Fitness and Wellness System with Dynamically Adjusting Guidance

Abstract

A system is provided that provides guidance (e.g., audio content) to a user while exercising. This audio content is tailored to the particular user and is aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the exercising. In some cases, the audio content conveyed to the user can be based on one or more sensors providing various metrics (e.g., heart rate, cadence, breathing rate, galvanic skin response, temperature etc.) regarding the real-time performance of the user. In some cases, the guidance to a user may be downloaded dynamically to the device by a specialized server or wireless connection. In addition, the guidance can be dynamically adjusted based on a variety of factors including data obtained from the sensors. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a portable device having a data processor and a memory, the memory storing data for access and processing by the data processor, the data comprising a training plan, the training plan specifying at least one workout, each of the least one workout specifying at least one physical exercise and performance parameters associated with the at least one physical exercise, the portable device being configured to be worn by a user during the at least one physical exercise specified by the at least one workout;   one or more sensors worn by the user and in communication with the portable device, each of the one or more sensors sensing performance data about the user during the at least one physical exercise in relation to the performance parameters associated with the at least one physical exercise, the performance data characterizing at least one of a physiological measurement of the user, a position of the user, and an environment of the user, the one or more sensors transmitting the performance data to the portable device for processing by the data processor to determine guidance data associated with the training plan; and   an audio feedback device configured to be worn by the user, the audio feedback device receiving performance feedback from the portable device and providing training content audio to the user that is generated by the portable device, the training content audio being based in part on the performance data sensed by the one or more sensors and comprising guidance audio for the user based on the guidance data to invoke the user to adjust the at least one physical exercise specified by the at least one workout.   
     
     
         2 . The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the portable device includes a media player for providing entertainment audio to the user via the audio feedback device. 
     
     
         3 . The system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the guidance audio is overlaid with the entertainment audio by the data processor and provided to the user via the audio feedback device. 
     
     
         4 . The system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the guidance audio is interposed in time with a halt of the entertainment audio. 
     
     
         5 . The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the audio feedback device includes headphones. 
     
     
         6 . The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         7 . The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is a music player. 
     
     
         8 . The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are in wireless communication with the portable device. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 one or more sensors for being worn by a user, each of the one or more sensors sensing performance data about the user during at least one physical exercise specified by at least one workout that is specified by a training plan stored in a memory, the performance data characterizing at least one of a physiological measurement of the user, a position of the user, and an environment of the user, the performance data being related to performance parameters associated with the at least one physical exercise;   a portable device being configured to be worn by a user during the at least one physical exercise specified by the at least one workout, the portable device having a data processor in communication with the memory, the memory storing data for access and processing by the data processor, the data comprising the training plan and the performance parameters associated with the at least one physical exercise, the portable device being in communication with the one or more sensors to receive the performance data related to the at least one physical exercise being executed by the user, the data processor using the performance data to determine guidance data associated with the training plan and to generate training content audio based on the guidance data; and   an audio feedback device configured to be worn by the user, the audio feedback device receiving audio signals from the portable device and providing the training content audio to the user, the training content audio being based in part on the performance data sensed by the one or more sensors and comprising guidance audio for the user based on the guidance data to invoke the user to adjust the at least one physical exercise specified by the at least one workout.   
     
     
         10 . The system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the portable device includes a media player for providing entertainment audio to the user via the audio feedback device. 
     
     
         11 . The system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the entertainment audio is selected from the group of entertainment audio that consists of: music, a digital audio book. 
     
     
         12 . The system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the guidance audio is overlaid with the entertainment audio by the data processor and provided to the user via the audio feedback device. 
     
     
         13 . The system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the guidance audio is interposed in time with a halt of the entertainment audio. 
     
     
         16 . The system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the audio feedback device includes headphones. 
     
     
         17 . The system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the portable device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         18 . The system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the portable device is a music player. 
     
     
         19 . The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are in wireless communication with the portable device. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a portable device having a data processor and a memory, the memory storing data for access and processing by the data processor, the data comprising one or more music files and a training plan, the training plan specifying at least one workout, each of the least one workout specifying at least one physical exercise and performance parameters associated with the at least one physical exercise, the portable device being configured to be worn by a user during the at least one physical exercise specified by the at least one workout;   one or more sensors worn by the user and in communication with the portable device, each of the one or more sensors sensing performance data about the user during the at least one physical exercise in relation to the performance parameters associated with the at least one physical exercise, the performance data characterizing at least one of a physiological measurement of the user, a position of the user, and an environment of the user, the one or more sensors transmitting the performance data to the portable device for processing by the data processor to determine guidance data associated with the training plan; and   an audio feedback device configured to be worn by the user, the audio feedback device providing audio signals representing the one or more music files, the audio feedback device further receiving performance feedback from the portable device and providing training content audio to the user in combination with the audio signals representing the one or more music files, the training content audio being based in part on the performance data sensed by the one or more sensors and comprising guidance audio for the user based on the guidance data to invoke the user to adjust the at least one physical exercise specified by the at least one workout.