Computer Implemented Athletic Training Method

Abstract

An athletic training method is implemented in a computer program to produce audio content which directs an athlete through a random sequence of actions for training purposes. A computer memory stores a plurality of action items representing actions to be performed, each having a respective audio cue associated therewith for instructing the user. The program creates a randomized sequence of the action items according to a user selected criteria. In one embodiment the program stores the associated audio cues as an output file for playback on any suitable audio playback device. In an alternative embodiment, a dedicated training device executes the training method of the computer program thereon to create the randomized sequence of action items and output the audio cue associated with each action item for direct playback to the user in real time instead of storing as an output file.

1 . An athletic training method implemented in a computer program, the method comprising:
 retrieving from a computer memory a plurality of action items representing actions to be performed by a user in which each action item includes a respective audio cue associated therewith which is arranged to instruct a user to perform the action;   creating a randomized sequence of the action items according to a user selected criteria; and   storing the audio cues associated with the action items of the randomized sequence as audio content in an output file arranged for playback on an audio playback device.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  including creating the randomized sequence of the action items according to the user selected criteria by creating a preliminary sequence of the action items having a random order and then modifying the preliminary sequence into the randomized sequence such that the user selected criteria is met. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  including modifying the preliminary sequence into the randomized sequence such that both the user selected criteria and a prescribed criteria of the computer program are met. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  including retrieving from the computer memory a plurality of locations representing a designated location for the actions to be performed by the user and associating each individual action item in the randomized sequence with one of the plurality of locations. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  including storing descriptive content in the output file in which the descriptive content identifies the randomized sequence of action items used to form the output file. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  including receiving modified criteria from the user subsequent to creating the output file, modifying the randomized sequence of action items obtained from the descriptive content of the output file such that the modified criteria is met, and creating a new output file corresponding to the modified criteria. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  including storing a plurality of different output files corresponding to different user selected criteria in a computer storage device. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  including creating the randomized sequence of the action items according to the user selected criteria comprising a designated frequency of each of the action items in the randomized sequence. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  including creating the randomized sequence of the action items according to the user selected criteria comprising a designated frequency of some of the action items relative to other ones of the action items in the randomized sequence. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  including creating the randomized sequence of the action items according to the user selected criteria comprising a designated duration of each of the action items in the randomized sequence. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  including creating the randomized sequence of the action items according to the user selected criteria comprising a duration of the audio content of the output file. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1  including associating some of the action items with a duration which is greater than other ones of the action items. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1  including associating a random duration with individual ones of the action items in the randomized sequence. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1  including retrieving user selected action items from the plurality of action items and only including the user selected action items in the randomized sequence. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1  including storing new action items customized by the user with the plurality of action items in the computer memory prior to retrieving the action items for use in the randomized sequence. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1  including defining the audio cues as text and generating the audio content in the output file using a text-to-speech algorithm. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1  including defining each audio cue as a recorded audio file associated with the respective action item. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1  including retrieving the user selected criteria from the user through a web-based interface. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1  including associating a video file with each action item which represents the action to be performed by the user and arranging the video files of the user to view the video files through a user interface through which the user selected criteria is arranged to be received from the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1  including displaying characteristics of the randomized sequence to the user prior to storing the audio cues in the output file. 
     
     
         21 . A computer program executable in a computer device comprising instructions adapted to cause the computer device to:
 retrieve from a computer memory a plurality of action items representing actions to be performed by a user in which each action item includes a respective audio cue associated therewith which is arranged to instruct a user to perform the action;   create a randomized sequence of the action items according to a user selected criteria; and   store the audio cues associated with the action items of the randomized sequence as audio content in an output file arranged for playback on an audio playback device.   
     
     
         22 . A training device comprising:
 a portable housing;   an audio output supported by the housing; and   a computing device supported in the housing and being adapted to:
 retrieve from a computer memory a plurality of action items representing actions to be performed by a user in which each action item includes a respective audio cue associated therewith which is arranged to instruct a user to perform the action; 
 create a randomized sequence of the action items according to a user selected criteria; and 
 identify the audio cue associated with each action item of the randomized sequence; and 
 output the audio cues as audio content to the user through the audio output.