Athletic performance monitoring with body synchronization analysis

• US 8,784,274 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas C. Chuang
• Original Assignee: Thomas C. Chuang
• Inventors: Chuang, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US13/423,006
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 482/3, 482/8, 482/9
• US Class Current: 482/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• 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 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 1/00 Horizontal bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/22 Stride length
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• 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 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 : Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/52 : Predicting or monitoring the response to treatment, e.g. for selection of therapy based on assay results in personalised medicine; Prognosis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/54 : Determining the risk of relapse
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/57415 : of breast
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 : Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 : Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/52 : Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/2193 : based on specific statistical tests
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10056 : Microscopic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30024 : Cell structures in vitro; Tissue sections in vitro
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 : Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 : Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/12 : Edge-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/698 : Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 : Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 : Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for athletic performance monitoring with body synchronization analysis are disclosed. In one example, a first sensor output associated with a movement of an user foot and a second sensor output associated with a movement of an user arm are received, the user arm on a body side opposite the user foot. The first sensor output and the second sensor output are analyzed to identify a degree of synchronization between the movement of a user foot and the movement of a user arm.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for analyzing athletic activity comprising:

receiving a first sensor output associated with a movement of an athlete foot;

receiving a second sensor output associated with a movement of an athlete arm, the athlete arm on a body side opposite the athlete foot;

analyzing the first sensor output and the second sensor output to identify a degree of synchronization between the movement of an athlete foot and the movement of an athlete arm comprising determining an extent to which both the movement of the athlete arm and the movement of the athlete foot are simultaneously moving together in a forward direction.

2. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 1, the method further comprising outputting a visual indication or audible indication of the degree of synchronization.

3. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 1, wherein the movement of an athlete arm and the movement of an athlete foot are during a running activity.

4. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 1, the method further comprising outputting at a user interface a rhythmic output to aid synchronization.

5. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 1, wherein determining the extent to which both the movement of the athlete arm and the movement of the athlete foot are simultaneously moving together in a forward direction comprises determining an amount of time in which both the movement of the athlete arm and the movement of the athlete foot are simultaneously moving together in a forward direction.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 1, wherein determining the extent to which both the movement of the athlete arm and the movement of the athlete foot are simultaneously moving together in a forward direction comprises determining a synchronization parameter value, the method further comprising:

comparing the synchronization parameter value to a threshold synchronization value.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 6, wherein the threshold synchronization value is user specific.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 6, wherein the threshold synchronization value is speed dependent.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 1, wherein analyzing the first sensor output and the second sensor output to identify a degree of synchronization between the movement of an athlete foot and the movement of an athlete arm comprises:

identifying a moving direction component of the athlete foot substantially parallel to a surface beneath an athlete and identifying a moving direction component of the athlete arm substantially parallel to the surface beneath the athlete.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 1, the method further comprising outputting an audible tone for each forward motion of the athlete arm and athlete foot substantially together.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 1, the method further comprising monitoring a variation in the degree of synchronization between the movement of an athlete foot and the movement of an athlete arm as a function of a user speed.

35. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 1, the method further comprising determining an extent to which both the movement of the athlete arm and the movement of the athlete foot are simultaneously moving together in a rearward direction.

12. A system for analyzing athletic activity comprising:

a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor output signal responsive to a movement of a first body part;

a second sensor configured to generate a second sensor output signal responsive to a movement of a second body part;

a processor; and

a memory storing an application program executable by the processor configured to analyze the first sensor output signal and the second sensor output signal to identify a degree to which the first body part and the second body part are synchronized.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first sensor is a first accelerometer and the second sensor is a second accelerometer.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first body part is an arm and the second body part is a foot or leg.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a user interface configured to output a visual indication, a vibrate indication, or an audible indication of a degree of synchronization between the first body part and the second body part.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the movement of the first body part and the second body part are during a running activity.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the first body part and the second body part are on different sides of the athlete body.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the first body part and the second body part are synchronized when the first body part and the second body part are simultaneously moving together in a forward direction of running.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the application program is configured to identify the degree to which the first body part and the second body part are synchronized by determining an extent to which both the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are simultaneously moving together in a rearward direction.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the application program is configured to determine an amount of time in which both the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are simultaneously moving together in a forward direction, the amount of time utilized to identify the degree to which the first body part and the second body part are synchronized.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the application program is configured to identify the degree to which the first body part and the second body part are synchronized by determining a synchronization parameter value and comparing the synchronization parameter value to a threshold value.

22. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 21, wherein the threshold value is user specific.

23. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 21, wherein the threshold value is speed dependent.

24. The system of claim 12, wherein application program is configured to identify the degree to which the first body part and the second body part are synchronized by identifying a moving direction component of the second body part substantially parallel to a surface beneath an athlete and identifying a moving direction component of the first body part substantially parallel to the surface beneath the athlete.

25. The system of claim 12, wherein the wherein application program is further configured to output an audible tone for each forward motion of the first body part and second body part substantially together.

26. The system of claim 12, wherein the wherein application program is further configured to monitor a variation in the degree of synchronization between the movement of an second body part and the movement of an first body part as a function of a user speed.

27. An arm worn device comprising:

a first sensor configured to output a first sensor data associated with an arm movement;

a wireless transceiver configured to receive a second sensor data associated with a leg movement; and

a processing system configured to analyze first sensor data and the second sensor data to identify a degree of synchronization between the arm movement and the leg movement.

28. The arm worn device of claim 27, further comprising a user interface in communication with the processing system, the user interface configured to output a visual indication or an audible indication of the degree of synchronization.

29. The arm worn device of claim 27, further comprising a housing adapted to house the first sensor, the wireless transceiver, and the processing system, the housing in a wristwatch form factor or a phone form factor.

30. The arm worn device of claim 27, wherein the degree of synchronization is between an arm and a leg on different sides of an athlete body.

31. The arm worn device of claim 27, wherein the degree of synchronization is associated with an extent to which both the arm movement and the leg movement are simultaneously moving together in a forward direction.

32. The arm worn device of claim 31, wherein the arm movement and the leg movement are associated with movement during a running activity.

33. The arm worn device of claim 27, further comprising a Global Positioning System unit configured to monitor a user speed during the arm movement and the leg movement.

34. The arm worn device of claim 27, wherein the first sensor is an inertial sensor.

36. A method comprising:

producing a first motion profile from a first sensor worn on a first body part;

producing a second motion profile from a second sensor worn on a second body part;

determining a deviation of the first motion profile from the second motion profile, the deviation with respect to a motion directional component; and

outputting an alert signal at a user interface indicating the deviation exceeds a tolerance value.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the motion directional component is a motion in a forward direction.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein determining the deviation comprises determining an extent to which the first body part is moving forward while the second body part is moving rearward.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the tolerance value is user specific.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the tolerance value is speed dependent.