a means for dynamically calculating and displaying information and/or statistics regarding at least one of the music file and the user. Such a device can play music, or other audio content with a repetitive beat, in substantial synchrony with the repetitive motion of the user. The device also allows the user to dynamically choose or change the music file playing. The device may detect, calculate, and display to the user various information.

Claims

1. A method of playing music for a human user who is engaging in a repetitive motion, comprising the steps of:

1) retrieving from a digital storage medium a digital music file,

2) creating for said digital music file a beat file,

3) overlaying said beat file on said digital music file,

4) calculating information about the music contained in the file, and

5) displaying said information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the repetitive motion of the human constitutes physical exercise.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said information comprises at least one of the following:

1) beats per minute,

2) playlist,

3) current song title,

4) time elapsed,

5) gait speed,

6) stride distance,

7) heart-rate,

8) battery status,

9) speed,

10) calories burned,

11) distance traveled, and

12) at least one of steps or repetitions taken, and steps taken up to any point in a workout.

4. A method of playing music for a human user who is engaging in a repetitive motion, comprising the steps of:

1) retrieving from a digital storage medium a digital music file,

2) creating for said digital music file a beat file,

3) overlaying said beat file on said digital music file,

4) calculating or retrieving at least one statistic of the physical condition of the user, and

5) displaying said information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the repetitive motion of the human constitutes physical exercise.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said information comprises at least one of the following:

1) beats per minute,

2) playlist,

3) current song title,

4) time elapsed,

5) gait speed,

6) stride distance,

7) heart-rate,

8) battery status,

9) speed,

10) calories burned,

11) distance traveled, and

12) at least one of steps or repetitions taken, and steps taken up to any point in a workout.

7. A device comprising:

1) a digital microcontroller which receives digital inputs from at least one of

a) user controls,

b) a pedometer, or

c) a heart rate sensor;

2) a storage means for digitally storing at least one music file and at least one beat file, and for transmitting said at least one music file and said at least one beat file, said storage means being controlled by the microcontroller;

3) a digital signal processor, comprising a microprocessor, which receives said at least one music file and said at least one beat file from the storage means, said digital signal processor capable of overlaying a beat file onto a music file and outputting the resulting overlaid digital file, said digital signal processor being controlled by the microcontroller; and

4) an output display for receiving information from the microcontroller and displaying said information to a user.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said information comprises at least one of the following:

1) beats per minute,

2) playlist,

3) current song title,

4) time elapsed,

5) gait speed,

6) stride distance,

7) heart-rate,

8) battery status,

9) speed,

10) calories burned,

11) distance traveled, and

12) at least one of steps or repetitions taken, and steps taken up to any point in a workout.

9. An apparatus comprising:

1) a means for a user to command a predetermined beat rate by creating a beat file;

2) a means for retrieving, from a digital storage medium, a digital music file;

3) a means for overlaying said beat file on said digital music file; and

4) a means for playing music by playing said digital music file with the overlaid beat file, whereby music plays at the beat rate commanded by the user rather than the rate at which the music was originally recorded.

10. A method of playing music for a user comprising the steps of:

1) the user commanding a predetermined beat rate by creating a beat file;

2) retrieving from a digital storage medium a digital music file;

3) overlaying said beat file on said digital music file; and

4) playing said digital music file with the overlaid beat file, whereby said music plays at the beat rate commanded by the user rather than the rate at which the music was originally recorded.

11. A device for playing music in synchrony with the repetitive motion of a human user, comprising:

1) a means of dynamically sensing the rate of voluntary repetitive motion of the user;

2) a means for storing digital music files;

3) a means for retrieving and dynamically playing at least one of said music files at a rate approximately equal to the sensed rate of repetitive motion of the user; and

4) a means for dynamically calculating and displaying at least one of information and statistics regarding at least one of the music file and the user.