Device and method for exercise prescription, detection of successful performance, reporting, and provision of reward therefore

• US 8,343,012 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2012
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Gibbens Redmann
• Original Assignee: William Gibbens Redmann
• Inventors: Redmann, William Gibbens
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): GANESAN, SUNDHARA M
• Application Number:
  US13/359,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20120129138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 273/444, 273/441, 463/1, 434247-257
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/06 Children, e.g. for attention deficit diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

An exercise computer monitors the exercises of a user, especially a child, and provides rewards for exercises done well and regularly, thereby motivating the user. Rewards take the form of video games, cartoons, music, and merchant coupons. The exercise computer also provides encouragement and advice as the user progresses in skill level. Exercises may be prescribed. A record of exercise performance can be produced, to track the user'"'"'s progress over time. The system and method can readily utilize the current install base of handheld computers and video games pre-existing in the marketplace.

Claims

1. A method for motivating a user to exercise, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a program for a first computer, said first computer having communication with a sensor, said program able to recognize each performance of a first exercise by the user of a plurality of exercises through the sensor;

(b) automatically recognizing a first performance of the first exercise with said program;

(c) automatically making a first record with said program in response to the first performance;

(d) repeating at least steps (b) and (c) a plurality of times; and

,

(e) providing a report of progress by the user based on the records.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) consists of finding a correspondence between a predetermined pattern associated with the first exercise and an interval of readings of the sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a plurality of accelerometers and readings of the sensor are affected by at least one of orientation and motion.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(f) automatically recognizing with said program a failed attempt to perform the first exercise; and

,

(g) providing with said program at least one of advice and encouragement appropriate to overcoming the failed attempt in the future.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

(h) prescribing the first exercise with said program.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(f) automatically recognizing with said program a failed attempt to perform the first exercise; and

,

(g) automatically making a second record with said program in response to the failed attempt;

wherein the report is further based on the second record.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(f) uploading the records to a second computer, said second computer programmed to provide a report of progress based on said records; and

,

wherein (e) is performed with said second computer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(f) prescribing the first exercise with said program.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the program is further able to recognize each performance of a second exercise of the plurality of exercises, the second exercise different from the first exercise, and further comprising the steps of:

(f) automatically recognizing a second performance of the second exercise with said program; and

,

(g) automatically making a second record with said program in response to the second performance;

wherein the report is further based on the second record.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the first record comprises a count of performances of the first exercise.

11. A system for monitoring exercise, the system comprising:

a sensor; and

,

a first computer having communication with the sensor, said first computer having a program to automatically recognize each performance of a first exercise by a user of a plurality of exercises through the sensor and respond by producing a first record that the first exercise was performed, said program further operable to make available a report on the basis of the first record;

whereby the report indicates the user has performed the first exercise.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the program compares readings from the sensor to a predetermined pattern indicative of the first exercise and automatically recognizes that the first exercise was performed when a substantial match is found.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of accelerometers.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first computer further comprises a user interface, and said program is further able to recognize a failed attempt to perform the first exercise and provide in response, through the user interface, at least one of advice and encouragement appropriate to overcoming the failed attempt in the future.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first record is one of a plurality of records, said system further comprising:

a display of information based on the plurality of records, whereby the progress of the user is shown.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the display comprises a second computer at least occasionally in communication with the first computer, to which the plurality of records are uploaded, wherein the report is provided by the second computer on the further basis of the plurality of records.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising a display driven by the first computer, to prescribe the first exercise.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising an audio output driven by the first computer, to prescribe the first exercise.

19. The system of claim 11, in which the program will further automatically recognize each performance of a second exercise of the plurality of exercises, the second exercise different from the first exercise, and respond by producing a second record that the second exercise was performed;

and wherein the report is made available on the further basis of the second record.

20. The system of claim 11, in which the first record comprises a count of performances of the first exercise.

21. A method for motivating a user to exercise, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a computer, said computer having a program to monitor a sensor and recognize each performance of a first exercise by the user of a plurality of exercises;

(b) automatically recognizing with said computer a first performance of the first exercise;

(c) automatically making a first record of the first performance with said computer; and

,

(d) providing with the computer a report based on the first record;

whereby the user'"'"'s exercise performance is represented in the report.