Athletic performance monitoring with body synchronization analysis

• US 9,619,698 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• 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:
  US14/306,152
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• 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. A method comprising:

receiving a first sensor output associated with a movement of a first body part;

receiving a second sensor output associated with movement of a second body part;

determining whether the first sensor output exceeds a threshold value, the threshold value dependent on the second sensor output;

analyzing the first sensor output and the second sensor output to identify a degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized; and

analyzing the first sensor output to identify an undesirable movement of the first body part.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving data associated with a user running speed during the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the first sensor output exceeds a threshold value, the threshold value dependent on a user motion parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the undesirable movement of the first body part is independent of the second sensor output.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are during an athletic activity.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the athletic activity comprises a running activity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor output is from a first sensor disposed on the first body part.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting a visual indication, vibrate indication, or audible indication of the undesirable movement of the first body part or the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the first sensor output to identify a desirable movement of the first body part or analyzing the second sensor output to identify a desirable movement of the second body part.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first body part comprises an arm and the second body part comprises a foot or a leg.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first body part and the second body part are on opposite sides of an athlete body.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the first sensor output to identify the undesirable movement of the first body part comprises determining a direction.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the first sensor output to identify the undesirable movement of the first body part comprises determining a velocity or speed.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the first sensor output to identify the undesirable movement of the first body part comprises determining an acceleration.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the first sensor output to identify the undesirable movement of the first body part comprises determining a distance or displacement.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the first sensor output to identify the undesirable movement of the first body part comprises determining an impact.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the first sensor output to identify the undesirable movement of the first body part comprises determining a rotation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the rotation is of the first body part with respect to a third body part.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the third body part comprises a user torso.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a motion of a third body part comprising utilizing the first sensor output.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an output data from a navigation device.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the first sensor output and the second sensor output to identify the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized comprises:

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.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the first sensor output and the second sensor output to identify the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized comprises:

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 forward direction.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein determining the extent to which both the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are simultaneously moving together in the forward direction comprises determining 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 the forward direction.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein determining the extent to which both the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are simultaneously moving together in the forward direction comprises determining a synchronization parameter value, the method further comprising:

comparing the synchronization parameter value to a threshold value.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the threshold value is user specific.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the threshold value is speed dependent.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the first sensor output and the second sensor output to identify the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized comprises:

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.

29. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising monitoring a variation in the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized in relation to a user speed.

30. 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 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, wherein the application program is further configured to determine whether the first sensor output signal exceeds a threshold value, the threshold value dependent on the second sensor output signal and analyze the first sensor output signal to identify a desirable movement of the first body part or an undesirable movement of the first body part.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising a device location system, wherein the application program is further configured to receive data associated with a user running speed from the device location system during the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the device location system comprises a global positioning system device.

33. The system of claim 30, further comprising a housing adapted to house the first sensor or the second sensor, the processor, and the memory, the housing in a wristwatch form factor or a phone form factor.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the application program is further configured to determine whether the first sensor output signal exceeds a threshold value, the threshold value dependent on a user motion parameter.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the desirable movement of the first body part or the undesirable movement of the first body part is independent of the second sensor output signal.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are during a running activity.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein the first sensor is disposed on the first body part.

38. The system of claim 30, wherein the application program is further configured to output at a user output interface a visual indication, vibrate indication, or audible indication of the undesirable movement of the first body part or the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized.

39. The system of claim 30, wherein the first body part comprises an arm and the second body part comprises a foot or a leg.

40. The system of claim 30, wherein the first body part and the second body part are on opposite sides of an athlete body.

41. The system of claim 30, wherein the application program is configured to analyze the first sensor output signal to identify the desirable movement of the first body part or the undesirable movement of the first body part by performing operations comprising determining a rotation.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the rotation is a rotation of the first body part with respect to a third body part.

43. The system of claim 30, wherein the application program is configured to analyze the first sensor output signal to identify the desirable movement of the first body part or the undesirable movement of the first body part by performing operations comprising determining a direction.

44. The system of claim 30, wherein the application program is configured to analyze the first sensor output signal to identify the desirable movement of the first body part or the undesirable movement of the first body part by performing operations comprising determining a velocity or speed.

45. The system of claim 30, wherein the application program is configured to analyze the first sensor output signal to identify the desirable movement of the first body part or the undesirable movement of the first body part by performing operations comprising determining an acceleration.

46. The system of claim 30, wherein the application program is configured to analyze the first sensor output signal to identify the desirable movement of the first body part or the undesirable movement of the first body part by performing operations comprising determining a distance or displacement.

47. The system of claim 30, wherein the application program is configured to analyze the first sensor output signal to identify the desirable movement of the first body part or the undesirable movement of the first body part by performing operations comprising determining an impact.

48. The system of claim 30, wherein the application program is further configured to determine a desirable or undesirable motion of a third body part from the first sensor output.

49. The system of claim 30, wherein the application program is configured to identify the degree to which the first body part and the second body part are synchronized by performing operations comprising determining a synchronization parameter value and comparing the synchronization parameter value to the threshold value.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the synchronization parameter value indicates 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 forward direction.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the threshold value is user specific.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the threshold value is speed dependent.

53. The system of claim 30, further comprising a navigation device configured to monitor a user speed, wherein the application program is further configured to monitor a the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized relative to the user running speed.

54. The system of claim 30, wherein the application program is configured to identify the degree to which the first body part and the second body part are synchronized by performing operations comprising:

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.

55. A method comprising:

receiving a first sensor output associated with a movement of a first body part;

receiving a second sensor output associated with movement of a second body part; and

analyzing the first sensor output and the second sensor output to identify a degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized comprising determining whether the first sensor output exceeds a threshold value, the threshold value dependent on the second sensor output.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising analyzing the first sensor output to identify an undesirable movement of the first body part.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the undesirable movement of the first body part is independent of the second sensor output.

58. The method of claim 55, further comprising determining whether the first sensor output exceeds a threshold value, the threshold value dependent on a user motion parameter.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the user motion parameter is independent of the second sensor output.

60. The method of claim 55, further comprising analyzing the first sensor output to identify a desirable movement of the first body part.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the desirable movement of the first body part is independent of the second sensor output.

62. The method of claim 55, wherein the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are during an athletic activity comprising a running activity.

63. The method of claim 55, wherein the first sensor output is from a first sensor disposed on the first body part.

64. The method of claim 55, further comprising outputting a visual indication, vibrate indication, or audible indication of the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized.

65. The method of claim 55, wherein analyzing the first sensor output comprises determining a rotation.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the rotation is of the first body part about a third body part.

67. The method of claim 55, wherein analyzing the first sensor output comprises determining a direction.

68. The method of claim 55, wherein analyzing the first sensor output comprises determining an acceleration.

69. The method of claim 55, wherein analyzing the first sensor output comprises determining a distance or displacement.

70. The method of claim 55, wherein analyzing the first sensor output comprises determining an impact.

71. The method of claim 55, wherein analyzing the first sensor output comprises determining a speed or velocity.

72. The method of claim 55, further comprising determining a motion of a third body part from the first sensor output.

73. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

receiving a third sensor output associated with a movement of a third body part; and

identifying an undesirable movement of the third body part comprising utilizing the third sensor output.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the third body part comprises a user torso.

75. The method of claim 55, wherein analyzing the first sensor output and the second sensor output to identify the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized comprises:

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.

76. The method of claim 55, wherein analyzing the first sensor output and the second sensor output to identify the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized comprises:

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 forward direction.

77. The method of claim 55, wherein analyzing the first sensor output and the second sensor output to identify the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized comprises determining a synchronization parameter and comparing the synchronization parameter value to a threshold value.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the threshold value is user specific.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein the threshold value is speed dependent.

80. The method of claim 55, the method further comprising:

receiving a user speed data output from a navigation device; and

identifying the degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized relative to the user speed data.

81. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first sensor output associated with a movement of a first body part;

receiving a second sensor output associated with movement of a second body part;

determining whether the first sensor output exceeds a threshold value, the threshold value dependent on the second sensor output; and

analyzing the first sensor output and the second sensor output to identify a degree to which the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are synchronized.

82. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 81, the operations further comprising analyzing the first sensor output to identify an undesirable movement of the first body part or analyzing the first sensor output to identify a desirable movement of the first body part.

83. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 82, wherein the undesirable movement of the first body part or the desirable movement of the first body part is independent of the second sensor output.

84. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 81, the operations further comprising determining whether the first sensor output exceeds a threshold value, the threshold value dependent on a user motion parameter.

85. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 84, wherein the user motion parameter is independent of the second sensor output.

86. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 81, wherein the movement of the first body part and the movement of the second body part are during an athletic activity comprising a running activity.

87. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 81, wherein the first sensor output is from a first sensor disposed on the first body part.