Automated Personal Exercise Regimen Tracking Apparatus

Abstract

A computer implemented method and apparatus for automated personal rep-counting and exercise orchestration. A portable computing device is programmed to access a preplanned exercise regimen for a user, the regimen including a series of differing exercise activity sets, each exercise activity set including a prescribed exercise repetition count for a prescribed exercise type. An exemplary embodiment monitors a user's progress through an exercise regimen by automatically counting exercise repetitions, instructing the user to progress to the next exercise activity set in the exercise regimen when a required repetition count is complete for a current exercise activity set. A sensor unit, typically in wireless communication with the portable computing device, is selectively attached to a user body part or a dynamic exercise equipment element thereby allowing the portable computing device to count of repetitions of the particular exercise activity. In some embodiments the wireless sensor unit affixes magnetically for easy selective attachment.

1 . A computer implemented method for orchestrating an exercise regimen using a portable computing device, the method comprising:
 accessing an exercise regimen from a datastore, the exercise regimen comprising a plurality of stationary exercise activity sets, each of the plurality of stationary exercise activity sets including a prescribed exercise type and a prescribed number of exercise repetitions to be performed by a user of the prescribed exercise type;   automatically selecting a stationary exercise activity set from the accessed exercise regimen;   prompting the user to perform the selected exercise activity set via a user interface associated with the portable computing device;   receiving time varying motion signals from at least one acceleration sensor in dependence on the user performing the selected exercise activity set;   determining each of a plurality of exercise repetition events from the received motion signals;   determining a cumulative repetition count for the selected exercise activity set from the determined exercise repetition events;   storing exercise performance data for the selected exercise activity set, the performance data including at least one time value associated with each of a plurality of determined exercise repetition events; and   notifying the user via the user interface when the determined cumulative repetition count has achieved the prescribed number of exercise repetitions for the selected exercise activity.   
   
   
       2 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1  wherein the stored performance data further includes at least one power value associated with each of a plurality of determined exercise repetitions events of the selected exercise activity set. 
   
   
       3 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1  further comprises prompting the user via the user interface as to a prescribed weight level to be used during the selected exercise activity set. 
   
   
       4 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1  further comprising sequentially selecting another stationary exercise activity set from the exercise regimen upon completion or deferral of the selected exercise activity set. 
   
   
       5 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of exercise activity sets further comprises a prescribed rest period value. 
   
   
       6 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 5  further comprising prompting the user when a predefined rest period has expired or is about to expire. 
   
   
       7 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1  further comprising automatically modifying an exercise regimen in dependence on the stored exercise performance data. 
   
   
       8 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 4  further comprising receiving a user input representing a deferral of the sequentially selected exercise activity set. 
   
   
       9 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 8  further comprising recording an indicia representing that the sequentially selected exercise activity set was deferred. 
   
   
       10 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 8  further comprising prompting the user to perform the deferred exercise activity set at a later time. 
   
   
       11 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1  further comprising outputting to the user interface, a graphical representation of the user's completed exercise activity set, the graphical representation including a plot of exercise repetition events versus time. 
   
   
       12 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 2  further comprising outputting a graphical representation of the user's completed exercise activity set, the graphical representation including a plot of power output values versus repetition count. 
   
   
       13 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of stationary exercise activity sets further comprises a group identifier. 
   
   
       14 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 13  wherein each exercise activity set that targets a common muscle group is assigned a common group identifier. 
   
   
       15 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 13  wherein each exercise activity set that uses the same piece of exercise equipment is assigned a common group identifier. 
   
   
       16 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 2  further comprising determining a deceleration metric for the exercise repetition events preformed by the user during the selected exercise activity set. 
   
   
       17 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1  further comprising prompting the user via the user interface as to which body part the acceleration sensor should be affixed to for the selected exercise activity set. 
   
   
       18 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 17  wherein the acceleration sensor is affixed to the wrist of the user. 
   
   
       19 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1  wherein each of a plurality of sequential exercise activity sets is associated with the same prescribed exercise type. 
   
   
       20 . A portable computing device for orchestrating an exercise regimen comprising:
 a processor;   a user interface coupled to the processor for receiving user inputs and outputting exercise information to a user;   an acceleration sensor coupled to the processor, the acceleration sensor generating time dependent motion signals in response to the user's performance of stationary exercise activities;   a computer readable storage medium comprising a datastore coupled to the processor comprising having programmatic instructions stored therein which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;   access an exercise regimen from the datastore, the exercise regimen including a plurality of stationary exercise activity sets, each of the plurality of stationary exercise activity sets including a prescribed exercise type and a prescribed number of exercise repetitions to be performed by the user of the prescribed exercise type;   automatically select a stationary exercise activity set from the accessed exercise regimen;   prompt the user to perform the selected exercise activity via the user interface;   receive time varying motion signals from the acceleration sensor in dependence on the user performing the selected exercise activity set;   determine each of a plurality of exercise repetition events from the received motion signals;   determine a cumulative repetition count for the selected exercise activity set from the determined exercise repetition events;   store exercise performance data in the datastore for the selected exercise activity set, the stored performance data including at least one time value associated with each of a plurality of determined exercise repetition events; and   notify the user via the user interface when the determined cumulative repetition count has achieved the prescribed number of exercise repetitions for the selected exercise activity.   
   
   
       21 . The portable computing device according to  claim 20  wherein the stored exercise performance data further comprises at least one power value associated with each of a plurality of determined exercise repetitions events of the selected exercise activity set. 
   
   
       22 . The portable computing device according to  claim 20  further comprising programmatic instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to prompt the user via the user interface with a prescribed weight level to be used during the selected exercise activity set. 
   
   
       23 . The portable computing device according to  claim 20  further comprising programmatic instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to sequentially select another stationary exercise activity set from the exercise regimen upon completion or deferral of the selected exercise activity set. 
   
   
       24 . The portable computing device according to  claim 20  wherein each of the plurality of exercise activity sets further comprises a prescribed rest period value. 
   
   
       25 . The portable computing device according to  claim 24  further comprising programmatic instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to prompt the user via the user interface when a predefined rest period has expired or is about to expire. 
   
   
       26 . The portable computing device according to  claim 20  further comprising programmatic instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to automatically modify an exercise regimen in dependence on the stored exercise performance data. 
   
   
       27 . The portable computing device according to  claim 23  further comprising programmatic instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to receive a user input representing a deferral of the sequentially selected exercise activity set. 
   
   
       28 . The portable computing device according to  claim 27  further comprising programmatic instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to store an indicia in the datastore representing that the sequentially selected exercise activity was deferred. 
   
   
       29 . The portable computing device according to  claim 27  further comprising programmatic instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to prompt the user to perform the deferred exercise activity set at a later time. 
   
   
       30 . The portable computing device according to  claim 20  further comprising programmatic instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to output to the user interface, a graphical representation of the user's completed exercise activity set, the graphical representation comprising a plot of exercise repetition events versus time. 
   
   
       31 . The portable computing device according to  claim 20  further comprising programmatic instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to output a graphical representation of the user's completed exercise activity set, the graphical representation comprising a plot of power output versus repetition count. 
   
   
       32 . The portable computing device according to  claim 20  wherein each of the plurality of stationary exercise activity sets further comprises a group identifier. 
   
   
       33 . The portable computing device according to  claim 32  wherein each exercise activity set that targets a common muscle group is assigned a common group identifier. 
   
   
       34 . The portable computing device according to  claim 32  wherein each exercise activity set that uses common exercise equipment is assigned a common group identifier. 
   
   
       35 . The portable computing device according to  claim 20  further comprising programmatic instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to determine a deceleration metric for the exercise repetition events preformed by the user during the selected exercise activity set. 
   
   
       36 . The portable computing device according to  claim 20  further comprising programmatic instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to prompt the user via the user interface with a body part in which the acceleration sensor is to be affixed for the selected exercise activity. 
   
   
       37 . The portable computing device according to  claim 36  wherein the acceleration sensor is affixed to the wrist of the user. 
   
   
       38 . The portable computing device according to  claim 20  wherein each of a plurality of sequential exercise activity sets is associated with a common prescribed exercise type. 
   
   
       39 . A portable computing system for orchestrating an exercise regimen comprising:
 a wireless sensor unit, the wireless sensor unit including an motion sensor and a wireless communication link; the motion sensor configured to generate time dependent motion signals in response to a user's performance of stationary exercise activities;   a portable computer comprising a processor, a user interface, a wireless communication link for receiving signals from the wireless sensor unit;   a computer readable storage medium comprising a datastore coupled to the processor comprising having programmatic instructions stored therein which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;   access an exercise regimen from the datastore, the exercise regimen including a plurality of stationary exercise activity sets, each of the plurality of stationary exercise activity sets including a prescribed exercise type and a prescribed number of exercise repetitions to be performed by a user of the prescribed exercise type;   select a stationary exercise activity set from the accessed exercise regimen;   prompt the user to perform the selected exercise activity set via the user interface;   receive signals from the wireless sensor unit in dependence on the user performing the selected exercise activity set;   identify each of a plurality of exercise repetition events from the received signals;   determine a cumulative repetition count for the selected exercise activity set from the identified exercise repetition events;   store exercise performance data for the selected exercise activity set in the datastore, the stored performance data including at least one time value associated with each of a plurality of identified exercise repetition events; and   notify the user via the user interface when the determined cumulative repetition count has achieved the prescribed number of exercise repetitions for the selected exercise activity set.   
   
   
       40 . The portable computing system according to  claim 39  wherein the wireless sensor unit is worn on a wrist of the user.