Networked game system having multiple full-body exercise apparatus controllers

• US 9,579,542 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ivan Kiselev, Robert Quinn
• Original Assignee: Ivan Kiselev, Robert Quinn
• Inventors: Quinn, Robert, Kiselev, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US14/585,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20160184633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/0447 the axis being in the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00845 using electrorheological or magnetorheological fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0087 of the piston-cylinder type using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4034 for operation by feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4045 Reciprocating movement along, in or on a guide weights moving along or in guiding means A63B21/06; for cardio-training A63B22/201
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0228 Sitting on the buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 : Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03575 : Apparatus used for exercising upper and lower limbs simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 : Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• 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: A63F 13/211 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 : using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 : Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 : Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 : by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 : Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 : adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 : Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2447 : Motion detector
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2488 : Remotely playable
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 : the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04

Abstract

An exercise network system is disclosed that comprises an electronic data communication link and a plurality of electronic video game workout systems. One or more of the plurality of electronic video game workout systems is configured for communication with at least one other video game workout system another over the electronic data communication link to transmit and receive data used for game play at each of the plurality of electronic video game workout systems. One or more of the electronic video game workout systems is further configured for execution of a full-body workout using a plurality of independently operable appendicular members configured for engagement with respective limbs of a user. Each of the plurality of appendicular members is movable in a degree of freedom independent of other ones of the plurality of appendicular members. Resistance on each of the plurality of appendicular members the is adjustable along and/or about its degree of freedom during game play based on locally generated data and data communicated over the electronic data communication link from other electronic video game workout systems.

Claims

1. An exercise network system comprising:

an electronic data communication link; and

a plurality of electronic video game workout systems configured for communication with one another over the electronic data communication link to transmit and receive data used for game play at each of the plurality of electronic video game workout systems, at least one of the plurality of electronic video game workout systems being further configured for execution of a full-body workout using a plurality of independently operable appendicular members configured for engagement with respective limbs of a user, wherein each of the plurality of appendicular members is movable in a degree of freedom independent of movement of each other appendicular member of the plurality of appendicular members, and wherein resistance on each of the plurality of appendicular members is adjustable along and/or about its degree of freedom during game play based on locally generated data and data communicated over the electronic data communication link from one or more of another plurality of electronic video game workout systems.

2. The exercise network system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electronic video game workout systems is configured to correlate gameplay rules with feedback signals and/or contemporaneous resistance parameters and, further, with data communicated over the electronic data communication link from at least one other electronic video game workout systems to execute game play.

3. The exercise network system of claim 1 wherein one or more of the plurality of electronic video game workout systems comprises:

a game processor configured to control game play of the electronic video game;

a game controller in electronic communication with the game processor, the game controller comprising;

the plurality of appendicular members, wherein the plurality of appendicular members are configured for respective engagement with legs and arms of a user;

a resistance control system providing a resistive force on each of the plurality of appendicular members with respect to movement of the legs and arms of the user, wherein the resistive force provided by the resistance control system is adjustable in a generally continuous manner in response to the game play of the electronic video game; and

a feedback control system responsive to at least one of a motion parameter, a force parameter, and/or a position parameter of each of the plurality of appendicular members to control the game play of the electronic video game.

4. The exercise network system of claim 3, wherein the resistive force on each of the plurality of appendicular members with respect to movement of the legs and arms of the user is adjusted by the resistance control system in a generally continuous manner in response to game play of the electronic video game as determined by the game processor.

5. The exercise network system of claim 4, wherein the game control system obtains game rules to be used by the game processor to execute game play of the electronic video game.

6. The exercise network system of claim 5, wherein the game processor correlates game play rules with feedback signals of the feedback control system and/or contemporaneous resistance parameters of the resistance control system to generate resistance control signals to the resistance control system.

7. The exercise network system of claim 6, wherein the game processor further correlates the game play rules with data received from the one or more other electronic video game workout systems to execute game play of the electronic video game.

8. The exercise network system claim 1, further comprising a player statistics module configured to store player statistics.

9. The exercise network system of claim 8, wherein the player statistics module is configured to determine a level of difficulty for game rules and/or resistances used by one or more of the plurality of electronic video game workout systems for game play.

10. The exercise network system of claim 8, wherein the player statistics module is configured to communicate one or more player statistics to a local player and/or remote player.

11. The exercise network system of claim 10, wherein the statistics module provides the one or more player statistics to a kiosk, a desktop or smart phone.

12. The exercise network system of claim 1, further comprising a game scheduler configured to schedule video games between players.