Jump rope training apparatus, method, and system

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and system for jump rope training is disclosed, comprising at least one jump rope, at least one RFID device associated with the at least one jump rope, at least one RFID reader antenna, at least one RFID reader, and at least one coaching device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A jump rope training apparatus, comprising:
 at least one jump rope;   at least one RFID device associated with the at least one jump rope;   at least one RFID reader antenna;   at least one RFID reader; and   at least one coaching device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one jump rope is constructed of at least one of plastic, nylon, cable, leather, hemp, cotton, or linen. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one jump rope is constructed of a hollow tube. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one RFID device is contained within the at least one jump rope. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the at least one RFID device is located at approximately the midpoint of the at least one jump rope. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one RFID device is attached to the outside of the at least one jump rope. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the at least one RFID device is located at approximately the midpoint of the at least one jump rope. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one RFID reader antenna is a directed-beam antenna. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the antenna footprint of the at least one RFID reader antenna extends approximately two feet above the floor, with a length of approximately ten feet and a width of approximately 4 feet. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one RFID reader antenna is contained in a mat. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the antenna footprint of the at least one RFID reader antenna approximately three feet above the floor, with a length of approximately three feet and a width of approximately four feet. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein only one side of the RFID device is readable by the at least one RFID reader antenna. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one RFID device and the at least one RFID reader antenna operate on a frequency which is blocked by the human body. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one heart rate monitor associated with the at least one coaching device. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coaching device is a personal computer running coaching software. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface of the at least one coaching device includes a television or other visual display. 
     
     
         17 . A method of jump rope training, comprising:
 moving an RFID device associated with a jump rope within the antenna footprint of an RFID reader antenna;   interpreting the movement of the RFID device as revolutions of the jump rope;   monitoring the revolutions of the jump rope; and   providing advice based on the revolutions of the jump rope, wherein providing advice based on the revolutions of the jump rope further comprises at least one of:
 retrieving and analyzing previously stored data associated with the jump rope or with the user of the jump rope; 
 planning subsequent workout sessions; 
 adjusting a plan for a workout session during a workout to suit the performance of the user of the jump rope; 
 planning workout goals according to a desired training emphasis; 
 determining and displaying a targeted rate of revolutions for the jump rope; 
 indicating deviations from a targeted rate of revolution of the jump rope; 
 guiding the user of the jump rope in changes in revolution rate toward a targeted rate; 
 indicating when an interval should begin; 
 indicating when a rest should begin; 
 indicating amount of time remaining in a workout or an interval; 
 indicating amount of revolutions remaining in a workout or interval; 
 suggesting jump techniques for the user of the jump rope; 
 guiding the user of the jump rope through pre-workout warm-up exercise and stretches; 
 guiding the user of the jump rope through post-workout cool-down exercises and stretches; 
 adjusting workout parameters based on the heart rate of the user of the jump rope; 
 calculating calories burned by the user of the jump rope; 
 adjusting a workout based on the amount of calories burned by the user of the jump rope; or 
 playing music suitable for a workout. 
   
     
     
         18 . A system for jump rope training, comprising:
 at least one jump rope;   at least one RFID device associated with the at least one jump rope;   at least one RFID reader antenna;   at least one RFID reader; and   at least one coaching device.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one RFID device is located approximately in the middle of the at least one jump rope. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein revolutions of the at least one jump rope are detected by the entry into and exit from the antenna footprint of the at least one RFID reader antenna by the at least one RFID device. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein revolutions of the at least one jump rope are detected based on the readability and subsequent non-readability of the at least one RFID device by the at least one RFID reader. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one coaching device monitors the revolutions of the at least one jump rope. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one coaching device provides advice based on analysis of the at least one jump rope. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein multiple coaching devices are networked together to share information regarding one or more jump ropes, or one or more users of jump ropes.