Cycle-Based Workout Coaching via Heart Rate Variability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack the ability to detect a user's hormonal cycle and provide synchronized adjustments to coaching recommendations for exercise, recovery, sleep, and diet.

Innovation Solution

A system that measures physiological parameters such as respiratory rate and heart rate variability to identify the phase of a hormonal cycle, allowing for automatic adjustments to coaching recommendations based on the cycle phase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If physiological monitoring is used to detect hormonal cycle phase, then coaching recommendations can be synchronized with cycle phase, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoaching recommendation synchronizationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses heart rate variability (HRV) as an intermediary biomarker to indirectly detect hormonal cycle phase. Instead of directly measuring hormones, the system monitors HRV changes that correlate with different cycle phases, providing a non-invasive proxy measurement that enables cycle-aware coaching without requiring direct hormonal analysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex hormonal analysis systems with simpler physiological monitoring. By substituting direct hormone measurement with heart rate variability analysis, the system achieves cycle phase detection using standard wearable sensor technology rather than requiring complex biochemical analysis equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If continuous heart rate data is collected to identify hormonal cycle phase, then measurement precision improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecycle phase identification accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic sampling of heart rate data at strategically selected intervals rather than truly continuous monitoring. By analyzing HRV at key moments (e.g., morning resting measurements, post-exercise recovery periods), the system accumulates sufficient data to identify cycle phase patterns while minimizing overall energy consumption compared to constant high-frequency sampling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12220112B2Cycle-based workout coaching

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 WHOOP INC

AI summary

Physiological parameters such as respiratory rate and/or heart rate variability can be measured over time for a user and correlated to physiological and/or hormonal cycles such as the menstrual cycle. By determining the phase of such a cycle in this manner, an automatic coach for the user can recommend phase-specific adjustments to activities such as sleep and exercise.