Flexible meter music system and method

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed and described for changing the meter of songs being played on a replay device. This system and method may be implemented in a replay device, such as a MP3 player, for use by an exerciser so that the exerciser may maintain a predetermined pace during an exercise period based on the meter of the songs being played. The system and method also provide an ability to vary the pace during the exercise period to maintain a physiological condition at a substantially constant level

1 . A method for adjusting the meter of music for replay on a music replay device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) inputting user information to a calculating subsystem according to the substeps of, 
 (1) inputting user activity speed,  
 (2) inputting activity distance,  
 (3) inputting measured user parameter,  
 (4) inputting user activity time,  
 (5) inputting a meter range percentage,  
 (6) calculating activity pace according to a combination that includes a value input at (a)(3) and at least two values input at substeps (a)(1), (2) or (4),  
 (7) calculating a meter range based on the pace calculated at substep (a)(6) and the meter range percentage input at substep (a)(5); and  
   (b) replaying music on the replay device selected based on the pace calculated at substep (a)(6) according to the substeps of, 
 (1) selecting music from a music storage subsystem for replay that has a predominant meter that is within the meter range calculated at substep (a)(7),  
 (2) adjusting the meter of selected music to substantially match the meter of the activity pace calculated at substep (a)(5);  
 (3) replaying selected music during the activity time at adjusted meter according to substep (b)(2), and  
 (4) replaying selected and adjusted music for the activity time.  
   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the calculating subsystem in internal to the replay device.  
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the calculating subsystem is external to the replay device and includes a computer with the capability of downloading the information input at substeps (a)(1)-(5) and calculated at substeps (a)(6) and (7) to the replay device.  
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the method will select and replay music from the storage subsystem until either the end of the activity time or all of the music in the storage subsystem that meets the requirements of substeps (b)(1)-(3) have been selected once, and if all of such music has been selected before the end of the activity time, repeat selecting music from the storage subsystem until the end of the activity time.  
   
   
       5 . A method for adjusting the meter of music for replay on a music replay device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) inputting user information to a calculating subsystem according to the substeps of, 
 (1) inputting an initial user activity speed,  
 (2) inputting activity distance,  
 (3) inputting measured user parameter,  
 (4) inputting user activity time,  
 (5) inputting a meter range percentage,  
 (6) calculating an initial activity pace according to a combination that includes a value input at (a)(3) and at least two values input at substeps (a)(l), (2) or (4),  
 (7) calculating an initial meter range based on the initial pace calculated at substep (a)(6) and the initial meter range percentage input at substep (a)(5);  
   (b) initially replaying music on the replay device selected based on the initial pace calculated at substep (a)(6) according to the substeps of, 
 (1) selecting music from a music storage subsystem for replay that has a predominant meter that is within the meter range calculated at substep (a)(7),  
 (2) adjusting the meter of selected music to substantially match the meter of the initial activity pace calculated at substep (a)(5);  
 (3) replaying selected music during the activity time at adjusted meter according to substep (b)(2), and  
 (4) replaying selected and adjusted music during the activity time until a triggering condition is met to cause variable control of pace base on measurement of at least one physiological condition of the user, and  
   (c) transmitting a signal indicative of measurement of the physiological condition from a measurement device to an exercise device that is capable of adjusting at least its operation speed to maintain the measured physiological condition at a substantially predetermined level;    (d) calculating at the exercise device at the predetermined interval a pace based on the measured physiological condition;    (e) transmitting a signal from the exercise device at the predetermined interval to the replay device indicative of the pace calculated at step (d); and    (f) replaying music on the replay device selected based on the signal indicative of the pace transmitted at step (e) according to the substeps of, 
 (1) calculating a new meter range based on the pace transmitted at step (e) and the initial meter range percentage input at substep (a)(5);  
 (2) selecting music from a music storage subsystem for replay that has a predominant meter that is within the meter range calculated at substep (f)(1),  
 (3) adjusting the meter of selected music to substantially match the meter of the pace transmitted at step (e), and  
 (4) replaying selected music during the activity time at adjusted meter according to substep (f)(2) or the signal transmitted at step (e) has a pace value different from a pace currently being used to select music for replay, and if the pace is different then repeating substeps (f)(1)-(4) for the new pace.  
   
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the calculating subsystem in internal to the replay device.  
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the calculating subsystem is external to the replay device and includes a computer with the capability of downloading the information input at substeps (a)(1)-(5) and calculated at substeps (a)(6) and (7) to the replay device.  
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the method will select and replay music from the storage subsystem until either the end of the activity time or all of the music in the storage subsystem that meets the requirements of substeps (b)(1)-(3) or (f)(2)-(4) have been selected once, and if all of such music has been selected before the end of the activity time, repeat selecting music from the storage subsystem until the end of the activity time.  
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein triggering event includes reaching an exercise goal.  
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the exercise goal includes a predetermined measured physiological condition.  
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the physiological condition includes the cardiac hear rate.