Timing biofeedback system that detects start of an action

A timing biofeedback system that detects start of an action, comprising:

• an inertial sensor coupled to a piece of equipment used by a user to perform an action, said inertial sensor comprising
• an accelerometer;
• a gyroscope;
• and
• a network interface;
• wherein
• said accelerometer comprises a three axis accelerometer;
• said gyroscope comprises a three axis gyroscope;
• and,
• said network interface comprises a wireless network interface;
• wherein
• said inertial sensor is configured to:
• capture inertial sensor data during a session wherein a user performs said action with said piece of equipment;
• and,
• stream said inertial sensor data over said network interface as said inertial sensor data is captured;
• said action comprises one or more phases;
• and,
• each phase of said one or more phases has an associated ideal duration;
• a feedback signal generator configured to transmit one or more feedback signals to said user;
• a processor coupled to said inertial sensor via a network connection, and coupled to said feedback signal generator, wherein said processor is configured to
• receive said inertial sensor data;
• detect a starting time of said action based on said inertial sensor data without generating a prompt to indicate to said user to start said action;
• when said starting time of said action is detected, for each phase of said one or more phases,
• start a timer with a duration equal to said associated ideal duration associated with said each phase;
• and,
• when said timer expires,
• transmit a feedback signal to said feedback signal generator;
• and,
• continue to a subsequent phase of said one or more phases unless said each phase is a last phase;
• wherein said detect a starting time of said action based on said inertial sensor data comprises one or more of
• determine whether one or more of said piece of equipment and said user are in a correct orientation to start said action;
• determine whether one or more of said piece of equipment and said user are substantially stationary before said starting time of said action;
• determine whether one or more of said piece of equipment and said user move or rotate at a speed or acceleration above a threshold value;
• and,
• determine whether one or more of said piece of equipment and said user move in an expected direction or rotate on an expected axis.

A timing biofeedback system that detects start of an action, comprising:

• an inertial sensor coupled to a piece of equipment used by a user to perform an action, said inertial
• sensor comprising
• an accelerometer;
• a gyroscope;
• and
• a network interface;
• wherein
• said accelerometer comprises a three axis accelerometer;
• said gyroscope comprises a three axis gyroscope;
• and,
• said network interface comprises a wireless network interface;
• wherein
• said inertial sensor is configured to
• capture inertial sensor data during a session wherein a user performs said action with said piece of equipment;
• and,
• stream said inertial sensor data over said network interface as said inertial sensor data is captured;
• said action comprises one or more phases;
• and,
• each phase of said one or more phases has an associated ideal duration;
• a feedback signal generator configured to transmit one or more feedback signals to said user;
• a processor coupled to said inertial sensor via a network connection, and coupled to said feedback signal generator, wherein said processor is configured to
• receive said inertial sensor data;
• detect a starting time of said action based on said inertial sensor data without generating a prompt to indicate to said user to start said action;
• when said starting time of said action is detected, for each phase of said one or more phases,
• start a timer with a duration equal to said associated ideal duration associated with said each phase;
• and,
• when said timer expires,
• transmit a feedback signal to said feedback signal generator;
• and,
• continue to a subsequent phase of said one or more phases unless said each phase is a last phase;
• wherein said processor and said feedback signal generator are integrated into a mobile device used by said user;
• wherein said feedback signal generator comprises a speaker;
• wherein said feedback signal comprises an audio output from said speaker;
• wherein said feedback signal is different for each phase of said one or more phases;
• wherein said action comprises one or more of
• a putt;
• a golf stroke;
• a stroke of a racquet;
• a swing of a bat;
• wherein said detect a starting time of said action based on said inertial sensor data comprises one or more of
• determine whether one or more of said piece of equipment and said user are in a correct orientation to start said action;
• determine whether one or more of said piece of equipment and said user are substantially stationary before said starting time of said action;
• determine whether one or more of said piece of equipment and said user move or rotate at a speed or acceleration above a threshold value;
• and,
• determine whether one or more of said piece of equipment and said user move in an expected direction or rotate on an expected axis.