Virtual trainer system and method

• US 7,931,563 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Shaw, Rocky, Brown, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganesan; Sundhara M
• Application Number:
  US11/683,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20080220941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 434/29, 434/258, 434247-255, 700/91, 705 2- 4, 709/217
• US Class Current: 482/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method for managing health of different individuals by means of a virtual trainer over a network. Reference training data is made available to at least one individual. The exercise motion of the individual or end-user is recorded by using a plurality of sensing elements. The exercise motion of the end-user is processed into a user data. The user data is forwarded to a remote server via a user communication device. A virtual coach application is provided in the remote server that compares the reference training data with the user data and provides a corrective feedback to the end-user. The corrective feedback to the end-user may be provided on the user communication device such as a personal computer, digital assistant, or mobile phone.

Claims

1. A virtual trainer system comprising:

a remote server that is remotely located from a user, stores a computer-executable report generator that creates user health management reports and is accessed by said user and entities other than said user, wherein said entities comprise other users and said report generator is executed by said remote server;

reference training data stored in said remote server, wherein said reference training data is common for said user and said entities;

at least one sensing element that senses exercise motion of said user;

a processor that creates user data based on the sensed exercise motion of said user;

a user communication device that receives said user data and transmits said user data to said remote server, wherein said user communication device is remotely located from said remote server; and

a virtual coach application component stored in said remote server and comprising computer-executable instructions executed by said remote server, wherein said computer-executable instructions compare said reference training data with said user data and provides corrective feedback to said user.

2. The virtual trainer system of claim 1, wherein said reference training data comprises training programs created, updated, and modified by an expert trainer.

3. The virtual trainer system of claim 2, wherein said remote server comprises a web server and said user health management reports are accessible by said user and said expert trainer via a web interface.

4. The virtual trainer system of claim 1, wherein said reference training data is accessible to said user in any of multimedia form and text form.

5. The virtual trainer system of claim 2, wherein said training programs include a strength training program, a rehabilitation/physical therapy program, a sports conditioning program, a weight management program, and a health-maintenance program.

6. The virtual trainer system of claim 1, wherein the sensing element is attached to said user.

8. The virtual trainer system of claim 1, wherein the sensing element is configured in exercising equipment.

9. The virtual trainer system of claim 1, wherein the exercise motion comprises a plurality of exercise parameters of said user.

10. The virtual trainer system of claim 9, wherein said exercise parameters comprise any of mileage, calories burnt, pulse-count, temperature, moisture, tension, time, and blood pressure.

11. The virtual trainer system of claim 1, wherein said reference training data comprises common technique mistakes of said user.

12. The virtual trainer system of claim 1, wherein said corrective feedback is provided on said user communication device.

13. The virtual trainer system of claim 1, wherein said user communication device wirelessly receives said user data.

14. The virtual trainer system of claim 1, wherein said user communication device comprises any of a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile telephone.

7. A virtual trainer system comprising:

exercising equipment operated by a user;

a remote server that is remotely located from a user, stores a computer-executable report generator that creates user health management reports, and is accessed by said user and entities other than said user, wherein said entities comprise other users, said report generator is executed by said remote server;

reference training data stored in said remote server, wherein said reference training data is common for said user and said entities, and wherein modification of said reference training data is reflected to said user and said entities connected to said remote server;

at least one sensing element that senses exercise motion of said user, wherein said at least one sensing element comprises an equipment-sensing element that is attached to said exercising equipment;

a processor that creates user data based on the sensed exercise motion of said user;

a user communication device that receives said user data and transmits said user data to said remote server, wherein said user communication device is remotely located from said remote server; and

a virtual coach application component stored in said remote server and comprises computer-executable instructions executed by said remote server, wherein said computer-executable-instructions compare said reference training data with said user data and provides corrective feedback to said user, wherein said user data is accessible to said other users.

15. A method for providing virtual coaching, said method comprising:

storing reference training data in a remote server that is remotely located from a user, said remote server being accessed by said user and entities other than said user, wherein said entities comprise other users;

sensing exercise motion of said user by using a plurality of sensing elements;

creating user data in a user communication device based on the sensed exercise motion of said user;

transmitting said user data from said user communication device to said remote server, wherein said user communication device is remotely located from said remote server;

comparing said reference training data with said user data using a virtual coach application component stored and executed on said remote server;

creating a report from the comparisons of said reference training data with said user data using a report generator stored and executed on said remote server, wherein said report is accessible by said user; and

providing corrective feedback to said user based on the comparisons of said reference training data with said user data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said reference training data comprises training programs created by an expert trainer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said remote server stores a computer-executable application that creates user health management reports accessible by said expert trainer.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said reference training data is accessible to said user in any of multimedia form and text form.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said training programs includes a strength training program, a rehabilitation/physical therapy program, a sports conditioning program, a weight management program, and a health-maintenance program.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensing element is attached to said user.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensing element comprises an equipment-sensing element that is attached to exercising equipment.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensing element is configured in exercising equipment.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the exercise motion comprises a plurality of exercise parameters of said user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said exercise parameters comprise any of mileage, calories burnt, pulse-count, temperature, moisture, tension, time, and blood pressure.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein said reference training data comprises common technique mistakes of said user.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein said corrective feedback is provided on said user communication device.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein said user communication device wirelessly receives said user data.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein said user communication device comprises any of a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile telephone.