Body Worn Sensor Systems and Methods for Monitoring Exercise Activities

Abstract

Systems and methods monitoring an exercise program are disclosed. The systems include a plurality of body worn sensors. User motion information corresponding to motion of the body worn sensors is tracked during the performance of exercises by a user. The user motion information is compared to target motion information corresponding to performance of the exercises with good form. Feedback may be provided in real-time or afterwards based on differences between the user motion information to assist a user in tracking and improving the user's performance of the exercises.

1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of monitoring an exercise program, the method comprising:
 recording target motion information for an exercise, wherein the target motion information corresponds to desired motion of at least two body worn sensors during a performance of the exercise, and wherein the target motion information includes:
 first sensor target motion information corresponding to a first body worn sensor of the at least two body worn sensors; and 
 second sensor target motion information corresponding to a second body worn sensor of the at least two body worn sensors; 
   receiving sensor motion data corresponding to at least the first body worn sensor and the second body worn sensor, wherein the sensor motion data corresponds to actual motion of the user during performance of the exercise, and wherein the sensor motion data includes:
 first sensor motion data corresponding to the first body worn sensor; 
 second sensor motion data corresponding to the second body worn sensor; 
   comparing the sensor motion data to the target motion information, wherein comparing includes:
 comparing the first sensor motion data to the first sensor target motion information; and 
 comparing the second sensor motion data to the second sensor target motion information; 
   providing feedback based on the comparison.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein providing feedback includes providing haptic feedback during performance of the exercise. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein providing feedback includes providing audio feedback during performance of the exercise. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the target motion information includes, for each of at least the first sensor and the second sensor:
 sensor initial position information corresponding to a target initial position for the sensor during performance of the exercise; and 
 end position information corresponding to a target end position for the sensor during performance of the exercise. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the target motion information further includes, for each of at least the first sensor and the second sensor:
 sensor forward path information corresponding to motion of the sensor from the target initial position for the sensor to the target end position for the sensor during performance of the exercise; and 
 sensor return path information corresponding to motion of the sensor from the target end position for the sensor to the target initial position for the sensor during performance of the exercise. 
 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of monitoring an exercise activity, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a control module, sensor motion information from each of a plurality of body worn sensors;   comparing the user motion information from each of the sensors with target motion information corresponding to each of the body worn sensors,   providing feedback based on results of the comparison corresponding to at least two of the body worn sensors.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the target motion information corresponding to each sensor includes:
 initial position information corresponding to a target initial position for the sensor; and 
 end position information corresponding to a target end position for the sensor. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the target motion information corresponding to each of at least some of the sensors includes:
 target initial position information corresponding to a target initial position for the sensor; 
 target end position information corresponding to a target end position for the sensor; and 
 a target motion information corresponding to a target path of motion for the sensor from the target initial position to the target end position. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the target motion information corresponding to at least some of the sensors includes, for each such sensor, and for each of one or more activities:
 target initial position information corresponding to a target initial position for the sensor; 
 target end position information corresponding to a target end position for the sensor; 
 target forward motion path information corresponding to a target forward path of motion for the sensor from the target initial position to the target end position; and 
 target return motion path information corresponding to a target return path of motion for the sensor from the target end position to the target initial position. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method of recording target motion information for an activity, the target motion information corresponding to a plurality of sensors, the method comprising:
 for each sensor:
 receiving, at a sensor hub, first sensor position data corresponding to an initial position of the sensor during the activity, and recording target initial position information corresponding to the first sensor position data; 
 receiving at the sensor hub, second sensor position data correspond to an end position of the sensor during the activity, and recording target end position information corresponding to the second sensor position data. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 for each of at least one of the sensors:
 receiving, at the sensor hub, first sensor motion data corresponding to movement of the sensor from the initial position of the sensor to the end position of the sensor during the activity, and recording forward motion path information corresponding to the first sensor motion data. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 for each of at least one of the sensors:
 receiving, at the sensor hub, first sensor motion data corresponding to movement of the sensor from the initial position of the sensor to the end position of the sensor during the activity, and recording forward motion path information corresponding to the first sensor motion data; 
 receiving, at the sensor hub, second sensor motion data corresponding to movement of the sensor from the end position of the sensor to the initial position of the sensor during the activity, and recording return motion path information corresponding to the second sensor motion data. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, for each of at least one of the sensors, the target initial position information includes initial position tolerance information. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, for each of at least one of the sensors, the target end position information includes end position tolerance information. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, for each of at least one of the sensors, the target forward motion path information includes target forward motion tolerance information. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, for each of at least one of the sensors, the target forward motion path information includes target forward motion time information. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, for each of at least one of the sensors, the target return motion path information includes target return motion tolerance information. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, for each of at least one of the sensors, the target return motion path information includes target return motion time information.