Method And System For Monitoring Physiological And Athletic Performance Characteristics Of A Subject

Abstract

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for monitoring characteristics of a subject. A system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a sensor subsystem including at least one respiratory sensor disposed proximate to the subject and configured to detect a respiratory characteristic of the subject, wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to generate and transmit at least one respiratory signal representing the respiratory characteristic, and at least one physiological sensor disposed proximate to the subject and configured to detect a physiological characteristic of the subject, wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to generate and transmit at least one physiological signal representing the physiological characteristic, and a processor subsystem in communication with the sensor subsystem, the processor subsystem being configured to receive at least one of the at least one respiratory signal and the at least one physiological signal.

1 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for monitoring a subject engaged in a physical activity, the method comprising:
 generating a distance signal representative of the distance between a first sensor and a second sensor each positioned at the subject's torso and responsive to changes in distance therebetween;   transmitting the distance signal to a processor subsystem;   generating a respiratory signal;   generating a spatial signal representative of an orientation of a body part of the subject and transmitting the spatial signal to the processor subsystem; and   receiving the respiratory signal and the spatial signal at the processor subsystem;   comparing, with the processor subsystem, the spatial signal and the distance signal to respective benchmark spatial and benchmark distance signals to assess respiratory and spatial characteristics of the subject.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising generating a physiological signal representative of a physiological parameter of the subject and transmitting the physiological signal to a processor subsystem; 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising displaying a representation of the respiratory parameter. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 processing the respiratory signal to obtain a signal which is representative of a respiratory parameter of the subject, and comparing the respiratory parameter to a plurality of stored respiratory benchmarks; and   generating and transmitting a status signal in response to a determination that respiratory parameter corresponds to one of the stored respiratory benchmarks.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of stored respiratory benchmarks comprise at least one of adverse fitness states and fitness goals. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 determining a respiratory activity of the subject based on the respiratory signal; and   generating and transmitting a respiratory activity signal representative of the respiratory activity.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 comparing the orientation of the body part to a plurality of stored spatial benchmarks; and   generating and transmitting a status signal in response to a determination that the orientation of the body part corresponds to one of the stored spatial benchmarks.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of stored spatial benchmarks comprises at least one of adverse fitness states and fitness goals. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 determining at least one fitness activity of the subject based on the spatial signal; and   generating and transmitting a spatial activity signal representative of the spatial activity.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising generating a three-dimensional spatial model of the orientation and movement of the subject based on the spatial signal. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 comparing the physiological signal to a plurality of stored physiological benchmarks; and   generating and transmitting a status signal in response to a determination that the physiological signal corresponds to one of the stored physiological benchmarks.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of stored physiological benchmarks comprises at least one of adverse fitness states and fitness goals. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the spatial signal further represents movement of a body part of the subject.