US 9,955,906 B2 · System and method for selecting an audio file using motion sensor data

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and a method for selecting an audio file using motion data from a mobile computing device connected to or held by a user, the mobile computing device comprising or coupled to motion sensors. The method comprising steps of moving the mobile computing device, obtaining motion data from the motion sensors, computing from the motion data step data based on a number of steps taken by the user in a specific period of time, computing a metronome beat based on the step data and generating a metronome beat file, selecting a stored audio file having a predefined beat parameter matching the metronome beat of the metronome beat file, and playing the audio file. The present invention provides a technology solution delivered through a mobile computing device, such as smart phone, or other computing device, such as a laptop or a PC, a wrist or smart watch, or an accelerometer, pedometer or other external computing device having computer processor means, that improves the gait of people with Parkinson's disease. In use, the user's daily mobility is assessed through application software on a mobile computing device which is operable to calculate a required individually prescribed treatment for a user. The treatment is then delivered through speakers of the mobile computing device in the form of metronome therapy which is form of auditory cueing that is used to treat people with Parkinson's disease.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of providing metronome therapy for a user who performs an activity with a cadence of movement by selecting a metronome audio file from a selection of metronome audio files accessed by a mobile computing device carried by the user during said activity, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a mobile computing device that is operable to play said metronome audio files, wherein each of said audio files has corresponding audio beat parameters;
providing at least one motion sensor operable to detect motion of the user at the mobile computing device, wherein said at least one motion sensor has a sensitivity setting;
wherein when the user performs said activity with said cadence of movement said at least one motion sensor detects said cadence of movement;
providing a sensitivity bar operable to adjust said sensitivity setting of said at least one motion sensor depending upon said cadence of movement by calibrating said at least one motion sensor to detect steps of a user according to said cadence of movement;
configuring the at least one motion sensor to detect a deceleration in said cadence of movement by said user;
detecting, identifying and recording changes in said cadence of movement that fall within a selected range of decelerations that are attributable to Parkinson's disease and generating motion data;
using said motion data to generate a corresponding metronome beat;
automatically selecting a specific metronome audio file from said metronome audio files on said mobile computing device by comparing said metronome beat to said audio beat parameters to find a best match;
and
providing the metronome therapy to the user by playing said specific metronome audio file on said mobile computing device that corresponds to said best match.

7 more elements

A system for providing metronome therapy for a user by selecting a metronome audio file from a selection of metronome audio files accessed by a mobile computing device carried by said user, said system comprising:

a mobile computing device operable to play said metronome audio files, wherein each of said metronome audio files has corresponding audio beat parameters;
at least one motion sensor to detect motion and deceleration of said user wherein said at least one motion sensor has a sensitivity setting and wherein when said user performs an activity with a cadence of movement, said at least one motion sensor detects said cadence of movement;
a sensitivity bar operable to adjust said sensitivity setting of said at least one motion sensor depending upon said cadence of movement by calibrating said at least one motion sensor to detect steps of said user according to said cadence of movement;
wherein said at least one motion sensor detects changes in said cadence of motion and said mobile computing device identifies and records if said changes in said cadence of motion are within a selected range of decelerations attributable to Parkinson's disease;
and
wherein said mobile computing device determines a metronome beat from said cadence of motion, automatically selects a specific metronome audio file from said metronome audio files by comparing said metronome beat to said audio beat parameters to find a best match, and plays said selected metronome audio file that corresponds to said best match.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for selecting an audio file using motion sensor data

Life of this patent

System and method for selecting an audio file using motion sensor data

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15