System, apparatus, and method for monitoring athletic or exercise performance

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to monitor athletic performance. In some embodiments, one or more control circuits and sensors are used to analyze performance as it compares to music tempo that is played during an exercise session or class, which may be done both directly and/or indirectly. In one embodiment, athletic performance during an exercise period is monitored and compared to the tempos of music played, where the music tempo is identified by one of measuring the actual tempo of the music played and/or obtaining the tempo from a database or otherwise associating the selection(s) played with an identified tempo of the music itself. In another embodiment, the music tempo is indirectly identified or analyzed, such as by analyzing the performance or cadence of a group of exercisers and comparing the performance parameters sensed to obtain a benchmark tempo from which to compare individual users.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for evaluating athletic performance during an exercise period, the device comprising:
 a memory storing a plurality of files, wherein a first portion of at least one of the files is associated with a first portion of the exercise period;   an input/output interface configured to receive performance data measured at an exercise station and to store the received performance data in the memory;   a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:   calculate a target parameter for the first portion of the exercise period based on a tempo of the first portion of the file;   compare the performance data received from the exercise station with the target parameter; and   determine, based on the comparison, a performance metric of the exercise station, wherein the performance metric corresponds to a percentage difference between the calculated target parameter and the performance data received from the exercise station.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of files is an audio file. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the input/output interface is communicably coupled to a plurality of sensors associated with a plurality of exercise stations. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the input/output interface is configured to receive performance data measured by the plurality of sensors at the plurality of exercise stations. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify an upper threshold parameter value and a lower threshold parameter value based at least in part on a data set including the performance data measured at the plurality of exercise stations during the first portion of the exercise period, and   calculate an expected parameter for the first portion of the exercise period based on the upper and lower threshold parameter values.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 calculate the target parameter for the first portion of the exercise period based on the expected parameter.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the performance metric includes an on-beat match based on one or more tempos of one or more selections played during the exercise period. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the performance data is received from one or more sensors operably coupled to the exercise station. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the exercise station includes at least one of a stationary bike, a rowing machine, an elliptical machine, and a treadmill. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the performance metric corresponds to an error rate defined as a percentage difference between the target parameter and the pedal cadence. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to display, at the end of the exercise period, a performance summary on a display unit, the performance summary including the performance metric. 
     
     
         12 . A method of evaluating athletic performance, the method comprising:
 executing an audio file during an exercise period, the audio file being associated with at least one tempo;   measuring a performance parameter associated with an exercise station during the exercise period, wherein the exercise station comprises a pair of pedals, and wherein the performance parameter is a pedal cadence;   calculating a target parameter based at least in part on the tempo of the audio file being played;   comparing the target parameter to the measured performance parameter; calculating a performance metric based at least in part on the comparison between the target parameter and the measured performance parameter;   communicating, at the end of the exercise period, a performance summary to a display unit, the performance summary including the performance metric.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the exercise station further comprises a flywheel, and wherein the performance parameter further includes one or more of a rotational speed of the flywheel and a power output. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the performance metric corresponds to an error rate defined as a percentage difference between the target parameter and the pedal cadence. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further including recommending one or more audio files to a user of the exercise station based at least in part on the performance metric. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the exercise station is a stationary bike, and the performance summary further includes one or more of average revolutions-per-minute during the exercise period, distance ridden during the exercise period, and power generated during the exercise period. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further including measuring a plurality of performance parameters associated with a plurality of exercise stations during the exercise period. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the calculating the target parameter is further based on the plurality of performance parameters measured at the plurality of exercise stations. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the display unit is an electronic user device associated with a user of the exercise station. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining an on-beat match based on a comparison between the measured performance parameter and one or more tempos of one or more selections played during the exercise period.