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

• US 8,503,086 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• 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): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US12/856,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20100302142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 359/629, 359/630, 73/650.1, 731/72, 733/790.1, 733/790.4, 482/1, 482/8, 482/9, 482/902, 382/103, 345/156
• 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 multiuser physical activity system comprising:

at least one tracking system for determining changes in overall physical locations of a first user and a second user; and

at least one processor operatively coupled to the at least one tracking system for updating user virtual locations in a virtual space, corresponding to the physical locations of the users.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one tracking system is a single tracking system for determining changes in overall physical locations for both the first user and the second user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the single tracking system includes a camera for determining the changes in overall physical locations for both the first user and the second user.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the single tracking system includes an image capturing device for determining the changes in overall physical locations for both the first user and the second user.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the image capturing device includes a camera for determining the changes in overall physical locations for both the first user and the second user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one tracking system includes:

a first tracking system for determining changes in overall physical location of the first user; and

a second tracking system for determining changes in overall physical location of the second user.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the operative coupling between the first tracking system and the second tracking system includes coupling through the Internet.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one processor includes:

a first processor operatively coupled to the first tracking system; and

a second processor operatively coupled to the second tracking system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first processor and the second processor communicate over the Internet.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first processor and the second processor are coupled together through a computer network.

11. The system of claim 9,

wherein the first user is in a first location;

and

wherein the second user is in a second location separated by a physical distance from the first location.

12. The system of claim 1,

wherein the first user is in a first location;

and

wherein the second user is in a second location separated by a physical distance from the first location.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one tracking system is also used for determining changes in overall physical location of at least one additional user in at least one of the first location or the second location.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor outputs multiple views of the virtual space from multiple viewpoints.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the multiple views of the virtual space include a first view corresponding to a location of the first user, and a second view corresponding to a location of the second user.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the multiple views are output for display on at least one display that may be operatively coupled to the at least one processor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the multiple views that are output for display each include a representation of at least one of the users.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one tracking system includes at least one camera.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one tracking system includes at least one image capturing device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one tracking system includes at least one camera.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one tracking system determines changes in physical location of one or more extremities of at least one of the users.

22. A method of operating a multiuser physical activity system, the method comprising:

determining changes in overall physical locations of a first user and a second user, using at least one tracking system of a physical activity system; and

updating user virtual locations in a virtual space, corresponding to the physical locations of the users, using at least one processor operatively coupled to the at least one tracking system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the determining includes using a single tracking system of the at least one tracking system to determine changes in overall physical locations for both the first user and the second user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the determining includes using a camera of the single tracking system to determine the changes in overall physical locations for both the first user and the second user.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the determining includes using an image capturing device of the single tracking system to determine the changes in overall physical locations for both the first user and the second user.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the image capturing device includes a camera used for determining the changes in overall physical locations for both the first user and the second user.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the determining includes:

determining changes in overall physical location of the first user using a first tracking system of the at least one tracking system; and

determining changes in overall physical location of the second user using a second tracking system of the at least one tracking system.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein updating is performing using

a first processor of the at least one processor, operatively coupled to the first tracking system;

and

a second processor of the at least one processor, operatively coupled to the second tracking system.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the first processor and the second processor communicating through the Internet.

30. The method of claim 28,

wherein the first user is in a first location;

and

wherein the second user is in a second location separated by a physical distance from the first location.

31. The method of claim 22,

wherein the first user is in a first location;

and

wherein the second user is in a second location separated by a physical distance from the first location.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining, using the at least one tracking system overall physical location of at least one additional user in at least one of the first location or the second location.

33. The method of claim 22, further comprising the at least one processor outputting multiple views of the virtual space from multiple viewpoints.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising displaying the multiple views on at least one display that may be operatively coupled to the at least one processor.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the displaying includes displaying views that each include a representation of at least one of the users.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the multiple views of the virtual space include a first view corresponding to a location of the first user, and a second view corresponding to a location of the second user.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one tracking system includes at least one image capturing device.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one image capturing device includes at least one camera.

39. The method of claim 22, further comprising determining changes in physical location of one or more extremities of at least one of the users.