Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8915859B1/en
Timestamp: 2019-02-23 03:40:46
Document Index: 277045851

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 61', 'art 15', 'art 15']

US8915859B1 - Monitoring device, system and method for a multi-player interactive game - Google Patents
Monitoring device, system and method for a multi-player interactive game Download PDF
US8915859B1
US8915859B1 US13/276,262 US201113276262A US8915859B1 US 8915859 B1 US8915859 B1 US 8915859B1 US 201113276262 A US201113276262 A US 201113276262A US 8915859 B1 US8915859 B1 US 8915859B1
US13/276,262
2009-09-28 Priority to US24652209P priority
2010-07-17 Priority to US12/838,450 priority patent/US7892178B1/en
2010-10-19 Priority to US39474410P priority
2010-11-01 Priority to US40865610P priority
2010-12-30 Priority to US12/982,864 priority patent/US8002709B1/en
2011-08-15 Priority to US13/210,346 priority patent/US8827915B1/en
2011-10-18 Priority to US13/276,262 priority patent/US8915859B1/en
2011-10-18 Application filed by IMPACT SPORTS TECHNOLOGIES Inc filed Critical IMPACT SPORTS TECHNOLOGIES Inc
2014-10-15 Assigned to IMPACT SPORTS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. reassignment IMPACT SPORTS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BRADY, DONALD, HUNT, MARK, RULKOV, NIKOLAI
2014-12-23 Publication of US8915859B1 publication Critical patent/US8915859B1/en
A system and method for multiple players to play an interactive game is disclosed herein. The system preferably includes monitoring device monitoring the vital signs of a user, a game console and a video monitor. The monitoring device is preferably an article having an optical sensor and accelerometer. The monitoring device preferably provides for the display of the following information about the user: pulse rate; blood oxygenation levels; calories expended by the user of a pre-set time period; target zones of activity; time; distance traveled; and/or dynamic blood pressure. The article is preferably a band worn on a user's wrist, arm or ankle.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/408,656, filed on Nov. 1, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/394,744, filed on Oct. 19, 2010. The Present Application is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/191,907, filed on Jul. 27, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/368,262, filed Jul. 28, 2010. The present application is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/561,222, filed on Sep. 16, 2009, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/097,844, filed on Sep. 17, 2008, and which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/856,056, filed Sep. 16, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,625,344, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/762,078, filed on Jun. 13, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,468,036, and which is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/388,707, filed on Mar. 24, 2006, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/665,116, filed on Mar. 25, 2005, and which is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/085,778, filed on Mar. 21, 2005, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/613,785, filed on Sep. 28, 2004. The Present Application is also a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/210,346, filed on Aug. 15, 2011, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/982,864, filed on Dec. 30, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,002,709, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/838,450, filed on Jul. 17, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,892,178, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/246,522, filed on Sep. 28, 2009. All of the above mentioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
One aspect of the present invention is a system for multiple players to play an interactive video game. The system preferably includes a game console, a video monitor and monitoring devices for each of the players. The game console is configured to operate an interactive video game. The interactive video game has a representation of a player of the interactive video game. The video monitor displays the interactive video game operated on the game console. The game console allows the players of the interactive video game to play the interactive video game by movements monitored by the monitoring device. The monitoring device monitors at least a real-time heart rate of the player. The monitoring device is in communication with the game console to allow the real-time heart rate of the player to be utilized in the interactive video game. The monitoring device preferably comprises an article, a processor, an optical sensor, a motion sensor and a power source. The article has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The processor is disposed within the article. The optical sensor is positioned on the interior surface of the article. The optical sensor measures blood flow through an artery of an arm of the player. The motion sensor is disposed within the article. The motion sensor and the optical sensor are electrically connected to the processor. The processor is configured to determine the real-time heart rate of the player based on the blood flow through the artery of the player and the processor is configured to detect motion of the player based on a signal from the motion sensor. The power source provides power to the processor, the optical sensor and the motion sensor. An activity of each of the plurality of representations of the players on the monitor is partially controlled by the real-time heart rate of each of the plurality of players monitored by the optical sensor and the motion of each of the plurality of players detected by the motion sensor of each of the plurality of monitoring devices.
Another aspect of the present aspect of the present invention is a system for multiple players to play an interactive video game on a video monitor. The system preferably includes a video monitor and monitoring devices worn by each of the players. The video monitor comprises a display screen, a short range wireless transceiver and a processor. The video monitor displays an interactive video game. The video monitor is preferably a television connected to a network such as the Internet, either over a wireless connection or a wired connection. The monitoring device monitors at least a real-time heart rate of the player. The monitoring device is in wireless communication with the video monitor through the wireless transceiver to allow the real-time heart rate of the player to be utilized in the interactive video game. The monitoring devices preferably comprise an article, a processor, an optical sensor, a motion sensor, a wireless transceiver and a power source. The article has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The processor is disposed within the article. The optical sensor is positioned on the interior surface of the article. The optical sensor measures blood flow through an artery of an arm of the player. The motion sensor is disposed within the article. The motion sensor and the optical sensor are electrically connected to the processor. The processor is configured to determine the real-time heart rate of the player based on the blood flow through the artery of the player and the processor is configured to detect motion of the player based on a signal from the motion sensor. The power source provides power to the processor, the optical sensor and the motion sensor. An activity of each of the plurality of representations of the players on the video monitor is partially controlled by the real-time heart rate of each of the plurality of players monitored by the optical sensor and the motion of each of the plurality of players detected by the motion sensor of each of the plurality of monitoring devices.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a system for a playing an online interactive video game with multiple players. The system preferably includes a computer and monitoring devices for each of the players. The computer comprises a display screen, a short range wireless transceiver and a processor. The computer displays an interactive video game. The computer is preferably connected to a network such as the Internet, either over a wireless connection or a wired connection. Each of the monitoring devices monitors at least a real-time heart rate of the player. Each of the monitoring devices is in wireless communication with the computer through the wireless transceiver to allow the real-time heart rate of the player to be utilized in the interactive video game. Each of the monitoring devices preferably comprises an article, a processor, an optical sensor, a motion sensor, a wireless transceiver and a power source. The article has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The processor is disposed within the article. The optical sensor is positioned on the interior surface of the article. The optical sensor measures blood flow through an artery of an arm of the player. The motion sensor is disposed within the article. The motion sensor and the optical sensor are electrically connected to the processor. The processor is configured to determine the real-time heart rate of the player based on the blood flow through the artery of the player and the processor is configured to detect motion of the player based on a signal from the motion sensor. The power source provides power to the processor, the optical sensor and the motion sensor. An activity of each of the plurality of representations of the players on the video monitor is partially controlled by the real-time heart rate of each of the plurality of players monitored by the optical sensor and the motion of each of the plurality of players detected by the motion sensor of each of the plurality of monitoring devices.
FIG. 25 is an illustration of a system for multiple players running a virtual marathon in an online game.
FIG. 26 is an illustration of a system for multiple players to play an interactive video game using a game console and video monitor.
FIG. 27 is an illustration at a first frame of a system for multiple players to play an interactive video game using a game console and video monitor.
FIG. 27A is an illustration at a second frame of a system for multiple players to play an interactive video game using a game console and video monitor.
FIG. 27B is an illustration at a third frame of a system for multiple players to play an interactive video game using a game console and video monitor.
A game console, video monitor or computer receives signals from a heart rate monitor (“HRM”) and the display is used to view a user's heart rate (“HR”) and to work out to apps and to store data. The HRM simply outputs HR and accelerometer data to the game console, video monitor or computer is processed by the powerful processor of the game console, video monitor or computer. All “heavy” processing and memory is conducted on the game console, video monitor or computer. This reduces the cost, size and power requirements of monitoring device and allows for the more powerful offboard processing, display and storage of HR data by the game console, video monitor or computer. The software application might be a pure fitness app, might be provided by WEIGHT WATCHERS to their clients as an app or could be a game or even medical application for in home use. The game might also require that heart rate reach a certain high or low target before being able to conduct a specified in-game action. For example, a user might have to restore heart rate to their resting baseline before being able to do a high jump. Similarly, they might have to enter a higher target heart zone to “power up” for an attack. HRM application for video game overview: A heart rate monitor would be used as an integral, interactive element of video games to add a degree of realism. A basic example would be in a game that required shooting skills or skills that could be enhanced or degraded by a physical state as indicated by heart rate level. A player's normal heart rate would be measured and entered into a game data base. This average would be used as a baseline to provide more accurate shooting or combat skills if the heart rate was at a lower level during the activity and accuracy would be degraded if the HR was at a certain level above the average. This is reflective of the real world where actual snipers use heart rate as a means to achieve better accuracy. It also is reflective of the real world where a person has to physically move and evade and then fire accurately or engage in other physical combat using manual weapons or personal combat skills. This technique could also be used in sports games such as golf games where shot accuracy could be improved by a lower heart rate or conversely adversely affected by an elevate HR reflecting a nervous or agitated state. The game could encourage and promote the use of interactive biofeedback to control the heart rate and improve performance. In this case the biofeedback training could translate into real world applications for sports or other activities. This application of HR monitoring technology requires a real time heart rate monitor. Such a device may detect the electrical pulses from the heart such as the chest belt monitors, however a preferred application would be a more convenient monitor that would be worn on the arm of the game player, but would be motion resistant as well as continuous.
The communications from the monitoring device to the game console, video monitor or computer is preferably accomplished by using a part 15 low power short range radio, standard Blue tooth or Blue Tooth Low Energy to conserve power or other low power short range communications means. For mobile phones and mobile phone applications the HRM is preferably interactive with Windows operating systems, Apple Operating systems or emergent operating systems such as Android. This facilitates the broadest use in home and in mobile applications.
The monitoring device preferably transmits raw heart rate and accelerometer data to a game console. The data is preferably stored or real-time data.
A software application preferably interprets data, displays, and stores it. Such data might include items like heart rate, calories burned, exercise time, max/min/average heart rate, and others. This allows for use of the greater processing power on the game console.
The monitoring device alternatively has a display and transmits raw heart rate and accelerometer data to game console. This may be stored or real-time data.
As shown in FIG. 25, four runners 2550 a-2550 d are running on treadmills 2560 a-2560 d while wearing monitoring devices 20 a-20 d. Each monitoring device 20 a-20 d transmits a signal 19 a-19 d to a computer 2510 which processes the signals 19 a-19 d and generates information for the vital signs of the runners 2550 a-2550 d on the display 2525 of the video monitor 2520. In a preferred embodiment, the runners 2550 a-2550 d are participating in a virtual marathon conducted online and the runners 2550 a-2550 d are running against themselves and other runners, not seen.
As shown in FIG. 26, a system 2600 for an interactive game with a real time monitoring device comprises monitoring devices 20 a and 20 b with a wireless feature worn by players 2650 a and 2650 b, a console 2610 and a video monitor 2620 having a display screen 2625.
As shown in FIGS. 27, 27A and 27B, a baseball player 2750 is playing an interactive video game and is represented on the display 2725 of the video monitor 2720 as character 2770. As the player 2750 throws a baseball, his heart rate and the speed of the baseball are shown on the display 2725. The speed can be estimated using the accelerometer on the monitoring device 20 which sends a signal 19 to a game console 2710, which processes the raw signal data 19 from the monitoring device to generate a signal 2711 for transmission to the video monitor 2720.
1. A system for a multiple players to play an interactive game, the system comprising:
a game console configured to operate an interactive game, the interactive game having a plurality of representations of players of the interactive game;
a monitor for displaying the interactive game operated on the game console;
a plurality of monitoring devices, each of the plurality of monitoring devices adapted to be attached to an arm, wrist or ankle of a player, each of the plurality of monitoring devices comprising a optical sensor for measuring blood flow through an artery of a wrist, arm or ankle of the user, the optical sensor disposed on an interior surface of the monitoring device, an accelerometer for measuring a motion of the user, a processor configured to filter a digital signal from the optical sensor along with a signal from the accelerometer to generate a real-time heart rate value for a user, a battery for powering the monitoring device, and a transceiver for transmitting the real-time heart rate value to the game console;
wherein the processor is configured to filter motion noise from the digital signal utilizing the signal from the accelerometer, process the digital signal to obtain an average pulse value of a first set of time periods, process the digital signal to obtain an average pulse value of a second set of time periods, the second set of time periods less than the first set of time periods subtract the average pulse value of the second set of time periods from the average pulse value of the first set of time periods to generate a first filtered pulse data value, process the first filtered pulse data value to obtain a first heart rate value, and use the first heart rate value to filter the subsequent average pulse values generated from the digital signal to obtain a real-time heart rate value of the user;
wherein an activity of each of the plurality of representations of the players on the monitor is partially controlled by the real-time heart rate of each of the plurality of players monitored by the optical sensor and the motion of each of the plurality of players detected by the motion sensor of each of the plurality of monitoring devices.
2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the wherein the optical sensor is selected from the group consisting of: an optical sensor comprising a light-to-voltage photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers; an optical sensor comprising a light-to-frequency photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 600 nanometers to 1100 nanometers; an optical sensor comprising a plurality of light-to-voltage photodetectors capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers; an optical sensor comprising a plurality of light-to-frequency photodetectors capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers; and an optical sensor comprising a light-to-voltage photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light at 567 nanometers.
3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the transceiver utilizes part 15 radio, or ANT communications protocol.
4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the transceiver is a short range wireless transmitter disposed on the monitoring device, and wherein the monitoring device further comprises an article having an annular length ranging from 4 inches to 8 inches, a width ranging from 1 inch to 3 inches, and a thickness ranging from 0.10 inch to 1.0 inch.
5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to monitor an intensity of light from at least one light emitting diode of the optical sensor, determine if a photodetector of the optical sensor is saturated by the intensity of light, and modify the intensity of light to lower the intensity of light.
6. A system for a playing an interactive game, the system comprising:
a computer for playing an online interactive video game, the computer comprising a short range wireless transceiver, a processor and a display screen, the interactive game having a plurality of representations of players of the interactive game; and
a plurality of monitoring devices, each of the plurality of monitoring devices adapted to be attached to an arm, wrist or ankle of a player, each of the plurality of monitoring devices comprising a optical sensor for measuring blood flow through an artery of a wrist, arm or ankle of the user, the optical sensor disposed on an interior surface of the monitoring device, an accelerometer for measuring a motion of the user, a processor configured to filter a digital signal from the optical sensor along with a signal from the accelerometer to generate a real-time heart rate value for a user, a battery for powering the monitoring device, and a transceiver for transmitting the real-time heart rate value to the computer;
7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the wherein the optical sensor is selected from the group consisting of: an optical sensor comprising a light-to-voltage photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers; an optical sensor comprising a light-to-frequency photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 600 nanometers to 1100 nanometers; an optical sensor comprising a plurality of light-to-voltage photodetectors capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers; an optical sensor comprising a plurality of light-to-frequency photodetectors capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light ranging from 550 nanometers to 1100 nanometers; and an optical sensor comprising a light-to-voltage photodetector capable of transmitting a digital signal, and at least one light emitting diode capable of radiating light at 567 nanometers.
8. The system according to claim 6 wherein the short range wireless transceiver operates on a communication protocol using a 9 kHz communication format, a 125 kHz RFID communication format, a 13.56 MHz communication format, a 433 MHz communication format, a 433 MHz RFID communication format, or a 900 MHz RFID communication format.
9. The system according to claim 6 wherein the transceiver is a short range wireless transmitter disposed on the monitoring device, and wherein the monitoring device further comprises an article having an annular length ranging from 4 inches to 8 inches, a width ranging from 1 inch to 3 inches, and a thickness ranging from 0.10 inch to 1.0 inch.
10. The system according to claim 6 wherein the processor is configured to monitor an intensity of light from at least one light emitting diode of the optical sensor, determine if a photodetector of the optical sensor is saturated by the intensity of light, and modify the intensity of light to lower the intensity of light.
11. The system according to claim 6 wherein the interactive game is volleyball and the number of players is two.
12. The system according to claim 6 wherein the interactive game is baseball and the number of players is two.
13. The system according to claim 6 wherein the interactive game is a marathon and the number of players is four.
14. The system according to claim 6 wherein the accelerometer generates a real-time accelerometer data comprising a X-axis signal, a Y-axis signal and a Z-axis signal based on a movement of the user and the processor is configured to receive the real-time digital signal from the optical sensor and configured to receive the real-time accelerometer data from the accelerometer, the processor is configured to generate a motion Comb filter value from the real-time accelerometer data utilizing an array of Comb filters, and the processor is configured to generate a real-time heart rate for the user based on the real-time digital signal filtered by the motion Comb filter value and a heart rate Comb filter value.
US13/276,262 2004-09-28 2011-10-18 Monitoring device, system and method for a multi-player interactive game Expired - Fee Related US8915859B1 (en)
US24652209P true 2009-09-28 2009-09-28
US12/838,450 US7892178B1 (en) 2009-09-28 2010-07-17 Monitoring device for an interactive game
US39474410P true 2010-10-19 2010-10-19
US40865610P true 2010-11-01 2010-11-01
US12/982,864 US8002709B1 (en) 2009-09-28 2010-12-30 Monitoring device for an interactive game
US13/210,346 US8827915B1 (en) 2009-09-28 2011-08-15 Monitoring device for an interactive game
US13/210,346 Continuation-In-Part US8827915B1 (en) 2009-09-28 2011-08-15 Monitoring device for an interactive game
US8915859B1 true US8915859B1 (en) 2014-12-23
ID=52101795
US13/276,262 Expired - Fee Related US8915859B1 (en) 2004-09-28 2011-10-18 Monitoring device, system and method for a multi-player interactive game
US (1) US8915859B1 (en)
2011-10-18 US US13/276,262 patent/US8915859B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BRADY, DONALD;RULKOV, NIKOLAI;HUNT, MARK;REEL/FRAME:033988/0563