Abstract:
A body movement tracking system featuring an inertial measurement unit, processor, communication adapter, and a memory coupled to the processor configured to store program instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to capture, identify, and report data related to a dance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present subject matter relates generally to a body movement tracking system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a body movement tracker which utilizes multiple inertial measurement units (IMUs) to detect movement of specific areas of the body. 
         [0002]    In recent years, there has been a large-scale adoption in the fitness industry of body movement trackers. Specifically, many of these trackers measure the number of steps walked in a day or the total distance traveled. To measure such movement, these trackers use what is known as an inertial measurement unit which is an electronic device that measures and reports a body&#39;s specific force, angular rate, and sometimes the magnetic field surrounding the body, using a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes, and sometimes also magnetometers. Once such data is collected by the IMU of a movement tracker, algorithms are used within the tracker or on another computing device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.) to approximate calories burned over a specific time interval, steps taken, etc. 
         [0003]    Almost without exception, these trackers monitor overall body movement using an IMU with little to no information collected about what portions of the body are being moved nor what activity the body movement is associated with (e.g., dancing versus rowing, riding a bike versus climbing a ladder, etc.). 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there is a need for a body movement tracking system which utilizes multiple IMUs to detect specific forms of body movement. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    To meet the needs described above and others, the present disclosure provides a body movement tracking system which utilizes multiple IMUs and modules of code which identify and track movement of specific body parts. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment of this invention, the body movement tracking system may feature one or more wearable devices (wearable sensor printed circuit boards (PCBs) in this example); each of these devices containing one or more IMUs. The wearable devices may also feature other electronic components including a heart rate monitor, a processor, a memory, a battery, a wireless networking communication antenna, and/or a wired communication plug. This embodiment also features one or more modules of code which analyze the data collected by the IMUs, heart rate sensor, etc., to determine the type of body movement which is occurring. These modules of code may be run on the wearable device(s) themselves (with a readout display potentially also being incorporated into the device for display of data to the end user) or run on any suitable computing device (e.g., smartphone, computer, tablet, medical diagnostic equipment, etc.). If the modules of code are run on a separate computing device, transmission of data from the wearable tracker to the computing device may be carried out by wireless (e.g., ZigBee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RF, and/or ANT+ communication protocols) or wired connection (e.g., USB, Ethernet, Firewire, Lightning connection). 
         [0007]    The module(s) of code mentioned above enable localized tracking and analysis of predetermined dance forms or other body movements by using support vector machines to compare user movement to a set of trained subspaces that are based on experts of the proposed motion and form. This software may also be designed to maximize battery life by placing the sensors in a low-power mode until body motion exceeds a movement threshold on the IMU sensor. When movement is detected which exceeds this threshold, the wearable device(s) shall begin collecting and reporting data over the established wired or wireless link between the wearable device and personal computing device with which the movement tracking device is in communication with. The software will also place the sensor back into sleep mode when physical activity ceases over a specified time interval to preserve battery life. It should be noted that modules of codes (software, algorithms, etc.) disclosed in this application may run in part or in whole on the movement tracking device and/or the computing device which the tracking device is in communication with. Additionally, all functions discussed can be intergraded into one device (for instance, a piece of smart clothing) as consumer demand dictates. 
         [0008]    In this embodiment, a sensor software application running on the computing device (e.g., a mobile device) communicating with the tracker(s) shall compute the data from the tracker&#39;s sensors for analysis per the desired outputs as specified by the end user. The algorithm may compute heart rate, calories burned, angular and tangential acceleration, revolutions, amplitude and magnitude for use in analyzing a user&#39;s motions. The software suite allows for an instructor or user to compare their data against stored profiles of other practitioners. 
         [0009]    The mobile device (or other computing device) sensor software application also provides multiple data points stored in an exportable form for upload to personal trainer work out tracking software, etc. These data points can also be transmitted in real time to an online portal for data analysis. The application may be downloaded through all major app store market places and over the internet using a personal computer. 
         [0010]    Other embodiments of this invention exist including: a body movement tracking system in communication with a computing device featuring an inertial measurement unit, a processor, a communication adapter, and a memory coupled to the processor configured to store program instructions. When these instructions are executed, they cause the processor to capture data corresponding to speed and rhythm of a dance, compare an inertial measurement of the data with an initiation threshold, and if the inertial measurement exceeds the initiation threshold, automatically initiate transmission of the at least one data point through the communications adapter to the computing device. In this embodiment, the inertial measurement corresponds to an inertial measurement created by a specific body motion of a dance, such dances may include aerobic dance exercise, twerking, etc. 
         [0011]    Yet other embodiments of this system may include a plurality of inertial movement units featuring an accelerometer and a gyroscope. All the embodiments detailed in this application may transmit data to an application on a computing device. The data received by one or more computing devices may be stored in a database which can then be examined by the system to identify the data as corresponding to a specific type of dance (e.g., twerking). The data can also be stored as part of a user profile which the system can maintain and monitor. If a user exceeds predefined alert thresholds based off the movement data the system receives, it may generate an alert message in the form of device notification, text message, email, etc. 
         [0012]    A goal of this invention is to provide a system which features a wearable device or set of devices featuring one or more IMU&#39;s along with modules of code which enable detection and inference of an end user&#39;s movements (e.g., measure duration, posture, and repeatability) and allow for comparison with and competition against other users of the system. Additionally, the use of a heart rate sensor will allow the calculation of calories burned, etc. All data from the device(s) will be both exportable and transmittable in real-time to a connected computer, mobile phone, or compatible peripheral allowing for a user&#39;s dance moves to be tracked and reported accurately. 
         [0013]    An advantage of the present invention is its use of more than one IMU&#39;s to track movement which allows for the precise tracking of individual body part movement. Twerking, for instance, is a dance which has become popular in recent years. It is an excellent work out but features movement of only very specific portions of the body (e.g., buttocks and hips). Accordingly, there is a need to track the movement of these specific areas while the rest of the body moves, by comparison, very little. Such movement is not currently easily detected by motion trackers such as the Fitbit, etc. and thus there is a need for a specific, targeted body movement tracking system. 
         [0014]    Another advantage of the present system is seen when a trainer wants to demonstrate something to a pupil in certain manner and desires to quantify technique effectiveness. The present system provides an online portal that allows for instructors to rate, store and analyze data from the sensor. This portal can also store data collected about users over time and monitored automatically by the system to prevent excess fatigue and potential injury. The data could also be used in an aggregate form by way of an automated and digital personal trainers currently integrated with popular digital assistants such as Cortana from Microsoft and SIRI from Apple. 
         [0015]    Yet another advantage of the present system is its ability to automatically detect what type of dance or motion an end use is performing. Using sets of data provided about various types of a dancing as a base line (e.g., Twerking, Zumba®, CIZE®, other forms of aerobic dance exercise, etc.) the present system can discern what dance(s) an end user is performing and then track and update its monitoring data based off data collected for a given user and aggregated data collected by all instances of the system to better assess such dance moves. The sensor devices are also modular in design, allowing them to be affixed to closing, mounted as jewelry in pendant form, or attached directly to the body via clip as a user changes from one dance to another, etc. 
         [0016]    Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is an overview diagram of a body motion tracking system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a decision tree of the module of code which determines if the body movement threshold has been crossed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a decision tree of the system&#39;s  100  movement classifying module of code. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a dual motion tracking device harness. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a smock with an imbedded motion tracking device. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a pair of shorts with an imbedded motion tracking device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  is an overview diagram of a body motion tracking system  100 . In the embodiment shown in this figure, an end user  10  wears a motion tracking device  110  attached to a belt  112 . The belt  112  may be adjustable and feature a closure  114  (e.g., Snap Buttons, Hook and Loop Fasteners, etc.) which can be adjusted as needed to secure the belt  112  around a waist of the user  10 . The belt  112  may have the motion tracking device  110  affixed to it permanently or temporarily (e.g., clipped on). The device  110  itself features a processor  120 , a battery  130 , an IMU(s)  140 , a memory  150 , and a communications adapter  160 . 
         [0025]    The device  110  also features a module of code stored in the memory  150  (and executed by the processor  120 ) which monitors data collected by the IMUS  140  of the given device  110  and holds the device  110  in a low power mode until the IMUs  140  detect significant body movement for a monitored body area (e.g., the buttocks) of an end user  10 . The low power mode preserves the battery&#39;s  130  charge by running only basic tasks on the device  110  until more functions are needed. The threshold for what constitutes significant body movement may be determined by the module of code automatically based off body movement data collected for other users of the system  100  and refined over time using data collected by the device  110  to set the movement threshold. Once the threshold is crossed (e.g., end user  10  is twerking, etc.) the processor of the device  110  switches from low power mode to using all components of the device  110  needed to monitor the dance moves of the user. 
         [0026]    Once in monitoring mode, the device  110  will use as much power as needed to monitor and collected data about movement of the end user&#39;s  10  body and transmit this data using the communications adapter(s)  160 . The device  110  utilizes the communication adapter(s)  160  (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, etc.) to communicate with one or more computing devices  200 . These computing devices  200  may be any type of smartphone, personal computer, tablet, or other mobile device. The data transmitted from the tracking device (or devices)  110  monitoring a given end user  10  may collate and organize the data before transmission to aid in analysis by the system  100 . 
         [0027]    Once the movement data is sent to a computing device  200 , a standalone or integrated application  210  may receive and analyze the data. Such analysis may involve identifying the type of movement or dance being carried out by a user  10  based off the type of movement data collected automatically and then also tracking details about how the given user moves or dances. 
         [0028]    For instance, in the example shown, the system&#39;s  100  motion tracking device  110  affixed to a belt  112  will sit in close proximity to an end user&#39;s  10  hips and buttocks. The movement threshold for such a device is programmed to not track movement data for mundane or irrelevant movement (e.g., walking, running, swimming, etc.) but is triggered by specific, predefined movement data which corresponds to twerking, Zumba®, or another type of dance programmed to be identified by the system  100 . Specifically, the IMU(s)  140  may include a gyroscope, an accelerometer, magnetometer and other sensors. Each of the gyroscope, accelerometer, and other IMUs measures a unique aspect of the body movement and collectively provide a broad array of data that comprise the predefined movement data for each dance recognized by the system  100 . In some embodiments, a single device  110  may include a plurality of IMUs  140 , while in other devices, the system  100  may include a first device  110 A having a first IMU  140 A and a second device  110 B having a second IMU  140 B. Once a user starts moving in accordance with the predefined movement data, the device  110  tracks information regarding the dance session of the user  10  including data about speed, rhythm, duration, and other measurable aspects of the movement in the buttocks area. Such data is then transmitted wirelessly from the device  110  to a computing device  200  of the user  10  such as a smartphone, a smartwatch, etc., running the system&#39;s  100  application which can report the data collected to end user&#39;s in the form of easy to read reports as well as comparison with past personal bests and a ranking board of dance data collected from other users  10  utilizing other instances of the system  100 . 
         [0029]    The data collected and monitored by the system  100  may also be used to generate alerts (e.g., a user  10  has been twerking too long or too fast) and may be combined with data from other biometric sensors (e.g., heart rate monitor) to provide even greater detail about a given dance or movement. For example, with the inclusion of heart rate data along with movement data, an accurate calculation of calories burned per twerk session can be generated by the system  100 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is a decision tree of the module of code which determines if a body movement threshold has been crossed. As shown in  FIG. 2 , at a first step  301 , any movement data detected by an IMU  140  of the system  100  is processed by the system  100 . At the next step  303 , the system  100  determines if the movement threshold has been crossed. If not, the system  100 , at step  305 , does not record the movement data and continues to monitor for movements which do cross the threshold. If the threshold is crossed, then the system  100 , at step  307 , does record that data and runs a movement classifying module of code (step  309 , see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a decision tree of the system&#39;s  100  movement classifying module of code. As shown in  FIG. 3 , at a first step  311 , movement data which is significant enough to trigger the predefined movement threshold (shown in  FIG. 2 ) is received and processed by a processor (the processor may be the processor  120  of the motion tracking device  110  shown in  FIG. 1 ). Once processed, the system  100  determines, at step  313 , if the movement is known or unknown. Known movements are identified by the system  100  as such based off predefined, distinct characteristics for a given dance or movement (e.g., twerking). If such known movement is detected, the system  100 , at step  315 , will transmit this data to the system&#39;s  100  application for further analysis and/or reporting. If the movement is not known by the system  100 , it will determine if the movement has stopped (e.g., if the sleep interval has passed; step  317 ) and then request more data from the IMU(s)  140  (step  319 ) and repeat steps  311 - 319  until the movement has been identified or has ceased. 
         [0032]    An example of how the system  100  would carry out the decision trees discussed above is when an end user  10  is preparing to twerk. Typically, twerking is part of a greater overall dance which involves movement of the whole body. As a user  10  moves their arms and legs, the tracker(s)  110  they are wearing will detect such movement, but such movement will not trigger the system  100  to begin collecting, classifying, and reporting this movement data because the system&#39;s  100  movement threshold is not crossed by the arm and leg movement. Alternatively, once a user begins moving their hips and buttocks, the threshold is surpassed and the system  100  will begin collecting and reporting data regarding these movements. If the data about hip and buttocks movements collected by the system  100  match up with predefined sets of data which define for the system  100  what constitutes “twerking movement” the system  100  will identify it as such and report it. Additionally, if the system  100  does not recognize the hip and buttocks movement being detected, it can continue to monitor the movement until it matches up the data collected with an alternative matching data set (e.g., Zumba® instead of twerking). Such matching may be done in real time, with the system  100  referencing new movement data sets online if it is unable to identify the movement. Practically, this would enable the system  100  to identify, track, and report on, for example, the newest internet dance craze without the need for an end user  10  to do anything but dance. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a dual motion tracking device  110  harness  400 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a first motion tracking device  110 A shown in  FIG. 1  may work in unison with a separate, second motion tracking device  110 B affixed to another portion of the end user&#39;s  10  body. Like the belt  112  shown in  FIG. 1 , this embodiment features an adjustable closure  114  and a tether  402  which connects the first and second tracking devices  110 A,  110 B together. The benefit in using more the one IMU  140  (in this embodiment at least two are used) is that it provides additional data points for dance/movement identification. This helps prevent false positives in classifying a dance move. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a smock  450  with an imbedded motion tracking device  110 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the motion tracking device  110  of the system  100  may be intergraded or embedded into clothing. In this case, the device  110  acts as a closure for the smock  450 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a pair of shorts  475  with an imbedded motion tracking device  110 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the motion tracking device  110  of the system  100  may be intergraded or embedded into clothing. In this case, the device  110  sits in the waist band of the shorts  475 . 
         [0036]    It should be noted that in the embodiments shown in  FIG. 5-6  only the tracking device  110  is imbedded within the clothing shown, but other system  100  functions may be incorporated into these garments (e.g., smart clothing with LED displays, heart rate monitors, etc.). 
         [0037]    It should also be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.