Exercise Sensor Interface System for Software Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software applications, such as video games and interactive software, lack compatibility with exercise equipment sensors like cadence and speed sensors, preventing seamless integration of physical activity into virtual environments without requiring modifications to the software applications.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an Interface System with modules for sensor communication, data analysis, and input generation, enabling the translation of incompatible sensor data into compatible inputs for software applications, allowing for seamless interaction without modifying the software applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If exercise equipment sensors are integrated with software applications, then user experience is enhanced by integrating physical activity into virtual environments, but software application compatibility is limited without modifications to the software applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer that converts sensor data from exercise equipment into standardized input formats compatible with software applications. This intermediary component translates cadence and speed sensor data into keyboard input events without requiring modifications to the software applications themselves, thereby resolving the compatibility issue while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of standard input device signals based on sensor data. Instead of directly integrating sensors into software applications, the system generates simulated keyboard input events that replicate the behavior of traditional input devices, allowing software applications to interact with exercise equipment sensors as if they were standard input devices
2Adaptability or versatility
If sensor data is directly used for software application interaction, then integration is achieved, but software application compatibility is limited due to incompatible data formats
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms sensor data parameters into compatible input event parameters. It converts continuous sensor measurements (cadence, speed) into discrete keyboard input events (key presses, key releases) that match the parameter structure expected by software applications, thereby achieving data compatibility through parameter transformation
3Reliability
If existing software applications are modified to support sensor integration, then seamless interaction is achieved, but ease of operation is reduced due to requiring modifications to software applications
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying software applications to accept sensor data, the system inverts the approach by having the translation layer adapt sensor data to match software application input expectations. This inversion eliminates the need to modify existing software applications while maintaining reliable integration
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses systems and methods for interfacing exercise equipment sensors, like cadence and speed sensors, with software applications, such as video games and interactive software, without requiring any modification to the software applications. Central to the invention is an Interface System, comprising modules for sensor communication and data acquisition, data analysis, and compatible input generation such as input event simulation, including key press and key release, and Human Interface Device (HID) input generation. The innovation addresses the challenge of incompatible sensor data by generating compatible input for the software applications. The methods involve reading sensor data, storing it for analysis, recognizing user behavior, and determining and generating compatible input that interact with the software applications.