Interactive racquet sport training system

Abstract

A training system operates to provide an online training system for a racquet sport that includes an instructional portion, a performance portion and a results report. A trainer can create training modules and/or training programs and then launch a training program in which one or more users, utilizing a user system, can participate. A training program consists of one or more training modules. The training modules include targets to indicate the type of swing or shot that the participant is being instructed to make. The system can monitor and track the participant's performance and provide feedback for improvements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing interactive training for a racquet sport, the method comprising:
 selecting a particular training program residing in the memory of a server, the particular training program comprising one or more training modules that demonstrate a particular skill;   the server executing the particular training program in cooperation with a trainer, wherein executing the particular training program comprises the following actions:
 (a) sequentially selecting a current training module within the particular training program; 
 (b) transmitting to a training window of the user device video content of an instructor demonstrating the particular skill of the training module for a particular time period; 
 (c) subsequent to the particular time period, transmitting to a performance window of a user device video content associated with the particular skill including physical and timing performance targets that a participant is expected to meet by moving a racquet, overlaid with a video feed of the participant performing the particular skill with the racquet; 
 (e) monitoring the motion of the racquet in relationship to the performance targets by collecting motion data that represents the participant performing the particular skill with the racquet; 
 (f) analyzing the motion data to create a results report. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical and timing performance targets represent an expected direction that the racquet is to be moved and the step of monitoring the motion of the racquet in relationship to the performance targets comprises detecting if the racquet moves in the expected direction. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the action of transmitting to a performance window of a user device video content associated with the particular skill including physical and timing performance targets that a participant is expected to meet by moving a racquet further comprises transmitting an indicia that identifies the expected direction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the action of transmitting to a performance window of a user device video content associated with the particular skill including physical and timing performance targets that a participant is expected to meet by moving a racquet further comprises transmitting an indicia that identifies the expected direction and an expected speed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical and timing performance targets represent an expected timing that the racquet is to be moved through the performance targets and the step of monitoring the motion of the racquet in relationship to the performance targets comprises detecting if the racquet moves through the performance target at the expected timing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the action of transmitting to a performance window of a user device video content associated with the particular skill including physical and timing performance targets that a participant is expected to meet by moving a racquet further comprises transmitting an indicia that identifies the expected timing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the action of transmitting to a performance window of a user device video content associated with the particular skill including physical and timing performance targets that a participant is expected to meet by moving a racquet further comprises transmitting an indicia that identifies the expected timing by modifying the visual presentation of the indicia such that the visual presentation of the indicia coincides with the expected timing. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the action of modifying the visual presentation of the indicia such that the visual presentation of the indicia coincides with the expected timing comprises changing the color or the intensity of the indicia. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the indicia simulates a moving object that is to be hit by the racquet and the action of modifying the visual presentation of the indicia such that the visual presentation of the indicia coincides with the expected timing comprises moving the object across the display into a target zone that represents the location that the racquet is to hit the object. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the racquet includes a receiver and a haptic feedback generator and the server transmits a signal to the racquet to provide haptic feedback of the racquet striking or missing the object. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the racquet includes visual site located on the face of the racquet, and the step of monitoring the motion of the racquet in relationship to the performance targets comprises detecting the visual site of the racquet. 
     
     
         12 . A system for remote training, comprising:
 a server including a processor and a memory element communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory element including instructions defining a server application;   a user device communicatively coupled to a camera, a display device and a speaker, further, the user device including a processor and a memory element, the memory element of the user device including instructions defining a user device application;   when executed on the server, the server application is configured to launch a particular training program;   in response to launching the particular training program, the server application is configured to:
 (a) sequentially select a current training module from the particular training program; 
 (b) transmit to a training window of the user device video content of an instructor demonstrating the particular skill of the training module for a particular time period; 
 (c) subsequent to the particular time period, transmitting to a performance window of a user device video content associated with the particular skill including physical and timing performance targets that a participant is expected to meet by moving a racquet, overlaid with a video feed of the participant performing the particular skill with the racquet; 
 (e) monitoring the motion of the racquet in relationship to the performance targets by collecting motion data that represents the participant performing the particular skill with the racquet; 
 (f) analyzing the motion data to create a results report. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the physical and timing performance targets represent an expected direction that the racquet is to be moved and the system monitors the motion of the racquet in relationship to the performance targets by detecting if the racquet moves in the expected direction. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein physical and timing performance targets further comprise an indicia that identifies the expected direction of the racquet. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the indicia identifies the expected direction and an expected speed of the racquet. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the physical and timing performance targets further comprise an indicia that identifies an expected timing for moving the racquet. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the indicia that identifies the expected timing is modified by the system to provide a visual presentation of the indicia such that the visual presentation of the indicia coincides with the expected timing. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein system modifies the visual presentation of the indicia such that the visual presentation of the indicia coincides with the expected timing by changing the color or the intensity of the indicia. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein system simulates a moving object that is to be hit by the racquet and moves the object across the display into a target zone that represents the location that the racquet is to hit the object, and wherein the racquet includes a receiver and a haptic feedback generator and the system transmits a signal to the racquet to provide haptic feedback if the racquet hits or misses the object in the target zone. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the racquet includes visual site located on the face of the racquet, and the system monitors the motion of the racquet in relationship to the performance targets by detecting the visual site of the racquet.