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WO2023017293A1 - Method for an interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time using a mobile phone application - Google Patents

Method for an interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time using a mobile phone application Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023017293A1
WO2023017293A1 PCT/IB2021/057320 IB2021057320W WO2023017293A1 WO 2023017293 A1 WO2023017293 A1 WO 2023017293A1 IB 2021057320 W IB2021057320 W IB 2021057320W WO 2023017293 A1 WO2023017293 A1 WO 2023017293A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mobile phone
exercises
time
recording
real
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/IB2021/057320
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Nemanja IVANOVIĆ
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to PCT/IB2021/057320 priority Critical patent/WO2023017293A1/en
Publication of WO2023017293A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023017293A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/02—Services making use of location information
    • H04W4/029—Location-based management or tracking services
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/103—Measuring devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/11—Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb
    • A61B5/1112—Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/48—Other medical applications
    • A61B5/4833—Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
    • A61B5/6887—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
    • A61B5/6898—Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C1/00—Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people
    • G07C1/22—Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people in connection with sports or games
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
    • H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/60—Context-dependent security
    • H04W12/65—Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/60—Context-dependent security
    • H04W12/69—Identity-dependent
    • H04W12/77—Graphical identity
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/26—Devices for calling a subscriber
    • H04M1/27—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
    • H04M1/274—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc
    • H04M1/2745—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
    • H04M1/2753—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips providing data content
    • H04M1/2755—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips providing data content by optical scanning

Definitions

  • the invention refers to a method of registering, processing, distribution, and using that data through hardware and software and can be classified as a computer-implemented invention (Cl I).
  • the invention provides an interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time in a sports competition, including fitness competition.
  • the invention allows people worldwide to compete at the exact same time, regardless of the time zone, overcoming any physical distances, need for travelling, providing accommodation or financial obstacles, regardless of whetherthey access a referent fitness competition and compete from a small place in their garage or from a top-class fitness gym.
  • This invention allows all people who love fitness and live fitness as a lifestyle, to just with a simple use of a mobile application and a mobile device and with an assistance of a friend or any other person, access to a fitness competition organized anywhere in the world, and to compete side by side with a fellow athlete.
  • the substance of the invention is in a known but never applied principle of competition in realtime, embodied in an innovative and complex computer-implemented method, enabling the organization and conducting of large-scale fitness competitions regardless of the number of competitors and their actual physical presence.
  • the invention comprises and uses a specially designed software solution in the embodiment of a mobile phone application with functions that enable electronic measuring and tracking of the performance of exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time.
  • the invention comprises and uses hardware and software of an apparatus on which the mobile phone application is run and a computer network comprising hardware and software forming a single general inventive concept.
  • mapping function which in combination and interaction with other elements of the system provides the means of electronic recording of repetitions of exercises, control of that recording, and enables ranking of contestants in real-time.
  • the invention enables protection against any technical modification or manipulation over a video recording with the performed exercises. It provides functional credibility of the video recording of the performed exercises against the actual time and content captured by the recording device to enable a transparent, precise, and accurate ranking of contestants in the fitness sports competition.
  • the general requirement for any fitness competition is uploading the video recording with recorded exercises on a limited time scale. Variations in the quality of the video recording and, therefore, the size of those files affects the general requirements regarding the capacity and operability of a server network and a database that usually process this data. That substantially affects the operability of the server network in terms of flow and loading of the files onto the network.
  • the number of requests for uploading the video recordings in a defined time scale is in direct proportion to the actual number of contestants in the specific competition, which can vary from 10 to a few hundred or even to a few thousand.
  • the invention mitigates the issue of computer network congestion and a poor load of data on the server that processes, distributes and stores the video recordings, especially when a large number of contestants start uploading their videos simultaneously.
  • the invention enables a base calculation prediction of technical requirements for a computer network that is needed for the specific competition, based on the number of predicted or planned athletes/competitors, to enable an undisrupted flow of data and operability of the computer network. That prediction represents a calculation model for predicting the economic burden of competitions' organizers in terms of providing an adequate computer network for the referent competition.
  • the invention resolves the problem of physical limitations of indoor capacities or sports halls in which qualifications and fitness sports competitions are organized and conducted, as well as the problem of inability to accommodate, conduct and manage all registered competitors to qualify and compete in the referent sports competition at the same time.
  • the invention can be used and applied in all organizational phases of a sports competition (qualifications, semi-finals, finals) from any part of the world, wherein any territorial obstacle or any disadvantage that would disrupt any free flow and movement of people (e.g. natural disasters, pandemics,) is overcome.
  • the invention contributes to a decrease in the need for physical travelling to a location where competitions are organized, consequently contributes to lowering the emission of pollutants conditioned by such travelling and contributing to the preservation of the environment.
  • the invention is disclosed as the preferred embodiment with its applicability and use in fitness competitions.
  • the invention is not limited only to fitness competitions but could be applied in other types of sports competitions as well.
  • Organized fitness competitions are competitions in which athletes compete in performing fitness exercises.
  • the general concept requires the athletes to perform predefined exercises in a required time passage, in a functionally accurate way, in a required number of repetitions, with or without using sports equipment or any other objects.
  • the best rank is awarded to an athlete who meets all the requirements of a referent fitness competition.
  • fitness competitions do not necessarily require contestants to be physically present on the spot (e.g. sports hall) to be able or eligible to compete.
  • the following model represents a common model of organizing and conduction a fitness competition. This model can be considered as an example of the current state of the art.
  • An athlete who intends to compete in a fitness competition as a contestant must first register for that specific competition.
  • the forms and methods of registrations can vary.
  • registration for a fitness competition requires at least two preconditions completed: acceptance of terms and conditions of competition and filling out forms with personal records of an athlete, including but not limiting to gender, age, height, weight and similar.
  • the athlete is then provided with information about the type of fitness exercises that need to be performed, time for completing the exercises, number of repetitions, intensity, pace, deadline for sending a video material of performed exercises, and similar. After the registration process is completed, the athlete can officially be engaged in the competition as the contestant.
  • the key evidence that the contestant uses to prove that they performed exercises in a requested way is a video recording of that performance.
  • a variety of options is available for the contestant in terms of using apparatus which is suitable for creating the video recording (camera on a mobile phone, professional camera, and any other video-recording device).
  • the video recording serves to the judges of the referent competition to inspect the technical regularity of performance of the exercises. This forms one of the criteria for ranking the contestants in the competition.
  • the presented model does not provide any form or level of technical protection or validation of the authenticity of the video recording, leading to an issue of a non-performance of verification of the authenticity of the video recording itself and consequently leading to a lack of transparency and validity of the ranking of the contestants.
  • One of the problems with the present model is the quality of the video recordings.
  • variety of apparatus suitable for video recording and their technical capacities no technical conditioning or poor one because of the types of apparatus and configurational instructions of those apparatus, resulting in the possibility of the contestant to choose settings of those apparatus based on personal preferences, which can lead to a variety in quality and size of the video recordings.
  • the invention solves this problem by providing standardization of the video recording quality through a predefined range of settings (configuration) which also affects the standardization of the size of those files. This means that the same video recording for the same competition (the same requested length of the video) can be produced in different resolutions with a file size from 25MB to 1GB.
  • Variations in the quality of the video recording and, therefore, the size of those files affects the general requirements regarding the capacity and operability of a server network and database that usually process this data. That substantially affects the operability of the server network in terms of flow and loading of the files onto the network.
  • the number of requests for uploading the video recordings in a defined time scale is in direct proportion to the actual number of contestants in the specific competition, which can vary from 10 to a few hundred or even to a few thousand.
  • the invention mitigates the issue of computer network congestion and a poor load of data on the server that processes, distributes and stores the video recordings, especially when a large number of contestants start uploading their videos simultaneously.
  • the invention improves the current state of the art by solving technical and non-technical issues as disclosed in a new, inventive and industrially applicable way.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates the minimum of elements of the preferred embodiments of the invention used to perform one or more functions of the invention
  • Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 illustrate an example of the process that the preferred embodiment of the invention can carry out
  • the preferred embodiment is also referred to as "the embodiment”.
  • the embodiment reflects the use and applicability of the invention in fitness competitions.
  • the invention provides an interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time in a fitness competition.
  • Access to a competition refers to a moment in time when the following information is presented to a contestant using the mobile application; set of operations performed to enable the presentation of the referred information to the contestant; set of operations that enable the possibility of choosing at least two options by the contestant and functions that enable that choosing: to start with the competition (1.1) or to access to a list of the contestants (competitors) which are registered for the competition (1.2) presented via the interface of the mobile phone application to the contestant.
  • the referred information includes but does not limit to the name of the competition, types of exercises being requested (e.g.
  • the list of the competitors is displayed through the mobile phone application's interface in the form of a list including but not limiting to names and surnames of the competitors and their countries of origin, personal bio and similar.
  • athlete refers to a person who is registering for a competition.
  • algorithm refers to the algorithm performing the functions of the invention as disclosed.
  • consortium refers to a fitness sports competition, where any of the embodiments of the invention are being used for the interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of the contestants in real-time.
  • testant refers to an athlete registered for a competition and eligible to compete in the competition.
  • fit in the broadest sense represents a state of physical condition and human health, including mental sharpness, cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, body composition and flexibility.
  • fitness exercises represents physical exercises designed for a person, with the purpose of achieving the condition we call “fitness” and which are carried out as a part of fitness training and fitness competition.
  • Fitness exercises can be of different formats in the sense that they include performing various body movements with or without the use of sports equipment, physical objects of different dimensions, weights that can be manipulated by a person by means of lifting, pushing, transferring human strength.
  • mobile phone application refers to a specifically designed software solution with functions that enable electronic measuring and tracking of the performance of exercises, control of that measuring and tracking and ranking of contestants in real-time. The mobile phone application is primarily run on a mobile phone device, not excluding its use on other apparatus.
  • real-time refers to the unity of passage of time allocated for the performance of exercises and the performance of those exercises by a contestant in that specific time passage, where that passage of time is being recorded, excluding any possibility of repeating of that unity.
  • sports assistant refers to a user that performs tapping and assists in the process as described.
  • system refers primarily to the preferred embodiment of the invention with all its constituent elements and functionalities as disclosed herein, including the reference to other embodiments of the invention disclosed.
  • mapping function refers to a special function developed within the mobile phone application, which in combination and interaction with other elements and functionalities of the system provides the means for electronic measuring of repetitions of exercises, control of that measuring and enables ranking of contestants in real-time.
  • tapping refers to a set of actions, including interactive ones, performed in the course of registering each individually performed repetition of an exercise by a contestant in real-time with the necessary use of the tapping function, wherein each single command given for registration and measuring of that each repetition of the exercise (can be performed as by pressing a finger on a display of a device, voice command and similar) is being registered by the interface of the mobile phone application as one "tapp" representing a single repetition of the exercise and is being registered on a server in real-time and assigned to the contestant's account for ranking in real-time.
  • the term "recording device” refers to an optical apparatus that enables image and sound recording that is not necessarily embedded in other apparatus.
  • the recording device includes but not limits to a mobile phone camera.
  • the preferred embodiment discloses the use of at least two mobile phone devices, where the first mobile device is used to record a video recording (2.1), the second mobile phone device (2.2) is used for the interactive measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, the mobile phone application (2.3), a server (2.4) and a database (2.5).
  • the invention does not limit the number of mobile phone devices that can be used, as disclosed.
  • the invention does not limit the use of any other apparatus suitable for launching and using the mobile phone application in the described manner to achieve the effects of the invention (e.g. tablets).
  • the contestant accesses the competition by using the mobile phone application (2.3) that has previously been downloaded and installed on the mobile phone (2.1).
  • the mobile phone application can be accessed through an online version of the application, available on a website or a web store if the contestant does not want to download it on the mobile phone (2.1).
  • the contestant After the mobile phone application is run on the mobile phone device, the contestant has to login to a user-dashboard page of the mobile phone application providing their credentials received upon registration.
  • the contestant is presented with the user-dashboard page, including but not limited to information about the contestant, name of the competition, type of exercises that need to be performed, number of repetitions of the exercises required, start time of the competition.
  • the user is presented with at least two options (1.0): to start the competition (1.2) or to check out other competitors registered for the competition (1.1).
  • the contestant initiates the steps of the following phases.
  • the system provides information on the registered competitors to the contestant through the mobile phone application.
  • the information can be provided in various formats, including but not limited to tables.
  • the system Before the actual start of the competition, the system provides an inter-step for securing the availability of the required memory for operability, and performs optimization of the recording device.
  • the mobile phone application accesses the operating system of the mobile phone (2.1) and performs a calculation of the amount of available/free memory on the mobile phone (2.1), needed for the operability of the mobile phone application as well as the storage of the audio-visual recording of the exercises (the video recording).
  • the algorithm takes as a reference parameter time allotted for performing the exercises as disclosed in phase 1 to calculate the required portion of memory for storing the video recording.
  • the referred parameter is taken as a variable and is multiplied by a constant - 1 minute of a video recording is equivalent to 100 Mb of file size.
  • the constant represents the average value of the size required by 1 minute of high-definition image quality (HD) video.
  • HD refers to the standardized camera resolution of 720p or 1080p. Numbers 720 and 1080 refer to the horizontal resolution. Therefore, the resolution of the 720p HD camera gives images of 1280 x 720 pixels, and 1080p HD cameras provide a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels or 2.1 megapixels.
  • the HD video format also uses a 16: 9 aspect ratio (instead of 5: 4 or 4: 3), and the frame rate is standardized at 60, 50, 30, or 25 frames per second (fps -frame per second).
  • Table 1 shows the average file size in Mb for 1 minute of a video recording with an integrated camera compared to available resolution quality options on the vast majority of mobile phones produced and available on the market.
  • the mobile phone application displays a standardized message on the mobile phone (2.1) and requests that at least the size of the previously calculated portion of memory needed for the recording, is provided. This can be secured by deleting or removing already saved and available content on the mobile phone (2.1) by a user of the mobile phone (2.1).
  • the mobile phone application accesses the recording equipment with a prior authorization request approval displayed on the screen interface of the mobile phone (2.1) in the form of a standardized message (1.2).
  • the mobile phone application optimizes the recording equipment (camera) by setting the recording quality primarily to 720p HD resolution. This way, the size of the video recording files is standardized as the constant: 1 minute of the recording is equivalent to 100 Mb of size.
  • the mobile phone application will select that option. If there is no available HD or higher resolution, the mobile phone application will select and set the first available lower quality resolution (e.g. VGA). In this case, the algorithm will use the approximate file size values as provided in Table 1 and multiple them with the constant of 1 minute to complete the calculation process as described.
  • the first available lower quality resolution e.g. VGA
  • Access to the start of the competition is enabled in ways that can be registered by the mobile phone application, including by touching the display of the mobile phone (2.1), where the interface of the mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape for identification of such function, followed by description such as: "Join the Live WOD" (1.2).
  • One of the main prerequisites for starting with the recording of the performance of exercises, interactive measuring and tracking of the performance of the exercises and ranking of the contestants in real-time phase is the authorization for access to the recording device of the mobile phone (2.1).
  • Authorization is enabled in ways that can be registered through the mobile phone application, including by touching the part of the display of the mobile phone (2.1) where the interface of the mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape for identification of such function, followed by descriptions such as: "Accept” or “Go live”, or "Ok, Done” (1.3).
  • the algorithm After the authorization is complete, the algorithm generates a unique QR code that the system personalizes with the registered account of the contestant (1.4).
  • a standardized message is displayed on the mobile phone (2.1) with the generated QR code (1.4), where the mobile phone application requests for the mobile phone device (2.2) to be enabled and ready for use.
  • the mobile phone (2.2) is then used to scan the generated QR code on the mobile phone (2.1) by means of QR code scanning.
  • the mobile phone (2.2) is required to have the mobile phone application available as described in phase 1 (downloaded and installed or accessed via website) before scanning the QR code.
  • the mobile phone application After the QR code is being scanned, the mobile phone application provides information to the sports assistant that the mobile phone (2.2) is ready to be used for the interactive measuring and tracking of the performance of exercises, including the information about the contestant for which the tapping will be performed, start time for tapping and the table of ranking of the contestants in real-time (1.5).
  • the information can be presented to the sports assistant by displaying it on the display of the mobile phone (2.2) or by playing a sound or a sound and a voice combined on the mobile phone (2.2).
  • QR codes are scanned with an optical device, including but not limiting to a camera integrated into a mobile phone and processed by software incorporated in the operating system of that apparatus.
  • the mobile phone application After the QR code is being scanned, in parallel with step (1.5), the mobile phone application notifies the contestant on the mobile phone (2.1) about the start of the audio-visual recording (1.6).
  • the system enables the automatic recording on the exact time designated as the time for the start of the competition (e.g. 12:00 PM CEST). Recording starts at the start time of the competition.
  • the recording device of the mobile phone (2.2) is placed in a position that will enable it to visually record the contestant performing the exercises.
  • the recording device records the performance of the exercises until it is ended by the contestant by confirming a stopping function in the mobile phone application (1.7a).
  • the stopping function is enabled in ways that can be registered by the mobile phone application, including touching the display of the mobile phone (2.1), where the interface of the mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape for identification of such function, followed by description such as: "Stop the recording”.
  • the recording time should be consistent with the time allotted for performing the exercises, which is available and communicated to the contestant before the start of the competition (1.0).
  • the NFC system is applied.
  • the use and applicability of QR code scanning as disclosed is excluded.
  • the algorithm After confirming the stop function, the algorithm temporarily pauses the recording and presents a notification on the mobile phone (2.1) that the sports equipment, if such was used during performance of exercises in accordance with the propositions of the competitions, must be recorded as well. This function can be disabled before the competition is officially launched if the use of any sports equipment is not required. The system enables the contestant to either confirm that the sports equipment has been recorded or to continue recording the equipment (1.8).
  • the notification is presented to the contestant through the mobile phone (2.1), including but not limited to displaying it wherein the interface of the mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape for identification of referred function followed by descriptions such as: "Done” for confirming that the recording of sports equipment is complete or "Continue with the recording” if it isn't (1.8).
  • Either option under this function can be enabled by pressing a finger on the display of the mobile device (2.1) voice command and similar, which the mobile phone application on the mobile phone device (2.1) can register and process.
  • This function is essential for providing substantial evidence that the contestant has complied with all the rules and steps of the competition and used required sports equipment.
  • the contestant starts performing the exercises and starts the recording of the performance of the exercises as previously disclosed; at the same time, the sports assistants begins with the process of measuring and monitoring the performance of exercises in real-time through the function disclosed as "tapping" (1.7b)
  • the sports assistant uses the mobile phone application on the mobile phone (2.2) to measure and monitor the performance of exercises in real-time by tracking and counting each repetition of the exercises, where each performed repetition is registered by a single "tapp". Every repetition is followed by a consecutive "tapp”.
  • the principle is: one repetition performed - one "tapp "executed - one repetition registered as completed.
  • the sports assistant is observing the performance of the exercises of the contestant in person. This means that the assistant is at a close distance from the contestant, which enables the sports assistant to observe that performance and perform tapping based on that personal observation.
  • observation can be performed in other ways than the way it is disclosed in the preferred embodiment, including but not limited to a live recording of the contestant.
  • the contestant is recorded live, and that recording is transmitted to a user/sports assistant, who would perform tapping as disclosed, on an apparatus that would be able to receive and display that transmission.
  • This embodiment does not necessarily require an introduction of the use of another recording apparatus that would enable the live recording function.
  • This function can be secured through the use of the already used recording device of the mobile phone (2.1) in a similar way as the recording of the performance of the exercises is disclosed.
  • the mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape on the display of the mobile phone (2.2) followed by a description such as: “Tapp” or “Click for tapp”, where the sports assistant places his finger to enable the tapping function (1.7c).
  • this function can be enabled by means of voice command or in other ways.
  • the sports assistant executes a tapp.
  • the mobile phone application then sends a request to a server to register that executed tapp, using an available internet connection. That tapp is then registered on the back-end of the server and assigned to the personalized account of the contestant.
  • the process repeats for each successively performed tapp.
  • the analogue counting of each performed repetition of the exercises is converted into a digital trace by means of using the mobile phone application and the system. That digital trace is registered and distributed to the system, enabling the interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises and ranking of contestants in real-time.
  • the algorithm performs the recalculation process of the ranking of the contestants as long as there is a change in the number of registered tapps.
  • the system provides feedback through the mobile phone application on the mobile phone (2.2) about the rank of the contestant in comparison to the other contestants in real-time (1.9).
  • the system uses at least two parameters for ranking of the contestants in real-time: the total number of registered tapps in the predefined time frame and the time span registered from the first to the last registered tapp (Example 1).
  • the video recording is distributed to the judges of the competition through the system for review (1.11).
  • the final ranking of each contestant can be changed ultimately after reviewing the video recording by the judges.
  • the possibility of bypassing the system and embezzlement is reduced to a minimum.
  • the mobile phone application notifies the contestant that the video recording of the performed exercises will be distributed to the system and saved to the database (2.5). Notification may be displayed or in other ways communicated to the contestant through the mobile phone application.
  • the notification includes but doesn't limit to the information that the judges will review the recording, and the official ranking will be confirmed after the judges inspect the recording.
  • the system enables the contestant to postpone the upload of the video recording by selecting the postpone function (1.10).
  • the postpone function is enabled in ways that can be registered by the mobile phone application, including touching the display of the mobile phone (2.1), where the interface of the mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape for identification of such function, followed by description such as: "Send later".
  • the system After the video recording is uploaded to the database (2.5), the system generates a confirmation message of the successful distribution of the video recording and notifies the contestant through the mobile phone application (1.11). After the video recording is being uploaded, the system performs a post-adjustment synchronization of the registered tapps with the performed repetitions of the exercises recorded in the video recording.
  • the post-adjustment represents an additional functionality of the invention that enables technically-logical synchronization of the registered tapps with the performed repetitions of the exercises recorded in the video recording.
  • One of the main technical requirements for ranking contestants in real-time is that both essential components: tapping as the first component and performed exercises captured on video recording as the second component, are consistent in a technically-logical way. That means that each tapp (ordinal number of the tapp and time when it is registered) corresponds to each repetition of the exercise (ordinal number of the repetition and time when the repetition is performed). This functionality is designed to mitigate any deviation that may disrupt that consistency.
  • the start time is predefined in the system. For example, the competition starts on the 07th of August 2021 at 12:00 CEST. The system will enable the recording of the contestants to start at that exact time, not before.
  • the mobile phone application creates a specific timestamp and a time log. Timestamp can be expressed in a time format HH:mm: ss.SSS. Each executed and registered tapp is assigned with an individual timestamp (e.g. 12:01:15:33). After the video recording is being uploaded, the system synchronizes registered tapps and their timestamps with the uploaded video recording.
  • the function of upload and registration of the video recording is complementary with the functions of the mobile phone application in securing the function of the control of the measurement and tracking of that measurement, within the process of interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of the contestants in real-time.
  • the preciseness and accuracy of the post-adjustment function in terms of synchronization of every registered tapp and each performed repetition of the exercises is almost 100%.
  • the quality and functionality of that feature are measured by synchronization accuracy in milliseconds.
  • the deviation of the function can be up to 0.5 seconds.
  • a stable internet connection should be provided.
  • this requirement is not always secured for various reasons (e.g. internet connection breaks).
  • One of the features of the mobile phone application is that in case of a lost connection with the server (e.g. break in the internet connection), it provides the possibility of continuity with the tapping. Consequently, it also enables the tapping function to be performed in an "offline mode", securing that the process of tapping continues and the process of the interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time is unobstructed.
  • This post-adjustment functionality comprises an additional component designated to mitigate the effects of technical problems related to a break in the connection between the mobile phone application and the server. Without this functionality, any break in the connection between the mobile phone application and the server in the process of tapping would lead to disruption of the functionality of the system and the ranking of the contestants in real-time.
  • All embodiments of the invention comprise the post-adjustment function.
  • Example 2 The preferred embodiment of the post-adjustment function for offline tapps is disclosed in Example 2.
  • the contestant starts performing the exercises (e.g. ten push-ups), the performance of the exercises is being recorded with the mobile phone (2.1) and during the repetition, the sports assistant tapps on the mobile phone (2.2) each performed and completed push-up. After the fifth performed push-up, followed by five consecutive tapps, the internet connection on the assistant's phone (2.2) breaks or weakens to the extent that the communication between the mobile phone application and the server is almost nonexistent.
  • the exercises e.g. ten push-ups
  • the performance of the exercises is being recorded with the mobile phone (2.1) and during the repetition, the sports assistant tapps on the mobile phone (2.2) each performed and completed push-up.
  • the internet connection on the assistant's phone (2.2) breaks or weakens to the extent that the communication between the mobile phone application and the server is almost nonexistent.
  • the server registers the loss of the connection with the mobile phone application and the mobile phone (2.2); the mobile application registers the disconnection with the server and notifies the sports assistant about the disconnection, and instructs to continue with tapping until the contestant finishes with a performance of the exercises.
  • the video recording with the exercises should be distributed to the system to enable the synchronization.
  • the algorithm registers the predefined time allocated for the entire workout session, for example, 2 minutes (00:00:000 -
  • the server registers that the disconnection occurred at a specific time in the process of tapping.
  • the algorithm takes the assigned "timestamp" of each realized tapp in the "offline” mode with the unit mark of the tapp itself (6, 7, 8, 9) and associates it with the appropriate time sequence of the video recording and performs the synchronization of the tapps with the video. Visual inspection of the video recording is recommended.

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Abstract

The invention discloses a method for an interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time using a mobile phone application. The invention comprises and uses a specially designed software solution in the embodiment of a mobile phone application with functions that enable electronic measuring and tracking of the performance of exercises, control of that measuring and tracking and ranking of contestants in real-time. The invention is disclosed as a preferred embodiment comprising at least 4 phases: 1) access to a competition using the mobile phone application; 2) securing of the required memory for operability and optimizing the recording device; 3) recording of the performance of exercises, interactive measuring and tracking of the performance of the exercises and ranking of the contestants in real-time; 4) upload and registration of the video recording in a database and post-adjustment of the video recording and registered "tapps".

Description

Title of the invention
Method for an interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time using a mobile phone application
Technical field
The invention refers to a method of registering, processing, distribution, and using that data through hardware and software and can be classified as a computer-implemented invention (Cl I).
Summary
The invention provides an interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time in a sports competition, including fitness competition.
What is different from the classical fitness competitions and relevant art is that this invention represents an incremental change in the way the fitness competitions will be conducted. The invention will undoubtedly set new standards in the way that all future fitness competitions will be organized. For the first time in the history of any fitness competition, by applying this invention, the fitness competitions will have no boundaries or limits regarding the number of contestants that can compete and the way the competitions will be organized.
The invention allows people worldwide to compete at the exact same time, regardless of the time zone, overcoming any physical distances, need for travelling, providing accommodation or financial obstacles, regardless of whetherthey access a referent fitness competition and compete from a small place in their garage or from a top-class fitness gym.
This invention allows all people who love fitness and live fitness as a lifestyle, to just with a simple use of a mobile application and a mobile device and with an assistance of a friend or any other person, access to a fitness competition organized anywhere in the world, and to compete side by side with a fellow athlete.
The substance of the invention is in a known but never applied principle of competition in realtime, embodied in an innovative and complex computer-implemented method, enabling the organization and conducting of large-scale fitness competitions regardless of the number of competitors and their actual physical presence. The invention comprises and uses a specially designed software solution in the embodiment of a mobile phone application with functions that enable electronic measuring and tracking of the performance of exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time. The invention comprises and uses hardware and software of an apparatus on which the mobile phone application is run and a computer network comprising hardware and software forming a single general inventive concept.
Within the mobile phone application, a special function has been developed, referred to as "tapping function", which in combination and interaction with other elements of the system provides the means of electronic recording of repetitions of exercises, control of that recording, and enables ranking of contestants in real-time.
The invention enables protection against any technical modification or manipulation over a video recording with the performed exercises. It provides functional credibility of the video recording of the performed exercises against the actual time and content captured by the recording device to enable a transparent, precise, and accurate ranking of contestants in the fitness sports competition. The general requirement for any fitness competition is uploading the video recording with recorded exercises on a limited time scale. Variations in the quality of the video recording and, therefore, the size of those files affects the general requirements regarding the capacity and operability of a server network and a database that usually process this data. That substantially affects the operability of the server network in terms of flow and loading of the files onto the network. The number of requests for uploading the video recordings in a defined time scale is in direct proportion to the actual number of contestants in the specific competition, which can vary from 10 to a few hundred or even to a few thousand. The invention mitigates the issue of computer network congestion and a poor load of data on the server that processes, distributes and stores the video recordings, especially when a large number of contestants start uploading their videos simultaneously.
The invention enables a base calculation prediction of technical requirements for a computer network that is needed for the specific competition, based on the number of predicted or planned athletes/competitors, to enable an undisrupted flow of data and operability of the computer network. That prediction represents a calculation model for predicting the economic burden of competitions' organizers in terms of providing an adequate computer network for the referent competition.
The invention resolves the problem of physical limitations of indoor capacities or sports halls in which qualifications and fitness sports competitions are organized and conducted, as well as the problem of inability to accommodate, conduct and manage all registered competitors to qualify and compete in the referent sports competition at the same time.
The invention can be used and applied in all organizational phases of a sports competition (qualifications, semi-finals, finals) from any part of the world, wherein any territorial obstacle or any disadvantage that would disrupt any free flow and movement of people (e.g. natural disasters, pandemics,) is overcome. The invention contributes to a decrease in the need for physical travelling to a location where competitions are organized, consequently contributes to lowering the emission of pollutants conditioned by such travelling and contributing to the preservation of the environment.
The invention is disclosed as the preferred embodiment with its applicability and use in fitness competitions. However, the invention is not limited only to fitness competitions but could be applied in other types of sports competitions as well.
Background
In the world of sports, competitions are organized at more than one level- club, local, regional, national, and world. This also applies to competitions in the field of fitness (fitness competitions).
Fitness as a form of exercising has been influencing people and their conscience on a worldwide level in terms of living a healthy lifestyle that includes body-shaping and fitness.
Organized fitness competitions are competitions in which athletes compete in performing fitness exercises. The general concept requires the athletes to perform predefined exercises in a required time passage, in a functionally accurate way, in a required number of repetitions, with or without using sports equipment or any other objects. The best rank is awarded to an athlete who meets all the requirements of a referent fitness competition.
The significant difference between a fitness competition and classical sports competitions in an organizational sense (such as football, basketball, gymnastics, etc.) is that fitness competitions do not necessarily require contestants to be physically present on the spot (e.g. sports hall) to be able or eligible to compete.
The following model represents a common model of organizing and conduction a fitness competition. This model can be considered as an example of the current state of the art.
An athlete who intends to compete in a fitness competition as a contestant must first register for that specific competition. The forms and methods of registrations can vary. Generally, registration for a fitness competition requires at least two preconditions completed: acceptance of terms and conditions of competition and filling out forms with personal records of an athlete, including but not limiting to gender, age, height, weight and similar. The athlete is then provided with information about the type of fitness exercises that need to be performed, time for completing the exercises, number of repetitions, intensity, pace, deadline for sending a video material of performed exercises, and similar. After the registration process is completed, the athlete can officially be engaged in the competition as the contestant. One of the key rules of fitness competitions is that the contestants are obliged to record their exercising and send their video material with recorded exercises to judges of the referent competition so that they could be ranked. Otherwise, the contestants will be disqualified from the competition. As described in the preceding paragraph, the presented model allows the contestant to repeat the same exercise several times, re-shoot it if not satisfied with the performance of the exercise, and improve results and consequently affect their ranking in the competition. That way, the "fair play" principle in a sports competition is distorted. The principle of competition is in real-time is not present. The main issues that the invention resolves are performance and validation of the performance of competition in real-time by using hardware and software.
As disclosed, the key evidence that the contestant uses to prove that they performed exercises in a requested way (accurately, pace, number of repetitions, etc.) is a video recording of that performance. A variety of options is available for the contestant in terms of using apparatus which is suitable for creating the video recording (camera on a mobile phone, professional camera, and any other video-recording device). Besides the evidence of performance, the video recording serves to the judges of the referent competition to inspect the technical regularity of performance of the exercises. This forms one of the criteria for ranking the contestants in the competition.
The presented model does not provide any form or level of technical protection or validation of the authenticity of the video recording, leading to an issue of a non-performance of verification of the authenticity of the video recording itself and consequently leading to a lack of transparency and validity of the ranking of the contestants.
The possibility of manipulations with the video recording by the contestant in a technical way (e.g. adding or removing frames from the video, duplicating the same video frame and similar) is relatively easy considering the availability and accessibility of video editing software on the internet, including but not limiting to free and trial versions of such software.
One of the problems with the present model is the quality of the video recordings. As previously explained, variety of apparatus suitable for video recording and their technical capacities, no technical conditioning or poor one because of the types of apparatus and configurational instructions of those apparatus, resulting in the possibility of the contestant to choose settings of those apparatus based on personal preferences, which can lead to a variety in quality and size of the video recordings.
The invention solves this problem by providing standardization of the video recording quality through a predefined range of settings (configuration) which also affects the standardization of the size of those files. This means that the same video recording for the same competition (the same requested length of the video) can be produced in different resolutions with a file size from 25MB to 1GB.
Variations in the quality of the video recording and, therefore, the size of those files affects the general requirements regarding the capacity and operability of a server network and database that usually process this data. That substantially affects the operability of the server network in terms of flow and loading of the files onto the network. The number of requests for uploading the video recordings in a defined time scale is in direct proportion to the actual number of contestants in the specific competition, which can vary from 10 to a few hundred or even to a few thousand. The invention mitigates the issue of computer network congestion and a poor load of data on the server that processes, distributes and stores the video recordings, especially when a large number of contestants start uploading their videos simultaneously.
One of the major issues regarding the organization of fitness competitions for a large number of contestants is the problem of physical limitations of indoor capacities or sports halls in which qualifications and fitness sports competitions are organized and conducted. This inevitably reflects on the problem of the inability to accommodate, conduct and manage all registered competitors to qualify and compete in the referent fitness competition at the same time. The invention resolves this issue.
The invention improves the current state of the art by solving technical and non-technical issues as disclosed in a new, inventive and industrially applicable way.
Brief description of the drawings
The preferred embodiment of the invention is briefly illustrated in Fig.l, Fig. 2 and Fig.3 whereas:
Fig. 1 illustrates the minimum of elements of the preferred embodiments of the invention used to perform one or more functions of the invention
Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 illustrate an example of the process that the preferred embodiment of the invention can carry out
Detailed description
In the following description, the preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed, including its functional alternatives. The presented functional alternatives form variations in the invention and are considered as other embodiments of the invention.
The preferred embodiment is also referred to as "the embodiment".
A reference to "other embodiment" or "other embodiments" does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment described unless expressly specified otherwise.
The embodiment reflects the use and applicability of the invention in fitness competitions. The invention provides an interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time in a fitness competition.
The following terms are used in the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and have the following meaning:
"Access to a competition" refers to a moment in time when the following information is presented to a contestant using the mobile application; set of operations performed to enable the presentation of the referred information to the contestant; set of operations that enable the possibility of choosing at least two options by the contestant and functions that enable that choosing: to start with the competition (1.1) or to access to a list of the contestants (competitors) which are registered for the competition (1.2) presented via the interface of the mobile phone application to the contestant. The referred information includes but does not limit to the name of the competition, types of exercises being requested (e.g. "deadlift", "push up", "squads"), requested number of repetitions, allocated time for conducting the exercises, indication that the contestant is registered for the competition, a photo of the contestant and referent bio including but not limiting to age, gender, weight, height and similar. The list of the competitors is displayed through the mobile phone application's interface in the form of a list including but not limiting to names and surnames of the competitors and their countries of origin, personal bio and similar.
The term "athlete" refers to a person who is registering for a competition.
The term "algorithm" refers to the algorithm performing the functions of the invention as disclosed.
The term "competition "refers to a fitness sports competition, where any of the embodiments of the invention are being used for the interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of the contestants in real-time.
The term "contestant" refers to an athlete registered for a competition and eligible to compete in the competition.
The term "fitness" in the broadest sense represents a state of physical condition and human health, including mental sharpness, cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, body composition and flexibility.
The term "fitness exercises" or "exercises" represents physical exercises designed for a person, with the purpose of achieving the condition we call "fitness" and which are carried out as a part of fitness training and fitness competition. Fitness exercises can be of different formats in the sense that they include performing various body movements with or without the use of sports equipment, physical objects of different dimensions, weights that can be manipulated by a person by means of lifting, pushing, transferring human strength. The term "mobile phone application" refers to a specifically designed software solution with functions that enable electronic measuring and tracking of the performance of exercises, control of that measuring and tracking and ranking of contestants in real-time. The mobile phone application is primarily run on a mobile phone device, not excluding its use on other apparatus.
The term "real-time" refers to the unity of passage of time allocated for the performance of exercises and the performance of those exercises by a contestant in that specific time passage, where that passage of time is being recorded, excluding any possibility of repeating of that unity.
The term "sports assistant" refers to a user that performs tapping and assists in the process as described.
The term "system" refers primarily to the preferred embodiment of the invention with all its constituent elements and functionalities as disclosed herein, including the reference to other embodiments of the invention disclosed.
The term "tapping function" refers to a special function developed within the mobile phone application, which in combination and interaction with other elements and functionalities of the system provides the means for electronic measuring of repetitions of exercises, control of that measuring and enables ranking of contestants in real-time.
The term "tapping" refers to a set of actions, including interactive ones, performed in the course of registering each individually performed repetition of an exercise by a contestant in real-time with the necessary use of the tapping function, wherein each single command given for registration and measuring of that each repetition of the exercise (can be performed as by pressing a finger on a display of a device, voice command and similar) is being registered by the interface of the mobile phone application as one "tapp" representing a single repetition of the exercise and is being registered on a server in real-time and assigned to the contestant's account for ranking in real-time.
The term "recording device" refers to an optical apparatus that enables image and sound recording that is not necessarily embedded in other apparatus. The recording device includes but not limits to a mobile phone camera.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiment and other embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.
For a better understanding of the invention, the preferred embodiment discloses the use of at least two mobile phone devices, where the first mobile device is used to record a video recording (2.1), the second mobile phone device (2.2) is used for the interactive measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, the mobile phone application (2.3), a server (2.4) and a database (2.5). The invention does not limit the number of mobile phone devices that can be used, as disclosed.
The invention does not limit the use of any other apparatus suitable for launching and using the mobile phone application in the described manner to achieve the effects of the invention (e.g. tablets).
The embodiment comprises steps that can be divided into several phases as follows:
1) access to a competition using the mobile phone application
After a contestant has successfully registered for a competition, the contestant accesses the competition by using the mobile phone application (2.3) that has previously been downloaded and installed on the mobile phone (2.1).
Alternatively, the mobile phone application can be accessed through an online version of the application, available on a website or a web store if the contestant does not want to download it on the mobile phone (2.1).
After the mobile phone application is run on the mobile phone device, the contestant has to login to a user-dashboard page of the mobile phone application providing their credentials received upon registration.
After the login is successfully completed, the contestant is presented with the user-dashboard page, including but not limited to information about the contestant, name of the competition, type of exercises that need to be performed, number of repetitions of the exercises required, start time of the competition. Within the dashboard, the user is presented with at least two options (1.0): to start the competition (1.2) or to check out other competitors registered for the competition (1.1). By choosing the option to start the competition, the contestant initiates the steps of the following phases. By choosing the option of having an insight into the other registered competitors, the system provides information on the registered competitors to the contestant through the mobile phone application. The information can be provided in various formats, including but not limited to tables.
2) securing of the required memory for operability and optimizing the recording device
Before the actual start of the competition, the system provides an inter-step for securing the availability of the required memory for operability, and performs optimization of the recording device.
After selecting the option to start the competition (1.2), the mobile phone application accesses the operating system of the mobile phone (2.1) and performs a calculation of the amount of available/free memory on the mobile phone (2.1), needed for the operability of the mobile phone application as well as the storage of the audio-visual recording of the exercises (the video recording). The algorithm takes as a reference parameter time allotted for performing the exercises as disclosed in phase 1 to calculate the required portion of memory for storing the video recording.
The referred parameter is taken as a variable and is multiplied by a constant - 1 minute of a video recording is equivalent to 100 Mb of file size. The constant represents the average value of the size required by 1 minute of high-definition image quality (HD) video.
HD refers to the standardized camera resolution of 720p or 1080p. Numbers 720 and 1080 refer to the horizontal resolution. Therefore, the resolution of the 720p HD camera gives images of 1280 x 720 pixels, and 1080p HD cameras provide a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels or 2.1 megapixels. The HD video format also uses a 16: 9 aspect ratio (instead of 5: 4 or 4: 3), and the frame rate is standardized at 60, 50, 30, or 25 frames per second (fps -frame per second).
Table 1 shows the average file size in Mb for 1 minute of a video recording with an integrated camera compared to available resolution quality options on the vast majority of mobile phones produced and available on the market.
Table 1
Figure imgf000010_0001
If the algorithm determines that there is not enough amount of available/free memory on the mobile phone (2.1), the mobile phone application displays a standardized message on the mobile phone (2.1) and requests that at least the size of the previously calculated portion of memory needed for the recording, is provided. This can be secured by deleting or removing already saved and available content on the mobile phone (2.1) by a user of the mobile phone (2.1). After determining the amount of the available memory, the mobile phone application accesses the recording equipment with a prior authorization request approval displayed on the screen interface of the mobile phone (2.1) in the form of a standardized message (1.2).
After the authorization is granted, the mobile phone application optimizes the recording equipment (camera) by setting the recording quality primarily to 720p HD resolution. This way, the size of the video recording files is standardized as the constant: 1 minute of the recording is equivalent to 100 Mb of size.
If there is no available option of 720p but only 1080p on the mobile phone (2.1), the mobile phone application will select that option. If there is no available HD or higher resolution, the mobile phone application will select and set the first available lower quality resolution (e.g. VGA). In this case, the algorithm will use the approximate file size values as provided in Table 1 and multiple them with the constant of 1 minute to complete the calculation process as described.
This way, any interactions or interference of personal preferences for the recording settings by the users of the system are excluded resulting in optimization of the sending/receiving of the files through the system, making the possibility of congestion or overloading the server (2.4) and the database (2.5) to a level of an absolute minimum or nonexisting.
3) recording of the performance of exercises, interactive measuring and tracking of the performance of the exercises and ranking of the contestants in real-time
Access to the start of the competition is enabled in ways that can be registered by the mobile phone application, including by touching the display of the mobile phone (2.1), where the interface of the mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape for identification of such function, followed by description such as: "Join the Live WOD" (1.2). One of the main prerequisites for starting with the recording of the performance of exercises, interactive measuring and tracking of the performance of the exercises and ranking of the contestants in real-time phase is the authorization for access to the recording device of the mobile phone (2.1). Authorization is enabled in ways that can be registered through the mobile phone application, including by touching the part of the display of the mobile phone (2.1) where the interface of the mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape for identification of such function, followed by descriptions such as: "Accept" or "Go live", or "Ok, Done" (1.3). After the authorization is complete, the algorithm generates a unique QR code that the system personalizes with the registered account of the contestant (1.4). At the same time, a standardized message is displayed on the mobile phone (2.1) with the generated QR code (1.4), where the mobile phone application requests for the mobile phone device (2.2) to be enabled and ready for use.
The mobile phone (2.2) is then used to scan the generated QR code on the mobile phone (2.1) by means of QR code scanning. The mobile phone (2.2) is required to have the mobile phone application available as described in phase 1 (downloaded and installed or accessed via website) before scanning the QR code.
After the QR code is being scanned, the mobile phone application provides information to the sports assistant that the mobile phone (2.2) is ready to be used for the interactive measuring and tracking of the performance of exercises, including the information about the contestant for which the tapping will be performed, start time for tapping and the table of ranking of the contestants in real-time (1.5). The information can be presented to the sports assistant by displaying it on the display of the mobile phone (2.2) or by playing a sound or a sound and a voice combined on the mobile phone (2.2).
For the relevant state of the art, QR codes are scanned with an optical device, including but not limiting to a camera integrated into a mobile phone and processed by software incorporated in the operating system of that apparatus.
The vast majority of mobile phones used worldwide are classified as "smartphones" and are run by Android or IOS operating systems that comprise an integrated system for recognizing and reading QR codes. In the absence of that system, the mobile application enables its own integrated function for recognizing and reading QR codes. In this case, the mobile application accesses the phone's camera (2.2) and uses the QR code integrated system for scanning the QR displayed on the mobile phone (2.1).
After the QR code is being scanned, in parallel with step (1.5), the mobile phone application notifies the contestant on the mobile phone (2.1) about the start of the audio-visual recording (1.6). The system enables the automatic recording on the exact time designated as the time for the start of the competition (e.g. 12:00 PM CEST). Recording starts at the start time of the competition. The recording device of the mobile phone (2.2) is placed in a position that will enable it to visually record the contestant performing the exercises.
The recording device records the performance of the exercises until it is ended by the contestant by confirming a stopping function in the mobile phone application (1.7a). The stopping function is enabled in ways that can be registered by the mobile phone application, including touching the display of the mobile phone (2.1), where the interface of the mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape for identification of such function, followed by description such as: "Stop the recording". Preferably, the recording time should be consistent with the time allotted for performing the exercises, which is available and communicated to the contestant before the start of the competition (1.0).
In other embodiment of the invention, the NFC system is applied. In that particular embodiment where the NFC system is applied, the use and applicability of QR code scanning as disclosed is excluded. For that particular embodiment, it would be used at least one transmitting device preferably similar in functionality for the invention as the mobile phone (2.1) and another to receive the signal, preferably similar in functionality for the invention as the mobile phone (2.2), to enable the functionality of the NFC system and the invention as disclosed herein.
After confirming the stop function, the algorithm temporarily pauses the recording and presents a notification on the mobile phone (2.1) that the sports equipment, if such was used during performance of exercises in accordance with the propositions of the competitions, must be recorded as well. This function can be disabled before the competition is officially launched if the use of any sports equipment is not required. The system enables the contestant to either confirm that the sports equipment has been recorded or to continue recording the equipment (1.8). The notification is presented to the contestant through the mobile phone (2.1), including but not limited to displaying it wherein the interface of the mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape for identification of referred function followed by descriptions such as: "Done" for confirming that the recording of sports equipment is complete or "Continue with the recording" if it isn't (1.8). Either option under this function can be enabled by pressing a finger on the display of the mobile device (2.1) voice command and similar, which the mobile phone application on the mobile phone device (2.1) can register and process.
This function is essential for providing substantial evidence that the contestant has complied with all the rules and steps of the competition and used required sports equipment. Ideally, when the competition starts, the contestant starts performing the exercises and starts the recording of the performance of the exercises as previously disclosed; at the same time, the sports assistants begins with the process of measuring and monitoring the performance of exercises in real-time through the function disclosed as "tapping" (1.7b)
The sports assistant uses the mobile phone application on the mobile phone (2.2) to measure and monitor the performance of exercises in real-time by tracking and counting each repetition of the exercises, where each performed repetition is registered by a single "tapp". Every repetition is followed by a consecutive "tapp". The principle is: one repetition performed - one "tapp "executed - one repetition registered as completed.
In the preferred embodiment, the sports assistant is observing the performance of the exercises of the contestant in person. This means that the assistant is at a close distance from the contestant, which enables the sports assistant to observe that performance and perform tapping based on that personal observation. In other embodiments, observation can be performed in other ways than the way it is disclosed in the preferred embodiment, including but not limited to a live recording of the contestant. In that particular embodiment, the contestant is recorded live, and that recording is transmitted to a user/sports assistant, who would perform tapping as disclosed, on an apparatus that would be able to receive and display that transmission. This embodiment does not necessarily require an introduction of the use of another recording apparatus that would enable the live recording function. This function can be secured through the use of the already used recording device of the mobile phone (2.1) in a similar way as the recording of the performance of the exercises is disclosed.
The mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape on the display of the mobile phone (2.2) followed by a description such as: "Tapp" or "Click for tapp", where the sports assistant places his finger to enable the tapping function (1.7c).
In other embodiments, this function can be enabled by means of voice command or in other ways.
After each repetition of the exercise is performed, the sports assistant executes a tapp. The mobile phone application then sends a request to a server to register that executed tapp, using an available internet connection. That tapp is then registered on the back-end of the server and assigned to the personalized account of the contestant. The process repeats for each successively performed tapp. In this way, the analogue counting of each performed repetition of the exercises is converted into a digital trace by means of using the mobile phone application and the system. That digital trace is registered and distributed to the system, enabling the interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises and ranking of contestants in real-time. The algorithm performs the recalculation process of the ranking of the contestants as long as there is a change in the number of registered tapps. At the same time, the system provides feedback through the mobile phone application on the mobile phone (2.2) about the rank of the contestant in comparison to the other contestants in real-time (1.9).
In the presented embodiment, the system uses at least two parameters for ranking of the contestants in real-time: the total number of registered tapps in the predefined time frame and the time span registered from the first to the last registered tapp (Example 1).
Example 1
Figure imgf000015_0001
The video recording is distributed to the judges of the competition through the system for review (1.11). The final ranking of each contestant can be changed ultimately after reviewing the video recording by the judges. The possibility of bypassing the system and embezzlement is reduced to a minimum.
4) upload and registration of the video recording in a database and post-adjustment of the video recording and registered tapps
Following phase 3, after the exercises are registered with the tapping function and the contestant has completed the recording (1.8), the mobile phone application notifies the contestant that the video recording of the performed exercises will be distributed to the system and saved to the database (2.5). Notification may be displayed or in other ways communicated to the contestant through the mobile phone application. The notification includes but doesn't limit to the information that the judges will review the recording, and the official ranking will be confirmed after the judges inspect the recording.
The system enables the contestant to postpone the upload of the video recording by selecting the postpone function (1.10). The postpone function is enabled in ways that can be registered by the mobile phone application, including touching the display of the mobile phone (2.1), where the interface of the mobile phone application provides and displays a visual object or a shape for identification of such function, followed by description such as: "Send later".
After the video recording is uploaded to the database (2.5), the system generates a confirmation message of the successful distribution of the video recording and notifies the contestant through the mobile phone application (1.11). After the video recording is being uploaded, the system performs a post-adjustment synchronization of the registered tapps with the performed repetitions of the exercises recorded in the video recording. The post-adjustment represents an additional functionality of the invention that enables technically-logical synchronization of the registered tapps with the performed repetitions of the exercises recorded in the video recording.
One of the main technical requirements for ranking contestants in real-time is that both essential components: tapping as the first component and performed exercises captured on video recording as the second component, are consistent in a technically-logical way. That means that each tapp (ordinal number of the tapp and time when it is registered) corresponds to each repetition of the exercise (ordinal number of the repetition and time when the repetition is performed). This functionality is designed to mitigate any deviation that may disrupt that consistency.
At the very beginning of the process, before the competition starts and with it the recording of the contestants, the start time is predefined in the system. For example, the competition starts on the 07th of August 2021 at 12:00 CEST. The system will enable the recording of the contestants to start at that exact time, not before. For every registered tapp, the mobile phone application creates a specific timestamp and a time log. Timestamp can be expressed in a time format HH:mm: ss.SSS. Each executed and registered tapp is assigned with an individual timestamp (e.g. 12:01:15:33). After the video recording is being uploaded, the system synchronizes registered tapps and their timestamps with the uploaded video recording.
The function of upload and registration of the video recording is complementary with the functions of the mobile phone application in securing the function of the control of the measurement and tracking of that measurement, within the process of interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of the contestants in real-time.
Ideally, the preciseness and accuracy of the post-adjustment function in terms of synchronization of every registered tapp and each performed repetition of the exercises is almost 100%. The quality and functionality of that feature are measured by synchronization accuracy in milliseconds. In the least desirable scenario, the deviation of the function can be up to 0.5 seconds.
Preferably, during all of the phases, a stable internet connection should be provided. However, there is a possibility that this requirement is not always secured for various reasons (e.g. internet connection breaks). One of the features of the mobile phone application is that in case of a lost connection with the server (e.g. break in the internet connection), it provides the possibility of continuity with the tapping. Consequently, it also enables the tapping function to be performed in an "offline mode", securing that the process of tapping continues and the process of the interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time is unobstructed.
This post-adjustment functionality comprises an additional component designated to mitigate the effects of technical problems related to a break in the connection between the mobile phone application and the server. Without this functionality, any break in the connection between the mobile phone application and the server in the process of tapping would lead to disruption of the functionality of the system and the ranking of the contestants in real-time.
All embodiments of the invention comprise the post-adjustment function.
The preferred embodiment of the post-adjustment function for offline tapps is disclosed in Example 2
Example 2
Hypothetically: the contestant starts performing the exercises (e.g. ten push-ups), the performance of the exercises is being recorded with the mobile phone (2.1) and during the repetition, the sports assistant tapps on the mobile phone (2.2) each performed and completed push-up. After the fifth performed push-up, followed by five consecutive tapps, the internet connection on the assistant's phone (2.2) breaks or weakens to the extent that the communication between the mobile phone application and the server is almost nonexistent.
The server registers the loss of the connection with the mobile phone application and the mobile phone (2.2); the mobile application registers the disconnection with the server and notifies the sports assistant about the disconnection, and instructs to continue with tapping until the contestant finishes with a performance of the exercises.
Tapps that were executed after the connection had been lost are not registered in an online mode. If the connection had broken after the Sth tap and reestablished when the sports assistant tapped the 10th repetition of the exercise, the system registers a gap between the Sth and the 10th tapp, meaning that 6-9th tapps are missing/not registered. Those tapps (6-9) are registered as offline tapps by the mobile phone application and recorded in the available internal memory of the mobile phone (2.2). For each registered tapp (online or offline), the mobile phone application creates a specific timestamp and a time log. Timestamp can be expressed in a time format HH:mm: ss.SSS. After the connection with the server is restored, the mobile phone application distributes the time log and timestamps created for offline tapps (in this example 6-9th tapp) to the server for synchronization.
Preferably, the video recording with the exercises should be distributed to the system to enable the synchronization. Upon distributing the video recording, the algorithm registers the predefined time allocated for the entire workout session, for example, 2 minutes (00:00:000 -
-02:00:000). The server then registers that the disconnection occurred at a specific time in the process of tapping. The algorithm takes the assigned "timestamp" of each realized tapp in the "offline" mode with the unit mark of the tapp itself (6, 7, 8, 9) and associates it with the appropriate time sequence of the video recording and performs the synchronization of the tapps with the video. Visual inspection of the video recording is recommended.

Claims

A method for an interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants, wherein the method is conducted in real-time using a mobile phone application, comprising at least 4 phases: phase 1 - access to a competition using the mobile phone application, where the access to the competition and the requirements of the competition is enabled through the interface of the mobile phone application. phase 2- securing of the required memory for operability and optimizing a recording device, where the required portion of the memory for operability and for storing a video recording is calculated, the availability of the required portion of the memory is checked on a mobile phone used for recording (2.1), the required portion of the memory secured by removing data from the memory, and optimization of the recording device of the mobile phone (2.1) to an optimal recording regime. phase 3 - recording of the performance of exercises, interactive measuring and tracking of the performance of the exercises and ranking of the contestants in realtime, where a unique identification QR code is generated and assigned to a contestant's account, the recording device of the mobile phone (2.1) is enabled and records the performance of the exercises, the function for electronic measuring and tracking of the performance of exercises and ranking of contestants in real-time (tapping function) is enabled and used to measure and track each performed repetition of the exercises, where each repetition is recorded as one "tapp", and each consecutively registered tapp is distributed to the system for the ranking of the contestants in real-time. phase 4 - upload and registration of the video recording in a database and postadjustment of the video recording and registered tapps, where the video recording of the performed exercises is distributed to the database by using the mobile phone application; where the post-adjustment function is automatically enabled technically-logical synchronization of the registered tapps, including tapps registered in an offline mode, with the performed repetitions of the exercises recorded in the video recording, securing the function of the control of the measurement of the performed exercises and tracking of that measurement. The method of claim 1, wherein the required portion of the memory is calculated as a minimally required portion, using at least two parameters for calculation, the allocated time for the performance of the exercises and average size of a video recording for a 1 minute of the recording in an HD resolution. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimal recording regime is achieved by setting the quality of the recording device to a recording resolution of 720p or 1080p. The method of claim 1, wherein the removal of data from the memory of the mobile phone (2.1) comprises notification provided by the mobile phone application with the exact amount of the calculated portion of the memory that needs to be freed, and the selection and removing of data from the memory of the mobile phone by a user. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone application generates a unique identification QR code and assigns it to a contestant's account and displays it on the mobile phone (2.1), after the previous authorization provided through the mobile phone application. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone application enables the use of the recording device of the mobile phone (2.1), by scanning already generated QR code by a mobile phone used for performing of tapping (2.2). The method of claim 1, wherein the tapping function is enabled on the mobile phone (2.2) after the QR code is being scanned, and is enabled by pressing on the designated part of the display of the mobile phone (2.2) within the mobile application interface after each performed repetition of the exercise, where the mobile application records each repeat as one "tap" and registers each successive tap on a server in real-time and assigns each registered tap to a contestant's account enabling the principle of the ranking of the contestants in real-time. The method of claim 1, wherein the input parameters for real-time ranking of the contestants are at least: the total number of the registered tapps and the time registered from the first to the last registered taps provided in real-time. The method of claim 1, wherein an algorithm repeats the calculation of the ranking of the contestants and reranks their ranking until the tapping process ends, by which the ranking in real-time is complete. The method of claim 1, wherein the tapps registered in an offline mode are tapps registered during the loss of a connection by the mobile phone application with the server and saved in an internal memory of the mobile phone (2.2) and distributed to the server after the connection is restored for synchronization. The method of claim 1, wherein the tapping functions secures and enables the ranking of the contestants in real-time principle, where the real-time principle comprises the unity of passage of time allocated for the performance of exercises and the performance of those exercises by a contestant in that specific time passage, recording of that passage and exclusion of any technical possibility of repeating that unity. The method of claim 1, wherein the tapping functions secures and enables the ranking of the contestants in real-time principle, where the real-time principle comprises the unity of passage of time allocated for the performance of exercises and the performance of those exercises by a contestant in that specific time passage, recording of that passage and exclusion of any technical possibility of repeating that unity. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone application is installed and run on a mobile phone as a mobile application or is accessed through an online version of the application available on a website or a web store.
PCT/IB2021/057320 2021-08-09 2021-08-09 Method for an interactive electronic measuring and tracking of conducting exercises, control of that measuring and tracking, and ranking of contestants in real-time using a mobile phone application Ceased WO2023017293A1 (en)

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Citations (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012021507A2 (en) * 2010-08-09 2012-02-16 Nike International Ltd. Monitoring fitness using a mobile device
US20150067811A1 (en) * 2013-09-05 2015-03-05 Nike, Inc. Conducting sessions with captured image data of physical activity and uploading using token-verifiable proxy uploader
US20210008413A1 (en) * 2019-07-11 2021-01-14 Elo Labs, Inc. Interactive Personal Training System

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012021507A2 (en) * 2010-08-09 2012-02-16 Nike International Ltd. Monitoring fitness using a mobile device
US20150067811A1 (en) * 2013-09-05 2015-03-05 Nike, Inc. Conducting sessions with captured image data of physical activity and uploading using token-verifiable proxy uploader
US20210008413A1 (en) * 2019-07-11 2021-01-14 Elo Labs, Inc. Interactive Personal Training System

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