Impact-sensing and measurement systems, methods for using same and related business methods

Abstract

Impact-sensing and measurement systems are disclosed, especially for use in contact sports and related activities that involve exchanges of impacts or blows. The system generally includes at least one impact sensor, a controller, and a feedback device. The controller is in communication with the at least one impact sensor, and includes a microprocessor having a control program software executed thereon at least for processing data from the at least one impact sensor. The feedback device is in communication with the controller and is configured to produce an audio or video output, or combined audio and visual output, based on impact data produced by the impact sensor upon sensing an impact and processed by the first controller. The controller can be programmed to provide specialized training regimens and/or interactive training programs, such as over a computer network.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . A management controller for executing a workout program, comprising: 
 at least one port, configured to communicate with at least one impact-sensor module;    at least one memory, configured to store a workout program; and    a microprocessor configured to i) execute the workout program, ii) cause a user to be given instructions on how to perform a workout, as directed by execution of the workout program, iii) request impact data from the at least one impact-sensor module, via the at least one port, as directed by execution of the workout program, and iv) process the impact data as directed by the workout program.    
   
   
       3 . The management controller of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory comprises a Multimedia Card (MMC) flash memory that stores the workout program.  
   
   
       4 . The management controller of  claim 2 , wherein the memory is configured to store different workout programs.  
   
   
       5 . The management controller of  claim 2 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured to cause a feedback device to provide feedback to the user, the feedback being based on the processed impact data.  
   
   
       6 . The management controller of  claim 5 , further comprising a screen, wherein the screen is the feedback device.  
   
   
       7 . The management controller of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory is further configured to store an individual stored program profile of the user, and wherein the microprocessor is further configured to cause a feedback device to provide feedback to the user, the feedback being based on the processed impact data and the individual stored program profile.  
   
   
       8 . The management controller of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one impact-sensor module comprises a plurality of impact-sensor modules, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to address and provide commands to individual ones of the plurality of impact-sensor modules, via the at least one port.  
   
   
       9 . The management controller of  claim 8 , wherein the commands are provided as directed by execution of the workout program.  
   
   
       10 . The management controller of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory is further configured to store an individual stored program profile of the user, and wherein the commands are provided based on the individual stored program profile.  
   
   
       11 . The management controller of  claim 2 , further comprising a connection that is configured to receive the workout program over a network.  
   
   
       12 . The management controller of  claim 2 , further comprising a connection that is configured to periodically receive different workout programs over a network, in accord with a subscription service to which the user has subscribed.  
   
   
       13 . A management controller for executing a workout program, comprising: 
 at least one port, configured to communicate with a plurality of impact-sensor modules;    at least one memory, configured to store a workout program; and    a microprocessor configured to i) execute the workout program, ii) address and request impact data from individual ones of the plurality of impact-sensor modules, via the at least one port, as directed by execution of the workout program, and iii) process the impact data received from the individual ones of the plurality of impact-sensor modules, as directed by the workout program.    
   
   
       14 . The management controller of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory comprises a Multimedia Card (MMC) flash memory that stores the workout program.  
   
   
       15 . The management controller of  claim 13 , wherein the memory is configured to store different workout programs.  
   
   
       16 . The management controller of  claim 13 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured to cause a feedback device to provide feedback to the user, the feedback being based on the processed impact data.  
   
   
       17 . The management controller of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory is further configured to store an individual stored program profile of the user, and wherein the microprocessor is further configured to cause a feedback device to provide feedback to the user, the feedback being based on the processed impact data and the individual stored program profile.  
   
   
       18 . The management controller of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory is further configured to store an individual stored program profile of the user, and wherein the individual ones of the plurality of impact-sensor modules are addressed based on the individual stored program profile.  
   
   
       19 . The management controller of  claim 13 , further comprising a connection that is configured to receive the workout program over a network.  
   
   
       20 . The management controller of  claim 13 , further comprising a connection that is configured to periodically receive different workout programs over a network, in accord with a subscription service to which the user has subscribed.  
   
   
       21 . A management controller for executing a workout program, comprising: 
 at least one port, configured to communicate with at least one impact-sensor module;    at least one memory, configured to store a workout program; and    a microprocessor configured to i) execute the workout program, ii) receive impact data from the at least one impact-sensor module, via the at least one port, iii) process the impact data as directed by the workout program, and iv) cause a feedback device to provide feedback to a user, the feedback being based on the processed impact data, and the feedback including a suggestion on how to better hit a target coupled to the at least one impact-sensor module.    
   
   
       22 . The management controller of  claim 21 , wherein the memory is configured to store different workout programs.  
   
   
       23 . The management controller of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one memory is further configured to store an individual stored program profile of the user, and wherein the microprocessor is further configured to cause the feedback device to provide the feedback to the user based on the individual stored program profile.  
   
   
       24 . The management controller of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one impact-sensor module comprises a plurality of impact-sensor modules, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to address and provide commands to individual ones of the plurality of impact-sensor modules, via the at least one port.  
   
   
       25 . The management controller of  claim 24 , wherein the commands are provided as directed by execution of the workout program.  
   
   
       26 . The management controller of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one memory is further configured to store an individual stored program profile of the user, and wherein the commands are provided based on the individual stored program profile.  
   
   
       27 . The management controller of  claim 21 , further comprising a connection that is configured to receive the workout program over a network.  
   
   
       28 . The management controller of  claim 21 , further comprising a connection that is configured to periodically receive different workout programs over a network, in accord with a subscription service to which the user has subscribed.