Patent Application
20220305363
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The invention relates generally to a system for monitoring and managing the physical training of a group of individuals, and more particularly to a system for monitoring and managing group training with exercise equipment, such as punching bags.
Punching bags are routinely used for boxing training, martial arts, fitness, stress relief, and various physical exercises. Existing technologies allow users to monitor and track their training with a variety of sensors, such as GPS, accelerometers, pedometers, heart rate monitors, oximeters, and others. Users may also monitor and track their workouts using sensors in combination with the workout equipment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 10,589,159 discloses wireless impact sensors that may be incorporated in a punching bag to detect the punch impact force and other statistics during a punching bag workout. Such technologies allow monitoring the performance of individual users. The data from the various sensors utilized by each individual user is specific to the user and generally the data are not available in real time beyond the individual users.
Some existing systems, such as AccuroPT and AccuroLive by NCI Technology, Inc. provide limited centralized tracking of the heart rates of multiple users.
However, trainers, coaches, gym owners, group leaders, instructors, physical therapists, rehabilitation professionals, and others (for simplicity referred below as instructors), will benefit from a comprehensive system to simultaneously monitor and track multiple users training at multiple exercise equipment stations, by monitoring and tracking a plurality of exercise indicators associated with each user. Such a system could allow an instructor to monitor exercise indicators through feedback from a variety of sensors, such as body sensors, environmental sensors, and equipment sensors, associated with a number of gym members, trainees, athletes, patients, and other exercising individuals (for simplicity, referred to as “users” below) who simultaneously are using multiple punching bags.
A system according to the present invention allows instructors to monitor, track, and manage multiple users in a group training environment (e.g., in a gym, camp, military facility, rehabilitation center, and others). An embodiment of such a system integrates exercise equipment, such as punching bags, with various technologies, such as body and equipment sensors, networking, data visualization, and others. In a preferred embodiment, the sensors may include punching sensors that detect, collect, and/or transmit data from strikes (or punches) on the punching bag and heart sensors/monitors, usually worn by the user, that monitor heart rate, and other heart characteristics. Other types of sensors may also be used, including sensors located in or on the punching bag, sensors that may be on the user's body or clothing, sensors located externally to the punching bag and the users, and other sensors. In a preferred embodiment, the monitoring and display technologies may include smartphones, tablets, and large displays or monitors. By using multiple sensors in the punching bag training system, and displaying combined sensor information from multiple users, the punching bag training system gives instructors a powerful tool for monitoring users' exercise and performance.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a punching bag training system comprises a monitoring device, a group display, and a plurality of training stations. Each training station comprises a station computing device, a punching bag, a punching sensor comprising a punching sensor transmitter, and a training station identifier. The punching sensor is configured to wirelessly transmit punching sensor data utilizing the punching sensor transmitter. The punching sensor data is selected from the group consisting of punch count, punch power, power punch, punch direction, and combinations thereof. The station computing device is configured to receive the punching sensor data.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the station computing device is configured to pair with one or more heart sensors located in proximity of the station computing device. The station computing device is configured to receive heart sensor data from the one or more heart sensors. The heart sensor data is selected from the group consisting of heart rate, maximum detected heart rate, average heart rate, total calories, average calories, and combinations thereof.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the station computing device is configured to detect the one or more heart sensors located in proximity of the station computing device. The station computing device is configured to display the one or more detected heart sensors. The station computing device is configured to receive an input selecting one of the one or more detected heart sensors. The station computing device is configured to pair with the selected heart sensor.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring device is configured to receive station training data from the station computing device. The station training data comprises the punching sensor data, the heart sensor data, and the training station identifier.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring device is configured to display on the group display the training station data from one or more of the plurality of training stations. The punching sensor data, the heart sensor data, and the training station identifier for the station training data are visually associated.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the station computing device, the monitoring device, or a combination thereof is configured to calculate exercise data for the training station, based on the punching sensor data, heart sensor data, and the training station identifier. The exercise data is selected from the group consisting of work rate, average power, maximum power, intensity point, and combinations thereof.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the station computing device is configured to display exercise data for the training station.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring device is configured to display on the group display, the exercise data from the one or more of the plurality of training stations. The exercise data and the training station identifier are visually associated.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the punching bag training system further comprises a user profile. The user profile comprises a username. The user profile is associated with a heart sensor identifier. The heart sensor data further comprises the heart sensor identifier. The monitoring device, station computing device, or combinations thereof is configured to associate a user profile with training station identifier based on the heart sensor identifier. The station computing device at each of the plurality of training stations is configured to display the username in visual association with the exercise data for that training station. The monitoring device is configured to display on the group display, the username in visual association with the exercise data from the one or more of the plurality of training stations, wherein the exercise data and the training station identifier for each of the one or more training stations are visually associated.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the punching bag training system further comprises an instructor computing device. The instructor computing device is configured to associate a heart sensor identifier with a user profile. The instructor computing device is configured to receive station training data from the one or more of the plurality of training stations. The instructor computing device is configured to calculate exercise data for each of the plurality of training stations, based on the punching sensor data, heart sensor data, and the training station identifier. The instructor computing device is configured to display the username in visual association with the exercise data from the one or more of the plurality of training stations. The exercise data and the training station identifier for each of the one or more of the plurality of training stations are visually associated.
The advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
For clarity purposes, all reference numerals may not be included in every Figure.
The Punching Bag Training System (“Training Monitoring System” for short) 1 may monitor and track multiple training stations and the users training at each training station. Data streaming from sensors at the training stations may be displayed on multiple screens, including centrally located large screens, where instructors can monitor the group's activity as a unit, and each user's activity individually. A user's information may be represented on a portion of one or more of the screens, for example as a “tile.” Each tile can contain user training information, for example, information coming from the exercise equipment sensors, user worn sensors, environmental and proximity sensors, and others. User information may include for example, information about the user's activity, such as strikes on the punching bag, exertion, power, intensity, heart rate levels, and others (depending on the type of sensors used), as well as information about the user's location such as geographic, or within a training facility, and location conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.).
In an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in
A transceiver 17 associated with station computing device 20 may be equipped with Bluetooth or other close range wireless (e.g., UWB (Ultrawideband), IrDA, induction Wireless, Wi-Fi, etc.) technology that can detect when wireless devices, for example, heart sensors 13, or other sensors, are within the wireless range (i.e. in proximity) of the station computing device 20. When the station computing device 20 detects wireless devices, such as heart sensors 13, in its proximity (i.e., within its the wireless range), the station computing device 20 may display a heart sensor device list 19 permitting a user to select one heart sensor 13, by utilizing a touch screen, click, keypad, mouse, voice command, joystick, or another input method to select a heart sensor identifier 21.
When one of the heart sensors 13, or another device, detected to be in proximity of the station computing device 20 has been selected, the station computing device 20 may pair with the selected heart sensor 13. Alternatively, the station computing device 20 may be configured to not display a list 19 of heart sensors in proximity, and instead to automatically pair with one of the devices detected to be in proximity selected based on various factors, such as signal strength, device name or identifier, device type, and others. Pairing, commonly used in reference to Bluetooth communications, but also generally applicable to other wireless and wired networking, refers to a process used in computer networking that sets up an initial link or connection between computing devices to allow communications between them.
In a preferred embodiment station computing device 20 is configured to pair with a heart sensor 13, and to receive heart sensor data 32 associated with the heart sensor identifier 21 including one or more of heart rate, maximum detected heart rate, average heart rate, total calories, average calories, and others. The station computing device 20 may be further configured to calculate and display exercise data 36 associated with one or more of training station identifier 33, punching sensor identifier 34, and heart sensor identifier 21 based on the punching sensor data 31, heart sensor data 32, and a user profile 50. Exercise data 36 may include one or more of work rate, average power, maximum power, intensity, and combinations thereof. Station computing device 20 may display data as “tile” 201 illustrated in
The station computing devices 20 and monitoring device 2 may be connected to a wireless or wired network and monitoring device 2 may be configured to receive station training data 35 from each station computing device 20 and display the station training data 35 in visual association with the one or more of username 51, station identifier 33, and heart sensor identifier 21. By way of example, the station training data 35 may include punching sensor data 31, heart sensor data 32, and exercise data 36. The monitoring device 2 may also be configured to calculate exercise data 36 for one or more training stations, based on the punching sensor data 31, and user profile 50. The monitoring device 2 may also be connected to the group display 200 and may be configured to display on group display 200 the exercise data 36.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a Training Monitoring System 1 may comprise an instructor computing device 40 configured to associate a heart sensor identifier 21 with a user profile. The instructor computing device 40 may be connected to a wireless or wired network and may be configured to receive station training data 35 and/or exercise data 36 from the station computing devices 20 and to display training data 35 and/or exercise data 36 in association with one or more of the training station identifier 33, heart sensor identifier 21, and username 51. The instructor computing device 40 may be configured to calculate exercise data 36 based on the punching sensor data 31, heart sensor data 32, and/or information from the user profile 50.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a system for monitoring and tracking a group of users training at multiple punching bag 11 training stations. Punching bags are widely used, for example for boxing practice or for general exercise, and are well known in the sports and exercise industry. Any type of free standing, suspended, or hanging punching bag 11 can be used with the present invention, for example water-filled (e.g., Aqua Training Bag®), sand-filled, air-filled, or any other type of punching bag. It should be understood that while the invention is described with respect to punching bags, the present invention is applicable to other types of exercise equipment capable of having sensors indicative of a user's physical effort while using the equipment.
A Training Monitoring System 1, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of user training stations 10, wherein each training station comprises a punching bag 11. Punching bag 11 may be equipped with one or more punching sensors 12 capable of sensing characteristics of the strike (or punch) on the punching bag 11, such as impact force, direction, speed, power, acceleration, location, strike area, or others. For example, integrating several punching sensors 12 at different locations in the punching bag 11 may result in each punching sensor 12 sensing different and varying impact forces which may be indicative of a punch directionality and/or impact location. Punching sensors 12, may be various types of sensors such as accelerometers, capacitive or inductive pressure sensors, sensors mounted on the punching bag 11 surface and other types of sensors that may be indicative of angle, speed, strike location, and other characteristics of the punch on the punching bag 11.
Training Monitoring System 1 may also comprise one or more heart sensors 13 that can monitor, for example, a user's heart rate, heart rhythm, heartbeat amplitude, heart electric pulses, EKG, blood pressure, and others. Training Monitoring System 1 may also comprise other body sensors that may track the user's movements and vitals, such as accelerometer, body temperature, oxygen saturation, bio electric impedance, and others, as well as non-body sensors, such as GPS/location, footwork tracking and/or pressure sensing flooring or mat, environmental temperature, and others. Each punching sensor 12, heart sensor 13, and other sensors may have a sensor identifier, such as punching sensor identifier 34, and heart rate sensor identifier 21, which may be unique, or at least may be different from all other sensor identifiers simultaneously present in the Training Monitoring System 1 at one time. Sensor identifiers 34, 21 maybe Bluetooth identifiers, Bluetooth addresses, MAC addresses, network addresses, IP numbers, RFIDs, serial numbers, device names and/or numbers, any hardcoded or programmable IDs, and combinations of the foregoing. Punching sensor 12, heart sensor 13, and other sensors may be remote sensors using radio waves, and preferably Bluetooth enabled sensors.
Training Monitoring System 1 may also comprise one or more sensor radio devices 16 capable of transmitting and/or receiving data from and/or to various sensors. In some embodiments, Training Monitoring System 1 may comprise a punching sensor transmitter 16a, a heart sensor transmitter 16b, as well as other transmitters 16 associated with other sensors, used in a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, one transmitter 16 can be used to transmit data from several sensors.
Training Monitoring System 1 may also comprise one or more additional transceivers 17 capable of receiving sensor data from punching sensors 12, heart sensors 13, and other sensors. Transceivers 17 may be configured to re-transmit all or portions of the received sensor data 30. Transceivers 17 described herein may utilize any known radio transmission methods, and protocols, such as Bluetooth, near field communications (NFC), UWB (Ultrawideband), IrDA, induction Wireless, Wi-Fi, LTE, GSM, and others.
Training Monitoring System 1 may also comprise a station computing device 20, such as a tablet, smartphone, iPad, laptop, computer, smart watch, embedded computing devices, or other types of computing devices capable of performing the functions described herein.
Sensor data comprises punching sensor data 31 from punching sensors 12, heart sensor data 32 from the heart sensor 13, and other sensor data from other sensors, utilized with the system. Punching sensors 12 may be configured to detect and transmit punching sensor data 31 (indicative of the characteristics of the punch) to the station computing device 20. The punching sensor data 31 may be one or more of power punch, punch impact force, total punch count, punch frequency, punch directionality, punch speed, punch location, and combinations thereof. The heart sensor 13 may be configured to transmit heart sensor data 32 to the station computing device 20, including one or more of heart rate, maximum detected heart rate, pulse amplitude, bold pressure, extra/skipped heartbeats (e.g., extrasystoles), caloric rate, average calories, total calories, and others. The station computing device 20 is configured to receive sensor data 30, including for example, punching sensor data 31, heart sensor data 32, other sensor data, and combinations thereof, and may be configured to calculate for example a work rate, average power, maximum power, intensity, calories, and combinations thereof.
Training Monitoring System 1 may comprise one or more user profiles 50 preferably including user information 52 for each user, such as weight, age, and gender, and may also include additional fitness and medical information about a user such as height, fitness activity level, sedentary or active lifestyle, profession, body fat, BMI, chronic diseases, medical events, allergies, and others, as well as personal information, such as name, contact information, birth date and others. User profile 50 may have a user ID 51, which could be a name, email, phone number, any sequence of text and or numbers, or other id that is unique for each user profile 50.
In one embodiment, Training Monitoring System 1 may use information in user profile 50 to determine an approximate Max HR 53, power threshold, metabolic rate, and others. Other user profile 50 information, if available, may be used to determine additional data points applicable to a user, for example, maximum blood pressure, maximum body temperature, and others.
A user profile 50 may be associated with one or more of a punching sensor 12, a heart sensor 13, other sensors, and a station computing device 20.
In one embodiment, a station computing device 20 may be associated with a punching sensor 12, for example by pairing, and with a user training station 10. User profile 50 may be associated with a heart sensor 13 (or another body sensor worn by a user) by programmatically associating the unique sensor identifier 21 for the heart sensor 13 with user ID 51 of user profile 50. The association of the user profile 50 with a sensor identifier 21 may be stored into the Training Monitoring System 1, for example in a database, or another data store. When heart sensor 13 is in range of a transceiver 17 associated with the user training station 10, sensor identifier 21 will be recognized and user profile 50 associated with sensor ID 17 will be associated with one or more of punching sensor 20 and station computing device 20 located at that user training 10. Similarly, when a user having a heart sensor 13 with a specific sensor identifier 21 approaches one of the training stations 10 the station computing device 20 can be configured to identify the sensor by its identifier 21, retrieve the user profile 50 associated with the heart sensor identifier 21, and associate the user training station 10, and punching sensors 12, or other sensors, at the training station 10 with the user profile 50. Various methods to recognize heart sensor identifier 21 (and other sensor identifiers) are possible, for example, using Bluetooth Close Proximity process, NFC technology, RF readers/RFIDs, ANT+, and others. The Station display may display the user ID of the user. In some embodiments, the Training Monitoring System 1 may be configured to require that the user perform some action, such as click, tap, touch or similar, to confirm the User ID and claim the Training Station.
In another embodiment, a heart sensor 13 not associated with a user profile 50 may be present at a user training station 10. Transceivers 17 and/or station computing device 20 at user training station 10 may detect sensor identifier 21 of heart sensor 13, but will not be able to retrieve an associated user profile 50. A user may log in to user profile 50 using the station computing device 20 to retrieveuser profile 50 and enable the device 20 to associate the retrieved user profile 50 with the heart sensor 13 with the proximity detected sensor identifier 21, and with the user training station 10, and punching sensors 12.
When a user profile 50 is associated with a heart sensor 13, the user of user profile 50 may move from one training station to the next and each training station that recognizes the user based on the associated Sensor ID may load user profile 50. Alternatively, the Training Monitoring System 1 may be configured to automatically disassociate user profile 50 from heart sensor 13 and sensor identifier 21 if the sensor is not in proximity of the station 10 for a certain period of time. A training station 10 may also be configured to disconnect punching sensor 12 and station computing device 20 from user profile 50 at the end pre-defined training session.
Training Monitoring System 1 may further comprise an instructor computing device 40, which can be any computing device preferably with a display and input capability, such as tablets, iPads, smart phones, personal computers, laptop computers, and the like. Punching sensors 12 may be configured to transmit punching sensor data 31 to the instructor computing device 40 via punching transmitter 16a, heart sensors 13 may be configured to transmit heart sensor data 32 to instructor computing device 40 using heart sensor transmitter 16b. Other sensors, utilized in the Training Monitoring System 1 may also be configured to transmit sensor data to instructor computing device 40 using transmitter 16.
Instructor computing device 40 may be configured to receive sensor data including, one or more of the punching sensor data 31, heart sensor data 32, and other sensor data. The instructor computing device 40 may also be configured to calculate a work rate, an average power, a maximum power, an intensity point, an overall calorie count, an average calorie count, an average heart rate, and combinations thereof.
The instructor computing device 40 may also be configured to associate a user profile 50 with one or more of a heart sensor identifier 21, user training station 10 (by, e.g., using one or more of punching sensor identifier 34, training station identifier 33 and/or heart sensor identifier 21), and station computing device 20. Instructor computing device 40 may also be configured to dissociate a user profile 50 with sensor identifiers 21, user training stations 10, or station computing devices 20.
A process for using an embodiment of a system according to the present invention may comprise, for example, an instructor pairing a punching sensor 12 and HR Monitor to each station computing device 20; a user, for example a boxing trainee, creating a user profile 50 before training at a training station 10, and the user signing on at a training statin 10 using the station computing device 20 to retrieve the user's profile and indicate to the Training Monitoring System 1 the identity of the user at training station 10. This exemplary process for using the training and monitoring system 1 continues by the user training at training station 10, for example by punching the bag 11, while the station computing device 20 collects punching sensor data 31 and heart sensor data 32 associated with the user and station computing device 20 sends punching sensor data 31 and heart sensor data 32 to another computing device, such as a server, which may retransmit data 31 and 32 to various other network locations, such as instructor computing device 40, monitoring device 2, group display 200, and other configured locations.
Each user may enter a user profile 50 information manually, or profile information may be transmitted to the Training Monitoring System 1 from a network location, smart device, or others. User vital information (e.g., weight, lean mass, etc.) may be detected by the appropriate sensors, such as scales, bioelectric impedance detectors, and others. A user may sign-on a training station, or a training station may be configured to automatically sign-on a user based on biometric data, RF sensors carried by the user, user's mobile device, and others.
An instructor can pull reports from a local server, and can analyze data on group or individual user level.
Tiles 201 (also Illustrated in
Punch strength represents the punch strength in force per area, for example, pound-force-per-square-inch (lbf/in2, of psi), or kilogram-force-per-square-centimeter (kgf/cm2), kiloPascals (kPa), and others. Power punch means that a user landed a punch with a punch strength above the user's power threshold. A user's power threshold is a threshold punch strength representative of the average punch strength for a user based on the user's characteristics, such as weight, gender, physical fitness, and others. A power threshold may be associated with each user information 52, for example based on a weight class, or based on the user's age, weight, physical fitness level, gender, and other factors. Several users in the same weight class, or with similar characteristics, may be associated with the same power threshold. Alternatively, an individualized power threshold may also be determined for each user by recording the user's workouts over a time and statistically deriving the power threshold for the user. A Power punch counter represents the number of Power punches. Total punch count represents all punches from the user including power punches and non-power punches, e.g., punches under the power threshold. Total calories represents the user's calories for the workout over time.
Max Heart Rate Percentage (%) represents the percentage of the user's current heart rate to the user's Maximum heart rate (Max HR) 53. Max HR 53 preferably is based at least on a user's age and is used to represent the user's heart capacity levels. There are various methods for estimating a user's Max HR 53, including, for example, a simple formula in which a user's Max HR 53 is determined by subtracting the user's age from 220, which, as illustrated in
Work Rate is representative of the exercise effort of a user over a period of time. For example, work rate may be expressed as a sum of number of punches detected by punching sensor 12 over a period of time (e.g., punches/min) wherein regular punches and power punches may be weighted differently in the sum to determine the work rate. In a simple example a work rate for a user may be calculated by receiving one half (0.5) point for any strike that is not a power punch, and one (1) point for every strike that is a power punch (i.e. strikes with force above the user's power threshold). The work rate may also be determined using more complex formulae, for example, as the sum of the number of punches multiplied by the power of each punch (punch strength), and others.
Intensity (Int.) may be calculated based on at least the user's data feeds from the punching sensor 12 and the heart sensor 13. For example Intensity for a particular user over a period of time (seconds, minutes, hours, etc.) could be expressed as the sum of the user's work rate (e.g., based on information from punching sensor 12) and Heart rate Intensity (HR.int), as illustrated in the following formula:
Intensity =Work Rate +HR.int
Heart rate Intensity (HR.int) may be calculated using a formula based on “points” given to a user for each minute the user spends in each training zone 205, for example, 1point for Zone 1, 2 points for Zone 2, 3 points for Zone 3, 4 points for Zone 4, and 5 points for Zone 5. As an example, a user may earn between 150 to 200 points in one hour workout, depending on the type of the type of workout.
The Overall display area 202 in
The group display (or Leader board) 200 may include a leaders panel 203, that identifies leaders by username and user Intensity (“Int.”). The leaders may also be ranked on other information about a user's workout, such as number of power punches, total calories expended, and others.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, and/or additions may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/165,032, filed Mar. 23, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63165032 | Mar 2021 | US |
