Abstract:
The present invention includes a system and method for monitoring a user&#39;s pace and providing an indication of the user&#39;s average pace in conjunction with performing an activity. The method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes monitoring a user&#39;s pace relating to the performance of the activity and calculating pace data relating the user. In response to a first signal, the method stores the pace data and in response to a second signal retrieves the pace data. The method then calculates an assistance pace for the user over a defined time interval and transmits an output signal reflecting the assistance pace based the pace data, such as in the example of a golf club assisting in the swinging pace of the golf club.

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention disclosed herein relates generally to monitoring a user&#39;s pace and providing an indication of the user&#39;s average pace in conjunction with performing an activity. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The concept of tempo and rhythm is a fundamental concept in many athletic activities such as golf, running, cycling or any sport involving rhythmic movements. In golf, when players are playing well, they are known to have good “tempo” or “rhythm” or “timing” and when not, it is that they have bad “rhythm” and their “timing of the shot/ball” is off. Also, you often hear athletes saying that they work on their “tempo” or “timing”. 
         [0004]    Every person has his or her own natural beat or rhythm. Typically, each individual is generally unaware of this rhythm. This is unique for every human being, and even if they want to move faster or slower, the beat stays the same, but the lengths of the activity, e.g. strides, get longer or shorter. Additionally, if people have to adapt to the rhythm or beat of someone else, for instance small people or children walking with larger people or adults, they become very uncomfortable and fidgety and “dysrhythmic”. 
         [0005]    In the realm of athletics, and in rhythmic activities in general, the aspects of individual tempo play an important role. For example, golfers Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen and Ernie Els walk at tempos of 108, 100 and 95 paces per minute, respectively, and additionally each golfer drives, chips and putts at approximately the same tempo. If, however, they hit a rare mis-hit, the tempo went faster, thus varying from their average pace. Needless to say, these players very seldom go out of step with their natural tempo. That is an inbred phenomenon brought about by natural ability, instinct and many thousands of hours of practice. Thus it is clear that the average tempo of an individual and the concordance of an activity tempo with that tempo are vital to enhanced performance of an individual. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides for allowing a user, such as an athlete, e.g. a golfer to improve his/her game by coordinating his or her activity pace consistent with his or her natural individual rhythm, tempo or pace. One aspect of the invention is that, for example, the golfer&#39;s ability closely relates to the golfer&#39;s natural personal rhythm or current state while playing the round of golf. Another example can be a runner having a running pace or a cyclist having a cycling cadence. While the rest of the description of this invention uses these examples, the invention is applicable to all types of activities, including sport from baseball, to hockey players to equestrian sport, not specifically excluding any particular sport. It may even be applicable in non-sporting situations, such as business negotiations. 
         [0007]    Golfers might have a personal individual inborn natural undamped rhythm or tempo, or different states on different rounds. The natural rhythm is reflected in the golfer&#39;s walking pace when his or her attention is on something else, like the golf game itself for example, and one way of determining the golfer&#39;s natural rhythm or state is by monitoring the pace at which the golfer walks during the round. In one embodiment, the present invention captures the golfer&#39;s walking pace, i.e. his or her natural inborn rhythm, and makes this pace available as a swing aid. 
         [0008]    Generally speaking, the present invention includes a pace capturing device, such as in one example a pedometer or other type of walking pace measuring device. This device records the golfer&#39;s walking pace (steps or beats per minute) for a defined interval or period of time. For example, the pace may be measured for a single round of golf, for a first couple holes in the round of golf, for numerous rounds of golf, etc. 
         [0009]    The measuring pace is then stored and can be processed as needed. For example, if the pace relates to numerous rounds of golf, they may be averaged over the various rounds of golf. It is also recognized that in order to measure and translate the pace, the pedometer also records information regarding when the walking activity occurs, to possibly distinguish between when a golfer is milling around a tee box prior to teeing off and when the golf is walking down the fairway (or the rough) to approach a next shot. 
         [0010]    The golfer&#39;s pace, after being processed, is made available as a swinging enhancement for the golfer. In various embodiments described below, the pace can be translated into a rhythmic (tempo) tool to allow the golfer to pace the swing of the club in his or her natural personal inborn rhythm or pace. One example is an audio device that transmits a beeping or clicking noise to act similar to a metronome in the swing process. Another example is to play music back at the player at exactly the similar tempo (say 108 beats per minute) as the player&#39;s natural tempo. The playing of music could be used in business or other negotiation situations, by playing soft background music in or out of the opponent&#39;s natural rhythm and by that setting his or her comfort level depending on the situation at hand. 
         [0011]    Therefore, based on the determination of a user&#39;s pace, an output signal can assist with the user with the timing or rhythm of the performance of an activity. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like references are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  presents a block diagram illustrating a system for monitoring a user&#39;s pace and providing a pace output; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  presents a block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of a system for monitoring a user&#39;s pace and providing a pace output; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  presents a flow diagram illustrating a method for monitoring a user&#39;s pace and providing a pace output. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  presents a block diagram depicting a system for monitoring a user&#39;s pace and providing a pace output. According to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a system  100  includes a pace determining device  102  (generally referred to as a pedometer in  FIG. 1 ), step memory  104 , a stride processor  106 , preference memory  108 , audio memory  110  and an output device  112 . System  100  may be designed to operate as a waist-clipped computer. In an alternative embodiment, system  100  may be distributed across multiple devices. For example, the pace determining device  102  may be located on the foot of a user and stride processor  106  may be a separate device wirelessly connected to the pace determining device  102 . 
         [0018]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a pace determining device  102  is operable to monitor the pace of a user. In a preferred embodiment, pace determining device  102  may include a standard pedometer as known in the art. For example, a pace determining device  102  may include a device containing a spring-set arm that fluctuates based upon the movement of a user. Alternatively, a pace determining device  102  may include an accelerometer. In a preferred embodiment, the device  100  may be worn by a user, such as on a belt of a user. In such an embodiment, the pace determining device  102  is operable to monitor the movement of a user&#39;s hips to determine the walking pace of the user. The inner mechanics of pace determining device  102  to measure the walking pace are well known in the art and are not described in greater detail for brevity purposes only. 
         [0019]    Pace determining device  102  is communicatively coupled to step memory  104 . Step memory  104  may include any memory device known in the art, such as flash memory, EEPROM or any other non-volatile memory by way of example. Step memory  104  is operable to store data pertaining to the stride of a user. In one embodiment, pace determining device  102  may be operable to dynamically update the average stride of a user and store data related in the step memory  104 . For example, step memory  104  may contain a real-time average stride rate of a user. Pace determining device  102  may be operable to retrieve the current average stride rate of a user and update the current average stride rate each time the pace determining device  102  detects a stride. 
         [0020]    In an alternative embodiment, pace determining device  102  may calculate the stride rate of a user as a batch process. For example, pace determining device  102  may include a small volatile memory (such as a small RAM chip) that stores “session” stride data related to a user. The step memory  104  may simultaneous contain the overall average stride rate of a user. While the pace determining device  102  is active, current stride rate data is stored within the pedometer&#39;s  102  local memory storage. Upon the powering off of the pace determining device  102 , the pace determining device  102  may be operable to retrieve the average stride rate from the step memory  104  and determine an updated average stride rate as a combination of the retrieved average stride rate and the session stride rate. 
         [0021]    Alternatively, or in conjunction with the foregoing, a “tempo of day” may be computed along with the average lifetime stride tempo of the user. That is, in addition to storing the lifetime stride data corresponding to a user, a second data storage location may be utilized to store the average pace of a user. In a preferred embodiment, this functionality would allow a user to save a preferred stride tempo, for example, a stride tempo on a good day of golf, and re-use this tempo at a later time. 
         [0022]    Pace determining device  102  and step memory  104  act as the “data gathering” component of system  100 . That is, pace determining device  102  and step memory  104  are capable of acting independently of the remaining system  100 . 
         [0023]    Stride processor  106  forms the core of the data processing of the system  100 . As illustrated, stride processor  106  is operable to retrieve stride data from step memory  104 . As previously described, step memory  104  contains data including at least the average stride rate of a user over a different time period, e.g. a current round of golf. In a preferred embodiment, stride processor  106  is operable to retrieve the stride data from step memory  104  and store a copy of the data in a local memory, such as a register file, RAM or any other memory device common in the art. Stride processor  106  stores the average stride rate of a user in local memory for use in outputting a signal corresponding to the step data, as will be described further. 
         [0024]    System  100  further includes a preference memory  108 . Preference memory  108  may store a plurality of data used in configuring stride processor  106 . Preference memory  108  may store data including, but not limited to, output intensity (volume, luminescence, etc.), sound options, output color, output device, output mode, etc. For example, preference memory  108  may store a user profile configuring the processor to output a standard “beep” at 70 dB as well as a vibrating frequency or music tempo. The data stored in preference memory  108  may be obtained from a plurality of sources including, but not limited to, a GUI present on the device, a plurality of input objects such as buttons present on the device or a GUI provided on a personal computer via a wired and/or wireless connection to the device. 
         [0025]    As briefly mentioned, stride processor  106  may be operative to generate a periodic audio signal based upon the stride rate retrieved from step memory  104 . In a particular embodiment, an audio file may be stored within audio memory  110 . Stride processor  106  may be operable to retrieve audio data from memory  110  and repeat the audio data at a frequency corresponding to the stride rate. For example, a stride rate of 60 paces per minute (1 pace per second) may be stored within step memory  104 . Stride processor  106  may be operable to retrieve audio data from audio memory  110  and repeat this data a frequency of 1 Hz, or one repetition per second. 
         [0026]    Once the stride processor  106  retrieves the stride data from step memory  104  and audio data from audio memory  110 , the output is routed to an output device  112 . In a one embodiment, an output device  112  may include a small speaker and a vibrating device such as a small electronic motor including an unbalanced mass on a driveshaft. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the foregoing, the output device may be configured to output music to a user via a speaker or via an audio output jack. In one embodiment, stride processor  106  may be operative to retrieve audio from audio memory  110  and modify the retrieved audio in accordance with the retrieved stride data. For example, stride processor  106  may be operative to modify the tempo of the retrieved audio data to match the stride data. In one embodiment, stride processor  106  may modify the beats per minute (BPM) of the retrieved audio data to match the stride data. In one embodiment, stride processor  106  may analyze a plurality of audio data to determine the base BPM of the audio data and may select audio data having a BPM equal to the stride data. In an alternative, the stride processor  106  may stretch or “beat match” audio data to existing stride data. That is, stride data may indicate a user&#39;s stride may be 128 steps per minute and may locate audio having a BPM of 130 BPM. The stride processor  106  may then adjust the BPM of the audio data to 128 BPM to match the stride data. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  presents a block diagram depicting an alternative embodiment of a system for monitoring a user&#39;s pace and providing a pace output. According to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a system  200  includes a pace determining device  202 , step memory  204 , a stride processor  206 , preference memory  208  and audio memory  210 , an output router  112  and a plurality of output devices  214 - 220 . In a preferred embodiment, components  202 - 210  are structurally similar to components  102 - 110  in  FIG. 1 , and will not be repeated for brevity. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  includes an output router  212 , operable to route an output signal to a plurality of output devices  214 - 220 . In a preferred embodiment, stride processor  206  may be operable to transmit an output signal corresponding to an average stride rate. Additionally, stride processor  206  may be operable to transmit a control signal indicating which device  214 - 220  to transmit the output signal to. In a preferred embodiment, the control and data signals sent by stride processor  206  may be combined, such as on a bus. In alternative embodiments, the control and data signals may be present on independent busses. 
         [0029]    Output router  212  receives the output signal and control signal from stride processor  206  and routes the output signal appropriately. As illustrated, a plurality of devices  214 - 220  may be connected to the output router  212 . Output devices  214 - 220  may include, but are not limited to, a wireless device  214 , a vibrating device  216 , an optical output  218  or an audio output  220 . 
         [0030]    A wireless device  214  may be communicatively coupled to output router  212  and operable to receive an output signal from stride processor  206 . For example, a wireless device  214  may include a wireless enabled headset, as known in the art. Stride processor  206  may be operable to output an audio signal to the wireless headset attached to a user&#39;s ear. The headset would then be operable to output a rhythmic pulse corresponding to the user&#39;s average stride rate. 
         [0031]    A vibrating device  216  may further be communicatively coupled to the output router  212  and operable to receive an output signal from stride processor  206 . In a preferred embodiment, vibrating device  216  may be located within the same housing as the remainder of the system  200 . This housing may be attached to a user via an attachment device, such as a clip attached to the user&#39;s belt. Upon receiving an output signal from output router  212 , vibrating device  216  may be operable to convert the output signal to a signal operable to activate an electric motor containing an unbalanced weight. The converted signal may be operable to rotate the electric motor at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of a user&#39;s average stride rate. 
         [0032]    Optical and audio outputs  218  and  220 , respectively, may further be coupled the output router  212  and operable to receive an output signal from stride processor  206 . In a preferred embodiment, an optical output  218  may include an LED or similar device, capable of displaying a visible light to a user. The light provided by optical output  218  may be controlled via an electrical switch allowing the output  218  to flash in sync with the received output signal. In a preferred embodiment, an audio output  218  may include an audio output jack such as a ¼ inch or ⅛ inch output, although any output mechanism known in the art may be utilized. As previously described, an output signal routed to output devices  214 - 220  may include an audio signal having the same frequency as a user&#39;s average stride rate. An audio output  220  may be operable to receive the output signal and forward the output signal through an output jack. An output jack may be connected to plurality of devices including, but not limited to headphones or a small speaker. 
         [0033]    It should be noted that although each output device  214 - 220  has been described as functioning independently, any number of output devices  214 - 220  may be used in conjunction with one another. For example, wireless device  214  may be utilized alongside vibrating device  216 . That is, a user may utilize a wireless headset outputting an audio signal alongside a vibrating device outputting a vibrating pattern having the same frequency of the audio signal, this frequency corresponding to the average stride rate of a user. In an alternative embodiment, outputting an audio signal may include communicating with an MP3 player or similar portable electronic device and providing an output paced consistent with the rhythm as described above. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow diagram illustrating a method for monitoring a user&#39;s pace and providing a pace output. As illustrated, a determination is made as whether the method should monitor the pace of a user or output the pace data to a user, step  302 . In a preferred embodiment, this decision may be made actively by a user performing the method illustrated in  FIG. 3 . For example, a user may provide a signal indicating which action should be chosen, such as a signal activated by a switch. 
         [0035]    If a decision is made to record the pace of a user, pace data is recorded, step  304 . In one embodiment, recording pace data may include dynamically updating the average stride of a user. For example, a pace data store may contain a real-time average stride rate of a user. Recording pace data may include retrieving the current average stride rate of a user and updating the current average stride rate each time a user takes a step. 
         [0036]    Upon the recording of pace data, the data is stored, step  306 . Continuing the previously example, upon detecting a user has taken a step, the average stride rate may be recalculated and stored again. Alternatively, steps  304  and  306  may include a batch process wherein the recording of pace data ( 304 ) includes recording pace data for a “session”, a session including a time interval defined by two distinct and clear endpoints, such as the powering on and off of a device. After a session ends, the session pace data may be combined with total pace data to form final, new total pace data. 
         [0037]    After the pace data is stored ( 306 ), the process returns to  302  to determine whether the process should continue recording the user pace, or to output the pace. If a determination is made to output the pace data, the pace data is retrieved, step  308 . The pace data retrieved in step  308  corresponds to the pace data stored during step  306 . In response to the retrieval of pace data ( 308 ), audio data may be retrieved  310 . In a preferred embodiment, audio data may include a tone or sound file stored within an external memory. 
         [0038]    After both pace and audio data are retrieved ( 308 ,  310 ), a data is outputted to a device,  312 . In a preferred embodiment, the data output to a device may include an audio signal, although alternative embodiments exist wherein the data output to a device includes an optical signal or a vibrating tone or a combination thereof. A signal is output to a device at a regular frequency corresponding to the stride frequency of a user until a signal is received to end the output,  314 . If a signal is received to end the output, a decision is made to determine whether the device is to be powered off or if the mode must be switched to record pace data. If the mode is set to record pace data, the process returns to step  304 , if the device is to be powered off, the processes ends. 
         [0039]    In another embodiment, predetermined tempos may be programmed into the system, where the tempos reflect various levels of the same user or the tempos of different users. In the example of golf, suppose a golfer wants to emulate another golfer&#39;s swing, they can listen to the other golfer&#39;s pacing to assist in the timing of the swing by selecting the other golfer&#39;s pace. 
         [0040]    As described above, the output is then usable by a golfer to assist in the timing of the golf swing. The user, through practice, can learn to use the pacing guidance in the timing of his or her golf swing. Alternatively, the output of the present invention may be used to provide a rhythmic cadence for any activity prone to rhythmic motion such as running, cycling, rowing, etc. 
         [0041]    It is also recognized that the present invention is not specifically limited to the embodiment of a golf device, but rather is generally described in the golfing embodiment. It is recognized that the present invention is also usable in any suitable sport or other activity where user pace may be measured and a timing-based activity occurs. 
         [0042]    For example, in another embodiment, the pace assistance may relate to running, where a user includes a sensor that is placed near, on or inside the runner&#39;s shoe, the sensor recording foot strike information. A wrist band or other central processing component may wirelessly communicate with the sensor to receive the foot strike or pace information perform the above-described techniques for recording and/or monitoring pace information. While in one embodiment, the processing device might provide direct user feedback with pace information, it is also recognized that this pace information may be usable to record or otherwise track the user&#39;s rhythm relative to the current activity. For example, suppose a runner is running a race, for example a 5K race, and sets a personal record, the user may record the average pace run to set this personal record. Or in another example, the user may simply have a really great training run and wish to capture the pace for this particular training run. 
         [0043]    Using the above-described pace assistance system, the pace assistance device may use the recorded pace data and thereby provide a corresponding output to the user consistent with the user&#39;s previous pace. In one example, the output may be a particular song that is set to pace (e.g. beats per minute) relative to the user&#39;s recorded pace. As noted above, this could include having a database or collection of songs at various BPM levels or adjusting an existing song or musical file by shifting the frequency of the song to the noted BPM level. Thereby, the runner can listen to a rhythm through a mobile audio device (e.g. MP3 player for example), where that rhythm corresponds to a previously recorded running pace, such as the examples of a pace of a previous training run, a pace of a previous race or even the example of a prospective training or racing pace the runner wishes to obtain. 
         [0044]    Another example for sports or activities alternative to golf may also be cycling, where a user sets a pace relative to a cycling cadence. The above described running embodiment may similarly be utilized, where the cycling cadence can be determined by any number of possible pace determining devices, such as a modified pedometer that recognizes a full peddle motion or even the example of a power meter installed on the bicycle itself. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 1 through 3  are conceptual illustrations allowing for an explanation of the present invention. It should be understood that various aspects of the embodiments of the present invention could be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof. In such embodiments, the various components and/or steps would be implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or software to perform the functions of the present invention. That is, the same piece of hardware, firmware, or module of software could perform one or more of the illustrated blocks (e.g., components or steps). 
         [0046]    Notably, the figures and examples above are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention to a single embodiment, as other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements. Moreover, where certain elements of the present invention can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only those portions of such known components that are necessary for an understanding of the present invention are described, and detailed descriptions of other portions of such known components are omitted so as not to obscure the invention. In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not necessarily be limited to other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration. 
         [0047]    The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveals the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the relevant art(s) (including the contents of the documents cited and incorporated by reference herein), readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such adaptations and modifications are therefore intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance presented herein, in combination with the knowledge of one skilled in the relevant art(s).