Exercise management device, exercise management method, and exercise management program

Abstract

The present invention provides an exercise management device, an exercise management method, and an exercise management program that enable easy exercise at an appropriate intensity. [Solution] The system is characterized by comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires the user's pulse rate; a setting unit that sets an upper limit and a lower limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate; a determination unit that receives the pulse rate acquired by the acquisition unit and determines the intensity of the user's exercise based on the acquired pulse rate and the set upper and lower limits for moderate-intensity pulse rate; and a notification unit that notifies the user of the determination result made by the determination unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an exercise management device, an exercise management method, and an exercise management program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the number of people doing exercise has been increasing for health maintenance. However, if the exercise is not performed at a moderate or higher intensity, which is an appropriate exercise intensity, sufficient effects cannot be obtained. Also, if high-intensity exercise is overdone, it can have adverse effects such as causing injuries and burdening the heart. In addition, people with heart disease or at risk of it are worried about whether their weakened heart can withstand their daily life and often feel anxious in their daily life. Furthermore, there are many people who recognize the necessity of an exercise habit but cannot develop it due to reasons such as not knowing how to do it.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a device that calculates the pulse rate of a user during exercise and determines whether the exercise intensity is appropriate. Patent Document 2 discloses a system that monitors the exercise state of a user based on at least one of the user's heart rate and electrocardiogram.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, according to the devices disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it is not possible to determine the exercise intensity based on the pulse of a user during exercise and appropriately manage the user's exercise in real time.

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide an exercise management device, an exercise management method, and an exercise management program that enable easy exercise at an appropriate intensity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is an exercise management device comprising: an acquisition unit for acquiring the user's pulse rate; a setting unit for setting an upper limit and a lower limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate; a determination unit for receiving the pulse rate acquired by the acquisition unit and determining the intensity of the user's exercise based on the acquired pulse rate and the set upper and lower limits for moderate-intensity pulse rate; and a notification unit for notifying the user of the determination result made by the determination unit.

[0008] In a first embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises an input unit, and the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate may be set by the input unit receiving the respective values ​​from the user.

[0009] In a first embodiment of the present invention, the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate may be determined based on at least one of the following: the upper limit of pulse rate prescribed by the user's doctor for exercise, pulse rate at Borg index 13, resting pulse rate + 20 beats / min (with β-blocker), resting pulse rate + 30 beats / min (without β-blocker), or (maximum pulse rate - resting pulse rate) × k + resting pulse rate (where k = 0.6 for healthy individuals, k = 0.5 for those 70 years of age or older, k = 0.4 for those with heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%), pulse rate during exercise, and degree of fatigue.

[0010] In a first embodiment of the present invention, the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate may be determined based on any of the following: a value 5 to 20 beats / min lower than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the lower limit of pulse rate in the exercise prescription, or the pulse rate when the Borg index is 11 to 12.

[0011] In a first embodiment of the present invention, the setting unit sets an upper limit and a lower limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate based on the user's resting pulse rate. The upper limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate may be either resting pulse rate + 20 beats / min (with oral β-blocker use) or resting pulse rate + 30 beats / min (without oral β-blocker use), and the lower limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate may be 5 to 20 beats / min lower than the upper limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate.

[0012] In a first aspect of the present invention, the determination unit determines whether the received pulse rate is lower than the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and if the pulse rate is lower than the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the notification unit may notify the user of the determination result and at least one of the following: information to encourage the user to increase the intensity of exercise.

[0013] In a first aspect of the present invention, the determination unit determines whether the received pulse rate value is between the lower limit and upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and if the pulse rate value is between the lower limit and upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the notification unit may notify the user of the determination result and at least one of the following: information to encourage the user to continue exercising.

[0014] In a first aspect of the present invention, the determination unit determines whether the received pulse rate is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and if the pulse rate is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the notification unit may notify the user of the determination result and at least one of the following: information to encourage the user to be careful not to overexert themselves during exercise.

[0015] In a first embodiment of the present invention, the system may further include a storage unit that stores the pulse rate value acquired by the acquisition unit and the date and time when the pulse rate value was measured, and a statistics unit that calculates the sum of the time during which the pulse rate value was higher than the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate as the time of moderate-intensity or greater exercise.

[0016] In a first embodiment of the present invention, the determination unit determines whether the moderate-intensity or higher exercise time exceeds the target exercise time, and if the moderate-intensity or higher exercise time is higher than the target exercise time, the notification unit may notify the user that the moderate-intensity or higher exercise time has exceeded the target value.

[0017] In a first embodiment of the present invention, when the determination unit determines that the received pulse rate value is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the acquisition unit received input that exercise has started, or when the acquisition unit receives input that exercise has finished, the notification unit may suggest to the user that they reset the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate and the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate.

[0018] In a first aspect of the present invention, the system further comprises an input unit, wherein a determination unit determines that the received pulse rate value is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and at a predetermined time after the acquisition unit has received input that exercise has started or at the time the acquisition unit has received input that exercise has finished, the input unit accepts input of the user's fatigue level, and the notification unit may propose resetting the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate according to the fatigue level received by the input unit.

[0019] In a first aspect of the present invention, when the determination unit has not received information notifying the user that the user has started exercising, it determines whether the received pulse rate is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and if it determines that the pulse rate is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the notification unit may notify the user of the determination result and at least one of the following: information to encourage the user to take a break.

[0020] A second aspect of the present invention is an exercise management method comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring the user's pulse rate; a setting step of setting a moderate-intensity pulse rate upper limit and a moderate-intensity pulse rate lower limit; a determination step of receiving the pulse rate acquired in the acquisition step and determining the intensity of the user's exercise based on the acquired pulse rate and the set moderate-intensity pulse rate upper limit and moderate-intensity pulse rate lower limit; and a notification step of notifying the user of the determination result in the determination step.

[0021] A third aspect of the present invention is an exercise management program, which causes a computer to have an acquisition function for acquiring a user's pulse value, a setting function for setting a moderate-intensity pulse upper limit value and a moderate-intensity pulse lower limit value, and receives the pulse value acquired in the acquisition function, and based on the acquired pulse value, the set moderate-intensity pulse upper limit value, and the moderate-intensity pulse lower limit value, a determination function for determining the intensity of the user's exercise, and a notification function for notifying the user of the determination result in the determination function.

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an exercise management device, an exercise management method, and an exercise management program that enable a user to easily exercise at an appropriate exercise intensity.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an exercise management device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration and functional parts of the exercise management device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a correspondence table showing the relationship between the Borg index, the perceived exercise intensity, and the exercise intensity. [Figure 4] FIG. 4(a) is a screen for setting the moderate-intensity pulse upper limit value, and FIG. 4(b) is an example of a screen when the pulse measurement device starts pulse measurement. [Figure 5] FIG. 5(a) is a screen in which the notification unit notifies that the exercise intensity is to be increased, FIG. 5(b) is a screen in which it is notified that the pulse value is high, and FIG. 5(c) is an example of a screen in which the notification unit notifies that the user's exercise time has exceeded the target value. [Figure 6] It is a correspondence table showing the re-setting reference values of the moderate-intensity pulse upper limit value and the moderate-intensity pulse lower limit value according to the user's fatigue level. [Figure 7] It is an example of a screen in which the notification unit notifies that it is proposed to re-set the moderate-intensity pulse upper limit value and the moderate-intensity pulse lower limit value. [Figure 8] FIG. 8(a) is a screen on which the user's daily pulse value and appropriate exercise time are displayed, and FIG. 8(b) is an example of a screen on which the transition of the pulse value over time and the transition of the number of steps over time are displayed. [Figure 9] This is a flowchart illustrating the exercise management method according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings of the embodiments, identical or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the relationships with planar dimensions etc. may differ from those in reality. Therefore, specific dimensions should be determined by referring to the following explanation. Furthermore, it goes without saying that there are parts in the drawings where the relationships and ratios of dimensions differ from those of other parts.

[0025] Furthermore, the embodiments are illustrative of apparatus and methods for realizing the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention does not limit the configuration, arrangement, layout, etc., of each component to those described below. The technical concept of the present invention can be modified in various ways within the technical scope defined by the claims described in the patent claims.

[0026] (First Embodiment) The exercise management device according to this embodiment provides the user with necessary notifications based on the user's pulse rate, so that the user's exercise intensity is appropriate.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1, the exercise management device 10 according to this embodiment is, for example, mounted on a mobile terminal 11. The pulse rate measuring device 13 mounted on the wristwatch and the exercise management device 10 are connected by wireless communication, and the pulse rate measuring device 13 is worn on the user's arm 14. The pulse rate measuring device 13 measures the user's pulse rate and transmits it to the exercise management device 10. The exercise management device 10 determines the user's exercise intensity from the received pulse rate and notifies the user 14, thereby enabling real-time management of the user's exercise.

[0028] The configuration of the exercise management device 10 shown in Figure 1 is just one example. The pulse rate measuring device 13 does not have to be mounted on a wristwatch, as long as it can transmit the user's pulse rate to the exercise management device 10. Also, although the exercise management device 10 is mounted on a mobile terminal 11, for example, the exercise management device 10 may be mounted on a wristwatch together with the pulse rate measuring device 13.

[0029] Figure 2 shows an example of the configuration and functions of the exercise management device 10 shown in Figure 1, along with an example of the pulse measurement device 13. The exercise management device 10 includes a CPU 21 for executing various calculations, a ROM 22 for storing processing programs, a RAM 23 for storing data, a storage unit 24 for storing various data and calculation results, an I / O (input / output interface) 25, a display unit 26, an input unit 27, and the like.

[0030] The pulse rate measuring device 13 includes, for example, a sensor unit 131 and a communication unit 132. The sensor unit 131 is a sensor that measures and outputs the user's pulse rate. The communication unit 132 is an interface for sending and receiving data with the exercise management device 10. The pulse rate measuring device 13 measures the user's pulse rate with the sensor unit 131 and may transmit the measured pulse rate value, along with the date and time the pulse rate was measured, to the acquisition unit 210 of the exercise management device 10 via the I / O 25 or input unit 27 from the communication unit 132.

[0031] I / O25 is an interface, buffer, etc., for communication (transmitting and receiving).

[0032] The exercise management device 10 is a variety of electronic computer (computational resource), such as a mobile terminal, personal computer (PC), mainframe, workstation, or cloud computing system. In the example shown in Figure 1, the exercise management device 10 is a mobile terminal, and the display unit 26 is the display of the mobile terminal 11. The input unit 27 is a touch panel or the like for input and accepts user input.

[0033] Furthermore, the block diagram in Figure 2 shows the functional units within the CPU 21. When each functional unit of the CPU 21 is implemented by software, the CPU 21 implements these functions by executing instructions from the program, which is the software that realizes each function. Specifically, it includes an acquisition unit 210, a setting unit 211, a control unit 215, a determination unit 212, a notification unit 213, a statistics unit 214, and so on.

[0034] The acquisition unit 210 acquires the user's pulse rate measured by the pulse rate measuring device 13 from the pulse rate measuring device 13. The acquisition unit 210 transmits the acquired pulse rate value to the determination unit 212. The acquisition unit 210 may also store the acquired pulse rate value in the storage unit 24. The acquisition unit 210 may store the date and time acquired by the acquisition unit 210, along with the pulse rate measured by the pulse rate measuring device 13, in the storage unit 24 as the date and time the pulse rate measuring device 13 measured the pulse. The pulse rate measuring device 13 may also measure the user's pulse wave value and transmit the measured pulse rate value along with the measured date and time to the acquisition unit 210, and the acquisition unit 210 may store the received date and time, along with the pulse rate measured by the pulse rate measuring device 13, in the storage unit 24.

[0035] The setting unit 211 sets the user's upper limit and lower limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate according to the user's input information. Moderate-intensity pulse rate refers to the pulse rate that is judged to be at an appropriate exercise intensity, the upper limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate is that upper limit, and the lower limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate is that lower limit. The method for setting the upper limit and lower limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate will be explained in detail later.

[0036] The control unit 215 controls the pulse rate measuring device 13 in response to an input signal from the user.

[0037] The determination unit 212 determines that the user's exercise intensity is appropriate if the user's pulse rate value received from the acquisition unit 210 is between the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate and the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate.

[0038] The statistics unit 214 uses the pulse rate values ​​stored in the memory unit 24 and the date and time the pulse rate was measured to calculate the moderate to moderate exercise time, which will be described later.

[0039] The following describes how the setting unit 211 can set the upper and lower limits of the user's moderate-intensity pulse rate. The upper and lower limits of the moderate-intensity pulse rate may be set by the user by manually entering numerical values, or they may be automatically set by the exercise management device 10 based on the user's permission. The setting unit 211 can set the upper and lower limits of the user's moderate-intensity pulse rate in advance of the acquisition unit 210 acquiring the user's pulse rate values. Alternatively, the settings may be readjusted during or after exercise according to the user's pulse rate values ​​acquired by the acquisition unit 210.

[0040] When the user manually inputs the upper and lower limits of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the input unit 27 receives the user's input and transmits the received data to the setting unit 211. The user determines the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate based on one of the pulse rates shown below and inputs the value into the input unit 27.

[0041] The upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate is determined as one of the pulse rates obtained by the recommended methods shown in (1) to (5) below. (1) The pulse rate instructed by the doctor, i.e., the upper limit of the pulse rate prescribed for exercise, (2) Pulse rate when Borg index is 13 (somewhat painful), (3) Resting pulse rate +20 beats / min (with oral beta-blocker), (4) Resting pulse rate +30 beats / min (without taking beta-blockers) (5) (Maximum pulse rate - Resting pulse rate) × k + Resting pulse rate. Details of each method (1) to (5) are shown below.

[0042] The pulse rate instructed by the physician, as shown in (1), i.e., the pulse rate for exercise prescription, is the pulse rate instructed by the physician. This pulse rate is the user's pulse rate determined by one of the following methods (A) to (D) when an exercise stress test or similar test is performed on the user. (A) A level of 40-60% of the heart rate reserve (= maximum heart rate - resting heart rate), given by Karvonen's formula below. Pulse rate for exercise prescription = (Maximum heart rate - Resting heart rate) × k + Resting heart rate Here, k is 0.6 for low-risk cases with no complications, 0.4-0.5 for high-risk cases, and 0.3-0.5 for heart failure cases. Maximum heart rate and resting heart rate are measured through exercise stress testing. Whether a patient is high-risk or has heart failure is determined by a physician based on guidelines. (B) Heart rate at the anaerobic threshold level, or at a load level equivalent to 40-60% of the load at which maximum oxygen uptake was achieved. Both will be determined by a physician through an exercise stress test. (C) Perceived exercise intensity: A level of "somewhat difficult" or just below that (Borg index: 12-13). The perceived exercise intensity may be checked during exercise within the hospital or during exercise stress tests, and the pulse rate for exercise prescription may be set based on this perceived exercise intensity. (D) Simplified method: Resting heart rate + 30 / min (for patients receiving beta-blockers, resting heart rate + 20 / min). Calculate based on the resting pulse rate measured in the hospital. The pulse rate instructed by the physician in (1), i.e., the upper limit of the pulse rate for exercise prescription, is the upper limit of the pulse rate obtained by the method described above. When determining the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate by the method in (1), the upper limit of the pulse rate obtained by the method described above shall be used as the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate.

[0043] Furthermore, exercise intensity can be set based on the above criteria even for users with preserved cardiac function.

[0044] The Borg index shown in (2) is an indicator of the user's fatigue level. Figure 3 shows the relationship between the Borg index, perceived exercise intensity, and exercise intensity. Perceived exercise intensity is the exercise intensity classified according to the physical state the user perceives during exercise. Exercise intensity is the exercise intensity when the user's maximum exercise intensity is set to 100%. As shown in Figure 3, when the Borg index is small, the perceived exercise intensity is weak and the exercise intensity is small. A Borg index of 13 corresponds to a perceived exercise intensity of "somewhat difficult" and an exercise intensity of 55%, which corresponds to the anaerobic metabolic threshold. When determining the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate using the method in (2), the user judges their physical state during exercise with reference to the Borg index, and the pulse rate when the Borg index is 13 is set as the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate.

[0045] The beta-blockers described in (3) and (4) refer to drugs that improve hypertension, angina pectoris, tachyarrhythmia, etc., by suppressing blood pressure and heart rate through blocking the beta receptors of the sympathetic nerve. When determining the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate by method (3) or (4), the user calculates the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate from the resting pulse rate.

[0046] The formula (maximum pulse rate - resting pulse rate) × k + resting pulse rate shown in (5) corresponds to Karvonen's formula shown in method (A) when measuring the pulse rate for the exercise prescription shown in (1). Here, k = 0.6 for healthy individuals, k = 0.5 for those 70 years of age or older, and k = 0.4 for those with heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%.

[0047] Next, the user determines the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate based on one of the pulse rates (6) to (8) obtained by the recommended determination method shown below, and inputs the numerical value into the input unit 27. (6) Fix the difference between the moderate-intensity pulse rate and the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate to 5-20 beats / minute. Alternatively, any of the recommended heart rates listed below. (7) The pulse rate instructed by the doctor, i.e., the lower limit of the pulse rate prescribed for exercise, (8) Pulse rate when the Borg index is 11-12 (intermediate between "comfortable" and "somewhat uncomfortable").

[0048] The exercise management device 10 may display the methods (1) to (5) recommended for determining the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate and the methods (6) to (8) recommended for determining the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate on the display unit 26, and the user can determine the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate by referring to the above methods displayed on the display unit 26. The user determines the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate by the above methods and inputs them to the exercise management device 10 via the input unit 27. The input unit 27 receives the user's input and transmits the received data to the setting unit 211. The setting unit 211 stores the received data in the storage unit 24.

[0049] When the exercise management device 10 automatically determines the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the user transmits information to the setting unit 211 via the input unit 27 to configure the exercise management device 10 to automatically determine the pulse rate values. Based on the user's input, the setting unit 211 automatically determines the pulse rate values. Specifically, when the setting unit 211 receives information to configure the exercise management device 10 to automatically determine the pulse rate values, it measures the user's resting pulse rate and, based on the obtained resting pulse rate value, determines the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate by method (3) or (4) described above, and the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate by method (6) described above. The setting unit 211 stores the determined upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate in the storage unit 24.

[0050] The procedure by which the exercise management device 10 automatically determines the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate based on user input is described below. When the setting unit 211 receives information from the input unit 27 that allows the exercise management device 10 to automatically determine the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate based on user input, it first obtains the user's resting pulse rate. The user's resting pulse rate may be obtained by the user transmitting the resting pulse rate value to the setting unit 211 via the input unit 27, or by the pulse measurement device 13 measuring the user's pulse rate while the user is at rest.

[0051] The exercise management device 10 may be configured to measure the pulse rate after the user determines that they are in a resting state, and to automatically determine the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate from the measured resting pulse rate value. The procedure for the setting unit 211 to acquire the resting pulse rate after the user determines that they are in a resting state is as follows: When measuring the resting pulse rate, the user assumes a resting state and then transmits a signal to the setting unit 211 via the input unit 27 to start measuring the user's resting pulse rate. When the setting unit 211 receives the signal to start measuring the user's resting pulse rate, it transmits a signal to the pulse rate measuring device 13 to start measuring the user's pulse rate. When the pulse rate measuring device 13 receives the measurement start signal from the setting unit 211, it starts measuring the user's pulse rate and transmits it to the acquisition unit 210. The acquisition unit 210 stores the received pulse rate value in the storage unit 24 as the user's resting pulse rate.

[0052] The exercise management device 10 may further include an acceleration measuring device, which detects the user's exercise state using the acceleration measuring device to determine whether the user is in a resting state, measures the pulse rate when the user is in a resting state, and automatically determines the upper limit and lower limit of the moderate-intensity pulse rate from the measured resting pulse rate value. When the user measures their resting pulse rate, they send a signal to the setting unit 211 via the input unit 27 to start measuring the user's resting pulse rate. When the setting unit 211 measures the user's pulse rate with the pulse rate measuring device 13, it simultaneously detects the user's exercise state using the acceleration measuring device. When the setting unit 211 determines from the acceleration measuring device that the user has been in a resting state for a predetermined period of time or longer, it starts measuring the user's pulse rate with the pulse rate measuring device 13 and transmits it to the acquisition unit 210. The acquisition unit 210 stores the received pulse rate value in the storage unit 24 as the user's resting pulse rate.

[0053] The exercise management device 10 is further equipped with an acceleration measuring device, which can detect the user's exercise state. If the user's exercise state at the time the user's pulse rate was measured is stored in the storage unit 24 along with the user's pulse rate, the setting unit 211 may acquire the pulse rate value when the user is at rest from among the pulse rate values ​​stored in the storage unit 24 as the resting pulse rate.

[0054] After obtaining the resting pulse rate, the setting unit 211 determines the upper limit of the moderate-intensity pulse rate based on the resting pulse rate, according to (3) or (4) above, and the lower limit of the moderate-intensity pulse rate based on (6) above.

[0055] The exercise management device 10 according to this embodiment can determine the user's exercise intensity and measure the user's exercise time when the user is exercising, and notify the user of the determination result. Based on the fatigue level entered by the user during or after exercise, it can determine whether the user's moderate-intensity pulse rate setting is appropriate and suggest adjustments. It may also suggest a moderate-intensity pulse rate upper limit based on the highest pulse rate value during exercise and the fatigue level. For example, when checking the fatigue level, the exercise management device 10 uses the aforementioned Borg index to calculate the moderate-intensity pulse rate upper limit as the highest pulse rate during exercise + 5 if Borg12 is selected, the highest pulse rate during exercise without changing the value if Borg13 is selected, and the highest pulse rate during exercise - 5 if Borg14 is selected. The pulse rate change values ​​based on the Borg index shown here are just examples and are not limited to these. Furthermore, the exercise management device 10 according to this embodiment can visualize the user's health status from the changes in the user's pulse rate value over time.

[0056] The operation of each component of the exercise management device 10 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0057] Figure 4(a) shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 26 of the exercise management device 10 when the setting unit 211 sets the upper limit and lower limit of the user's moderate-intensity heart rate. Figure 4(a) is an example of the screen for setting the upper limit of the moderate-intensity heart rate.

[0058] When the user's upper limit and lower limit for moderate-intensity heart rate are set by the setting unit 211, the exercise management device 10 according to this embodiment becomes capable of determining the user's exercise intensity, measuring the exercise time, and notifying the user of the determination result.

[0059] When making the above determination and providing notification, first, when the user starts exercising, information notifying the control unit 215 that the user has started exercising is transmitted via the input unit 27.

[0060] When the control unit 215 receives information notifying it that the user has started exercising, it sends a signal to the pulse rate measuring device 13 to start measuring the user's pulse rate. When the pulse rate measuring device 13 receives the signal to start measurement from the control unit 215, it starts measuring the user's pulse rate, measures the user's pulse rate at predetermined intervals, and transmits the obtained pulse rate value to the acquisition unit 210. The acquisition unit 210 stores the received pulse rate value in the storage unit 24 and transmits it to the determination unit 212. The pulse rate measuring device 13 may measure the user's pulse rate and transmit the obtained pulse rate value along with the measurement time to the acquisition unit 210. The acquisition unit 210 may store the received pulse rate value and the time the pulse rate value was measured in the storage unit 24 and transmit them to the determination unit 212.

[0061] Figure 4(b) shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 26 of the exercise management device 10 when the pulse measurement device 13 begins measuring the user's pulse. The elapsed time since the user started exercising, the duration of moderate-intensity or higher exercise, and the moderate-intensity pulse setting are displayed.

[0062] When the determination unit 212 receives a pulse rate value, it determines whether the received pulse rate value is lower than the lower limit of the moderate-intensity pulse rate. If the received pulse rate value is not lower than the lower limit of the moderate-intensity pulse rate, the determination unit does not operate. If the received pulse rate value is lower than the lower limit of the moderate-intensity pulse rate, the determination unit 212 determines that the user's exercise intensity is low and transmits information including the determination result to the notification unit 213. When the notification unit 213 receives the determination result that the user's exercise intensity is low, it may notify the user of at least one of the determination result and information to encourage the user to increase their exercise intensity to an appropriate level. Specifically, for example, the notification unit 213 may notify the user of the determination result that the intensity is low, the recommendation to increase the exercise intensity, etc., by displaying them on the display unit 26.

[0063] Figure 5(a) shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 26 when the notification unit 213 notifies the user to increase the intensity of exercise.

[0064] When the determination unit 212 receives a pulse rate value, it determines whether the received pulse rate value is between the lower limit and upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate. If the received pulse rate value is not between the lower limit and upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the determination unit does not operate. If the received pulse rate value is between the lower limit and upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the determination unit 212 determines that the user's exercise intensity is moderate and transmits information including the determination result to the notification unit 213. When the notification unit 213 receives the determination result that the user's exercise intensity is moderate, it may notify the user of at least one of the following: the determination result and information to encourage the user to maintain an appropriate exercise intensity, specifically, the determination result that the exercise intensity is moderate, and instructions to maintain the exercise intensity.

[0065] When the determination unit 212 receives a pulse rate value, it determines whether the received pulse rate value is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate. If the received pulse rate value is not higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the determination unit does not operate. If the received pulse rate value is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the determination unit 212 transmits information to the notification unit 213 that includes the determination result that the pulse rate value is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate. When the notification unit 213 receives the above determination result, it may notify the user of the determination result. Based on the determination result, the user can make decisions such as reducing the exercise intensity.

[0066] Figure 5(b) shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 26 when the notification unit 213 notifies the user of the judgment result. In Figure 5(b), as an example, the display unit 26 shows "Your pulse rate is high" to notify the user that the pulse rate is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate.

[0067] The exercise management device 10 according to this embodiment may further include a statistical unit that calculates the time spent when the pulse rate value acquired by the acquisition unit 210 was higher than the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate as the time spent exercising at moderate intensity or higher. The statistical unit will be described in detail later.

[0068] When the determination unit 212 receives the pulse rate and the time the pulse rate was measured, it determines whether the moderate-intensity or higher exercise time calculated by the moderate-intensity exercise time calculation unit exceeds the target exercise limit. If the moderate-intensity or higher exercise time does not exceed the target exercise limit, the determination unit does not operate. If the moderate-intensity or higher exercise time exceeds the target exercise limit, the determination unit 212 determines that the user's exercise time has exceeded the target value and transmits information including the determination result to the notification unit 213. When the notification unit 213 receives the determination result that the user's exercise time has exceeded the target value, it notifies the user that the user's exercise time has exceeded the target value. For example, the notification unit 213 may notify the user that the user's exercise time has exceeded the target value when the user has performed moderate-intensity or higher exercise for more than 150 minutes per week, which is the value recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization) as a target value for exercise time, or when the user has reached a target value set by the user.

[0069] Figure 5(c) shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 26 when the notification unit 213 notifies the user that the time spent exercising at a moderate intensity or higher has exceeded the target value.

[0070] When the determination unit 212 determines whether the received pulse rate is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, it previously made the determination after receiving information notifying the user that they had started exercising. However, even when the determination unit 212 has not received information notifying the user that they have started exercising, the determination unit 212 may still determine whether the received pulse rate is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate. The exercise management device 10 may be configured such that, even if the exercise management device 10 does not receive information notifying the user that they have started exercising, if the power to the pulse rate measuring device 13 mounted on the mobile terminal 11 and the wristwatch shown in Figure 1 is turned on, the pulse rate measuring device 13 will start measuring the user's pulse, and the determination unit 212 will determine whether the received pulse rate is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate. With such a configuration, users can engage in daily activities without being overly concerned about their pulse rate.

[0071] When the notification unit 213 notifies the user, it may display the content of the notification on the display unit 26, notify the user by voice using a speaker or the like, or notify the user by attaching a motor or the like to a pulse measurement device in the form of a wristwatch as shown in Figure 1 and vibrating the pulse measurement device 13.

[0072] When the determination unit 212 determines that the received pulse rate is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the input unit 27 may accept input indicating whether the current user's fatigue level corresponds to the Borg index or perceived exercise intensity shown in Figure 3. After the determination unit 212 receives information that the control unit 215 has notified the user that the user has started exercising, the input unit 27 may accept input indicating whether the current user's fatigue level corresponds to the Borg index or perceived exercise intensity shown in Figure 3 at a predetermined timing. The predetermined timing may be at least one of several timings, such as when a predetermined time has elapsed, when the determination unit 212 determines that the received pulse rate is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, or when the exercise has ended. Furthermore, the input unit 27 may accept input indicating whether the current user's fatigue level corresponds to the Borg index or perceived exercise intensity shown in Figure 3 at a timing desired by the user, regardless of which of the above timings applies.

[0073] The determination unit 212 may send information to the notification unit 213 prompting the user to reset the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate according to the user's current fatigue level, as received by the input unit 27. Upon receiving the above information, the notification unit 213 notifies the user to reset the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate. For example, if the user's current fatigue level is Borg index 12 or less, or if the user feels it was easy, the notification unit 213 may notify the user to reset the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate to a higher value than the current one. If the user's current fatigue level is Borg index 14 or more, or if the user feels it was difficult, the notification unit 213 may notify the user to reset the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate to a lower value than the current one. In this way, the heart rate settings can be adjusted to match the user's level of fatigue, such as by lowering the upper and lower limits of moderate-intensity heart rate by the desired amount to reduce exercise intensity.

[0074] When the determination unit 212 sends information to the notification unit 213 prompting the user to reset the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate according to the current user fatigue level received by the input unit 27, it may select the reset values ​​for the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate based on the fatigue level-based pulse rate setting change criteria shown in Figure 6. The fatigue level-based pulse rate setting change criteria shown in Figure 6 are the reset criteria values ​​for the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate according to the user's fatigue level. For example, if the pulse rate setting change criteria shown in Figure 6 is -5 beats / min, it indicates that the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate should be reset to -5 beats / min each, and if the pulse rate setting change criteria shown in Figure 6 is +5 beats / min, it indicates that the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate should be reset to +5 beats / min each. Note that the fatigue level-based pulse rate setting change criteria shown in Figure 6 are just an example and are not limited to this.

[0075] Instead of sending information to the notification unit 213 prompting the user to reset the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate according to the current user fatigue level received by the input unit 27, the determination unit 212 may send information to the setting unit 211 requesting that the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate be reset. The setting unit 211 may reset the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate upon receiving the information from the determination unit 212 requesting that the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate be reset. In this case, the setting unit 211 may reset the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate based on the reset criteria for the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate according to the user fatigue level, as shown in Figure 6.

[0076] If the determination unit 212 determines that the user's pulse rate is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, it may send information to the notification unit 213 suggesting that the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate be reset. The notification unit 213 may notify the user that it has checked the fatigue level based on the Borg index and suggested that the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate be reset according to that value. Alternatively, instead of sending information to the notification unit 213 prompting the user to reset the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the determination unit 212 may send information to the setting unit 211 requesting that the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate be reset. In response to the notification, the user may send the reset values ​​of the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate to the setting unit 211 via the input unit 27. The setting unit 211 may reset the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate in response to input from the user.

[0077] Figure 7 shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 26 of the exercise management device 10 when the notification unit 213 notifies the user that the pulse measurement device 13 suggests resetting the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate.

[0078] The statistics unit 214 calculates the time when the pulse rate value stored in the memory unit 24, along with the measurement date and time, is greater than the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, i.e., the time spent exercising at a moderate or greater intensity. The statistics unit 214 may also calculate the time spent exercising at a moderate or greater intensity since the user last transmitted information to the control unit 215 via the input unit 27 notifying the user that they had started exercising. Furthermore, the statistics unit 214 may also calculate the time spent exercising at a moderate or greater intensity, i.e., the time spent exercising at a moderate or greater intensity, even when the determination unit 212 has not received information notifying the user that they had started exercising. The statistics unit 214 may also calculate the time spent exercising at a moderate or greater intensity within a predetermined period, such as on a daily or monthly basis. The statistics unit 214 may display the calculated time spent exercising at a moderate or greater intensity on the display unit 26. The statistics unit 214 may calculate the moderate-to-high intensity exercise time each time the acquisition unit 210 receives the pulse rate and the time the pulse rate was measured, and may display the calculated appropriate exercise time on the display unit 26 in real time. The WHO recommends that adults, including the elderly, engage in moderate-intensity exercise for at least 150 minutes per week. Measuring the appropriate intensity of exercise time requires continuous measurement of the pulse rate, which has been difficult until now. According to the exercise management device 10 of this embodiment, it is possible to measure the appropriate intensity of exercise time.

[0079] The exercise management device 10 according to this embodiment can display the user's pulse rate, moderate-to-high intensity exercise time, upper and lower limits of moderate-intensity pulse rate on the display unit 26. In addition to these, for example, if a wristwatch equipped with a pulse rate measuring device 13 or a mobile terminal equipped with the exercise management device 10 has a pedometer for measuring the user's steps, the exercise management device 10 may also display the number of steps on the display unit 26. Furthermore, the exercise management device 10 may display the changes in pulse rate over time, the changes in step count over time, the user's pulse rate over time, moderate-to-high intensity exercise time, upper and lower limits of moderate-intensity pulse rate, etc., on the display unit 26 using tables, graphs, etc.

[0080] Figure 8(a) shows an example of a screen on the display unit 26 that shows the user's pulse rate value and moderate to moderate exercise time at predetermined intervals such as daily and monthly, and Figure 8(b) shows an example of a screen that shows the change in pulse rate value over time and the change in step count over time.

[0081] According to the exercise management device 10 of this embodiment, the user's pulse rate and exercise status data are stored in the storage unit 24. This data can be viewed by medical professionals and used as reference for individual telemedicine consultations. The pulse rate and exercise status data of multiple users can be stored, for example, on a server, and the data can be organized like a medical record for each user, or access permissions can be granted to medical professionals for each patient, allowing for use in medical consultations.

[0082] Furthermore, by using pulse rate and exercise data from multiple users, it is possible to create algorithms and AI that can detect the onset of heart failure early. In addition, these algorithms and AI can be used to automatically send notifications to individuals at risk of heart failure, and to create systems that encourage lifestyle improvements.

[0083] As described above, in this embodiment of exercise management device, after the acquisition unit acquires the user's pulse rate, the determination unit immediately determines the intensity of the user's exercise, and the notification unit immediately notifies the user of the determination result, thereby enabling real-time management of the user's exercise.

[0084] The exercise management method according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 9.

[0085] In step S801, the setting unit sets the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate (setting step).

[0086] In step S802, the acquisition unit acquires the user's pulse rate (acquisition step).

[0087] In step S803, the determination unit receives the pulse rate value acquired by the acquisition unit and determines the intensity of the user's exercise based on the measured pulse rate value, the set upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate (determination step).

[0088] In step S804, the notification unit notifies the user of the determination result made by the determination unit (notification step).

[0089] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment, one pulse rate measuring device 13 was connected to one exercise management device 10. In the second embodiment, multiple pulse rate measuring devices may be connected to one exercise management device. For example, each of the multiple pulse rate measuring devices may be mounted on each of the multiple watches, and the one exercise management device may be, for example, a personal computer or a tablet. Multiple users can each wear one of the multiple watches, each equipped with a multiple pulse rate measuring device, and measure the pulse rate of each of the multiple users, allowing the exercise of multiple users to be managed simultaneously by one exercise management device. The exercise management device according to this embodiment can be applied, for example, when conducting group exercise therapy in a hospital, where pulse rate measuring devices are attached to the bodies of multiple users who are the subjects of group exercise therapy, and the instructor of the group exercise therapy can view the pulse rate and exercise status of each of the multiple users on one exercise management device.

[0090] The exercise management device according to this embodiment may be configured such that, for example, one exercise management device can change the pulse rate settings, such as the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, for each of multiple users. For example, a group exercise therapy instructor can set pulse rate settings in real time while conducting group therapy, for example, according to the fatigue level of each of the multiple users, while viewing the pulse rate and exercise status of each of the multiple users.

[0091] (Third embodiment) In the first embodiment, one pulse rate measuring device 13 was connected to one exercise management device 10, and in the second embodiment, multiple pulse rate measuring devices were connected to one exercise management device. In the third embodiment, multiple exercise management devices may be connected to one pulse rate measuring device. For example, by allowing the user and their family members to view the pulse rate and exercise status of a user wearing one pulse rate measuring device from each of the multiple exercise management devices, the user and their family members can share information about the user's pulse rate and exercise status, and thus share information about the user's health status.

[0092] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, multiple exercise management devices may be connected to multiple pulse rate measuring devices.

[0093] As stated above, the present invention naturally includes various embodiments and the like that are not described herein. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is determined solely by the inventive features relating to the claims that are reasonable based on the above description. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0094] 10 Exercise management device 11 Mobile devices 13. Pulse measurement device 14 users 131 Sensor section 132 Communications Department 21 CPU 22 ROM 23 RAM 24 Memory section 25 I / O (Input / Output Interface) 26 Display section 27 Input section 210 Acquisition Department 211 Settings Section 215 Control Unit 212 Judgment section 213 Notification Department 214 Statistics Department

Claims

1. An acquisition unit that acquires the user's pulse rate, A setting unit for setting the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, A determination unit receives the pulse rate value acquired by the acquisition unit and determines the intensity of the user's exercise based on the acquired pulse rate value, the set upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate. A notification unit that notifies the user of the determination result made by the determination unit. An exercise management device characterized by being equipped with the following features.

2. It further includes an input section, The exercise management device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate and the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate are set by the input unit receiving input values ​​from the user.

3. The exercise management device according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate is determined based on at least one of the following: the upper limit of pulse rate in the exercise prescription, pulse rate at Bog index 13, resting pulse rate + 20 beats / min (with oral beta-blocker), resting pulse rate + 30 beats / min (without oral beta-blocker), (maximum pulse rate - resting pulse rate) × k + resting pulse rate (where k = 0.6 for healthy individuals, k = 0.5 for individuals aged 70 or older, k = 0.4 for individuals with heart failure and those with left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%), pulse rate during exercise, and degree of fatigue.

4. The exercise management device according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate is determined based on at least one of the following: a value 5 to 20 beats / min smaller than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the lower limit of pulse rate for the exercise prescription, and the pulse rate when the Bog index is 11 to 12.

5. The exercise management device according to claim 1, characterized in that the setting unit sets an upper limit and a lower limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate based on the user's resting pulse rate, the upper limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate being either resting pulse rate + 20 beats / min (with oral administration of beta-blockers) or resting pulse rate + 30 beats / min (without oral administration of beta-blockers), and the lower limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate being determined from a value 5 to 20 beats / min smaller than the upper limit for moderate-intensity pulse rate.

6. The exercise management device according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination unit determines whether the received pulse rate value is lower than the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and if the pulse rate value is lower than the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the notification unit notifies the user of at least one of the determination result and information to encourage increasing the intensity of exercise.

7. The exercise management device according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination unit determines whether the received pulse rate value is between the lower limit and upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and if it determines that the pulse rate value is between the lower limit and upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the notification unit notifies the user of the determination result and at least one of the following: information to encourage the user to continue exercising.

8. The exercise management device according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination unit determines whether the received pulse rate value is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and if it determines that the pulse rate value is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the notification unit notifies the user of at least one of the determination result and information to encourage caution against overexertion.

9. A storage unit that stores the pulse rate value acquired by the acquisition unit and the date and time when the pulse rate value was measured, A statistical unit calculates the sum of the time during which the pulse rate value was higher than the lower limit of the moderate-intensity pulse rate as the time of moderate-intensity or greater exercise. The exercise management device according to claim 1, further comprising the features described above.

10. The exercise management device according to claim 9, wherein the determination unit determines whether the moderate-intensity or higher exercise time exceeds the target exercise limit, and if the moderate-intensity or higher exercise time is higher than the target exercise limit, the notification unit notifies the user that the moderate-intensity or higher exercise time has exceeded the target value.

11. The exercise management device according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination unit determines that the received pulse value is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse, and at the timing when the acquisition unit receives input that exercise has started and a predetermined time has elapsed, or at the timing when the acquisition unit receives input that exercise has ended, the notification unit proposes to the user to reset the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse and the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse.

12. It further includes an input section, When the determination unit determines that the received pulse value is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse, and a predetermined time has elapsed since the acquisition unit received input that exercise has started, or when the acquisition unit receives input that exercise has ended, the input unit receives input from the user regarding the user's fatigue level. The exercise management device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the notification unit proposes resetting the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate and the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, it proposes the resetting according to the fatigue level received by the input unit.

13. The exercise management device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the determination unit has not received information notifying the user that the user has started exercising, it determines whether the received pulse rate value is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and if it determines that the pulse rate value is higher than the upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, the notification unit notifies the user of the determination result and at least one of the information to encourage the user to take a break.

14. The acquisition step involves obtaining the user's pulse rate, A setting step to set the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity heart rate, A determination step which involves receiving the pulse rate value obtained in the acquisition step, and determining the intensity of the user's exercise based on the acquired pulse rate value, the set upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, A notification step in which the determination result in the determination step is notified to the user. An exercise management method characterized by comprising the following:

15. On the computer, A function to acquire the user's pulse rate, A setting function to set the upper limit and lower limit of moderate-intensity heart rate, A determination function receives the pulse rate value acquired in the acquisition function and determines the intensity of the user's exercise based on the acquired pulse rate value, the set upper limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate, and the lower limit of moderate-intensity pulse rate. A notification function that notifies the user of the judgment result in the judgment function. An exercise management program characterized by achieving this goal.

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