System and method for utilizing motion capture data

• US 8,905,855 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newlight Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blast Motion Incorporated
• Inventors: Bentley, Michael, Bose, Bhaskar, Kaps, Ryan, Fitzpatrick, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel, Matthew D
• Application Number:
  US13/298,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20120122574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 473/140, 473/141, 473/145, 473/146, 473151-156, 473/198, 473/199, 473/200, 473/209, 473/211, 473231-234, 473/257, 473/266, 473/267, 473218-226, 473/570
• US Class Current: 473/199
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings

Abstract

System and method for utilizing motion capture data for healthcare compliance, sporting, gaming, military, virtual reality, industrial, retail loss tracking, security, baby and elderly monitoring and other applications for example obtained from a motion capture element and relayed to a database via a mobile phone. System obtains data from motion capture elements, analyzes data and stores data in database for use in these applications and/or data mining, which may be charged for. Enables unique displays associated with the user, such as 3D overlays onto images of the user to visually depict the captured motion data. Ratings, compliance, ball flight path data can be calculated and displayed, for example on a map or timeline or both. Enables performance related equipment fitting and purchase. Includes active and passive identifier capabilities.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing motion capture data comprising:

providing at least one motion capture element that couples with a user or piece of equipment wherein said at least one motion capture element comprises

a memory;

a sensor that captures any combination of values associated with an orientation, position, velocity, acceleration of said at least one motion capture element;

a radio;

a microcontroller coupled with said memory, said sensor and said radio wherein said microcontroller

collects data that comprises sensor values from said sensor;

stores said data in said memory;

transmits said data via said radio;

providing an application that executes on a mobile device, wherein said mobile device comprises

a computer;

a wireless communication interface that communicates with said radio to obtain said data,

wherein said computer is coupled with said wireless communication interface, and wherein said computer executes said application to

receive data associated with said at least one motion capture element via said wireless communication interface;

analyze said data to form motion analysis data;

store said data, or said motion analysis data, or both said data and said motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment;

access previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment or previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with at least one other user or other piece of equipment;

display information based on

said motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment,

and

said previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment,

 

or

said previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with at least one other user or other piece of equipment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

said microcontroller also

alters a sampling rate of said sensor based on said sensor values obtained from said sensor to maintain accuracy of said sensor values.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein

said microcontroller also

detects a first value from said sensor values having a first threshold value and

detects a second value from said sensor values having a second threshold value within a time window;

signifies a prospective event;

compares said prospective event to a characteristic signal associated with a typical event and eliminates any false positive events;

signifies a valid event if said prospective event is not a false positive event;

saves said valid event in said memory comprises information within an event time window as said data.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein

said microcontroller also

transmits said valid event as said data after said valid event is detected wherein said data is transmitted on an event-by-event basis or periodically or when requested by said computer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said data, or said motion analysis data, or both said data and said motion analysis data are stored in a database associated with said mobile device or in a database associated with a remote server coupled with said wireless communication interface.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said database comprises

demographic information related to two or more users

and

information related to a plurality of manufacturers and models of said piece of equipment

and

information related to at least one pattern found in said database

and

information related to a user that data mines said database.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer further executes said application to

display information based on

a comparison of

said motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment

and

said previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment or previously stored motion capture data or said motion analysis data associated with at least one other user.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer further executes said application to display a compliance or monitoring message.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer further executes said application to

display said information based on

a function of

said motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment that determines selection of

said previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment or previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with at least one other user.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer further executes said application to display a game that uses said motion analysis data and said previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment or previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with at least one other user or other equipment.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein computer further executes said application to

display of a music selection or music playlist to be played based on

said motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment

or

said previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment or previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with at least one other user.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer further executes said application to display said information by transmission of said information to display on a visual display coupled with said computer or a remote computer.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer further executes said application to display said information by transmission of said information to display on a virtual reality display.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein computer further executes said application to display said information by transmission of said information in a text or email message.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer further executes said application to access said previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment or previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with at least one other user or other piece of equipment from a server remote to said computer, and wherein said information to display is received from said server.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

an identifier coupled with said user or said piece of equipment;

said mobile device further comprising an identifier reader that obtains said identifier;

wherein said computer further executes said application to

receive said identifier;

associated said identifier with said motion analysis data.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer further executes said application to present an interface to enable said user to purchase said piece of equipment over said wireless interface based on said display of said information.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a single battery or two batteries coupled with a flexible element, wherein said single battery or said two batteries coupled with a flexible element is coupled to said computer, and wherein said flexible element electrically connects said two batteries in parallel.

19. A method for utilizing motion capture data comprising:

providing at least one motion capture element that couples with a user or piece of equipment wherein said at least one motion capture element comprises

a memory;

a sensor that captures any combination of values associated with an orientation, position, velocity, acceleration of said at least one motion capture element;

a radio;

a microcontroller coupled with said memory, said sensor and said radio wherein said microcontroller

collects data that comprises sensor values from said sensor;

stores said data in said memory;

transmits said data via said radio;

providing an application that executes on a mobile device, wherein said mobile device comprises

a computer;

a wireless communication interface that

communicates with said radio to obtain said data,

wherein said computer is coupled with wireless communication interface, and wherein

said computer executes said application

receive data associated with said at least one motion capture element via said wireless communication interface;

analyze said data to form motion analysis data;

store said data, or said motion analysis data, or both said data and said motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment;

display information to a monitoring user other than said user wherein said monitoring user is not coupled with said at least one motion capture element or said piece of equipment coupled with said at least one motion capture element, wherein said information is based on said motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment.

20. A method for utilizing motion capture data comprising:

providing at least one motion capture element that couples with a user or piece of equipment wherein said at least one motion capture element comprises

a memory;

a sensor that captures any combination of values associated with an orientation, position, velocity, acceleration of said at least one motion capture element;

a radio;

a microcontroller coupled with said memory, said sensor and said radio wherein said microcontroller is

collects data that comprises sensor values from said sensor;

stores said data in said memory;

detects a first value from said data having a first threshold value and

detects a second value from said sensor values having a second threshold value within a time window;

signifies a prospective event;

compares said prospective event to a characteristic signal associated with a typical event and eliminate any false positive events;

signifies a valid event if said prospective event is not a false positive event;

saves said valid event in said memory wherein said valid event comprises information within an event time window as said data;

transmits said data via said radio on an event-by-event basis or periodically or when requested;

providing an application that executes on a mobile device, wherein said mobile device comprises

a computer;

a wireless communication interface that

communicates with said radio to obtain said data,

wherein said computer is coupled with wireless communication interface, and wherein said computer executes said application

receive data associated with said at least one motion capture element via said wireless communication interface;

analyze said data to form motion analysis data;

store said data, or said motion analysis data, or both said data and said motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment;

access previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment or previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with at least one other user or other piece of equipment;

determine whether a user is authorized to data mine said data, or said motion analysis data, or both said data and said motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment and if so

display information based on

said motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment,

and

said previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece of equipment,

 

or

said previously stored motion capture data or motion analysis data associated with at least one other user or other piece of equipment.